"Get a Grip With Joe Kinney" DVD Cover - First Look

"Get a Grip With Joe Kinney" DVD Cover - First Look

Here's a look at the proposed cover for the re-release of Joe Kinney's "Get a Grip" DVD. I think it looks pretty damn sharp if I do say so myself. Our design department did a great job. Look for a release date in about a month or so. Keep an eye out for more details soon in our daily announcements.

One thing is for sure: when it comes to grip training, nothing will ever be the same once this video hits the streets. In the meantime, you can get your grippers immediately by following the link.

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

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

Are You Up To The New Challenge?

Iron Mind Hand Grippers

I just got word of some exciting news from the folks over at Iron Mind -- you know about their certification for closing their #3 and #4 grippers right?

Well they just announced that they are going to open up a new list for their 3.5 level gripper which I think is a great idea.

I've closed it in the past, but not consistently, so now that's going to be my prioroty this summer -- Ill let you in on a few techniques that Ill be using at a later date. And you know when I do it, it will be done in a way where theres no
question at all as to who is the big dog...

For now though, the race is one to see whos going to have the "right stuff" to get the list. If you havent already done so, here's where to get your own 3.5 and any of the other IM tweener grippers youll need: Iron Mind "Tweener" Hand Gripppers

Train hard,
John Wood

P.S. "It is time for us all to stand and cheer for the doer, the achiever - the one who recognizes the challenge and does something about it." ~ Vince Lombardi

Rare Ironmind Hand Grippers Found!

Rare Ironmind Hand Grippers

I was rummaging around in the suply closet this morning and found a box I didn't recognize... Then I opened it up and found something I sure didn'texpect to ever se again.

I found a half dozen "old school" Ironmind Hand Grippers still in their original packaging.

The thing about hand grippers is that they are like fine wines -- each year they are just a little bit different. (And that is one reason why hand grippers are so much fun.)

In any case, I am going to make these rare grippers available right now but I do not expect them to last long. They are circa 2003 or so and have their very distinctive blue packaging as you can see above.

We only have certain strengths available:

T-1
#1-0
#2-0
#3-0
#4-1

There will undoubtedly be a rush so if you want one of these rare grippers you must call in the order:

1-800-978-0206

These grippers will be priced at the normal price $19.99 + S/H.

Act Quick! - When they are gone, they are gone. (This page will be updated accordingly.)

Slow it Down for Big Gains

One simple way to increase the intensity of your workout is is to slow the movements down and get the most out of each rep. Sometimes what happens is that over the course of several workouts, the struggle to get "just one more rep" leads to a little bit of cheating here and there.

I dont necessarily think cheating is a bad thing, it actually can be used productively in some situations but theres a reason why the skinny kid at your gym
who does nothing but "bellytoss" benchpresses and cheat curls with a 25 lb. dumbbell ever gets any bigger.

You see, the goal of a workout is to put a certain kind of stress on your muscles. Your muscles then adapt to this stress and grow stronger.

If you "cheat" in certain movements, it creates either momentum, (which takes the stress off the muscles) or an adjustment in form (which allows for greater
weight to be used, albeit without a corresponding increase in strength)

In either case, muscle growth will not occur, or if it does, not in an appreciable degree.

Often times the purpose of increasing bar speed is taught because it gets the bar through the sticking point into amore favorable leverage position.

Now, Im not saying you have to move at a snail's pace here either, just an extra count or two will be fine, and you would be very surprised at what a difference
this can make.

This technique works especially well for hand grippers since the strength curve of the spring resistance is so steep.

Take a gripper that you think is pretty easy, and I suggest erring on the lighter side (Even if you can close a #3 like me, grab a #1) Heck, even the Guide or Sport will do.

Then, using your normal form, squeeeeeze as needed, but take at least a good second longer than usual and get a good overcrush when the handles touch. Then let the handles out slowly and repeat.

If you work up to closing a #3 like this, you'll be one scary person.

You'll find that even with an easy gripper, this is quite a challenge, and the soreness that you will experience the next day will let youknow youre on the right track.

Like I said, this technique can be used with a number of exercises, -- get the most out of every rep.

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...

Captains of Crush Hand Grippers:

The Captains of Crush Hand Grippers
Here at Functional Hand Strength, we want to offer our customers the very best in grip strength training equipment which is why we feature the Captains of Crush hand grippers by Ironmind.

These are the best grippers on the market and we are very proud to make them available to you.

Today, we want to let you know about the variety of resistances available in these grippers.

We offer ten different levels of resistance:

Starting with our Guide gripper, which gives you 60 lbs. of resistance. Keep in mind that your average, run-of the mill, sporting goods store hand gripper is going to give you only about 25-35 lbs of resistance. Plus, they are usually built with cheap plastic and will surely breakdown over only a short time.

So the Guide will give you a good workout right off the bat.

Combine the Guide with our Sport (rated at 80 lbs.) and the Trainer (rated at 100 lbs.) and you have a good starting point to work with. If you're a beginner to grip training, we highly recommend going with this set of three grippers.

These three hand gripper provide an excellent progression for those just starting out.

From there, our grippers are numbered from the #1 gripper and up to the #4 gripper in increments that will help you progress. The #1 gripper is rated at 140 lbs; the #1.5 is rated at 167.5 lbs. and so on all the way to the #4 gripper, rated at a whopping 365 lbs. of resistance.

Not many venture into the higher echelons of the Captains of Crush grippers, but if you have closed the beginner grippers, you should move on to our intermediate combo pack.

This includes our #1, #1.5 and #2 grippers. On top of that, we also have an advanced combo pack, which included the #2.5, #3, and the #3.5. Past that is a place only a handful of people in the world have reached: the #4 gripper.

This is the ultimate grip strength achievement.

So whether you are just starting out, or have been training for years, you will find the right resistances with our Captains of Crush line of hand grippers.

Want to learn more? Click here to read our Captains of Crush Buyers Guide.

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

About Ironmind Captains of Crush Hand Grippers

Ironmind Hand Grippers

We have had some requests for some more info on the Ironmind Captains of Crush Hand Grippers so that's what will be covered here.

Levels:

The Guide - 60 lbs. - Roughly twice as hard as the average sporting goods store gripper

The Sport - 80 lbs. - The perfect introduction to heavy duty hand gripper training

The Trainer - 100 lbs. - Our most popular gripper

#1 - 140 lbs. - Most Strongmen still have trouble with this one

#1.5 - 167.5 lbs. - A midpoint between levels

#2 - 195 lbs. - Close a #2 and you have a grip to be proud of

#2.5 - 237.5 lbs. - Now you're knocking on the door of world class

#3 - 280 lbs. - The Benchmark feat - time to get your name on the list

#3.5 - 322.5 lbs. - A level where few can tread

#4 - 365 lbs. - No man's land, only room for a couple at the top of this mountain

Training:
Ideally you should have a complete set of hand grippers becasue it makes progression that much easier. However, for the most effective training, you will need at least three of them and here's why:

A Gripper that you can close for a number of reps - For high-rep endurance work, hand toughening and "warm-ups"

A Gripper that you can close for a moderate number of reps (8-10) - The gripper you will be doing your "Working" sets with

A Gripper that you can just barely close or can't quite close yet - Your "Goal" gripper

For more information and gripper recommendations, please see our Hand Gripper Buying Guide

Where to Begin:

We generally recommend starting with the Trainer or Sport grippers. The reason is that these levels will allow you to gauge your strength most effectively as well as use for actual "training" grippers becasue you will be able to close them. As a rule of thumb is is better to start out at a level "too easy" rather than a level too hard.

Monday Update

Things are buzzing round the ol' FHS clubhouse. Heres a look at the latest news:

1. I've been cracking the whip all weekend and its looking like we will be 100% caught up with all recent orders by this afternoon. We do appreciate everyones patience through the holiday and our having to play catch up.

Needless to say, the flood of orders on and around the holiday was quite an unexpected surprise but now we are on top of everything and all will be in the mail by this afternoon.

2. Were at the home stretch with our limited edition Fire Cracker hand Grippers and if you dont grab one right now, its looking like you arent going to get another chance.

Add a piece of history to your collection right here: SOLD OUT

3. If you still haven’t signed up for our mailing list, now is the time to do
so: Mailing List

If you have already signed up previously, you do not need to do so again.

4. Look for a brand new training dvd coming tomorrow over on the Bodyweight site. This is truly one of the coolest dvds I have ever seen and that's saying a lot.

5. We're looking at many new products over the course of the summer and on through the rest of 2007. We also have a brand new specialty training website in the works. Stay tuned for more info on that when the time comes.

6. If you place an order for a climbing rope, sandbag or something else with a lead time of several weeks, please know that we place the order with our manufacturer the very same day, usually only a few minutes you place the order is placed with us. If you need a certain piece of equipment in a certain timeframe, please make allowances for the posted lead time.

7. The Blog over on the oldtime strongman site is quickly becoming one
of our most popular pages. If you havent checked it out yet, here's a link:
Oldtime Strongman BLOG

Thats all for now, if you have any questions or need anything else, just drop us an email or give us a call: 1-800-978-0206

Train hard,
John Wood

New Updates & More

Things have been hoppin round the FHS clubhouse lately. We always have somethin new and interesting going on and I thought I would keep you updated on recent happenings.

1. First order of business – we thank everyone for the slight delay we have had on some recent orders. The rush of interest combined with the holiday being in the middle of the week last week made for a bit of an unusual situation.

The good news is that the kids in the office have been working overtime.

Yep, Ive been really cracking that whip and just about everything, including recent super gripper orders, will be shipped before the end of the week, with many arriving before then.

2. And speaking of the Ivanko Super Grippers, we are the only company in the country right now with them currently in stock, so if you want one, heres the only place to get it:

Ivanko Super Gripper

3. The Super Gripper Training Guide is shaping up to be something very cool. I just finished the section on how to combine hand gripper training with super gripper training which includes three different schemes.

I am currently working on the sample workout section which has, to date, 7 different "types" of workouts, 8 different "holds" and a section on how to build thumbstrength using the super gripper. We don't have a firm eta yet but the wheels are definitely turning. Stay tuned for more updates as we get them.

4. Were getting announcement postcards in a few days and will likely begin mailing sometime early next week. If you still havent signed up for our mailing list and dont want to miss out on the special surprise we have in store, you can do so at the following page:

FHS Mailing List

5. We've got a great new product coming out probably next week over
at the bodyweight training site. This is something very, very cool. Be on the lookout for that.

6. The Blog over at the oldtime strongman site is quickly turning into one of our most popular pages. I can see why, if youre into training, theres some very interesting stuff to see. Check it out for yourself right here:

Oldtime Strongman Blog

7. And lastly, a bit of administrative info. When you place an order for any item that we have shipped from the manufacturer, ie climbing ropes, sand bags, thick bars etc, we place your order immediately with them to get the ball rolling. This is a courtesy from us as we waste no time in getting the order underway.

Our manufacturers then ship out as soon as they can. Please be aware of the posted turn around times on the website site.

8. With the mercury rising, be sure to stay hydrated

If you need anything else, just give us a shout.

Train hard,
John Wood

Ivanko Super Gripper vs Hand Gripper - After 15 Rounds

As I discussed this morning, the Ivanko Super Gripper certainly has many advantages (among them portability and the ability to progress.)

But what about hand gippers?

Both pieces of equipment train the target musculature through a full range of motion, both can be used progressively and both are top quality so you know you can count on ‘em pretty much forever.

You see, as far as training the major function of the hand muscles (i.e. finger flexion i.e “crushing” strength (both hand grippers and the super gripper will work just fine but hand grippers also have their own unique advantages that no other piece of equipment can match.

Let me tell you what I mean.

Hand grippers, by virtue of rotational spring resistance, match the perfect strength curve
of the gripping muscles of the human hand. I think it was purely by accident but basic physics, human physiology and industrial ingenuity all happened to come together at a perfect moment to create a perfect (or nearly perfect) strength tool.

While hand grippers may lack the overall consistency of the Super Gripper or plate loaded grip machines, they more than make up for it in physiological effectiveness. No other piece of training equipment can reproduce this effect.

What’s more, there is nothing more satisfying than finally hearing the "click" of the handles of that gripper that you have been working on for a long time.

And don’t forget, if you want to develop a specific kind of strength you have to train in a specific manner so if you want to get stronger at hand grippers, you gotta train with 'em.

Now, what about the combination of the two types of training equipment – the Ivanko Super Gripper and heavy duty hand grippers? Remember, they both train roughly the same structures, although from a slightly different standpoint (based on the nature of their respective types of resistance types.)

To benefit from both (or either), simply train, systematically, in a progressive manner, while alternating workouts types. Stick with it and keep improving for long enough and an Iron Grip will be yours.

Train hard,
John Wood

P.S. To order your own Ivanko Super Gripper, Click Here.

The Showdown: Super Gripper vs. Hand Grippers

You know, everyone likes to play "Celebrity Deathmatch" when it comes to some of the different exercises:

Squats vs. Deadlifts
Kettlebells vs. Dumbbells
Barbells vs. Machines

I'm sure you get the picture. What is going to ultimately determine whether one exercise is "better" than another is how many requirements it fills with what you are trying to accomplish combined with how much you enjoy that exercise in and of itself.

So, for example, if you wanted to build overhead pressing strength, you could do your presses with a barbell, a dumbbell, a kettlebell, a sack of potatoes or even Eclipse the cat - it really doesnt matter, resistance can come in any form you want it to and as long as its performed progressively, you will get stronger.

However, if your goal is to get stronger at something specific say a barbell overhead press, the best way to do that is to train the barbell overhead press.

Simple huh? Evidently not so much as there are a lot of "confuz-ed" people on this point.

Thing is, what you can also do is supplement an exercise for varietie's sake and compliment it with a similar exercise.

So for example, if you wanted to increase your overhead press, you could alternate workouts with barbell pressing with dumbbell pressing and the two exercises (or other similar modalities) would compliment each other very well.

There are some other things to keep in mind for this type of scheme that I will go into on a later date.

Anyhow, this brings us to todays matchup:

The Ivanko Super Gripper vs. Hand Grippers

So whats better? (If you are thinking "better for what?" you are on the right track.) They both provide a very effective workout, and they are both useful but keep in mind they are also both different.

Lets take a look at some of their unique qualities.

As far as progression is concerned, the Ivanko Super Gripper is obviously the favorite. Instead of needing multiple grippers, all you have to do is adjust the spring farther from the pivot point to increase the resistance.

And yes, the Ivanko Super Gripper can be adjusted from a levels easier than your grandmother could use all the way up to levels that would challenge the Worlds Strongest Man

Theres over 50 levels of adjustment so the Super Gripper is going to give you an effective workout no matter who you are.

This also makes the Super Gripper pretty useful if you are on the go, just pack it in your suitcase and youre off (never mind the funny stares from the x-ray checkers at the airport)

But does this make hand grippers "obsolete?"

No, not by a longshot. Tune back in later today to find out why.

Train hard,
John Wood

P.S. In the meantime, youll definitely want to zip on over to this page and pick up an Ivanko Super Gripper for yourself if you haven't done so already. Up, up and away!

Ivanko Super Gripper



The Ivanko Super Gripper

Winning Football Games with Hand-to-Hand Combat

I caught a little bit of the NFL combine on Television this past weekend. Having been around the game my whole life, I've seen the player selection process from a lot of different angles.

While its true that there are lots of guys who can do amazing things in the bench press test or who are blazing fast at running the 40 yard dash - Big numbers dont always add up to big-time players, it's how they play that counts - or at least that should count the most.

It's how that strength, speed and stamina is applied within the context of the game which really tells the tale.

Sure a 'big bench' might look good on paper, but it is not necessarily going to help a player get off a block more efficiently and make plays.

The truth is, football players are only as good as their hands, especially in the trenches, on the offensive and defensive lines.

Offensive linemen need to be able to punch and grab, to keep the D-linemen at bay during pass blocking and they have to have the hands in the perfect spot on the chest plate to 'plant' their man down field on run blocking

Conversely, Defensive linemen need to be able to put all their strength into their hands when they come off the ball to strike, separate and make a play. Their hands have to be in the right spot or else their pass-rush moves won't work.

On both sides of the ball, this is Hand-to-hand combat and if a guy can't use his hands, he's a dead duck. Amazingly enough, this is something which the draft gurus have only recently started to take a look at.

And even more alarming, many 'top prospects' are lacking in this area.

So lets talk about what its going to take to build those kinds of hands.

First and foremost, it should be understood that a large part of having 'good hands' is going to be the specific practice in the skills of football which has to be done apart from the physical training itself.

Another interesting thing about the hands - I have always found that the stronger my hands got, the more 'aware' they were and so if I needed to place one hand on a chestplate and one on an outside arm for doing a pass rush move, I could do that with relative ease.

Youll see lots of guys with 'lazy hands' who end up putting them outside the shoulders or who 'double hitch' when they come off the ball.

These are a problem, but I think both of these can be avoided by building stronger hands - proper technique demands it.

Anyhow, with that understood, the hands can be made stronger, tougher and more efficient through specific exercises.

Heres what I recommend:

1. Hand grippers - the 'crushing' movement trains the fingers through a full range of motion, making them stronger and less likely to get jammed, sprained etc. You'll also need strong fingers because sometimes thats all you have to
hang on with when making a tackle.

2. Sandbag Training - A tremendous conditioner which also helps build strength and mental toughness in ways no barbell can match.

3. Basic exercises using a Thick Bar are also very effective.

That's just the 'grip and forearm' side of things. Training for football should involve other basic upper and lower body movements designed to strengthen every area. Conditioning work is also important and should never be neglected.

Heres an interesting stat - if you can get 1.5 quarterback sacks per game, you will be voted all state, get a college scholarship, or get drafted in the first round of the NFL.

Stronger hands can help you do this - I wonder if those combine guys realize this?

If you play football or know someone who does, how important is hand strength to you now?

Start training your hands right now, you could be ready in line for one hell of a season next fall.

Train hard.
John Wood

How The Focused Mind Can Pierce Stone

First of all, I want to extend a big welcome to Shelby and Bill, the two latest additions to the FHS family. At the moment they are hard at work learning the ropes and so far they are doing great.

Heres one from a little while ago, tis a good one:

Back In the days of high adventure, there lived a man who devoted himself wholeheartedly to Kyudo, the art of the bow.

He practiced for hours each day and never, ever missed a session. After several years of constant and gradual improvement, he had reached a level of skill with a bow and arrow that was far greater than any man who had ever walked the Earth, before or since.

One evening, as he was walking in the mountains where he lived, he saw a flicker of movement in the shadows. It was a tiger with its teeth bared, its back arched and ready to rip him to shreds.

Since this very well have been the last thing he ever did, he put every ounce of concentration he had into what happened in next

Without thought or hesitation, the archer grabbed an arrow from his quiver, notched it, and took aim.

He let the arrow fly…

It was a direct hit right to the head of the beast. The entire incident had only taken a few hundredths of a second. Without stopping to examine the dead animal, the archer continued on his way.

The next day, he became curious and returned to that spot. Upon his arrival, something seemed amiss as there was no dead tiger to be found. He was about to give up his search when he saw it...

There is was: The arrow he had shot the night before, embedded in a huge
boulder.

There had been no tiger after all, but the archer’s concentration had been so intense and so meaningful and his shot so powerful that his arrow had driven into solid rock.

From this incident came the famous Samurai maxim about concentration and power in any Way of Life: 'Ichinen iwa wo mo tosu' - The focused mind can pierce through stone.

Often people will ask me what one thing they can do right away to improve their training. I tell them to Concentrate harder and more intently on the things they already do.

Few people listen.

Just as the archer did, if you can put every ounce of concentration that you have toward only a few simple tasks, the results will defy belief.

Training itself is a simple thing to understand. The real secrets lie not necessarily in 'what' you do but how you do them. There are forces that can aid the mind that are hardly dreamt of by the average person.

If you’re going to be training tonight like I am, let the Tigers beware.

Train hard.

John Wood

P.S. Legendary feats happen with intense focus and the right tools. To build stronger, more powerful hands, you need a full set of Iron Mind Captains of Crush Hand Grippers.