Coming full circle...my return to my grip roots.

[Richard Sorin]

Hi Gripsters, I have decided that it is time to re-enter the "moderen era of grip". I have trained off and on for the past 45 years on grip and feats of grip strength. As I prefer they were usually impromptu, high intensity varied programs that led I think to a well rounded base of grip power that has when called upon has served me well.

I think there is a huge difference between "sayin" and Doin' so, instead of only commenting on my past and the equipment available "then" I will start my quest with TODAYS rules and equipment.

I think at age 57 in good health, 270lb ,recovered from a bout of cancer, AND stilll having the will to it after 16 years I will try to re-certify on the famous world standard of grip the Ironmind #3 Gripper. I will try to maintain a simple (in my own note style wording) a daily workout journal to regain my grip goal of days long past.

I will share this on a bi weekly basis hoping my work leads to success and some usable information to aspiring gripsters.

Richard Sorin

[Richard Sorin]

Monday Aug 20 2007, 272 bodyweight. Following upperbody training day of 5 sets of 2 diamond bar seated press, Bench Press with cambered bar 5 sets of 4,dumbbell press 5 sets of 6,(all sets listed are work sets Not counting warmups) Tricep pushdown 5 sets of 10 GRIP: 3 Single attempts no set at #1, #1.5,#2. Same three singles each size with wide credit card plus set #2.5 ,#3(to 3/8" of close) and 3.5 to 1/2" with braced hand close. 76,80,82 kilo squeeze on new Baseline dyno. Note: Felt ok except still bleeding from deep cut on ring finger on right hand. RS

[Richard Sorin]

Thursday August 23 2007. Bodyweight 274. Upperbody pressing workout keeping same set scheme but changing reps from last workout. Grip: Single attempts with 3 tries at each gripper a #1,#1.5,#2,#2.5 using wide credit card set. Hard, solid shuts. #3 all three tries at 3/8" from shut,# 3.5 all at 3/4" from shut. Blob lifts by face successful three singles at each weight 32.5,40,42.5, and 45 lb.. Notes: Feel a bit siore and tired,included ab and neck work. Hand during gripping of Ironmind grippers held out to side and at shoulder height. RS

[Sqeezemasterflash]

Looking forward to reading about your progress!

[Richard Sorin]

Monday August 27. 276 bodyweight. Upper body workout. Diamond bar seated press 5ets of 4 at 185, Cambered benchpress 5 sets of 2 at 305 medium grip wth a pause, Dumbbell bench press 5 sets of 8 at 85 pounders, Tricep pushdown 5 sets of 10 at 80. Grip: No set off table pickup and close singles. 3 singles at #1,#1.5,#2,#2.5. Credit card width start 3 singles #3 first and last try to 1/4".... second try very close 3/16" or less. #3.5 for the singles to 5/8-3/4". Did slow baseline Dyno close of 86 Kilo. Training is going well the grippers still feel strange in my hand and have not felt as though they were in the "sweet spot" yet where I can apply max force. Also the final position of my arm needs to be adjusted from arm out to side at shoulder height. I need polishing as much as strength work. New batch of grippers are on the way to me.

[House]

Had a great time testing the grip the other day in the gym, Monday. You are truly an inspiration and look forward to assaulting the #3 in 5 weeks or so. All you guys in the gym really motivate me to become stronger not just in the gym, but in life.
House

[Richard Sorin]

Thursday August 30, Bodyweight 272, Full body workout . Diamond bar seated press singles 5 singles 205 -220, Benchpress on cambered bar 5 sets of 5 at 275, Wide grip highpull 5 sets of 3 at 235, squat 5 sets of 3 at 275-315. Lifting went well. GRIP: Faster paced no set singles 3 each at #1, #1.5,#2, And #2.5. All shut well. 6 sets of singles at wide credit card+ grip with #3down to about 1/2" same for three singles at #3.5 down to about 3/4-7/8". Attempts at #3 and above did not feel good. I will try some light deload training this weekend and start doing some G-rex grip "holds" and negatives next week. RS

[Richard Sorin]

Tuesday Sept 4, 2007, bodyweight 270. Workout Triplex pulls 9 sets of 3 to 245, High shrugs 3 sets of 10 with 245, Camber bar curls 7 sets of 6 to 140, Squats 4 sets of 2 at 315 then one set of 4 at 315, GRIP:, Single no set tries, 3 each at #1, #1.5, #2, #2.5. All closed solid. Wide credit card plus width 3 singles at 3/8" with #3. Credit card width singles with #3.5 all three attempts down to 1/2 -5/8". Pictures taken during practice.

[Richard Sorin]

Thursday Sept7 , bodyweight 268.

Whole body workout.

Diamond bar press 4 sets of 3 at 190, 1 set of 3 at 200, Cambered bar bench press 5 sets of 3 at 310, Wide grip high-pulls 5 sets of 3 at 250, Squats 5 sets of 3 at 275, Treadmill 11 min, Neck /ab work with med-ball and back attack 100 total reps each,

GRIP: 5 non reposition single no set reps with #1, #1.5,#2, #2.5 ( last two reps of #2.5 set came close but didn't touch. 5 singles with credit card set on #3 First try to 1/4" other singles to about 1/2" to 3/4". All gripper work was completed in 8 minutes....fatigue did set in. Timed bodyweight static holds with my bodyweight ...2 sets of 30 seconds on G-Rex. My hands feel much better after daily use of "healthy hands package" from the Ironmind folks.I retrospect I think most grip guys overtrain , train in the same plane of motion, and fail to "de-Load" in opposite directions of force. I am now ready to start to vary my workout regimen to better attend to avoiding the pitfalls of grip. RS

<img src="http://www.sorinexforums.com/vidpic/pic/grip/grip1.JPG" alt="Richard Grip" title="Richard Grip"

<img src="http://www.sorinexforums.com/vidpic/pic/grip/grip2.JPG" alt="Richard Grip" title="Richard Grip"

<img src="http://www.sorinexforums.com/vidpic/pic/grip/grip3.JPG" alt="Richard Grip" title="Richard Grip"

[Richard Sorin]

Monday Sept 10, bodyweight 276. Upper body workout day. Diamond bar press sets of 5 to 175, Cambered bar benchpress singles to 355, Dumbbell benchpress 5 sets of 10 at 80 lb. Tricep pushdown 5 sets of 8 light at 80, Rock climbing handle fingertip pulldowns 3 sets of 20 up to 90 lb. GRIP, Opened "new" #3 sent to me by Randy Strossen of Ironmind as "standard" to re-certify on. I took one testing warmup squeeze then three singles (photos taken) Each attempt was credit card width and full shut was achieved on each trial. Gripper was easier to handle... I think of a good, new knurl on grip AND polished springs as I think the most recent grippers are now really helped.I am elated at todays success. I continue on daily theraputiuc reverse hand openings with healthy hands band kit. Even though feeling very tired yesterday I am so glad I tried these attempts. Now, on to more repeat days of this..............RS

<img src="http://www.sorinexforums.com/vidpic/pic/grip/grip/1.jpg" alt="Richard Closing #3 COC Gripper" title="Richard Closing #3 COC Gripper"

<img src="http://www.sorinexforums.com/vidpic/pic/grip/grip/2.jpg" alt="Richard Closing #3 COC Gripper" title="Richard Closing #3 COC Gripper"

<img src="http://www.sorinexforums.com/vidpic/pic/grip/grip/3.jpg" alt="Richard Closing #3 COC Gripper" title="Richard Closing #3 COC Gripper"

<img src="http://www.sorinexforums.com/vidpic/pic/grip/grip/4.jpg" alt="Richard Closing #3 COC Gripper" title="Richard Closing #3 COC Gripper"

<img src="http://www.sorinexforums.com/vidpic/pic/grip/grip/5.jpg" alt="Richard Closing #3 COC Gripper" title="Richard Closing #3 COC Gripper"

<img src="http://www.sorinexforums.com/vidpic/pic/grip/grip/6.jpg" alt="Richard Closing #3 COC Gripper" title="Richard Closing #3 COC Gripper"

<img src="http://www.sorinexforums.com/vidpic/pic/grip/grip/7.jpg" alt="Richard Closing #3 COC Gripper" title="Richard Closing #3 COC Gripper"

<img src="http://www.sorinexforums.com/vidpic/pic/grip/grip/8.jpg" alt="Richard Closing #3 COC Gripper" title="Richard Closing #3 COC Gripper"

<img src="http://www.sorinexforums.com/vidpic/pic/grip/grip/9.jpg" alt="Richard Closing #3 COC Gripper" title="Richard Closing #3 COC Gripper"

[Richard Sorin]

Thursday Sept 13, Total body workout. Diamond bar press 5 sets of 4 at 180, Wide grip highpull to neck 5 sets at 225,Light hang cleans. GRIP, Tried video,lots of noise to distract, angry, poor attempts. Did sets of 2 singles with no set #1,#1.5,#2,#2.5, Two attempts, credit card set with #3 down to 3/8-1/2" everything felt wrong. Shut it down for the day. RS

<embed src="http://sorinexforums.com/vidpic/vid/angryrichard.swf" wmode="" quality="high" menu="false" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="320" height="240" </embed>

[Richard Sorin]

Bodyweight 274, Tuesday 9/18/07. Triplex pulls 9 sets of 3 to 270, Shrug highpulls 3 sets of 10 at 270, Curls sets of 6 to 140, Squats sets of 2 to 405 (includung 315, 355,375) Had to slow pace after pulls but then did well. Grip: 3 sessions today, Morning opened new #3 and took photos felt and looked shut on two singles, Afternoon, Singles with credit card 1,1.5,2,2.5. Evening 10 sets of 5 on band resistance Atlas type grip station. Worked progressively up to very hard closes ...felt good and not sore .RS

[Richard Sorin]

Bodyweight 274, Monday 9/24/07. Workout upper body. Diamond bar press singles to 227, Benchpress 5 sets of 5 to 320, Dumbbell bench press 100s 3sets of 4 and one set of 8, Tricep pushdown 5 sets of 5. GRIP, Sets of 3 combined singles no set. Strong closes #1 ,#1.5,2, 2.5 (last rep of 3 with 2.5 was down to 3/16". Single, no set close attempts at the #3 went strongly down on first 2 attempts to 1/4" and last try to 3/16" best try to date. Followed with Atlas type band resisted unit in 10 sets of 5 micro loading on each successive set. Felt strong! I think my #3 try to re-certify will be a no set close wider than credit card minimum. Shutting a new, out of package #3 with a no set would make me very pleased.Rs

[Richard Sorin]

Tuesday 9/25/07 Triplex high pulls 9 sets of 3 to 325 to chin height, Shrug high pulls 3 sets of 10 at 325, Curls on selector machine 5 sets of 10 to 100, Squats singles to 500 (including 460). GRIP, No set singles 3 seperate attempts at 1,1.5,2,2.5 and 3 very strong down to 3/16" or less(on #3) and held for several seconds. Using regular set"about credit card" width three single #3 closes with 10 second holds in closed position were done. Following work on the band tensioned Atlas type device 10 sets of 5. Healthy hands reverse bands and massage for rehab shall follow.RS

[Richard Sorin]

Bodyweight 274, Thursday Sept 27 2007 Workout Diamond bar press 5 sets of 5 to 177, Camber bar bench press Singles to 355,Wide grip highpulls 5 sets of 5 to 257, Curl machine isolation bar over head curls 6 sets of 10 to 80, Squat 5 sets of 5 to 345, Ab/neck work 175 total reps. GRIP, Worked on no set closes in a split session. Repeated same no set (3 trials at each gripper) 1,1.5,2,2.5 and #3 down to 3/8" filmed attempts. Repeated same work later in the day after my weight workout. Added Atlas type grip machine closes 10 sets of 5 hard squeezes. Fingers are getting tougher in gripper contact area esp. thumb and ring finger. Hands tired and sore I will do heathy hands band work Friday and get some deep tissue massage on my hands and forearm.No setting the #3 seems like the way for me to go...It might take a bit longer to re certify but, I think it will be worth the sweat.RS

[Richard Sorin]

Taking a week off of lifting. Bodyweight 268 .After a 4 day rest I decided to do a bit of credit card set tries as far as I could go. I did 3 singles at each gripper up to 2.5. Felt ok but nothing great. I decided then to try the #3. First try with card full shut. Amazed, I went for a witness for "an extra set of eyeballs". Two singles, slow, deliberate, but full shut. Happy with my success I packed up and got ready to leave. Former strength coach and lifting magnate Jeff Goergen strolled in and I told him the good news. In a thoughtful moment I asked him if he would watch me try a fourth attempt. I showed him a #3 gripper recently opened from the package and clamped it down to what he said "less than the thickness of a credit card"(1/64"?). I am satisfied with my progress with the credit card manipulation and change of closing tempo being my only problems to get adjusted to.RS

[goergen1]

I have to say that was awesome. There are very few people out there that can say.

"I just closed the #3 3X. You wanna see me try again!!!"

Super HardKore :eek: :D :cool:

(I like to use a K in HardKore at the proper times when the rounded c is too wussy for the occasion)