European Grip Championships 2010

Good to see the One Hand DL in there. We should have it in Contests more in the U.S.

David, I see what you're saying about the wrist wraps. The wraps also add too many variables to the Contest. The results probably shouldn't be based on which wraps used or how tight the wraps are.

Pah. No such issue. At the last British we used the event in I brought 2 sets of identical wraps (in fact 3. One to train with and 2 to open and use on the day). In fact I am a little surprised at David's post because it was his idea wraps be used. If memory serves me correctly 'because the risk of injury to the wrist is great in this movement due to the opening/separation of the joint'.

Steve,
Yep that's what I used to think, but with more research in the early 2000s I believe that they are not needed. You will lift less weight, but then so will everyone, and training with no wrap in the past caused no problem. In fact it was less painful than with the wrap.

This is my findings now.
David

Steve Gardener wrote:Pah. No such issue. At the last British we used the event in I brought 2 sets of identical wraps (in fact 3. One to train with and 2 to open and use on the day). In fact I am a little surprised at David's post because it was his idea wraps be used. If memory serves me correctly 'because the risk of injury to the wrist is great in this movement due to the opening/separation of the joint'.

Cool. But my 'promoter provides the wraps' solved the earlier issue with no problems.

David,

No wraps, raw strength

I realise I'm too puny to have input here, but: Weaver without wraps is too painful for me to even attempt, let alone compete in.

I put here the rules of the competition that i've done with the great help of Lucio Doncel, IPF referee cat I. The score system and the rules of the events are the same of BHSA, i've used it with the permission of David Horne.

Here the rules:

General rules of the competition

- Competition takes place between competitors in the same category, regardless of their bodyweight or age.

- Each competitor is allowed four attempts on each event. The competitor best valid attempt on each event, counts toward his competition total score. The winner will be the competitor achieving the highest total score at the end of the competition. If two or more competitors achieve the same total score, they will share the placing.

- Competition shall be restricted to competitors aged 18 years and older.

- Each nation is allowed a maximum of three competitors. The organizing country will have one competitor more.

- Point scoring for the nation competition shall be: 12, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 for the first nine placing. Each competitor finishing the competition shall be awarded one point.

- Trophies will be presented for first, second and third place in the individual and in the team competition.

- All the events shall be carried out in the place for that matter. It must be flat, firm, non-slip and level. It will have all the equipment necessary to carry the competition.

- Scoring System
We will be using the scoring system used in previous competitions. It is the one the Germans have been using for their competitions. So instead of all the constant messing around with updating coefficients, now it's just a simple maths formula. Here's an imaginary contest:

Lifter A gets 145k
Lifter B gets 137.5
Lifter C gets 95k
Lifter D gets 88k

The top lift gets a 100 points. The formula for the rest is, their lift (lifter B = 137.5) x 100 divided by 145 (top lift) = 94.82

Lifter A has 100points
Lifter B has 94.82
Lifter C has 65.51
Lifter D has 60.68


Events of the European Grip Championships 2010 and their rules

One Hand Grippers 20 mm block
Competitors will set the gripper down to a 20 mm block that is provided to measure the gap before the close. You will hold and apply the gauge yourself. Once the gripper is set (the other hand must be kept away from the gripping hand, arm and gripper) close the gripper till the handles touch. The grippers are the only event that does not operate on the rising bar principle. If you fail to close a gripper, you can attempt a lighter one on the next attempt. Competitors will be called in the order they appear on the recorder's sheet. Each time they are called, they will make one attempt with each hand.

Two Hands Pinch Lift
The width of the pinch apparatus is adjustable to suit different hand sizes, but to keep it within the spirit of a pinch lift the minimum width allowed is the 2 outer steel discs and 2 rubber spacer discs, a width of 24mm. Before the event starts, you will be given the opportunity to try it and find your best width. The smooth-sided, adjustable-width disc is held on a 2” thick metal rod by a pair of collars. Extra weights will be added to the outsides. The top of this is grasped with an overhand pinch grip (with no further than a 3” gap between the index fingers) and lifted until the end of the bar touches a horizontal stick placed at 16.5”, measured from the underside of the stick to the floor. There is no referee’s signal. You do not have to be erect upon completion. You must lower the weight under control. If the outer discs accidentally touch the stick before the bar itself, referee’s discretion will be used to judge whether the correct height was attained. Pinch gripping the discs using an unorthodox underhand grip will not be allowed.

Additional equipment rules: 1. The apparatus has to be loaded with the same number of discs on each side, in the same order, and has to weigh similar (max 1k tolerance between the total weight of the weights at the front, and weights at the rear). 2. The heaviest discs should be loaded nearest to the adjustable pinch discs themselves. 3. The spacer/collars that hold the inside adjustable discs together should be the same length. 4. The discs added should be smaller in height than the adjustable discs you grasp, so that the view of the lifters hands are not totally obscured, and the lift starts from the proper height.

Two Hands Deadlift using a 2" thick barbell - overhand grip
Normal Deadlift rules apply, except the barbell is 2" thick, and both hands have to grasp the bar in an overhand grip (knuckles facing forward). Hook gripping is not permitted. Heels and toes may rise. The lift ends with the referee's signal, and then you must lower the weight under control.


One Hand Deadlift using an Olympic Bar (with no hook grip)
The bar may either be raised in front of the lifter, or the lifter may straddle the bar. Hook gripping is not permitted. The free hand may be used to brace against the opposing leg. Foot spacing is optional, but may not change once the lift begins. Heels and toes may rise. The bar must be raised to a point where both ends of the bar are pulled to a height of mid knees or above and the legs must be straightened. The shoulders do not have to be pulled erect, nor the body straight as long as the legs are straight and the bar motionless with both ends above the knee joint. The lift ends with the referee's signal, and then you must lower the weight under control.

Weaver Stick Lift to Rear
George Russell Weaver popularised this wrist leverage test some 50 years ago whilst living in Brooklyn. A round stick (mop handle) is used which has the following dimensions – diameter about 1”, length 42”. Half an inch from one end cut a notch. Exactly 36” from the centre of this notch, circle the stick with a line. Get two metal right angles at a hardware store, and screw them into the top and bottom sides of the stick so that the rear edges of the right angles come exactly to the circled line. The topside of the stick is the side where the notch is cut. This leaves a handle just 5 ½” long.
The weight hangs from a wire in the notch ½” from the end, creating a leverage effect when you lift the stick by the handle. For the lift to the rear, you face away from the stick, grasping the handle with your little finger towards the weight, and lift the stick and weight off the table. You may bend your body forward as the lift is made.
The stick must be lifted approximately parallel to the floor. If the weighted end slopes downwards, you may carry on the event till the stick is level. You will then get the referees command to lower the stick. There must be no rocking of the stick on the table before lifting. The lifter hand and arm must remain free of the body. The heel of the hand must remain on top of the stick; if the hand twists around under the stick, the lift is not allowed. The grip has to be a normal grip with the thumb opposing the fingers.


Order of the competition

- Before the competition (maximum 30’) all competitors must declare their start for all the events. Until five minutes (5’) before the start of the competition (or each event) one change of this start is allowed. Having made his first attempt, the competitor must decide upon his choice for the second attempt and submitted to the competition secretary or other appointed official before one (1’) minute time. The same procedure is to be used for the third and fourth attempt. Only the fourth attempt has two permitted changes. All the changes must be done before the speaker’s called to the competitor. These changes must be the same or greater than the weight previously utilized. The grippers are the only event that does not operate on the rising bar principle.

- Each competitor will take his first attempt in the first round, his second attempt in the second round, the third attempt in the third round and the fourth attempt in the fourth round.

- The bar must be loaded progressively during each round on the principle of a rising bar. At no time will the weight be lowered within a round except for error. Then, it would be lowered at the end of the round (the grippers will be the exception for this rule)

- The order within each round will be determined by the competitor’s choice for that round. In the event of two lifters choosing the same weight, the lifter with the lowest lot number drawn at the technical meeting will lift first.

- If unsuccessful with an attempt, the competitor does not follow himself, but must wait until the next round before he can attempt that weight again.

- If in a round an attempt is unsuccessful due to a wrongly loaded bar, spotter error or equipment failure, the competitor will be granted a further attempt at the correct weight at the end of the round.

- Lifters following themselves will have five minutes time placed on the clock, during which time the competitor can begin his attempt as soon he is ready.

- Competitors are allowed one minute in which to start his attempt after being called to the platform. If he does not start his attempt within this time allowance, the time keeper will call time and the Referee will declare “no lift” the attempt.

Looks a great event!

Thanks David.

I think that some things need to have a look in the grip contests like referees, rules, etc...It's a shame that there is not a european federation and all the contests and information are in forums.
Hopefully, this work could be used in the future for the next euro's.
But, it's not a close rulebook, i've put here to talk and discuss about the rules.

Jose.

Jose,
Have you got a date and venue arranged for this comp yet?

David,
it will be in Sideropolis Gym, Madrid. I don´t know the date yet, july for sure but i have to see what day.

It would be awesome if you compete!

You can see the venue here, some photos of the 1st and 2nd Spanish Grip Champs: http://fuerzaiberica.obolog.com/fotos/agarres-2008-2009-221807