goergen1
08-03-2007, 09:03 AM
Through the Looking Glass
by Richard Sorin
Each man perceives through his reflection in the looking glass of life what he believes his destiny and capabilities are. Unless a shocking revelation or strange twist of fate occurs, most lives in general follow a path or course of least resistance and stay within the bounds of what each person perceives they are capable of.
Recently, Strom Thurmond, the oldest politician in US history celebrated his 100th birthday and my son and I recounted how he could have been JUST a judge, or a one-term legislator. Instead, he served 70+ years of exemplary public service in all three governmental branches, setting multiple longevity records, and changing lives in the process. Heck, the man never went to law school and became an outstanding judge by reading and memorizing every law book available! Similar things have occurred when men such as Joe Kinney took it upon himself to be all he could be…and then some. The great ones in any endeavor have brought themselves to the point of self-realization by seeing through the looking glass. Many of you out there reading this can be greater than you ever believed by just taking that step. You must first really clarify what is the real goal in your “life quest”, make a plan, and stick to it. We all want this, and we all want that, but how many really take the planned steps to make it happen?
From the first day I lugged my set of weights, at the age of six, to kindergarten for show and tell, my identification and goal was to be a meaningful part of the world of strength. It was only when I looked through the glass and saw the gift of hand strength that I had, was it clear what I had to do in order to develop this gift into something that would leave my mark on the strength world. I had to focus all the training and desire to one pinpoint, pushed along by an all-out, one minded effort. Along with just desire, you must seek at all costs, quality information to lessen wasted time, spend time around the greats in your desired field, form a plan, and stick to it. Be your own man, but do all you can to join with like-minded individuals to reinforce the determination and direction of your quest.
People ask me how did you get such a grip? Genetics is a real factor and don’t sell that point short, but the mind and the focus of power it can direct is key. When you grip something, you must take all of the stored tension in your body and really focus it to those five fingers, NOT your entire body. It is like trying to read, chew gum, talk, dial a phone, and walk at the same time. It can be done, but never with all things done perfectly. If you sat still and focused all thought and effort into chewing that gum, or taking each precise step while walking, you could realize what I mean about grip focusing. My secret…when I grip something, the rest of my body doesn’t strain, just my hand and mind are 100% focused on the feat I am trying. For example; in the pinch grip, almost everyone I have ever watched “tries” with the might of their entire body to “lift” the plates off the floor, instead of relaxing the body, focusing the mind into the hand, clamping the fingers single-mindedly on the plates and while that is done, just standing up! Sound simple? Yeah, but that IS THE SECRET! In all other cases, your body is being used to shunt energy or pull your fingers off the very plates you wish to lift.
In closing, I find the most valuable thing my gift of grip ever gave me was the wonderful friends and relationships I have had over my years of strength training. I feel a super grip is not a means to an end, but an extension or bright point contained within a package called a “Strong Man.”
by Richard Sorin
Each man perceives through his reflection in the looking glass of life what he believes his destiny and capabilities are. Unless a shocking revelation or strange twist of fate occurs, most lives in general follow a path or course of least resistance and stay within the bounds of what each person perceives they are capable of.
Recently, Strom Thurmond, the oldest politician in US history celebrated his 100th birthday and my son and I recounted how he could have been JUST a judge, or a one-term legislator. Instead, he served 70+ years of exemplary public service in all three governmental branches, setting multiple longevity records, and changing lives in the process. Heck, the man never went to law school and became an outstanding judge by reading and memorizing every law book available! Similar things have occurred when men such as Joe Kinney took it upon himself to be all he could be…and then some. The great ones in any endeavor have brought themselves to the point of self-realization by seeing through the looking glass. Many of you out there reading this can be greater than you ever believed by just taking that step. You must first really clarify what is the real goal in your “life quest”, make a plan, and stick to it. We all want this, and we all want that, but how many really take the planned steps to make it happen?
From the first day I lugged my set of weights, at the age of six, to kindergarten for show and tell, my identification and goal was to be a meaningful part of the world of strength. It was only when I looked through the glass and saw the gift of hand strength that I had, was it clear what I had to do in order to develop this gift into something that would leave my mark on the strength world. I had to focus all the training and desire to one pinpoint, pushed along by an all-out, one minded effort. Along with just desire, you must seek at all costs, quality information to lessen wasted time, spend time around the greats in your desired field, form a plan, and stick to it. Be your own man, but do all you can to join with like-minded individuals to reinforce the determination and direction of your quest.
People ask me how did you get such a grip? Genetics is a real factor and don’t sell that point short, but the mind and the focus of power it can direct is key. When you grip something, you must take all of the stored tension in your body and really focus it to those five fingers, NOT your entire body. It is like trying to read, chew gum, talk, dial a phone, and walk at the same time. It can be done, but never with all things done perfectly. If you sat still and focused all thought and effort into chewing that gum, or taking each precise step while walking, you could realize what I mean about grip focusing. My secret…when I grip something, the rest of my body doesn’t strain, just my hand and mind are 100% focused on the feat I am trying. For example; in the pinch grip, almost everyone I have ever watched “tries” with the might of their entire body to “lift” the plates off the floor, instead of relaxing the body, focusing the mind into the hand, clamping the fingers single-mindedly on the plates and while that is done, just standing up! Sound simple? Yeah, but that IS THE SECRET! In all other cases, your body is being used to shunt energy or pull your fingers off the very plates you wish to lift.
In closing, I find the most valuable thing my gift of grip ever gave me was the wonderful friends and relationships I have had over my years of strength training. I feel a super grip is not a means to an end, but an extension or bright point contained within a package called a “Strong Man.”