Smashing Like A Boss (Steel Isn't Strong Boy, Flesh Is Stronger)

 

The body is an amazing thing, it's adaptable, resilient, strong and durable. The trouble is, many these days have forgotten what it takes to maintain the body's abilities to strengthen those attributes and power up the qualities that keep things flowing even as we get older. The choices we make, no matter how small, can impact us later in life. It's about continuing the journey while challenging the norms.

That's one of the reasons why I love Hammer Workouts. They don't take very long but they make an impact with a vengeance literally and figuratively. Yesterday, I got in a 500 Rep Workout doing several exercises with my trusted Thor Hammers (13.8 lb & 30 lb Respectively). I did some filming beforehand, in a sense kind of a warm-up to showcase what I can still do, even though it may not seem like much. Doing one-handed & two-handed strikes on the tire to get some blood flowing.

The workout itself was a bit rough since it was more impromptu than anything. I was just planning on just smashing with fucking intensity but at the last minute decided to do some club-like swings with them to target my grip strength beyond just going after the tire like Gallagher with a watermelon. I did all of the exercises for 5 sets each, moving thousands of pounds in the process. 

1st Exercise: One-Handed Tire Strikes

5 sets of 10 Per Hand

2nd Exercise: Two-Handed Strikes

5 sets of 10 Each Hand Over (Left Over Right, Right Over Left)

3rd Exercise: One-Handed Club Like Swings 

5 sets of 10 going in one direction then the opposite per hand (Total 40 reps)

4th Exercise: Two-Handed 360s 

5 sets of 10 Each Hand Over (10 L/R, 10 R/L)

Safe to say my forearms were pretty damn pumped afterwards and even struggled on a couple exercises but neither hammer left my hands when I did the exercises themselves. After each set, I would take a breather and walk around, thinking of the next set and dominating it with the best of intentions. The two handed strikes felt like a sprint cause of the speed I was going at and even just being in a stationary position, it was a doozer. 

Doing the one handed stuff is not as easy as it looks especially when the handle is thicker than other implements like clubs and dumbbells, so you're engaging more while also maintaining balance and focus. The tire smashes one handed was nasty (for me at least) because trying to hold it in your weak hand and finding the right speed while gripping at the same time isn't a walk in the park. Your hand can slip at any moment and if you got sweaty palms, it can slide and maybe break skin that callous. So yeah, no chalk or gloves, just pure hand strength and making the most of what's possible in the moment.

Smash your goals like a fucking boss, get some hammers at Strongergrip.com and have fun building real world strength using kick ass custom equipment that makes your training look epic. Be amazingly awesome and continue your journey. 

Thor Hammers Aren't Always Needed To Smash

Working on the grip is an essential part for building overall health and strength. I have written about why building grip is needed to succeed in many aspects of training but not all exercises are created equal. When it comes to grip strength and conditioning, very few can match the Sledgehammer. Now you don't always need to smash a tire with one or even hit the ground with those rubber ones or smash into the sand, a sledgehammer or even a Thor Hammer for that matter can be used like a Club or Mace or even a Kettlebell for that matter.

Whenever I use a Thor Hammer or in this case of it's Viking Name: Mjolnir, I love working exercises like a club or a mace because with the thickness of the hammer, it's working more than just the shoulders and core, it's hitting the grip with a vengeance. Whether it's nearly 14 lbs or 30 lbs, either way this thing will make you stronger in ways that even the gods would be impressed by. Just today, I worked with the lighter of the two hammers for up to 200 reps of various exercises that really hit the spot. Mainly in the 10-20 rep range each way or per exercise, that's quite a bit cause you're squeezing the handle with every swing and that's putting solid stress on the tendons and ligaments.

They say, the more muscles you use in an exercise, the better your overall health will be. There's a time for isolation (like rehabbing or isometric training) but from a big picture standpoint, hitting multiple muscles at the same time really gives you another perspective of strength training. Thick Grip Training has reaped many benefits and workouts don't have to take as long because when you work with a Thick implement, you're forced to stabilize your body and be in complete control otherwise you'll end up dropping the implement or falling in the case of pull-ups or something. 

Having Mjolnir in your hands is an incredible but also an intimidating feeling. You can't get sloppy with it otherwise you'll pay a price so whether you're hitting a tire or swinging it like a club, mace or even a kettlebell, be careful but also pay attention to what you're doing and treat it with respect or else it'll bite you in the ass or in this case, dropping on the foot, stabbing you with those sharp corners and hitting the legs. If you want powerful forearms and a grip like a vise, this is the implement that will get you there. 

While you're at it, to really kick things into high gear, take the Thor Hammer Formula before your workout and notice the surge of energy coursing through you. Be strong, have a blast and be Amazingly Awesome.