This is an exciting time for Durniat Strength. There is SOOO much happening right now it will take more than one post to cover it all.
First off, I would like to welcome certified personal trainer Josh McDonald to the Durniat Strength family. Josh comes originally from Rittman, Ohio with experience in the sprint events of track & field. His experience and expertise has already become a huge asset. A more detailed bio about Josh will be up soon.
Along the same lines, welcome to Brandon Gerber, a Dalton High School junior track star, who is working at Durniat Strength as an intern. Branden also a track sprinter has spent time here as a trainee and is looking to pursue a career in strength & conditioning. I can’t think of a better place to start. He is learning the details of the business as he continues to train for his upcoming spring season.
On the strength front, Grip Sport training is taking Wooster by storm. Because of this, Durniat Strength will be hosting a Novice only grip sport competition on Saturday, February 19, 2011. Start training your plate pinches, thick bar and crushing strength.
Events will include:
Parallel set gripper for max close
2 hands pinch device for max weight
Ironmind Axle Double Overhand Deadlift for max weight
Wrist roller event
20-25 odd object medley
Another great grip training aid is steel bending. Check out Jedd Johnson of the Diesel Crew’s
Nail Bending – How To Melt Steel With Your Bare Hands
It’s the perfect way to start down the path to a stronger grip. The Novice only grip sport competition will be followed with a full open and novice competition in the late spring / early summer.
For more information about grip sport please check out the GripSport.org website. Jedd Johnson, Chris Rice, Rick Walker, Paul Knight, Aaron Corcoran, Brent Barbe and myself have been working overtime to establish this organization and are driving grip sport to the main stage.
Also on the competition front, Durniat Strength will be hosting a North American Highlander competition this summer. Highlander brings together the scottish highland games and strongman into one exciting competition. For those wondering, yes, kilts are worn.
Events look to include:
Light weight for distance
Weight over bar
Caber
Axle Clean + Press for reps (clean every rep) – 90 sec.
Farmers walk – 60ft. then backwards drag a sled 60ft.
Loading Medley – odd objects, field stones, atlas stones possible
Look for this event to take place in August 2011.
Entry forms for everything will be available soon and posted on the site.
With all the looking ahead I cannot help but look back at where I have come. More to come this next week, so stay tuned.
The following is from Gary Bess:
“This October, 25 yr old Wooster, Ohio native, Whitney Lowe was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer. She is the daughter of Phil and Sandy Kline. I wanted to do something to help the family and after prayerful consideration I contacted my friend, my coach, and personal trainer Andrew Durniat. Together we came up with the idea of dedicating …my next powerlifting competition to Whitney’s fight. We decided it would be a great way to raise funds to help defray medical costs if we could ask people to pledge money for the amount of weight I would lift. I spoke with Whitney’s family and told them what we were planning and here is the amazing part … they do not want to accept the money.
They want it to go to the Viola Startzman Free Clinic in Whitney’s name. Whit had been to other doctors and they had dismissed her concerns. The Startzman Clinic did the exact opposite. They pursued her concerns, got
a biopsy and got the cancer diagnosed. This was crucial, as she is already at stage 3! Whitney and her family want to show the clinic their gratitude by paying it forward and in hopes that her donations will help someone else.
My meet is scheduled for November 20th. I am planning on lifting a total of 1700 + lbs. as a raw lifter. We will take donations by the lb. or lump sum. All donations are tax deductible and checks can be made out to Zion Lutheran. I will be posting the results the evening of the 20th and would ask that all checks be sent to Andrew Durniat by the 27th. My address is 1154 Mindy Lane Apt. A., Wooster, OH 44691 Thanks to Rob Lalonde who has already got donations rolling in!
Lets all stand up together and Fight Like Whitney !”
Gary Bess has been training at Durniat Strength for the last year and a half.
Grip Sport is coming to the Los Angeles, California Staples Center main stage at the 2011 FitExpo January 29-30.
2011 ViseGrip Viking Mighty Mitts Challenge is an open challenge to all grip masters and ‘wannabe” grip masters. Entry form is attached below.
I will see you in LA.
PRIZE AWARDS:
1st Place $2,500
2nd Place $1,500
3rd Place $1,000
Scoring:
Timed Disciplines shall be hand timed, and distances shall be measured by standard measuring tapes. The score in a Discipline shall be determined by placement and based on the number of Athletes starting in the first Discipline of the contest. If an Athlete pass on a Discipline or fail to get a measurable result in a Discipline, he will receive zero (0) points (i.e. fails to get one repetition in a Discipline for maximum repetitions, fails to lift the opening weight in a max lift, etc.). The score for a placement shall remain the same through an entire competition (i.e. if the score for 1st place is 12 points in the first Discipline, it will remain 12 points in subsequent Disciplines even if the field of athletes has been reduced by attrition). However, if there’s a cut in the number of athletes due to time constraints, the scoring will be weighted.
Discipline Description and Rules
The following disciplines are the feats of strength that will be contested….
Saturday 3:00 PM
Rolling Thunder Last Man Standing
The athletes will each attempt to dead lift with one hand the Ironmind Rolling Thunder® , starting weight ~200lb and increasing with each attempt till there is ONE MAN STANDING. Time starts when the implement is loaded, and athletes have 20 seconds to commence the lift. No grip aids other than chalk allowed.
Mighty Mitts Power Medley
The athletes (reverse order of overall standing) will attempt to lift and load to a platform single-handedly an Anvil by the horn; a Standard Barbell 35lb and 45lb plate each by the hub; a York 40lb and 50lb “blob”; and a 181lb Circus Dumbell (3” dia. grip), and if successful do double handed reps on the Go-Really-GripTM Gripping Machine. The most objects successfully lifted to the platform; or the most successful reps on the gripper if all objects are lifted, wins the medley. No grip aids other than chalk allowed.
Wrist Roller Challenge
The athletes (reverse order of overall standing) will attempt to hoist a weight using a wrist roller contraption from floor to handle in the least amount of time. No grip aids other than chalk allowed. 60 seconds time limit.
Sunday 12:00 NOON
Double Overhand Deadlift (last man standing)
The athletes(reverse order of overall standing) will each attempt to dead lift the Apollon Axle® loaded with standard plates, starting weight 352lb and increasing with each attempt till there is ONE MAN STANDING. Time starts when Axle is loaded, and athletes have 20 seconds to commence the lift. No grip aids other than chalk allowed.
Hercules (Deadlift) Hold
The athlete (reverse order of overall standing) will attempt to lift and hold
for as long as possible with a trap bar loaded to 705lb. The grip is normal sized and knurled, and no grip aids other than chalk allowed.
Thomas Inch Dumbbell Deadlift
The athletes competing in pairs will each attempt to single-handedly deadlift a Thomas Inch replica dumbbell (172lb) for as many times as possible within in a 90 sec time limit.
Please note that disciplines and rules subject to change without notice.
2011 Vise Grip Viking Entry Form
