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by Tony Gjokaj November 10, 2020 4 min read
Today, we have weaker grip strength than our parents and their parents of the past. This makes sense, because some of us typically don't work physical labor jobs anymore.
This has some unintended consequences as a result.
While we can talk about the correlation to many posture and health issues, handgrip strength is one good indicator of determining disabilities and mortality in older adults.
As if that isn't enough, poor grip strength also has some correlation to greater risk of depression.
One of the things I primarily have my friends (old clients) who work desk jobs or play games for hours at a time is a mix of various strength exercises - from powerlifting to strongman.
These exercises typically help with core strength, upper body strength, and grip strength - parts of our body that need to be improved due to our prolonged hours of sitting.
This is why I am a huge advocate of grip strength, and ultimately why I am a fan of Farmer's walks.
Farmer's Walks and high-rep overhand deadlifts have built crazy grip strength for myself.
In this post, we are going to dive into grip strength, and ultimately why I believe Farmer's Walks are a excellent for functional strength development.
Grip strength is strengthened from the following areas:
Ultimately, your forearms and hands consist of over 30+ small and intricate muscles.
As some would say: you're only as strong as your grip. This is pretty much true to almost every exercise or lifestyle activity that we will encounter.
Our grip leads hundreds of exercises, and many of the most powerful ones require a strong grip strength.
In fact, we can pretty much use our grip to determine our overall health. According to one study, grip strength can be potentially used as a biomarker for overall health in adults: from bone mineral density to cognitive or brain health.
In addition to that, the benefits that will come from building your grip are the following:
While some of these are only correlations, one thing is important: physical exercise is of utmost importance. In addition, training your grip will not only help your exercises, but will enhance or augment your lifestyle.
So let's talk about grip training.
There are three types of grip training exercises that you should utilize to improve your strength.
While we are really biased in favor of prioritizing the support grip the most, let's dive into the best exercises for each.
Hand Grip strengtheners are probably the best exercise you can do to build crush grip strength. This is quite simply because they are made to be squeezed, and they are probably the best way to strengthening your grip strength in this way.
Plate carries focus on building pinch grip strength by carrying the plate with your fingers and thumbs (without using your palms).
This is incredibly hard to do with heavy plates in the beginning, so you might want to start small. For added challenge, try adding an additional plate to extend the length of your grip.
The Farmer's Walk is quite notably one of the most powerful grip strengthening exercises out there. It's one of those exercises that not only will help your big lifts (Squat, Bench, and Deadlift), but it will allow you to handle various everyday tasks.
The Farmer's Walk builds the following muscles:
Lastly, you should utilize farmer's walks at 1-2 days per week at most. Heavy short runs and light long runs should be mixed, with three working sets maximum.
Ultimately one of the best benefits from building grip strength is not the carryover to your other lifts... it's the ability to open a pickle jar in confidence.
We all know that one buff dude that's a glass cannon.
We're not just about looking good, we want to feeling good and strong.
Reforged Legion! I wanted to take the time to thank you for reading this post! Any questions, comments, recommendations, or insights? Throw them in the comments below, or email me at tony@reforgedperformance.com.
Until next time, Reforged Warriors.
Go out there and seize your destiny!
Tony is the Owner of Reforged. He is a PN1 Certified Nutrition Coach and has been in the fitness space for over a decade. His goal is to help millions exercise their way out of depression and anxiety.
by Tony Gjokaj February 21, 2024 4 min read
In the battle against depression, exercise stands as a powerful ally.
Yet, for many, the mere thought of hitting the gym or going for a run can feel daunting.
The key lies in transforming exercise from a chore into a journey.
A place where you not only become physically stronger... but mentally as well.
In this guide, we'll explore actionable strategies to enhance motivation, streamline the exercise process, and cultivate a consistent routine that amplifies its mood-boosting benefits.
Let's dive in!
by Tony Gjokaj January 25, 2024 3 min read
Did you know that our relationship with food is deeply intertwined with our psychology?
The convenience and allure of processed foods often tap into our psychological triggers, making it challenging to break free from their hold.
However, by understanding our behaviors and implementing strategic psychological practices, we can successfully reduce our reliance on processed foods.
In this blog, we'll explore five behavioral strategies that leverage psychology to foster healthier eating habits.
Let's dive in!
by Tony Gjokaj January 11, 2024 4 min read
Navigating through the challenges of depression can be a difficult journey for many.
In the quest for mental well-being, you know that exercise is a powerful tool to have in your arsenal.
However there will be days where you're not motivated... and only with carefully crafted discipline, can we do what we need to do when we aren't motivated to do it.
What exactly is discipline, and how can we use it on our journey?
In this blog post, we will explore the essence of discipline and delve into five effective ways to cultivate this invaluable trait.
Let's dive in!