Strengthening the Grip

[Dent]

Osu!

Quite right! Back on topic it is.

Does anyone have a particular exercise/ piece of equipment other than Makiwara that they find invaluable in strengthening the punch?

I use a couple of Chi Ishi (Stone lever weights) that help me out a lot.

Osu!

[DKKC]

Ah! Dent - you have nicely brought the subject in my direction! I believe you have to have a good grip in order to be able to make a tight fist to punch hard. Chishi is a very good training device for the grip! It works the entire forearm, the wrist and the hand!

I do some exercises with kettlebells that are also meant to strengthen the grip, there is the good old scrunching-a-sheet-of-newspaper-into-a-ball-using-one-hand-only exercise and, of course, all the modern grip training devices.

[Dent]

Osu! DKKC,

Originally Posted by DKKC

Ah! Dent - you have nicely brought the subject in my direction! I believe you have to have a good grip in order to be able to make a tight fist to punch hard. Chishi is a very good training device for the grip! It works the entire forearm, the wrist and the hand!

I do some exercises with kettlebells that are also meant to strengthen the grip, there is the good old scrunching-a-sheet-of-newspaper-into-a-ball-using-one-hand-only exercise and, of course, all the modern grip training devices.

Most welcome! How are you using the KB's for grip training? Aside from the Farmer's Walk, I find that a soft grip is better on almost every other exercise. (Just clenching the fist when necessary.)

Osu!

[DKKC]

Originally Posted by Dent

Osu! DKKC,

Most welcome! How are you using the KB's for grip training? Aside from the Farmer's Walk, I find that a soft grip is better on almost every other exercise. (Just clenching the fist when necessary.)

Osu!

Hi Dent,

Sorry for the late reply!

Am working with a light bell holding it by the handle in a tate position - bend the wrist up and down from there. This can be done with the bell on the floor and trying to keep it stable while doing the same movement described above.

Also one handed swings changing arm every time - you 'juggle' the bell and hav to work the grip constantly catching it.

Bottom up exercises - as you have to keep a firm grip for the bell not to slip (presses, cleans, windmills, TGUs)

Hope this makes sense.

[Dent]

Osu!

Originally Posted by DKKC

Hi Dent,

Sorry for the late reply!

Am working with a light bell holding it by the handle in a tate position - bend the wrist up and down from there. This can be done with the bell on the floor and trying to keep it stable while doing the same movement described above.

Also one handed swings changing arm every time - you 'juggle' the bell and hav to work the grip constantly catching it.

Bottom up exercises - as you have to keep a firm grip for the bell not to slip (presses, cleans, windmills, TGUs)

Hope this makes sense.

No problem! It's all very clear in your description. So, are you then doing little forward Kime movements at the apex of the movement? I could see that working moth the grip and the short power.

In fact, I think I should try some of those myself...

Osu!

[DKKC]

No Kime movements, I'm afraid - I focus on the muscle power only - control and ballance the bell - work the muscle as hard as possible and sssslllllloooooooowwwwwwllllllyyyyy!

[seienchin]

Moved these posts about grip strength into their own thread, as it is such an important topic, and was at risk of being missed by interested readers.

[Paedde]

It may sound a bit funny, but any tips for the toes? I can hold my opponents gi in bjj with my feet but I can't really pull

For the hands, pull ups on a towel work great for me.

Osu

[seienchin]

Paedde...you need this thread...
http://www.kyokushin4life.com/forums...g-my-toes.html

Don't forget to try the Search tool...the forum is getting so big now that it is easy to overlook things...

[Paedde]

Originally Posted by seienchin

Paedde...you need this thread...
http://www.kyokushin4life.com/forums...g-my-toes.html

Don't forget to try the Search tool...the forum is getting so big now that it is easy to overlook things...

Oh thanks
I thought nobody has such crazy ideas, I guess I'm wrong or it's not that crazy

[meguro]

Toe tips:

Barefoot-single leg-iso-lateral-stiff-leg-dead lifts are great for building stability in the ankle and working your toes and the muscles that support the arch. Start with a light weight, say 2 lbs, bend fom the waist, keep your back straight, and lower the weight to below your knee height, then raise yourself up. If you're standing on your left leg, use your left hand to hold the weight. To increase the level of difficulty, stand barefoot on a soft, pliant surface; a stack of puzzlemats works!

grip tips:

Grip the end of hex-head dumbbells for time.

[Dent]

Osu!

Originally Posted by seienchin

Moved these posts about grip strength into their own thread, as it is such an important topic, and was at risk of being missed by interested readers.

Thanks, Seienchin. I have a tendency to skim some topics, and miss some good stuff in the process.

Osu!

[MilkManX]

I bought one of these forearm roller bars.

Golds Gym Wrist Curl Exerciser : bodyhut.com

It has made my wrists alot stronger and my punches seem harder.

[mary222]

for the toes spread a towel on the floor place you foot flat on it and try to bring all the material together using you toes.

[Dent]

Osu!

Originally Posted by mary222

for the toes spread a towel on the floor place you foot flat on it and try to bring all the material together using you toes.

With so many making some of these suggestions, I'm wondering how many of you are prehensile south of the ankle?

Osu!

[chen3141]

Rope Climbing without using your legs. Its basically pullups but with even more emphasis on grip.

[Dent]

Osu!

Originally Posted by chen3141

Rope Climbing without using your legs. Its basically pullups but with even more emphasis on grip.

That's a killer! Not many have that kind of strength.

Osu!

[doogfood]

Rope climbing was mentioned but I had a similar thing in mind, which is rock climbing. I used to do volunteer work at the YMCA and did easy indoor climbing. It's safe and easy but it turns into a great work out for your grip if you intentionally do it in a way to train your grip. The indoor ones have artificial grip areas of different shapes and sizes so it'll be a fun training session. Take a day off from karate training and just enjoy the climbing, and the training will naturally come with it.

[DKKC]

I've never tried climbing (other than trees and a couple of rocks in the mountains when I was a kid) - but not on an artificial wall. It always looked like fun but I just never really got the opportunity and didn't go out of my way to create the opportunity. Now I definitely need to gice it a try!

Thanks doogfood!

[chen3141]

If your doing pullups, instead of gripping the whole bar, grab how you would normally do but let your thumbs stick out. Then before each pullup wait 5 or 10 seconds before doing another pullup.

I do like the rock climbing idea, if only there were mountains or walls around where I live.