The World's Best Hand & Grip Strength Training Instruction
Closed Minds and Empty Heads
Any successful venture is going to have its critics; that's a given.
Yes, we have our fair share at FHS and it is always incredibly
revealing when we take a look at exactly what these criticisms
actually mean.
For example, there is one guy from the snowy north who sent us a very nice note letting me know that
I "should be ashamed of myself" because "I preach a dogma of
only ONE true way to train and that I think less of everyone who
doesn't agree with me..."
Oh really? Abre los ojos, Jack ass! (and good to see you are spending what precious little time
we have on this Earth in a productive manner.)
Lets see, in the short time that I have been sending these newsletters
out I have covered the training programs AND the theories behind
how to get strong and/or in better condition using:
1. One set to failure
2. Sets of high or low repetitions
3. Machines
4. Free weights
5. Body Weight Only
6. Isometrics
7. Climbing Ropes
8. Breathing exercises and techniques
9. Timed holds
10. Singles
... and that's just off the top of my head so really that criticism doesn't
hold much water. I have always said there are many ways to get stronger…
If you have been a regular reader of my articles you have only heard
me make critical statements of certain training styles and/or philosophies
if the end result is, in most cases, injury, over-training, frustration, poor
time management and other less-than-ideal outcomes.
For example, several people were ready to put my head on a plate when
I said that training your hands hard every day is probably a "bad idea.'
Hey, if you want to train this way, I wont talk you out of it. It certainly has
worked for some people but in every case, (yes, that's 100%, Jack) of those
who I have seen perform "marathon" grip workouts, they spend more time
at the doctor's office than hitting PRs.
You can't make progress if you're hurt all the time... go ahead and try to argue
against that if you like though.
Excuse me for pointing out the obvious but it is bad enough when I hit my
thumb with a hammer by accident. These people are doing the equivalent
of smashing themselves in the thumb on purpose and wondering why it hurts
so damn much.
Personally it makes no difference to me how you train if you get out of it what
you want to get out of it. There are some people who just like to put the time
in and with that being the case, more power to them.
Me? I like to get stronger as a result of training and not in spite of it, and
certainly not at the expense of overall health or of the other important things
I have to do in my life at this point in time.
You are probably the same way.
You see, the method or technique you choose for your training is nothing more
than another tool in your toolbox - you choose the one that fits your individual
situation best. I train the way I train because I have found that it fits the
requirements and limitations of my individual situation in the most efficient
manner possible.
Have I changed my mind about certain exercises/techniques/training styles
etc. at times?
Absolutely, but my core philosophy has stayed the same throughout the entire
process. If I do say a particular technique is good or bad, I always provide the
justification why I think that way instead of having "just because" as an answer.
Every day is a new opportunity to improve... to figure out how to do something
better. Every aspect of your training can be improved. As I have said many
times, don't think that something has to be complex to be effective.
