Grip it and Don’t Rip!

Jon talks grip and avoiding tears:albany gym

Ripped hands used to be a sign of a bad@$$ CrossFitter or someone that left it all out there but the reality of the matter is… you ripped because you probably have an incorrect grip.  It then will effect your training, and the recovery can be long.

Let the last time you ripped be the LAST time you ripped! Proper bar grip is often overlooked and I’m not just talking hook grip vs. wrapped thumb. I’m talking proper bar placement (including pullup bar) within the hand.

Improper bar placement in the hand forms a raised clifton park gymwrinkle of skin off your hand which catches on the bar and will quickly lead to ripping.

Proper bar placement is base of your fingers, in the crease between the fingers and where the rest of the hand meet. With a proper bar placement there is no raised wrinkle of skin to catch on the bar which would pull away from the hand leading to rips.

If you have any questions at all on proper grip or how to improve grip strength please see a coach!

“If there’s no crease for the callus to form along then there’s no potential for callus development” – Mark Rippetoe

“Discipline is based on pride, on meticulous attention to details, and on mutual respect and confidence. Discipline must be a habit so ingrained that it is stronger than the excitement of the goal or the fear of failure.” –Gary Ryan Blair

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3 Responses
  1. Chuck Stumpf Jr.

    Great post Caleb. Shared this with my box in LA. People have been asking a lot of questions about tearing recently.

  2. Mike

    when I try to do pullups with this grip, I don’t have the same “endurance” that I have with the improper one – I assume that’s a function of grip strength, yes? How can I improve it so I can do more than 3 pullups at a time with the correct grip?