The barbell at Mighty Mitts

I suspect that had I won the lottery and was filling my gym to the ceiling with every training tool known to mankind I'd be well up for something like this. Richard Sorin's tone when describing where it's at speaks of time and money spent well and long.

But as I type away at this keyboard I have only to think 'can I do a rep with 500lbs come the time?'. Nothing more. I am sure, in time, I may well feel honoured and so on to have been among the few and the first but right now - it's just a weight I need to pull off the floor.

Chris James - 500lb doubleover hand axle

Chris, as is his way, does an out of competition but still world class 500lbs double over hand thick bar deadlift: YouTube Video

Pity it is, as I say, out of competition... or not at the Mighty Mitts... etc LOL

Still it proves it can and will be done more. Yesterday I was about 99% back to my best session and I've a few more to go with 3 x 1 with 180-kilos (396lbs). Come to papa!!

Getting ready for Mighty Mitts

So it looks like no help will be forthcoming (other than the opportunity to be up on stage etc etc naturally) from the other side. So I booked my flight Friday and I have a very nice GB buddy sorting my accommodation/ride to and from/catering (what a nice man!!).

A bigger issue, probably bigger for me because I have higher costs coming the furthest, is seeing what I can do to try and earn some of the cash I'll have laid out back. With 10 guys lifting and only 4 cash prizes (there's no 2nd, 3rd etc and at best we get to split the 1st place $1000) there will be at least 6 guys, possibly less, out of pocket.

So the obvious thing to do is try and get support or sponsorship. MHP are sponsoring the event (ie: putting up the cash prizes) so obviously we wear MHP shirts on stage. If I win a single event I am just about up over what it'll cost me. probably by around $100.00 or about £60.00 but I am looking to see if I can either win some goodies on other challenges some of the companies there have or work with another company (promoting them, running a challenge) much as I am to be at the Bodypower event @ the NEC in May.

The first to show interest, at least from a promoting the grip world (an aim of all the grip guys including myself) is Dave Palumbo of RX Muscle / Species Nutrition. RX, of which I am member, is a 100,000+ members forum. With some great videos, online radio shows and more even an edited down to a few minutes video will be seen by 10's of thousands of potential new grip freaks. Plus, who knows, some might wanna buy a Gripper e-book.... sweet :D

I also had a call from Chris (www.iharts.com) yesterday regarding the how and why of the 2 shows (1 on the 22nd May and one the day after) on the main power stage. It's all moving along.

So why, or is it just me, do I feel a little 'off' today? Hmm...

New website

One of the nice kind people here in Gloucester sent me a mail to tell me (and I quote) 'I'm in a good mood so I'm making you a website'. Stuff is still being loaded and I've literally only just sent over the admin info for the domain name so give it a day or two to look ship shape etc.

But here's the domain to bookmark ready: www.stevegardener.com

Baring in mind I've not actually seen it, but provided some of the content, and know the guy that's doing it... it'll be full on LOL

The idea is to big up the grip freak side of me, while touching on other stuff I do, so while there's a focus on me as an athlete there'll be other stuff on it too.

Muscle Mag Internation March 2010

Next Muscular Development cover

Bodypower 2010 @ NEC

2010 is turning into something else. I recently had a chat with a son of a mate who's looking to become the UK distributor for a US clothing line (Chris Hart, son of guru Mick and th company is Ironville). Anyway there's a big fitness expo here called 'Bodypower 2010' at the NEC Birmingham, England (google it). Could I do my nail bending etc on their stand? Sure, says I, I'll need transport, a bed and board etc (not always about money and I know I'll have fun so...).

He talks to the expo organziers, they like the sound of it, now it seems as though I may be on the main stage in front of 1000's! Better yet I know the main man, gives him a call... you know how this works by now don't ya. That I'd said no before when they were keen means they liked me before so this time, having changed the date of the British Grip to earlier in the month I'm up for it.

Another chance to promote grip (with the added bonus of the boss man suggesting space for my company banner). It's gotta be good.

And there was me talking about making 2010 my last competitive year

Dates: 22nd and 23rd May.

Training for the Arnold

As I have said elsewhere training for such an event adds a certain dash of something extra to ons work in the gym. I pinned a poster to the wall which states 'you're going to the Arnold, bring your a-game!' to remind me to take things up a notch.

I am sure my contemporaries will being having the same sense or urgency. Key is, of course, not to over do it, but to use these feelings to get that extra rep, add another few lbs to the bar and so on. In my case and by way of example my best/PB on the double overhand thick bar deadlift is what I did at Chad's event - 441lbs. The official record is a little over 20lbs more. I know that Andrew Durnait has had air under 500+ but not in competition. Now Andrew and the rest of those chosen inc me have all pulled around 500lbs if not more in the usual style and with a normal bar so with work we can do the same again... but raising my effort from 441 to 500... it's another ball game.

Of course having a crowd of 8000 cheering you on, considering this THE opportunity of a life time AND maybe winning a $1000... I'm guessing I'll pull a good deal more than 441lbs come the time. As it's a fixed weight... get in I will do my damnedest in the gym to get at the very least a rep. That does mean that we all could have done this before as I think I wont be the only one.

Time will tell.

Pressure to perform? Oh yeah. Bring it on. I do my best under pressure. BRING IT!

The Mighty Mitts competitors list...

Guess who's name has been included? Oh yeah... rock and fucking roll!

The list....................2010 Arnold's Classic Mighty Mitts invitations: Chad Woodall, Ode Haugen,Andrew Durnait,Steve Gardner, Wade Gillingham,Rich Williams, Jedd Johnson, Tex Henderson, Mark Felix,and Mark Henry. Mr. Henry if competing will lift as "exhibition" and Mr Felix depending on his involvement with the Arnold's Strongman show. The Final event the potentially unliftable 300lb Henry Inch bell will be an OPEN event to the Mighty Mitts gripsters and all the Arnolds strongmen.Good luck men. Richard Sorin

GMV weekly promo

They're pushing Zack 'King' Khan this week:

The Great Mighty Joe Rollino

For my shame I see I'm late to read up on the death of Joe Rollino. Several sites have been covering it, it's been mentioned on TV and even the NY Times gave the grand old man of strength some space. That he, at age 104+, was a character seems to be agreed. That he was one of us - is also not in dispute. I never met Joe but did meet what was probably his British counterpart prior to his death, Joe Assirati. Both were as full of vim, vigour, wind and piss (in a good way) at the age most of the rest of us (90+ for Joe A) they still seemed ready to get down and kick some ass. Indeed at the end of my visit Joe Assirati was off to watch a big league football match. I think he was 94.

They must think we're morons!

So I'm reading an 'article' (in fact more of an ad really) in a well known glossy BB magazine. It's supposed to be a Q&A/Report. This months was on their 'hardcore' version of a very well-known and best selling Creatine loading product.

Now they quote 4 references to give it the air of a well researched and sourced statement. The article, written and published in late '09, quotes from published research dated 1996, 2000, 2001 2004 . So far so ok.

Now it has to be said, so you know where I am coming from, that the 'hardcore' version of their standard product contains 10g of Creatine, per serving, sourced from Mono (great), Creatine Pyrovate (?) and Creatine Phosphate. There's a bunch of other stuff, mostly well known, much of which is said to drive or help load Creatine well. It includes 77g (per serving) of Glucose.

My issue, such as it is, is that they quote from the references as follows:

1. One study (1996) they refer to used 5g (standard dose for most) and 93g of simple carbs. They say they used this as there starting point. It's arguable that this was the same as it was before they went and called the new product 'hardcore'. The mention the glucose tolerance test (for diabetics) uses 75g. Neither 93 not 75 are 77... I'm confused. Is the 77g used so they can claim, as many do (so they aren't the only ones making such claims) that theirs is a 'unique formula'. In other words not identical to another one.

2. They themselves say that they chose 10g as 'it's double what others use'. Not that it's better, just that it's more. They confusingly further add that it's 'a mega dose of the most validated form of Creatine'. Err no. The most validated is mono. You're using 3 different forms and only one is mono and the combined total is 10g. The mentioned purity etc I take no issue with at all. That's all good.

3. In another study (2000) which used mono and mono plus carbs etc it was as claimed) 26 times more potent. Err ok... but that it was the core formula of their product which did the trick. Let me see if I get this: it was mono and glucose/dextrose which was the super duper stuff and the mono was, unless I'm mistaken, at the 5g etc level. So no other form of Creatine and that which was used was at half the dose in the product as it is now. So why add two other types and why double the dose regardless of form?

Maybe it's just me but I can't see what makes the new version better than the old one, other than the name. Nor can I see why anyone would wish to quote from 4 references none of which offer a direct comparison to what's actually being sold. That they, as they do with other products in their line (esp protein and their fat burning products) use the words 'core formula' means that what was researched and found to work has been altered or added to but is by no means better. Doubling of the dose of Creatine, using three forms, altering (if just a tad) the carb ratio and then throwing in all the bells and whistles... why? The articles don't actually back up the need.

So tell me then, how is it hardcore?

The one thing this company HAS done previously and COULD DO again to back up their formula is to sponsor independent research into whether or not it's worthwhile doing what they did. Perhaps this has happened and it showed that what was done was no better than before?

The one thing which stands out for me is this idea that having said references somehow backs up what you're saying. That's the way they are used - either to prove or disprove a theory. But here and in the article they don't help at all. Bizarre. That's what prompted the title's question. Perhaps we weren't meant to ask?

'Fiddy' gets fit

Feb M&F cover featuring 50-cent

Another scarey Khan pic

You know it's to put the cat among the pigeons in the US but there's no denying it'll do the job:

Branch Warren... epitomizes ripped

And how!

'Haters'

In the modern parlance and for my purposes a 'hater' is someone who post what amounts to disrespectful comments on websites. So, as I just saw, a photo of an ahead of his time Arnold becomes 'so-so legs'. Equally, as per a post and later an article by Lee Priest when you're told of the latest pro being videoed and that said video will shortly be available for you to enjoy instead of thanking said site and the pro (training hard, dieting hard and not really wanting to be distracted) for said video instead, as per Lee's comment, you get 'where the fuck is it then?' and worse.

I even found myself having to ask on a well-known grip site for the over eager members, metaphorically speaking out loud (wondering who will be chosen and why for the MM event) to 'please not shoot us in the foot and killing off of those who might be chosen chances before it's actually been decided.

On one level it's annoying because the 'expert' making said snide comments isn't even worthy of the Brit title 'Back Room Lawyer' (would be expert who actually knows nowt but sounds good). No, 9/10 it's someone who at best holds an opinion but when pressed shows little or no knowledge. I've even had some experience of being told that I am 'not doing it right' when I'm the record holder on the event in question and in another case I was the one making up the rule to be followed. Less of an issue is some poor sod using every known exercise technique ever invented and then getting nowhere and me doing far, far less and kicking ass.

One point, in light of the above, is genetic freaks (I may qualify... I may not) being told 'you're not doing it right' yet who blatantly are far, far better than those making the comment. This often happens with said monster pro being questioned about 'no full range reps'.

There's examples of this all the time. It's annoying - give it a rest. At worst the constant negativity wears both parties down and can also end up damaging said sport. That works thus: member of a news program, paper etc, signs up to get a sound-bite or view of the sport and finds nothing but sniping, back biting and worse and goes away and writes to the world of how shit we are. Sometimes the world doesn't actually need your input. Think on.

BHSA and 2010 pt2

World of Grip Strongest Hands Series (Under aegis of BHSA)

The BHSA are going to run this innovative series of events early in the year, away from the major comps, as a tune up for all the British competitors. We hope to also include one of these at a particular arm-wrestling contest, and get some new blood involved. If the series is successful then we will run others.

There will be 4 contests, which will include 3 events in each contest.

Dates

1. January 30. Venue: Stafford, and possibly Gloucester
2. February 20. Venue: Stafford, and Gloucester
3. March 13 Venue: Rossendale, and Gloucester
4. April 10 Venue: Stafford

May, BHSA Championships, prob Gloucester (not part of series)

Where there are two venues mentioned, you can compete at the nearest venue. The same events and apparatus will be used. We think it'd be fun to have a them vs. us attitude to these events.

All competitors will need to be BHSA members (single member or club member (see association rules regarding club membership).

Contest events will be chosen soon (likely to inc 2HP, V'Gripper, Old RT, weaver stick (no wraps). Although the championships will mirror the Euros with a small twist or so.

Stuff

Worth a thought was an article linking lack of sleep to depression and I don't mean being pissed off cos you didn't get enough. No this is a long term burning of the candle meaning that you're more likely to suffer than those getting what is needed.

Lol: Nope. No bench shirt for me. I wore a tight t-shirt and a Adidas support shirt (like 'under armour', very clingly but not like a bench shirt)