USAWA

By Al Myers

The USAWA Grip Championships will be here soon! The first lift of the day will be the Pinch Grip.  I’m going to go over the basic rules for the Pinch Grip.

I15. Pinch Grip

The setup for this lift requires two metal plates joined together with smooth surfaces facing outward. A bar may be placed between the plates to hold them together, and should be long enough to add plates to it. Front hang or back hang is allowed to the loading of the center bar. Collars should be used on this bar. The lifter’s fingers must not touch any added plates. The width of the two plates joined together must be between 2 ¼ inches and 2 ½ inches. The lifter will straddle the weight, with the weight being placed in front of the lifter. Width of feet placement is optional, but the feet must be parallel and in line with the torso. Feet must not move during the lift, but the heels and toes may rise.  The lifter will then grip the plates with both hands on the top of both plates. The palms of the hands must be facing the lifter. The lift begins at the lifter’s discretion. The weight must be lifted to a point where the lifter’s legs are straight and the body upright. Once the weight is motionless, an official will givThe setup for this lift requires two metal plates joined together with smooth surfaces facing outward. A bar may be placed between the plates to hold them together, and should be long enough to add plates to it. Front hang or back hang is allowed to the loading ofthe center bar. Collars should be used on this bar. The lifter’s fingers must not touch any added plates. The width of the two plates joined together must be between 2 ¼ inches and 2 ½ inches. The lifter will straddle the weight, with the weight being placed in front of the lifter. Width of feet placement is optional,but the feet must be parallel and in line with the torso. Feet must not move during the lift, but the heels and toes may rise. The lifter will then grip the plates with both hands on the topof both plates. The palms of the hands must be facing the lifter. The lift begins at the lifter’s discretion. The weight must be lifted to a point where the lifter’s legs are straight and thebody upright. Once the weight is motionless, an official e a command to lower the weight.

One special treat for the lifters is that I have a pair of old style milled York Plates to use for the Pinch Grip.  These plates are unique in that the “backsides” have a some milling marks which slightly enhances the grip on them. The plates will be connected with a loading pin (actually a 2″ Vertical Bar).  I will also have some 25’s and 35’s if lifters are going to start under two 45 pound plates. The USAWA rules for the Pinch Grip differ from the IAWA(UK) rules.  The USAWA requires two steel plates to be used while the IAWA(UK) allows a single smooth bumper plate to be used as the gripping plate.  The USAWA rules allow front hang and/or backhang while the IAWA(UK) rules require equal loading on each side.  These are major differences in the Pinch Grip rule. However from what I’ve seen the IAWA(UK) advantage of the use of the bumper plate nearly balances the USAWA advantage of allowing fronthang in total weight lifted.

No substances other than chalk is allowed on the hands.  I will be officiating and this is one thing I will watch for! I expect some big lifts in the Pinch Grip and expect a few USAWA records to fall.

OVERALL USAWA RECORDS IN PINCH GRIP

WT CLASS	LIFTER	POUNDS
70 KG	Colby Howard	100
75 KG	Stephen Santangelo	141
80 KG	Chris Jaeschke	150
85 KG	Dan Wagman	226
90 KF	Mike Pringle	175
95 KG	Troy Goetsch	255
100 KG	Ben Edwards	162
105 KG	Al Myers	215
110 KG	LaVerne Myers	190
115 KG	LaVerne Myers	200
120 KG	Matt Graham	200
125 KG	Matt Graham	200
125+ KG	Mark Mitchell	252