Hand Strength Part II

Date: Weds, 1 June 2005

Last week we began a grip training series that - if you follow it - will give you hands so strong your friends will think you've gotten a part-time job on a dairy farm. Quick note! If you do actually work on a dairy farm, follow this series anyway!

Okay, I told you there are several types of hand strength. I also promised I would teach you two exercises that, if done a certain way, will not only build crushing grip (one of the types of hand strength), but that also have the potential to make your neighbors think you may be having a few issues.

Here's the first exercise - cutting.

Ever notice how some guys who come to your house to fix stuff have handshakes so strong they nearly make your eyes water? Why is that?

Obviously, it's because they work with their hands a lot.

Well now you can too! It's easy. Buy some heavy scissors, or go on Ebay and get a pair for 35 cents or whatever. Get some that are big enough to tape up the grip so you don't hurt your hands.

Now, if you want to make your neighbors wonder, all you have to do is get a box, make yourself comfortable on your front porch (the curb is better), and begin cutting cardboard. Talking to yourself or counting is optional.

Double up the cardboard if you need to. The main thing is to give your hands a workout. You can also use an old telephone book.

Important point - don't get so into this that you forget to switch hands. You may need right and left-handed scissors for this.

Do this exercise for a week. Since we're just starting out, aim for three times per week. When you train, train in sets. Keeping a journal will help track progress. It will also keep you aware of levels at which you may be over doing it if you experience muscle, tendon, or joint soreness.

Here's the next exercise - plier drills.

As with cutting, there is no shortage of variations on this. Basically you want to grip something with a pair of pliers.

It can be ropes or an old belt thrown over a chin up bar and you can do chin ups. It can be a bucket of water lifted and/or curled with the nose of the pliers pointed down. It can be some weight plates with a towel run through the center hole and you can (carefully) swing it around your head.

Between cutting and gripping - and working variations that require you to work from different angles - you should get a great hand strength workout!

Occasionally one of your neighbors will drive by, and they'll be trying not to look, but of course one of them eventually will. Again, there's huge fun to be had here, but I'll leave it up to you.

Until next time, train like you mean it!

Rob LaPointe