Kingruv

Redjake,

You mention earlier about certain difficulties. Do you wrap your wrists before using the higher compression grips? I used grips when I was young and built up to about the no.2 level you describe. I have thought about it again since getting to my current point from RTC surgery. The PT checked my hands for grip before starting and I had lost down to 94 lbs in my right and my left was still at 160 (which surprised me after all this time)
Years ago I regularly used wraps to avoid wrist strains during training or extended activity. Also, have you looked at exercises for lengthening the nerve bundles in the arm and wrist?
I started having carpal tunnel problems and an instructor trainer gave me some things to do to offset that. I've been hedging against wrist surgery almost 20 years this way doing these.

Redjake

I don't wrap my wrists or use any sort of powder.

I do exercises with the Expand Your Hand Bands® from Ironmind (same vendor as the Captain of Crush grippers) on Wednesdays. You put extremely thick rubber bands around your fingers and push outwards - it hurts almost as bad as doing the grippers!!!!

By the way everyone, I ordered the 2.5 a couple of days ago. The No. 3 just isn't going to happen without some intervention. I haven't made visibly progress in months. As usual, you can expect some AWESOME vids of me attempting the 2.5 when it comes in.

The No. 3 in its truest form makes Baby Jesus cry. I just can't describe how difficult it is. It feels like you are trying to squeeze something that just doesn't squeeze. Imagine squeezing a brick. That's what it feels like......

2.5 on its way!!!!!

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settie

wow you guys must have killer grips!
I decided to buy one recently, beginner-style, and I can barely do it thirty times in a row with each hand. My left hand is the weakest. I have a terrible, terrible, grip. Hopefully a year from now I'll have a stronger grip

blahblah454

Well I bit the bullet and bought my Trainer and #1. I was able to close the Trainer about 4 times with my left hand and 8 or so with my right. The next day I could close it about 8 times with my left and 10 with my right.

That was about a week ago. Today I managed to close the #1 4 times with my right hand, and the Trainer 10 times with my left, and could not get the #1 all the way closed with the left hand.

I am thinking I should have gotten the 1.5 as well.

newtx

Awesome thread. I just started calling one of of my buddies at work the captain of crush. (he grew up on a farm and has a handshake like a vice grip) I have been considering trying one of the serious gripers and at least I now know where to start.

Redjake

Guys I ordered the #2.5 because the #3 just wasn't cutting it. I wasn't making any progress at all - or at least it didn't feel like it.

Well, I must've been making SOME progress, because check out the first attempt on the #2.5:



I finally feel like I can actually get my hand around this one. I think I'll have it shut within a couple of months. It's brutal, but not hope-crushing brutal like the #3.

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Redjake

Don't feel bad about the left hand. I can just barely close the #1 with my left hand. No way in hell I can even get close with the #2. And I do the same exercises with my left as my right. It's just way weaker.

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braisler

While I'd be interested to try my grip on one of those, I'm not rushing out to buy a set. I know my handshake is firm and strong, so no concerns there.

I do know that I'm a bit of a paradox for strength and grip. I'm a desk jockey/scientist in my work life. But I also workout in lots of different ways. I also do a lot of physical work remodeling my house; plumbing, carpentry, etc. so I get more use of my hands than some people would expect.

I'm also a pretty big guy, so I have intrinsic strength. When I was lifting, my max bench was 275, max leg press was 1080. But I also feel like I do lack some strength in my hands.

Like I said, I'd be interested in giving it a go if I had a friend with a set of those grip trainers, but I'm not buying them myself.

How about an update from the OP? Have you mastered 2.5 or progressed to 3?

tooth

Any progress on getting a tennis ball crushed?

Wrexify

Hahaha, this thread has me cracking up at my desk. I'm really looking forward to the next video... How's the progress going?

I feel like I should dig out my old grippers now...

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FuglyStick

challenge my mighty grip, I squish yer head

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Redjake

I'm still on the 2.5, but I think I am making some progress. Once you hit the 2.5 grip, your progress becomes so minute and miniscule that you can't really visibly tell if you are closing it further than before. What I can tell you is that the No. 2 is like a fucking walk in the park now. I can "cold close" it, meaning I can pick it up and close it without warming up at all. That's a feat.

As you can see from my epic video on YouTube, the No. 2 used to be a big deal:


Not so much anymore. It's simply a cake walk. It's not *easy*, but it's absolutely no problem whatsoever now. I can hold it shut for > 15 seconds now - that's basically like holding 200 lbs from a rope with one hand and using only your grip power to keep it from slipping away.

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Redjake

Good news everyone!!!!!!!

Yesterday at work my hand felt like a hydraulic compressor instead of an 80 year old man's hand and as soon as I picked up the 2.5 I knew I was going to make some progress. I definitely did. I squeezed it until my arm felt like someone was drilling into the bone and I got it approximately half a centimeter before closed - nearly twice as close as the video above.

My mouth dropped open in awe, I just couldn't believe it. I haven't made this sort of progress in MONTHS. If my hand stays like it was yesterday, I will have the 2.5 closed within one month - simple as that.

And if I can get the 2.5, fucking nothing is stopping me from the 3!!!!!!!!!!

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Redjake

Today I mutilated my hand attempting to close the 2.5. My hand has scratches and callouses all over it (more so than usual) and my wrist is tingling really bad. I CAME CLOSER THAN EVER. Within a couple of weeks I believe this will happen. So close I thought I would have it today - that's how close I came. This is getting really interesting.

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Fremen

Jake, you're my new hero! You could totally crush that wuss Las' hand.
Can't wait till CoC 3!

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csx

I was googling around as my CoC #1 arrives in the mail tomorrow. I found this thread and now im so motivated. I have an Ivanko Super Gripper cutleryscience.com/reviews/ivanko_gripper.html that I can do three sets of 10 @ 139.78 lbs. I will tell you how they compare tomorrow.

Redjake

Welcome! Let us know how it turns out! Good luck! And don't give it too much squeeze, you will sprain your hand. I squeezed the No. 1 too much the first day I had it and sprained my hand really bad.

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csx

It got here today and its perfect for me as I can only close it twice in each hand. and as I was doing 10 times with the Ivanko at the same weight, even though its adjustable the Ivanko is inferior to this CoC gripper. I love this thing.

i39.tinypic.com/213q8sg.jpg

cant post urls/images yet

Redjake

Awesome! I'm surprised you can close the No. 1 with your non-main hand. It took me months before I could close it with my left hand. You must've been working your alternate hand with the Ivanko as well.

Welcome to the world of CRUSH!

The fact you can close it twice is perfect too - excellent choice. You will be able to hit the No. 2 in a couple of months, if not sooner. I can't wait for you to order the No. 2 and feel how awesomely impossible it feels at first!

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IdeoFunk

Dare I, myself, jump onto this mighty bandwagon of crush as well????? Haha it definitely seems like a fun enough time, and I've always been able to squeeze the shit out of my Walmart grippers as it is. So who knows maybe investing in a No. 1 might do the old forearms some good. Although I seriously doubt that my manhoods large enough to aspire to the upper echelons of the Elite Order of the Captains of Crush.......... (still, always good to be better than a sissy-wristed pion)

Anyone know of any particularly trustworthy sites or dealers on Ebay which could offer a good deal on these badboys??

---------- Post added at 02:02 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:55 PM ----------

Actually I realize now that they just sell them at Ironmind.com for 19 bucks, so that sounds fair enough.... The only Captains of Crush thing offered on Ebay right now apparently is some gripping novel that may prove to be more than rousing to the aspiring gripper hahaha

llama_llama

Hi all has anyone had any increase in wrist and hand thickness when going up in strength of handgrips. I know this might not apply to redjake cause from your vids your hands and wirst are already on the bigger side. So any guys with skinny wrist/hands seen any improvement .

I just want to settle this debate its annoying everyone knows the tendons (everything else) in the hand and wrist will get thicker ... but the question is how much ? would it even be noticable.

Thanks redjake you inspired me to pick up my hand grips closing CoC 1, 7 times on right hand and once on left iam gunning for you mate

Redjake

I did have larger than average hands prior to the world of Crush but I doubt the grips will change your hand or wrist size. However, your forearms will show MASSIVE increases in size. I have probably gained and entire inch in circumference around my forearm, and they are now as hard as a cinder block - it literally feels like adamantium bone underneath my skin on that section of my arm (elbow to finger tips). It's pretty awesome.

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Lasereth

Yeah my wrist is actually smaller than it was before, but my hand is rock solid and it used to be mush. When I make a fist there is muscles and shit bulging in my hands that weren't there before.

My forearm is also solid like Redjake's and has increase in diameter, though it's not entirely obvious unless I flex.

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llama_llama

I have pretty small wrists and hands their has been many a debate about bone structure and dead lift / hand grip. Their have been two bodybuilders who have claimed to gain a whole inch+ through years of dead lifting . Though dead lifting and crushing strength are slightly different they still train the forarm.

I know many people will alway say you cant grow wrist cause there is no muscle. But bones do thicken and tendons aswell to help spread out the tension. only Question that remains is how much can one acheive. Iam testing it myself when i get 2.5Coc i will measure if any growth has occured.

Yeah that harder feeling is Myofibrillar hypertrophy where you gain more myofibrils making your muscle denser and pound for pound stronger.

Lasereth..smaller? their is only two ways i can explain that, you either lost alot of weight or your bigger forarm is giving you the illusion that your wrist is gettiing smaller.

How goes the training for Coc3 jake?

Lasereth

Yes, when I started the CoC I also lost a lot of weight as well so that is probably most of it.

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Redjake

Unknown to TFP, Lasereth began using the Captains of Crush grippers in weird, nay, UNNATURAL ways...

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llama_llama

No he didnt start by squeezing kittens

csx

at 2 weeks after getting the #1 gripper i closed it 10 times in my right hand, and 3 in my left. this was after a warmup.

Redjake

UPDATE:

It's been a while since my last update and with good reason: not a lot happened until a couple of days ago. 2 days ago I finally managed a "set close" with the #2.5. This is different from a "regulation close" in that I used my left hand to help get my right hand around the gripper better in order to close it.

with the #1 and #2, I can just pick it up and close it by using my first 2 fingers to close it partially, then wrapping my ring finger and pinky around it and pulling it shut.

The #2.5 is so hard that my first two strong fingers (index and middle) can't even budge it enough to get my other 2 fingers around it.

So basically I've closed the #2.5 but with a handicap. I'm not considering myself having officially closed it by any means, but progress is progress!

As far as whether #3 is doable, it's looking not very good. Again, I am questioning whether you must have abnormally large hands or strength in order to accomplish this feat. We'll see. I've been going at the #2.5 for nearly a year now and still haven't closed it, and I train 2 days a week and haven't missed any workouts.........

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Spiritsoar

Wow, I'm glad you bumped this thread for an update, since I hadn't seen it before. After reading this thread, I'm seriously considering getting one of these. I've recently started weight training, and I've noticed that on certain exercises I seem to be having a harder time with my hand/grip than I am with the muscles I'm supposed to be training. This certainly looks like it might help me out.

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Gu88s

Great topic found it when looking on google about the CoC grippers.
Just curious where in Canada (London, Ontario [near Toronto]) could I buy some at a store or where I could order them from because I don't want to order from the UK.
Also where should I start? At the moment I can close a cheap PFitness pair (form Zellers) 32 times with right hand and 22 with my left hand.

Gu88s

Bump

Redjake

Does Iron Mind not ship world-wide? Just order them from the store.

Start with the No. 1. Good luck!!!

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Gu88s

Well yeah I think they do but are't they located in the UK? Thats alot for shipping.
Thanks for the advice and encouragement I wish you luck as well.
BTW I heard doing negatives (cheating to close then holding shut for as long as you can) on grippers to hard for you helps a lot you may want to try this.

moot1337

I just found out about a challenge from Emerson knives regarding these grippers: if you can close a #3 in front of their booth you win one of their awesome knives. Close a #4 and you can get a custom knife made by Ernie himself (not to mention having the most intimidating forearms in the world )

Emerson Knives

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shadow_CoC

While googling for coc grippers I stumbled upon this thread and its hilarious! Redjake, any further progress with 2.5 or 3 yet?

I bought Trainer, No 1 and 2 grippers to help with my grip with rock climbing. I got them around Christmas, 2009. I could close No 1 twice right off the bat, but No 2 seemed light years away. Now, after training (although irregularly) for a few months I can close No 2 once. Once I'm more comfortable with it, I'll order 2.5 and 3 Cheers!

Lasereth

Awesome!!!!!!

I've got the #2 pretty close with my left hand right now. I can shut it every time with my right. I don't have anything higher than the #2 though.

---------- Post added at 03:49 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:15 PM ----------

BTW I've had these things for a while now and so far only 1 other person at work has been able to close the #2. It was pretty epic though. He got so mad at it and kept coming back up to my office every couple of weeks and trying it. I think he was training while off ha ha ha ha ha ha

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Redjake

I am still sitting on the #2.5. I can get it within a couple of millimeters, but still no dice. I've been trying it for well over a year now and still no luck. The #2 is cake now though, it's amazing how easy is it for me at this point. Can't get it with my left hand at all though.

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Redjake

[Breaking News]

A new group at work moved into our room and with them came a former strongman competition employee (editor's note: I work in IT!). He came over to help me with our new IP phones one day and he noticed my Captains of Crush grippers on my desk. I asked him to give it a go, since you know, he's a former strongman competitor. I didn't expect much to be honest because grip strength is simply something that no workout or training routine will work on unless you go specifically for grip strength - like a Crush gripper. I figured he probably stuck to benchpress. MISTAKE

So he grabbed the #1 off my desk and got ready to squeeze it. Now keep in mind, NO ONE at my job has been able to close the #1, much less the #2 or above. This is after probably 30 men have tried it.

So he grabs the #1 and simply obliterates it, to the point of it making a scraping noise as the handles grinded together at the edges. My jaw dropped.

So then he grabs the #2. I was like "ok hotshot try this one on for size. don't hurt yourself." Let me explain the #2 here for a second: most people think it WON'T CLOSE, that's how tough it is. Extremely tough and I still have issues with it to this day.

So he grabs it and GRIIIIIIIIIIIIIND, closed immediately!!!!!!! I was getting nervous at this point. Oh shit.

Then, I hand him the #2.5. You know, the one that I've been working on for nearly 2 years now. That one. 250 odd lbs of resistance for one hand to squeeze.

And he grabs it in his beastly hands and my entire world came crashing down upon me as I witnessed the handles of the #2.5 come together in unison and make contact. I ran around the room and chanted "I have a dreamed a dream, and now that dream is gone from me!!!!!!!!!" I moaned in agony. But then....

A FIT OF RAGE consumeth me, I ran back to my cubicle, grabbed the #2.5 out of his giant hands, and squeezed until my head hurt and GROUND the handles together with STRENGTH TO SPARE. Adrenaline was coursing through my veins and it seemed as if I were closing only the #2. This time HIS jaw dropped open and my fellow coworkers simply fell silent in awe. I had done it. All it took was a couple of milliliters of adrenaline and a REASON TO LIVE to close the #2.5. Today I replicated the feat, but barely - didn't seem nearly as easy as when I was high on life. But it is done.

I will put up a video as soon as my hand stops hurting

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Jetée

Simply put - awesome update RedJake. I'm in disbelief myself here, and all I have to go on are pixels, numeric inputs and text.

I can barely contain my smile, man. Way to go.

(when you say video, do you mean of yourself repeating the feat, or did you actually start rolling as soon as you handed the new IT Bruiser the clamps? That second scenario is what I'm hoping for, because that would go beyond just 'awesome', into near-brain-conflagramation... although, I suppose, I should temper my expectations.)

Again, congratulations (and here it is, near two years after this thread has started, and I can still barely close the grips I bought from the local dollar shop. My motivation is so pitiful. Perhaps your updates will fuel me to greater heights! (at least, I hope so.)

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