Atlas Stones

[SAMMYSDAD]

Hey guys. Other than just working with the stones what do you find works best for training your grip on them. I found the toughest part of the event was not losing my grip on them and was wondering how you guys train for it.

 

[btmagnus]

grip tip

I learned this tip from John Brookfield, who has arguably one of the strongest grips in the world. He has a great tip for stone lifting. You are not going to be able to lift the amount of weight you would when training on stones with this exercise, but nonetheless it is great for building the upper body and hand crush strength you need to lift the stones.

What you do is take a stack of bricks, any bricks, like the ones used to make sidewalks. Lay the bricks down in front of you on the ground, and then try to pick up the row of bricks. So you'll be pressing the bricks as hard as you can with both hands to pick the stack up. You will be doing this exercise like a barbell row, but with the line of bricks. If the line of bricks starts to get too easy, then put bricks on top of the row that you have, so they will be stacked.
I know I've probably confused the hell out of you, but if you go to ironmind.com, to the grip tip section, there should be an article in there to give you a clear explanation.

 

[SAMMYSDAD]

Thanks for the tip.

You didn't confuse me, I seem to remember seeing a picture of someone doing that once and I wondered why. It makes perfect sense I'll give it a try.
Thank you.
SD

 

[squatter]

your height, arm length and bodily thickness determine the type of stone lifter you are. whats your stats?

I have gone from a very poor stone lifter to one of the best just by lifting stones. The key to progress is creativity in your aproach to stone lifting. here's a basic plan that has worked well for a bunch of people I've trained

wk 1 Low volume, most weight
warm up load 3 light stones
heavy set of 4-5 near failure
max single attempts to determine the heaviest stone you can possibly lift.

wk2 Speed
3 sets of 5 stones recording the time each set. always try to beat your best time.

wk3 Volume
load 8-12 stones if contest is following week, do another set if not.

wk4 contest or low volume day
after warm up do one set with contest weight stones

wk 5 back off
no stones

wk6 start over


have a map to chart your training is so very valuable. sticking to a plan has always been my best method for hitting new PRs.

best of luck to you in your training.

squatter

 

[SAMMYSDAD]

Thanks

Squatter, thanks for the plan. I don't have access to stones right now on a regular basis. After the first of the year I will be getting a set and will implement your plan. Unless anyone knows of a place to train near Millis MA.
The closest place I know of is in Everett MA which is too far for me to travel to on a regular basis because of time constraints. As far as my build. I'm 5'9 215lbs average length arms.

bt magnus, I tried the brick rowing tip yesterday and I will continue to do it until I can train on the stones.

I actually never did this stuff before a couple of weeks ago I went to a Svend Carlsen seminar and tried all the stuff. It was the most fun I've had in along time and I'm hooked. Especially on the stones. Hopefully over the next few months I will be able to acuire all the suff and maybe try a novice competition this coming summer.

I really appreciate all your help. Thanks again.

 

[squatter]

good for you bro! I always say,

"Certainly there is no lifting like the lifting of stone and those who have lifted huge stones long enough and liked it, never really care for anything else thereafter.”
-squatter

where was this semminar? tell us more about it. details man! I'm in to that sort of thing.

squatter

 

[SAMMYSDAD]

Sven Carlson Seminar

Squatter,
The seminar was basically about training for strongman competition. It was at Total Performance Center in Everett MA. About 15 (give or take) people showed up. Sven started by giving us his history starting as a bodybuilder who hated dieting but liked training heavy to the present still competing and feeling his best ever at 36. For the first few hours he spoke alot about his training methods and the way he prepares for a contest now vs in the beginning. An example would be how in the past he would practice the events constantly and become overtrained where as now he will only practice an event 3-4 times before the contest becuase he's found that after 3 sessions his times don't improve and if he continues training it it starts to decline. Obviously he doesn't recommend this type of training for someone who still has to learn the technique. For the remainder of the day we got to try all the different events. He went over the correct technique then let us try it and critiqued us and told us where we needed improvement and what to work on. I think I would have gotten a lot more out of it if I had some prior training as everything we did that day was my first time. Although I guess starting out learning everything right the first time is better than coming in and trying to correct bad habits so I am thankful to start out on the right foot. We did the appolons axle press and he showed us a couple of different techniques for being able to clean it with a mixed grip-one of which involved bringing the supinated hand in as the weight aproaches your shoulders and racking it like a bodybuilder type front squat before adjusting your grip for the jerk portion. We did the log press and mostly practiced the jerk and dip technique with just a 45 on each side of the log so it was pretty easy to get right (when I did it this week after finding a gym with a log with weight on it my "perfect technique" became somewhat less than perfect-lol). Then we went to the stones (my favorite part). We started with a 160lb stone which was pretty easy then we went to the 180lber-felt okay there then at the 220 it took me 4 failed attempts unitl I got it loaded (only a couple of us got it up which made me feel a little better-lol) then they rolled out a 295lber this one guy who has competed before tried it and failed then went and got some tacky and got it so I borrowed some tacky from him and found it easier to pick up than the 220lber. After that I was hooked! Nothing felt as satisfying as picking up that stone! Then we did the tire flip (I think they said it weighed 650 but I'm not sure if that was the weight or some type of measurement). That was so much fun I'm getting my own tire next week. After that we tried the Yolk walk with 600lbs then the conans wheel (I cant remeber what they had on it for weight). Then he showed us the farmers walk and how to angle the handles and where to hold them. I missed the anchor chain drag becuase the guy I rode in with had to get to work. Theres a lot more details he gave us about technique and hand placement and such that if you ask for a specific I would remember but can't think of it as I write this. Over all the seminar was the most fun I've had with my clothes on in a long time. I found a gym that has the stones, a log, some tires and the farmers walk and an appollons axle not to far from me so I trained on the stones and log a little tuesday and i will go there at least once or twice a week from now on. By the way Sven was a monster and a super nice guy. When he demonstrated the lifts it is just so apparent how much power he has that it's awe inspiring. I wish I had come across this when I was a kid but better late than never.

 

[squatter]

wow sounds like a great time. Svend is awesome. I've had the pleasure of spending alot of time with him. He and I have gone back and forth on training and technique many times. He showed me that axle clean technique. I can clean the world record in such a manner and easily jerk it off the rack, but the transition into the press position is a true max effort that I'm unsure I could do.

we were sitting in a restaurant eating pancakes, eggs and beer after the Arnold when 4 IFBB pro bodybuilders walked in. Svend starts laughing and pointing at them. Of course they stair at him as they walk past wondering why he would be mocking them. Svend bellows, "you starve for 3 months! Me, FAT! Standing ovation!" It was actually embaressing to be at his table because he scared the shit out of the whole restaurant. Funny none the less.

 

[SAMMYSDAD]

Training Week

Hey Squatter,
If you ever have a little extra time I would really love to see how you map out your training week.

 

[squatter]

well, it's always changing. for right now my basic template is this

Mon- incline presses, triceps, chins, sprints
tue- snatch, squat
wed- chins, curls, jogging
thur- power cleans, front squats, overhead lift
fri-cardio
sat- events axle or log, deadlift, farmers walk, yoke or conans wheel, stones, tire flip and drag (or something like that)

squatter

 

[SAMMYSDAD]

Thank you.

I appreciate the info.

 

[diablo69]

My practice stone

My practice stone