Saxon Snatch
by Al Myers
Dino Gym member Tyler Cookson performs a Saxon Snatch.
Another lift contested at the Dino Gym Challenge will be the Saxon Snatch. This was a popular strength feat done by the Old-Time German Strongman Arthur Saxon. Even though Saxon was best known for his Bent Pressing and Two Hands Anyhow, he was quite a grip specialist. Often in his strength shows he would demonstrate his grip strength by snatching a wooden plank, with both hands or just with one. It is reported that he could one-hand Snatch a 90 pound 3 inch thick wooden plank! Saxon had abnormally long fingers and hands for his size, and did several other grip feats to back up this claim.
We are going to honor this great grip feat of Arthur Saxon’s by including it as our “grip lift” in the Dino Gym Challenge.
The Rules of the Saxon Snatch:
A wooden plank, of 3 inch thickness, will be used as the apparatus. The plank will be able to be loaded with plates to any weight desired. The rules of the Snatch apply. The plank must be gripped with an overhand (knuckles facing away) pinch grip. The lifter will have a time limit of 1 minute to accomplish a legal lift. If the plank is dropped or not deemed a legal snatch, the lifter may repeat as many times as desired within the time limit.