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I am currently doing weight training in order to increase strength for martial
arts. My question concerns balance in grip and forearm training. I am
currently training via GTG(Grease the Groove) with COC grippers, using a 1
and a 1.5 gripper. My forearm workout is EDT based, and today, after a
Tabata sprint an EDT set of biceps/triceps, I performed 93 reps (each arm) of
wrist curls with 40lbs and 93 reps rev. wrist curls with 20lbs.
My question is, how can I effectively work the extensors of the hand to
balance crushing grip strength? Also, what is "balance" in regards to forearm
training? Should I be able to use the same weight for wrist curls and reverse
wrist curls, or is there a biomechanical difference that flexion(I think I mean
flexion) stronger than extension there? If so, what is a healthy ratio to
maintain?
Thank you for taking the time to answer my question.
Brendan
Answer I think you may be over-thinking a small thing here. I don't see how doing 93 reps of any exercise, in a row, is going to get any strength, you're just going to get endurance out of that. I would be doing more weight than that if I was pumping out 93 reps each arm on a wrist curl exercise.
As for balance, you will most likely always have one movement stronger than the other. You can try to gain more balance of strength by maintaining the higher strength one, and working on building the lower strength one up. Doing the same weights/loads on the higher strength movement will still maintain that strength level, as you give the lower strength movement a chance to 'catch up'. I'd do this if an athlete were having strength discrepancies between legs on a leg curl or leg extension. If the right leg was at 70 pounds, and the left at 55, we'd keep the right leg set at 70, and work on bringing the left leg up until it got to the 70# maximum. You won't lose strength on the one side if you keep on maintaining it.
Having said all that however, I think your best practicing for grip strength is within your martial arts realm. The weight training will help, but you still need to put the strength to practice as well, working on weak points in your grip while you're doing your martial arts. I'm not too familiar with the style of MA (Judo, Jujitsu?) you're doing, but I assume it involves some grappling for your need for grip strength.
