USAWA

by Al Myers

The first lift conducted in the USAWA Grip Championships will be the Pinch Grip.  This lift is in the rulebook under “Special Equipment Lifts”.  The reason for this is that the “special equipment” is the plates themselves – as that is what is used to pinch to make the lift.  The USAWA rules for the Pinch Grip are as follows:

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 give a command to lower the weight.

At the Grip Champs, we will use two old york 45# plates as the “gripping plates” with a VB holding them together. You will like these plates for this lift because these are the old “milled” York Plates.  If you don’t know why these are better, you soon will when you get your mitts on them.   I do have some 35# plates if less weight is going to be lifted. I also want to emphasize that the only substance that may be used on the hands is chalk.  I will be watching this closely!!  The rules do not specify whether the arms can be bent or not – so that means they may be bent during the lift. 

Below are the Overall Mens USAWA records in the Pinch Grip.  I expect to see several of these get broken at the USAWA Grip Championships!!!

WT CLASS	LIFT	LIFTER	DATE	MEET
70	100	Howard, Colby	5/23/1999	99 Super Grip Challenge
75	135	Jaeschke, Jon	10/18/2003	2003 Super Grip Challenge
80	150	Jaeschke, Chris	10/19/2002	2002 SuperGrip
85	190	Wagman, Dan	12/1/2012	2012 Gracie Club RD
90	170	Goetsch, Troy	5/20/2012	2012 Jobes Steel Jungle RD
95	170	Fulton, Doug	5/23/1999	99 Super Grip Challenge
100	162	Edwards, Ben	2/12/2011	2011 Grip Championships
105	204	Glass, Adam	3/3/2012	2012 Minnesota Meet
110	170	Capello, Mac	5/20/2012	2012 Jobes Steel Jungle RD
115	175	Carlton, Brian	9/16/2001	2001 Supergrip Challenge
120	200	Graham, Matt	10/19/2002	2002 SuperGrip
125	200	Graham, Matt	10/18/2003	2003 Super Grip Challenge
125+	252	Mitchell, Mark	2/12/2012	2012 Dino Gym Record Day

 

NOTES:  The record lift are recorded in pounds.