"Get a Grip" With Joe Kinney - Grip Strength DVD

As you may or may not know, Joe Kinney was the man who first closed the Ironmind #4 gripper... and he did so as if it were no more than a Trainer. At the time (back in 1998 or so) he also put together a great training video outlining some of the unusual methods which he used to be able to mash the #4.

It showed things like Joe crushing the #4 and grinding the handles, the unusual way he uses the wrist roller to build wrist strength and his own creation "The Secret Weapon" - among other things.

It was not a Hollywood production by any means, but it did get Joe's point across very well, and in my opinion it is one of the best pure "training" videos ever made. I was lucky enough to get a copy of it way back when and have run it ragged from how many times I have watched it.

GET A GRIP! With Joe Kinney - NOW AVAILABLE- Get a Grip! With Joe Kinney DVD $39.99 + $7 Shipping Order by Phone: 1-800-978-0206

Anyhow, fast forward over a decade and you'll find me trying to get in touch with Joe Kinney because I had some questions for him and I was curious to see what he has been up to. It took a while, but I eventually did connect with the man and found that we saw eye to eye on a lot of different training topics.

-- If you have been reading my emails for the past year, I'm sure that you remember my having mentioning this several times.

What you don't know, however, is that I also asked Joe if we could transfer his old grip video onto DVD and start featuring it on the site.

He agreed - but not only that, he suggested that we may want to add some new footage to help illustrate some of the techniques and tactics on the video that may not have been as clear as he wanted back then.

Needless to say I was delighted, and so a few weeks back me and our video production crew trekked down to Bean Station, Tennessee to sit down and talk training with the man himself... Well you know how it is when two folks start talking about training... about two and a half hours later the batteries ran out in the cameras but not before we had covered just about every detail I could think of about his training.

Things like his exact set and rep scheme and technique for the secret weapon... how often he trained... what his workouts looked like... if he did any other type of training along with his grip work etc etc etc. There was a lot more too it than that but you should get the idea there.

Anyhow, here's the important thing you should know:

About a month from now we are going to make Joe Kinney's grip video available once again. We'll have the "original" as it looked when it was originally released, and on top of that two ADDITIONAL hours of Joe Kinney footage on grip training techniques and such.

We are still doing a bit of editing, putting on credits and titles etc etc, then there's however long it is going to be at the replicators, which shouldn't take too long at all. Bottom line, if you want to train for super human grip strength, then you simply must get this dvd.

I cant hardly believe it myself, and I was there the whole time.

Now, as I mentioned, this project is still in production and when it is ready, you can bet that I am going to let everyone in the world know so they (and you) can grab a copy.

At the moment, I need you to make sure to keep an eye on your in-box for updates and a specific release date, which we should have shortly. For our sanity, please do not call or email and ask when it will be ready, I will make sure that everyone is made aware when I have a definite date.

Right now I can say as a ball park, mid to late October.

We are also looking to create a short trailer so you can see what it is all about beforehand in case you're curious. Also, I need you to spread the word about this to anyone you think may be interested.

Everybody needs stronger hands but "Joe Kinney Strong" is a whole new ball game.

More updates soon...

Train hard,
John Wood

NEW Ironmind #1.5 Hand Grippers

NEW Ironmind #1.5 Hand Grippers

We are proud to announce that we have the brand NEW #1.5 hand grippers from Ironmind. Actually, the packaging is the only thing that has radically changed BUT the fact of the matter is we are the first place to feature these new grippers - not even Ironmind has them available yet.

Currently, the only level available in this new 'style' are the #1.5 grippers (rated at 167.5 lbs. of closing poundage. We will be making each of the other Ironmind gripper levels with the new packaging available over the coming weeks.

Otherwise, if you want to be the first one on your block (literally!) to grab this new gripper, then you may order online right here:

- Order Online -

Order by phone: 1800-978-0206

Just Talked With Joe Kinney...

I've mentioned a couple times that we are hard at work on several "top secret" projects -- well let me give you a few details on one of these projects.

Joe Kinney

Joe Kinney, as you may or may not know, is the first man to close the Iron Mind #4 gripper -- and he didnt just close it, he mashed it like it was nothing more than a Trainer.

Well, it took some doing but I finally was able to contact Mr. Kinney and this morning, we talked for well over 90 minutes about all kinds of things "grippin," leg training, what it really takes to close the big grippers and even a few training techniques that he hasn't shared with many people...

I know you're curious... but it's going to have to wait until the time is right for more details on what we have cooked up.

In the meantime, theres who things you can do:

1. Tell the world.

and

2. Get a couple of your own IM hand grippers, cuz its about
time you started REALLY training your hands: Iron Mind Grippers

More to come...

Train hard,
John Wood

How I Play the Game

You can look around the Internet these days and see it - but it's always been this way. People talking about tips and tricks and shortcuts to Strength Success...

Of course, there's a right and wrong way to train but that's the incorrect mindset to have and let me tell you why. When trying to accomplish a goal, there is only what is necessary and what is relevant, all else is a waste of time.

And lots of people waste lots of time trying to figure out shortcuts instead of correctly applying their time and effort into what it takes to get stronger. So my feeling is that instead of spending time trying to figure out "tricks and shortcuts" of the game, my philosophy is to just play the game better than anyone else.

That's to say, simply do the simple, basic (although possibly mundane) things that make the greatest difference in terms of Success.

You know what they are. You know exactly what they are...

Its just a matter of "doing it."

Take hand gripper training for example. You would be amazed at the lengths that people go for "tricks and shortcuts" for closing the big grippers.

I have seen folks close a gripper with two hands, hold it with one and then announce to the world how strong they are. Ive seen folks heat up grippers with a blowtorch, or put it in a vise in or put it on the ground and step on the handle over and over to try to weaken the spring.

Bear in mind a lot of thought has gone into these tactics.

Evidently "just getting stronger" involves too much time and effort for many folks.

Funny thing is, it always does...

I say focus on just getting stronger every single workout - then there's no excuses...

Hand Grippers: Getting Started

Think of a solid dumbbell which is too heavy to lift – how would you train with it? There are a few ways... but...

You can make it a whole lot easier when you can lift it at least once. You begin with singles... then, as you grow stronger, you can progress to doubles etc etc until you master that weight...

So when someone asks: "Which Gripper should I start with?" (which is one of the most popular questions we receive) my answer is, at its most basic level, is "one you can close."

Think about it – theres no sense in trying to get started at a level far above what you are currently able to do .

And it doesnt matter whether you can close your gripper once, ten times, even fifty times it is the constant graduated improvement over time that will make you stronger, regardless of where you begin.

Think about what training "is" ... what it means... The main idea here is improvement... but you can only improve if you can first establish where you are... and then you can build from there.

This most often means somewhere in the Sport, Trainer, #1 range on the Captains of Crush scale.

Improvement, in the form of strength gains, will come from a balanced, systematic, workout scheme which incorporates the proper recovery.

It really couldnt be any simpler than that...

Train hard,
John Wood

P.S. We've got several hundred of each hand gripper strength in stock at all times and we ship 'em out quicker than anyone else. Here's where to get started: Captains of Crush Hand Grippers

Why It's Good to Be Uncomfortable

Yogi Berra, in his infinite wisdom, once said: 'You can observe a lot just by watching' and like most Yogi-isms, this one becomes even more profound the more you think about it.

The truth is, the 'Secret' to success for a lot of people is to simply pay more attention to things that most people dont. In doing so, youll be rewarded with a greater understanding of how things 'work' which is a tremendous advantage indeed.

As time goes by, I have learned to do just that, take a step back and pay more attention to things - especially the things that I though I already knew - and a whole new world has opened up for me.

Now, according to the Rational Choice Theory, one would instinctually make choices that lead to the greatest 'benefit' with the least amount of hassle. In short, the road if least resistance toward getting the things we want.

Makes sense when you think about it, I mean, we live in relative comfort, with food, heat and shelter readily available, something that our ancestors hundreds of years ago had to struggle mightily for.

Modern comfort is certainly nice but the thing of it is, there is such a thing
as becoming too comfortable.

You see, struggle is necessary to teaches us, make us stronger and causes us to grow physically, mentally, and morally.

Think of the processes by which your muscles grow - you subject them to exercise above and beyond what they are comfortable with and used to. Theyrespond by growing stronger. Getting in shape is the same way - physical exercise causes the heart and lungs to get out of their comfort zone and begin to use the available oxygen more efficiently.

But if you do nothing and simply exist as you are - in relative comfort - your body will fall to the level of comfort to which it exists in which ironically, isnt
what most people want.

The bottom line here is that its good to be uncomfortable, to be 'Hungry' for change because you wont be motivated to do the things which can actually bring about change otherwise.

As far as working out, Im not talking about having to wrap your barbell in barbed wire or doing squats barefoot on broken glass, that would understandably be taking things too far.

What I am talking about is pushing things just a little bit beyond what you feel is even possible.

If you know in your heart you can get 10 reps with a certain weight, go for atleast 11. If you dont feel like getting up early to go for a jog, that may be a sign that that is exactly what you should be doing.

Youll surprise yourself when you begin to look at things this way.

The key here is to challenge yourself - take that next step, even if and especially
if you are a little bit scared. Many people reach that threshold, only a few will
cross it.

Will you be one of them?

Train hard.
John Wood

P.S. If youve ever played ball at the park, you know that there are plenty of
fence sitters. Sure, its easy to sit and watch but the fact of the matter is you
cant win the game while standing on the sidelines.

Roughly 14 weeks from now, there will be a VERY good reason to be a Gripper Training Email Member - an announcement will happen in the very near future
as to what I am referring to but I highly suggest you take this opportunity to
order a set of grippers and join up if you have not done so already as you will
not want to miss out on this.

Your training will never be the same. Here is the link, you know what to do:
Captains of Crush

Or, you can order the New 'Tweeners' here:Iron Mind Tweeners