GMV/Arnold Strongman 2010

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Mighty Mitts post 308... finally

Just in case you missed it I finally managed to post my full write up on my new site Enjoy.

Mighty Mitts gallery up

The last few photos etc are still to be added and I'll (finally) get the write up done tomorrow (I've been catching up between rest all week. Go HERE Check the videos too.

Still recovering...

I'm not even to the end of page one of my Arnold write up and I caught myself having to NOT calculate just how long I was awake from Tuesday am through to Wednesday pm as a result of my hospital visit. Man... it was a LONG TIME!! I'm just about caught up on most of the rest, hence this post, and I'll get it done real soon. The photos have been loaded on picasa so it'll be show time any day now.

More Mighty Mitts training and associated stuff

In Wade Gillingham's Blog we have his Inch Farmers walk training and in 'associated stuff' we have Mark Felix mentioning training the axle today (please not mad heavy ha ha) but also a video link to his attempts at the Millennium (last months FitExpo in LA)... phew! Very low to the ground. The Mark Henry Bell come to papa!!

Wade

Mark

Axle deadlifts.... my oh my

They don't get any easier but regardless I am in new territory as of today. Even though I am spending more time sitting in the hole getting my head right than will be allowed on stage I still managed 3 x 1 reps (all as ugly as hell) with 190-kilos/418lbs today. There's just enough time to get to the multiple reps with 200kg plus I think I'll need come the day.

Mighty Mitts post 307

Ok, 306 LOL (might be less he he). I see, having had a 'butchers' (hook = look) that Wade is umming and ahhing in his blog as much as I do in my training logs. Makes me feel better. No matter what level you are it's as much about analyzing your performance as anything.

I also see Mark Felix has posted a YT video of his Inch Farmers walk training.

Is it on? Oh yes IT'S ON!!

The more of this I see the more heat I feel.

Physio tomorrow and assuming she says nothing (or I don't tell her) I think I'm doing Inch walk work myself followed by heavy ass dumbbell deadlifts.

Now that's crisp n dry

Eduardo Correa:

Mighty Mitts... some big names with us.

I'm not much of a fan boy. I rarely if ever ask for autographs, get photos taken with people and so on.... but there are going to be some GREAT names on stage with us. I've just had another update (via Jan Todd this time) and we've also got Dennis Rogers reffing and doing a bit of what he does on stage too.

Given that we've Kaz, Sven, Vasily Alexeev and more... all on stage while we do our thing. Words fail me.

I'm about to do some Anvil stuff and the only black cloud today is it's now to the side and not straddle.

Double overhand 'axle' deadlifts

Good session and on target for the repped 200-kilos or more I want before I go.

185-kilos x 3 x 1 plus 1 rep higher off floor (same height as the bar we will use). I felt good for more.

Another step closer.... to Mighty Mitts

Today is a rest day. Tempted as though I was to make the journey to the gym to train I am biting the bullet and resting up. Yesterday the sense of urgency meant I did a morning session (Inch farmers walk work and thick handled dumbbell deadlifts) and an evening one (2 hand pinching).

The days rest will mean that tomorrow I'm that little bit hungrier to get in and get it done. I'm hoping to see air under 185-kilos/407lbs for a few singles (the plan is 3-4). In my head I MUST be pulling multiple singles with 200-kilos before I travel out to the US. With my first NHS physio session next week (and hoping to get at least one more before I go) I'll have started rehab work on my crooked back.

I see that today the post I was not too happy about and on which even the site admin was involved over on the GB has been removed. As is the way there, nothing is said. It was, as I said at the time, a knock to the ONLY promotion any of the grip guys has sorted. Yeah that's right - a metaphorical shot in the foot to a chance to 'big up' what we claim to love. Maybe sense was seen.

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...

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

Grip events at the Arnold Classic

From Ironmind: Dr. Terry Todd has announced the events for the 2010 Arnold Strongman contest, confirmed some of the competitors and also described the grip events that are being added to the program. For the strongman contest, the Tire Deadlift and Manhood Stone will be unchanged. The Apollon’s Wheels will use a rising bar format with the weight increasing to from 166 to 206 kg, at which point it will be maximum reps in 90 seconds. The Circus Dumbbell will see a weight increase to 103 kg. The Timber Carry will be increased to approximately 450 kg, the ramp will be flat and straps can be used. Zydrunas Savickas, Derek Poundstone, Phil Pfister, Brian Siders, Brian Shaw and Travis Ortmayer have confirmed, Todd said, and Mariusz Pudzianowski has been invited. Mighty Mitts will be a new feature, featuring feats of grip strength. The events are: Jowett Anvil: deadlift the 163 lb. anvil by its horn Sorin’s Monster: deadlift a 500-lb. barbell with a 2-inch diameter handle Inch by Inch: walk for distance with an Inch replica dumbbell in each hand Mark Henry Bell: lift the 300-lb dumbbell with a 2.5-inch diameter handle out of its box Gama Club: lever an 80-pound Indian Club According to Todd’s press release, “The winner of each of these challenges will earn $1000 as well as lasting fame, and his name will be placed on a plaque at the Stark Center for Physical Culture and Sports at the University of Texas.” Yes this does mean grip guys could enter and win $1000 a pop (£626). I really like the Henry dumbbell lift.