What’s With This Grip Strength Stuff?

User Question:  Joe, I love your stuff!  Great grip advancements…. Do specialize in anything else other than core and grip? – Frank

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Frank, thanks for the compliments on the core and grip training, but I would not classify myself as a ‘grip guy.’

Actually, I am not a grip guy.   Whoa, hang on though, I haven’t lost my mind!

I train for real world strength development, primarily for athletes and people that want to train like athletes.  Grip guru’s like my buddy Jedd Johnson can out grip me every day of the week and twice on Sunday. 

But here’s why I often post about core and grip:  those muscle groups are typically what hold people back – the weak link in the chain. 

I understand you know the benefits of primary exercises like squat, cleans, dead lift, etc.   I’m not going to make a dozen posts about telling people they should squat, you probably already get that! 

A related quote from Earle Liederman’s Secrets of Strength:

“Strong wrists are indispensable to strength. In most ordinary feats of strength the object to be moved or lifted, swung or broken, is gripped by the hands; and those hands must be strongly coupled to the arms, so that there will be no break in the delivery of power. A famous veteran, advising a new-comer in the professional ranks said, “Young man, you will never be any stronger than your hands and wrists…”

I find that last line to be exceptionally true when it comes to real world strength.

Grip Strength Training

And why the core ?? I have also had coaches tell me “core muscles are just for the mirror!”  Sadly there are so many misconceptions when it comes to core strength that I find it important to post about. 

Core Strength Exercise

For everyone on the newsletter, I hope you read the What Core Strength IS NOT bonus by Jim Smith.  If you read it, you know exactly what I am talking about!  If not, GET ON THE NEWSLETTER FOR THAT AWESOME INFO!

Lastly, I like to attack weaknesses, often that is grip and core strength.

- Joe Hashey, CSCS -

PS.  I am still waiting for a few more comments before I unleash Part II, Exercise Selection!!!! (out of the 28 comments, some of them are mine.  If you commented already, browse the rest of the remarks, some EXCELLENT info in there!)