Time Under Tension With The PUGS

 Yesterday before my 500 Rep Dopa Workout Circuit, I wanted to get in some Push-Ups with the Stronger Grip PUGS (Push-Up Grip Spikes) since it has been a minute doing them. Just getting a set of 10 can be a challenge because of the way you have to grip them and they can be slick at times. The idea is to not try to get a high level of reps going, the true format is to utilize Time Under Tension to produce stimuli which helps building muscle and strength. There are some who have done these for high reps and are freakishly strong, the Hammer King himself Ryan Pitts being one of them. 

I got in a total of about 35-37 where I filmed my last few reps of them for the day. They were done with a more closed in position so it was much more difficult to control but I managed those last few reps with the best form possible. The impact they have on the forearms and hands is indescribable. This is strength training at it's peak element taking a basic movement and adding serious grip work to it. If you believe it's easy without having done them, they will humble you quick. 

Everything is contracted, the mind must be crisp and your balance is tested with a vengeance. One little slip and you're on the floor. Putting in enough tension to even move smoothly takes practice and giving the mind/muscle connection a run for its money. If you can get passed 15 reps, you got some solid strength. My best is 25 in a row and have done as many as 100 in a workout through various sets. When you can do these consistently, your tendons and ligaments will feel like they were carved out of granite and feel like solid steel in the fucking bones. Your core strength will skyrocket, your chest will feel like hardened stone and your upper arms will have insane power.

They are worth every penny and you're not just supporting a website, you're supporting a man that makes these things by himself. He's made hammers, swords, machetes, clubs, maces, weapon of the Grim Reaper, Hooks for extra difficulty in pull-ups, pulldowns, deadlifts and more. Pound for pound one of the strongest guys around. Bent steel, tore phonebooks, levered hammers, swung human beings with his custom made swing and has hands like a vise. Ryan is one of those once in a generation type of guys that makes the world a bit more bad ass with his equipment. Has made stuff for NFL Teams, Arm Wrestling organizations, Strongman Comps and many other things. Never underestimate the power of one's Grip. He can be goofy doing his thing but when you're past 50 and doing things that are pretty gnarly to do, think he's earned the right to be having fun and killing it.

Be amazingly awesome and keep killing it.  

Conquer The PUGS From Stronger Grip

 Also known as Push Up Grip Spikes.....

Mixing bodyweight royalty and building insane grip strength at the same time. Time for some truth bombs about the bad ass PUGS from Stronger Grip. These savage beasts are no joke and being custom made by one of the most awesome welders around, you know you're getting something that was made for the Gods of Strength. They're not just tools to build insane power and hands like Eagle Talons, they're a call from the jungle. Forging wrists of steel and building a dominant upper body that'll make silverbacks want to join up. This is taking the Push-Up to a whole other dimension that will shake the very foundation of your routine.

Like I said, Push-ups are bodyweight royalty, they've built athletes, warriors and help sculpt some of the all time greats of the Bronze Era of Physical Culture. Standard Push-ups are great in their own right, some will call them the king but at some point, doing a certain amount of reps aren't much of a challenge unless you change the variation or keep adding reps and sets until the cows come home. In some of my personal workouts, I've hit as many as 600 and normally settle around max 200 in circuit training. Now, when it comes to the PUGS, this changes the game. These aren't your grand pappi's typical push-ups. These fuckers are 3 1/2 inch globe shaped weapons made for battle. They can be torturous and will have you begging for mercy.

Crafted by the man of the hour, the man with the power, too sweet to be sour...Ryan Pitts at Strongergrip.com. The spikes are like a love letter to real grip strength and power that is functional. The inspiration to these, a customer of his named Louie (shout out to a maniac of iron), they take the ever lasting classic push-up and amplify the intensity that cranks up to 11. The main difference between these and the classic, think swinging a baseball bat and wielding Thor's killer hammer. In order to do these, you have to own and control every fucking inch of the movement.

The globe shape forces the hands to work with a vengeance. Nothing flat or comfortable, just powerful, pure and raw engagement man. Every muscle in your hands, wrists and forearms are firing on all cylinders. It's beyond pushing; clamping down on a 3 1/2 inch sphere, battling to stabilize as you lower yourself and explode back up. Think of Arm Wrestling but against the floor while doing push-ups. What would be the result? Forearms that are becoming like steel cords and a grip that can crush walnuts. These are great for MMA Fighters, Climbers, NFL Players or whoever wants hands that don't give up.

Let me ask you this: Have you ever tried balancing yourself on a round shaped surface while pressing your own bodyweight? It's quite a different beast bro. The PUGS are in full demand of insane wrist stability, engaging those other tiny muscles that the classic push-up doesn't comprehend. Want to have a solid punch? Build stronger wrists. This also goes for swinging a bat with incredible speed plus fewer injuries when you're throwing down in the cage or hauling heavy ass loads. These sweet little monsters, can be your secret weapon.

Don't be fooled now, these aren't just for those arms, the instability of the globe shape fires your core, shoulders and even the legs like a dragon in order to be steady. Every rep is a full body battle cry, forcing you to lock in and focus with immense intensity. It's a trifecta of a plank, push-up and grip workout all at the same damn time. You'll feel it from the fingers, all the way down to those toes and have new growth in the stabilizer muscles.

The beauty of this design, is that you can grip in a variety of ways for leverage and more. Grab the top like the claws of a bear or choke down lower for a challenge that's a little twisted. What's really cool here, is that they come with these rubber pads for smooth surfaces so you can take these rascals out practically anywhere. Nothing flashy or chasing likes on Twitter or Insta, these are about raw strength that help you in your journey. 

The Spikes remind me of the old-school strongmen. The guys that bent steel into shapes, tore thick phonebooks and ripped up decks of cards like their life depended on it. The love of experimenting with things that generated strength that was real, unadulterated and intense. 

Grab a set of these and keep being amazingly awesome.

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