Knights and Neanderthals

I don't know where you stand on evolution, but if you read the Darwin awards we can all pretty much agree that a certain sub-set of society have been self selected right out of the gene pool. Which leads to one of the basic characteristics that make us human, our hands.

 Thick Bars & Hand Evolution: Potential Strength Gains

Picking something up is grip training. If you are NOT using your hands in an exercise, then there had best be a good reason for it.

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Combined with our ability to walk and travel great distances in an upright position, the strength of the hand and its ability to carry objects for long periods of time can be a key to survival. Strongman contest events as a training exercise can be a good way to work this concept. Farmers walks are the obvious exercise, but any carrying or dragging would fit in with that concept. As great as they are, they are not the most efficient for time use or space.

 Volume of Training

Increasing grip strength is partially an issue of simple volume. Adding thick barbells and dumbbells to your training is an easy way to do that. At the Atomic Athletic Club Warehouse Gym we use the Bull Moose Thick Bar for our heaviest thick bar lifting. You can lift more weight with a barbell than with a dumbbell. That barbell also rotates, so we can safely and efficiently use it for explosive lifts. Yet, for maximum development of the grip, I cannot over state the importance thick handled dumbbells.

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Grip thickness impacts more than just the hand. Universally, I am told about the surprising effect on forearm development and strength when a new thick bar devotee uses our Brass Thick Handles. Our fine, yet sharp knurling and lack of the need for chrome or paint are details that allow the lifter to move a maximum amount of weight with the grip and really start utilizing the forearms. As the grip diameter increases so does the recruitment of muscles, ligaments and tendons in the wrist, forearm and elbow. There are a huge number of variables that feel the impact of that change. Barbells simply don't activate as many independent variables. Any strength coach should see the benefit of the thick dumbbell.

Minimize Potential Injuries

Rotating tools are the best for reducing the number of variables that can lead to injuries associated with free weights. The centrifugal force associated with non-rotating tools, particularly those with round barbell plates and heads, can be quite extreme, depending on the actual tool and exercise. Once exhaustion sets in, it is a factor in potential injuries. Use the non-rotating items when you are fresh. Believe me, we use a lot of odd tools here, but when we want a thick bar finisher, it will be with a rotating tool.

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Live strong,

Roger LaPointe