OTHER TIPS

GET A GRIP

Want to improve your grip on the your Ice Tools? Or, perhaps just give a firm handshake? This simple exercise is guaranteed to give you a better grip. It is especially helpful if your are like many others these days and going leashless. Try and add this to your regular training routine and after a month or so you should notice a definite improvement in your ability to hang on.

The Farmer’s Walk

This is an adaptation from one of the events featured in the ESPN’ s "Worlds Strongest Man" competition. In the event, the Goliath competitors each grab two humungus cylinders and carry them as they walk down a path to see who can cross the finish line first.

Here is how we will do it: First, find a relatively unobstructed pathway down which you can do the walk. Then find two heavy dumbbells. They should be pretty heavy (I use 60-100 lbs.), you can experiment with the weight. Then just carry them as far as you can. If you make to the end of your path, try and make it back to the start (you can even put a piece of straw in your mouth for effect). Immagine a farmer heading out to slop the pigs with two big buckets of pig food (whatever that is) in each hand. If you can carry them for more than 30 seconds or so, grab a heavier set of dumbbells. Rest a few minutes and do it again. Repeat this for three or four sets. If you get weird looks from others, than you are doing it right.

Tip: When starting, semi-squat so that you lift with the legs. Also, lock your elbow by flexing your triceps. This is imperative for elbow joint safety and max power. Tense your lats hard as you lift.

This is a great all around power exercise that involves the lower back and core as well as the arms. If you shrug your shoulders during the walk, you will also strengthen the muscles supporting the scapula which significantly helps stabilzie the rotator cuff in your shoulder.

Here is another grip strength training routine to try: Take a medium sized dumbell, say 15-30 lbs. It should be enough so that you can comfortably do about 10-15 reps of finger/wrist curls in 30 seconds. Now, take one in each hand and and do as many as you can comfortably do for 30 seconds. Rest 30 seconds and repeat. Do this for 15-20 sets and you should really start to feel a deep, burning pump by the end of the session. You should balance this exercise out with a few light sets of reverse wrist curls (wrist extensors) to avoid developing tendonitis in the elbow.