Grip Strength and the Hangboard

You can’t lift or pull off of what you can’t hold on to. That is why you have to make sure you train your grip strength. Grip strength is extremly important and it makes me laugh inside when I hear an athlete lay blame for their less-than-expected performance in a workout on their grip, as if it really wasn’t their fault that they couldn’t do better, because they weren’t that tired but their grip was what failed. Well, no duh! If you don’t train your grip, it won’t get strong enough! It is still your responsibility to maker sure you grip is substantial. One way you can train this is by pinching the Olympic lifting plates when you carry them around.

You can also do interval sets with the plates. You can try a tabata or any other interval. Basically you pick the plates up and hold them for 20 seconds, then set them down for 10 seconds. Repeat for eight sets or whatever you please. One good workout is to do this interval repeatedly until you can’t hold it for 20 seconds straight and fail as a result. The winner is whoever can get through the most sets without failing. This is especially important for, let’s say firefighters, who have to hold pull hose sometimes when it is thick and under pressure and other occupations as well, It is your responsibility to make sure that your grip strength is up to par with the rest of your fitness! One way to get little mini-sets in every time you put plates away or move them around. Go ahead and just pinch them when you are putting them away. Before you know it, you will already be much better!