Post by Joey Smith on Aug 25, 2006 8:37:24 GMT -5
By: David Robson
Types Of Grip-Strength
There are two main types of grip strength: crushing strength and pinching strength.
Crushing Strength
This type of grip strength is demonstrated when one crushes a can of drink (strongmen in particular, not your average person). A crushing grip is also used when shaking hands, or, in a fighting context, grabs their opponents wrist. Analogously, a table-vice mechanism, has almost an identical action to that of a crushing grip, in that the stationary side of the vice (the palm) has a component (the fingers) that closes towards it as it crushes.
Indeed, with crushing strength, the fingers and palm contribute almost exclusively to the action: the fingers crush while the palm provides the platform - the thumb has less of a supporting role. Forearm muscles targeted with gripping movements, are mainly the flexors, with secondary stress on the extensors.
Pinching Strength
Holding a heavy plate between the thumb and fingers, as it hangs toward the ground, is a demonstration of pinching strength. Training for pinching strength has little in the way of a real world application (other than targeting a pressure point during a confrontation perhaps), but it will add to thumb and finger strength and help to develop respectable size in both the extensor and flexors of the forearms.
Pinching grip is generally harder to train for than the crushing grip, given the awkwardness and difficulty of the specific movements needed to target this area.
Holding Grip
This type of grip involves the thumb, fingers, and palm (almost a cross-between the crushing and pinching grips), and is used most often in a real world situation for controlling an object (a steering wheel of a car for example), or person in a confrontation.
In a fighting situation, the holding grip is often used to transition between pinching or crushing, as ones opponent is being controlled.
Types Of Strength Associated With Grip Training.
All gripping movements will utilize different types of strength, to varying degrees. Before moving on to the most effective exercises for developing grip, the three main types of strength used in this process will be covered:
Concentric Strength.
When gripping an object such as a tennis ball, before releasing, one is using concentric strength. Crushing newspaper, as will be explained in detail soon, is another example of this type of strength. In short, concentric strength is vital as far as initially grasping an object is concerned. What distinguishes concentric strength from any other type, is the fact that the muscles of the forearm and wrist shorten in response to the squeezing action.
Isometric Strength.
Isometric strength is used when the same object grasped with concentric strength is held. The muscles in this instance, although contracting, are not changing in length. Using a holding, or crushing, grip while keeping hold of an opponent is an example of isometric strength in action.
Eccentric Strength.
Gradually opening ones, hand while holding a ball, is an example of the type of eccentric strength used to unclasp the hands when striking an opponent with knife-hand. The type of contraction undertaken during an eccentric movement is one of controlled resistance - lowering a barbell during a bench press is a perfect example.
Types Of Grip-Strength
There are two main types of grip strength: crushing strength and pinching strength.
Crushing Strength
This type of grip strength is demonstrated when one crushes a can of drink (strongmen in particular, not your average person). A crushing grip is also used when shaking hands, or, in a fighting context, grabs their opponents wrist. Analogously, a table-vice mechanism, has almost an identical action to that of a crushing grip, in that the stationary side of the vice (the palm) has a component (the fingers) that closes towards it as it crushes.
Indeed, with crushing strength, the fingers and palm contribute almost exclusively to the action: the fingers crush while the palm provides the platform - the thumb has less of a supporting role. Forearm muscles targeted with gripping movements, are mainly the flexors, with secondary stress on the extensors.
Pinching Strength
Holding a heavy plate between the thumb and fingers, as it hangs toward the ground, is a demonstration of pinching strength. Training for pinching strength has little in the way of a real world application (other than targeting a pressure point during a confrontation perhaps), but it will add to thumb and finger strength and help to develop respectable size in both the extensor and flexors of the forearms.
Pinching grip is generally harder to train for than the crushing grip, given the awkwardness and difficulty of the specific movements needed to target this area.
Holding Grip
This type of grip involves the thumb, fingers, and palm (almost a cross-between the crushing and pinching grips), and is used most often in a real world situation for controlling an object (a steering wheel of a car for example), or person in a confrontation.
In a fighting situation, the holding grip is often used to transition between pinching or crushing, as ones opponent is being controlled.
Types Of Strength Associated With Grip Training.
All gripping movements will utilize different types of strength, to varying degrees. Before moving on to the most effective exercises for developing grip, the three main types of strength used in this process will be covered:
Concentric Strength.
When gripping an object such as a tennis ball, before releasing, one is using concentric strength. Crushing newspaper, as will be explained in detail soon, is another example of this type of strength. In short, concentric strength is vital as far as initially grasping an object is concerned. What distinguishes concentric strength from any other type, is the fact that the muscles of the forearm and wrist shorten in response to the squeezing action.
Isometric Strength.
Isometric strength is used when the same object grasped with concentric strength is held. The muscles in this instance, although contracting, are not changing in length. Using a holding, or crushing, grip while keeping hold of an opponent is an example of isometric strength in action.
Eccentric Strength.
Gradually opening ones, hand while holding a ball, is an example of the type of eccentric strength used to unclasp the hands when striking an opponent with knife-hand. The type of contraction undertaken during an eccentric movement is one of controlled resistance - lowering a barbell during a bench press is a perfect example.