From jhadaway@ilinks.net Sat Jan 11 21:37:34 PST 1997 Article: 91962 of misc.fitness.weights Path: news.u.washington.edu!newsout1.alt.net!news1.alt.net!su-news-hub1.bbnplanet.com!news.bbnplanet.com!cpk-news-hub1.bbnplanet.com!feed1.news.erols.com!super.zippo.com!zdc!szdc!szdc-e!news From: "J. Hadaway" Newsgroups: misc.fitness.weights Subject: Re: Straps, Belts...When to use Date: Sat, 11 Jan 1997 01:00:33 -0800 Organization: Zip News Lines: 60 Message-ID: <32D756B1.2CD0@ilinks.net> References: <32d0f851.83791525@newnews.metronet.com> <32D4C1BD.2350@ilinks.net> <5b4onj$7pf$1@nntp.igs.net> Reply-To: jhadaway@ilinks.net Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Mailer: Mozilla 3.0Gold (Win16; I) Lachlan Davis wrote: > I don't want to argue because you are entitled to your opinion, but I > don't think you're being fair. I agree that working on your grip is an > important element (to what degree I'm not sure), but!!! In the past > three months since I bought a pair of straps, I've added substantial > amounts of weight to most of my back exercises (the most notable are > shrugs and lat pulldowns). I suppose it also depends on the specific > equipment that is being used. New equipment usually has a real good > grip to it, while some of the older stuff is warn smooth. Anyway, as I > said I don't want to argue about it, it's not worth it. My opinion is, > though, that I'd rather be able to squeeze out those extra few reps with > that extra bit of weight and not have to worry about the bar slipping > from my hand as it sweats like a pig. As far as the grip issue goes, I > think I'd rather concentrate on a larger muscle group. I don't think > I'd find much satisfaction is walking down the beach as I flex my > knuckles. It's my theory (though I've never really tested it) that the > grip will always lag behind slightly. Sure it can be worked on, but how > much will the larger muscles suffer during the process? I'd much rather > make the decision to increase my weight in a given exercise because I > feel the muscle is ready for it, not because I think my grip has > strengthened enough. > > Oh God, I can sense a real debate coming on. Comments are welcome, but > please...no wars! > > Lachlan Hey, there's nothing wrong w/ constructive, intelligent disagreements. In fact, I welcome them. It's what makes these newsgroups informational and fun. Let me ask you this. In the past 3 months since you've bought and used the straps, how many times have you actually worked on improving your grip strength? I'm just guessing, but based on what I see of many other people who use straps, I'd say not much. Let me now ask you this. Why don't you think it's important to work on forearm strength? For competitive powerlifting purposes IT IS VITAL!! For aesthetic/bodybuilding purposes it would also seem important. I mean, when you're wearing a short-sleeved shirt, the only part of the arm that is seen is the forearms. To use your beach example, would it not look equally odd to have huge lats and skinny arms? You also mention your hands slipping off the bar. Couldn't you also use gloves or better yet, chalk? As for your theory, and maybe I'm just really different from most people, but my grip actually is ahead of my back/arms/body. It's not really that hard to do either. Movements I do that directly or indirectly help my grip are deadlifts, shrugs, and loading the bar (more than I could deadlift or shrug) and simply holding it as long as I can (my favorite). That's it. Not that difficult or time consuming, it fits perfectly into your normal back routine. Just more of my thoughts on this issue, J. From deadlift@pipeline.com Tue Jul 15 21:07:41 PDT 1997 Article: 134212 of misc.fitness.weights Path: news.u.washington.edu!news.uoregon.edu!hammer.uoregon.edu!hunter.premier.net!feed1.news.erols.com!firehose.mindspring.com!news.mindspring.com!deadlift From: deadlift@pipeline.com (Tom Goodwin) Newsgroups: misc.fitness.weights Subject: Re: straps for deadlifts Date: Sun, 13 Jul 1997 22:42:33 -0500 Organization: MI Militia Posse Lines: 43 Message-ID: References: <19970713095201.FAA07784@ladder02.news.aol.com> <01bc8fd2$27426ca0$839193d0@tag.HiWAAY.net> NNTP-Posting-Host: ip12.ann-arbor.mi.pub-ip.psi.net Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit X-Server-Date: 14 Jul 1997 03:42:31 GMT X-Newsreader: Yet Another NewsWatcher 2.3.5 In article <01bc8fd2$27426ca0$839193d0@tag.HiWAAY.net>, "Bil & Tag" wrote: >Tom Goodwin wrote in article >... >> In article <19970713095201.FAA07784@ladder02.news.aol.com>, >bdyftns@aol.com >> (BDYFTNS) wrote: >> >> >Does anyone else use straps for deadlifts?Not a good idea in competition >> >training but great for making great gains. >> >> The day I use straps in training, is the day I wear pink spandex to the >gym. >> >> Peace, >> Tom Goodwin >> >> -- >> Michigan Militia Posse >> The posse come quick cause the posse got velocity! > >That's fine Tom, but if you're not planning to compete in powerlifting then >using or not using straps doesn't really matter too much. I use them >because I don't want my hands to be the limiting factor in how much weight >I use or how many reps I do. > I disagree *somewhat*. If someone is 100% a bodybuilder, than go ahead and use straps whenever you want. BUT, hand/wrist/forearm strength is extremely important in many every day activities, as well as sports such as wrestling and football (and of course, powerlifting). That is why I do many different things to strength my grip/forearms. I want EVERY muscle in my body as strong as possible, and that includes the forearms. Perhaps you should try FArmer's walks once in awhile. Perhaps you won't need straps after that at all 8-) Peace, Tom Goodwin >Bil -- Michigan Militia Posse The posse come quick cause the posse got velocity!