When you flip through the magazines or read the online forums you always see articles or posts about building your chest or arms—but what about the forearms.

I haven’t read too many articles that talked about improving your grip strength.

And this is a shame because your forearms are involved in just about everything—so it would make sense to make sure your forearms were not holding you back.

I know people will say—I train hard and heavy—don’t you think my forearms get enough work.

Maybe, but as with anything, why take the chance that your grip is solid enough to hold onto that new PR in the dead lift?

SOMETHING OLD SOMETHING NEW

We have all seen (and have probably used) those sporting goods store grippers—you know the kind that you squeeze shut—and honestly most of them were probably not very good.

But.

I can without hesitation recommend THE CAPTIANS OF CRUSH HAND GRIPPERS for those who are serious about beefing up their grip strength.

I’ve owned them for years and I mean those things can take anything.

If you are serious about working your forearms and are up to the challenge head on over to www.captainsofcrushgrippers.com and check them out—you will be seriously glad you did.

Also, while we are at it check out the place that started it all www.ironmind.com

They have some of the best equipment you can buy—you won’t be disappointed.

OTHER METHODS

Now you don’t have to go with the captains of crush grippers—you can try the tried and true method of crumpling up a piece of newspaper with one hand—a very solid technique.

Or you can try towel chin-ups; basically you hang two towels over a chin-up bar and pull yourself up.

Sounds easy I know, but it is brutal—leave this exercise out of your forearm building routine if you can barley do one chin/pull-up.

Take your time and build up to being able to do at least one solid set of twelve reps of each before trying the towel method.

If towel chins don’t appeal to you give finger tip push-ups a try—do them like you would a normal push-up except that you stay up on your finger tips instead of keeping your palms flat-on-the-floor.

Another thing you can try is, doing hammer curls with dumbbells; these are done like a normal curl except that you use the same grip you would use if you were swinging a hammer (meaning that your palms are facing in).

SOME POINTS

While I feel forearm training is very important—please start off slowly with the above exercises and work your way into them nice and slow.

Little by little your forearm strength will improve—just don’t push it.

CONCLUSION

Unfortunately, not everyone (including me) can have forearms like bowling pins, but that does not mean each of us cannot increase the strength of our forearms.

So the next time you’re gunning for a new PR in the dead lift, at least you’ll know that you won’t have to worry about your grip giving out.

Until Next Time

TRAIN SMART