The Gold Standard Challenge

[Ben Helms]

Ive come up with a grip challenge with help from my friends Zach Mullins and Chaz Strange. Its called The Gold Standard Challenge. From not being able to budge a fatman, to performing a double fatman blob cycle. My favorite part about grip is the feats. This challenge is a collection of the classics. In my opinion, the gold standards of grip strength. This challenge is also not about how fast you can do it. Its about being able to achieve these classics in one go while staying in the frame of the video. Proving that your overall grip strength meets the gold standard. The list of feats are the following:

•Credit Card Set a C.o.C No.3
•Lift the Thomas Inch Dumbbell 
•Lift a Fatman
•Pinch two 45lb plates 
•Hub a 45lb plate
•Bend an Ironmind Red Nail

There is also another version that I wanted to include to bring in more participation and hopefully motivate others to achieve the gold standards. This version is called The Silver Standard. The required feats for this challenge would be the following:

•Credit Card Set C.o.C No.2
•Lift a “Baby” Inch Dumbbell (135lbs)
•Lift a Next Gen Half 100
•Pinch 35lb plates
•Hub a 35lb plate
•Bend an Ironmind Blue Nail

The most challenging part for The Silver Standard would be the Next Gen 100 lift in my opinion, but still a motivator to lifting the fatman in the future. 
I hope everyone enjoys and keep on training. 

COMPLETION LIST

The Gold Standard:

-Ben Helms 8/23/24

 

-Tanner Merkle 8/24/24

(Meyer’s Bell Substitution)

 

 

The Silver Standard:

-Alex Guiha 9/6/24

(GANGSTER Red Nail Substitution)

(45lb Hub Substitution)

 

Edited September 7 by Ben Helms
.

[Blacksmith513]

I like this. Very cool. The silver standard shouldn’t be to hard for me to achieve at this point. 
 

 

then I’m taking the gold!

[DoctorOfCrush]

Ah man, this is just one more thing making me want to dip my toes into bending, blobs, and Inches.... 

It just seems so daunting. 

Edited August 22 by DoctorOfCrush

[Blacksmith513]

2 minutes ago, DoctorOfCrush said:

Ah man, this is just one more thing making me want to dip my toes into bending, blobs, and Inches.... 

It just seems so daunting. 

[Ben Helms]

Its been brought to my attention that I should track a list for this challenge! If anyone is interested please share your challenge on this thread and the list will begin

[Bruno21]

Amazing Idea

a challenge with the classics

with the origin of this world.

[Cannon]

I really like this. Great challenge!

[Cannon]

I think we can make a custom badge for people who complete this. 

[Ben Helms]

20 minutes ago, Cannon said:

I think we can make a custom badge for people who complete this. 

That would be awesome!!! 

[Londonjoseph]

Very cool list, in my own personal take I would have the red nail be in single pads instead of of doubles. 

[Ben Helms]

7 minutes ago, Londonjoseph said:

Very cool list, in my own personal take I would have the red nail be in single pads instead of of doubles. 

Maybe it’s because you could bend a red nail with your toes?  

[Londonjoseph]

7 minutes ago, Ben Helms said:

Maybe it’s because you could bend a red nail with your toes?  

Haha, yeah my perspective may be skewed 

[David_wigren]

Maybe my perspective is even more scewed. IMO the bending feat should be done using the reverse technique and with singles. IMO a red nail reversed in singles would be on par with a 78kg inch. But since most grip guys don’t actively bend, one could use something a tad easier to handicap the difficulty a tad, but still without it making it too easy. Maybe a 6” x 1/4” grade 8? That would still be hard.

 

[Londonjoseph]

3 hours ago, David_wigren said:

Maybe my perspective is even more scewed. IMO the bending feat should be done using the reverse technique and with singles. IMO a red nail reversed in singles would be on par with a 78kg inch. But since most grip guys don’t actively bend, one could use something a tad easier to handicap the difficulty a tad, but still without it making it too easy. Maybe a 6” x 1/4” grade 8? That would still be hard.

 

A 6" 1/4" grade 8 reverse style in 30 seconds or less with single pads is a good feat. Reverse Bending with these traditional rules was a classic part of grip competitions. I like that idea.  

 

To be honest David, my initial thoughts were doing a red in ironmind pads no rubber bands (the cert style before the rules change) would be good for this list. However, I thought to myself "most of these guys aren't bending specialists. A pair of leathers seems reasonable". 

 

Maybe we are both insane. 

[Blacksmith513]

3 hours ago, David_wigren said:

Maybe my perspective is even more scewed. IMO the bending feat should be done using the reverse technique and with singles. IMO a red nail reversed in singles would be on par with a 78kg inch. But since most grip guys don’t actively bend, one could use something a tad easier to handicap the difficulty a tad, but still without it making it too easy. Maybe a 6” x 1/4” grade 8? That would still be hard.

 

 

15 minutes ago, Londonjoseph said:

A 6" 1/4" grade 8 reverse style in 30 seconds or less with single pads is a good feat. Reverse Bending with these traditional rules was a classic part of grip competitions. I like that idea.  

 

To be honest David, my initial thoughts were doing a red in ironmind pads no rubber bands (the cert style before the rules change) would be good for this list. However, I thought to myself "most of these guys aren't bending specialists. A pair of leathers seems reasonable". 

 

Maybe we are both insane. 

I'm with you guys I like the idea of it being reverse.

[matek]

3 minutes ago, Blacksmith513 said:

 

I'm with you guys I like the idea of it being reverse.

Me too, to keep it consistent (since all other feats are also about grip/wrist).

Btw great idea, @Ben Helms

[Ben Helms]

1 hour ago, matek said:

Me too, to keep it consistent (since all other feats are also about grip/wrist).

Btw great idea, @Ben Helms

 

1 hour ago, Blacksmith513 said:

 

I'm with you guys I like the idea of it being reverse.

 

5 hours ago, David_wigren said:

Maybe my perspective is even more scewed. IMO the bending feat should be done using the reverse technique and with singles. IMO a red nail reversed in singles would be on par with a 78kg inch. But since most grip guys don’t actively bend, one could use something a tad easier to handicap the difficulty a tad, but still without it making it too easy. Maybe a 6” x 1/4” grade 8? That would still be hard.

 

 

9 hours ago, Londonjoseph said:

Haha, yeah my perspective may be skewed 

Bend the nail however you please. The description says “Bend an Ironmind Red Nail.” The feat in just bending the red nail is a gold standard. If you want to make it more challenging then by all means go for it. The gold standard doesn't mean its the hardest thing to do. Its a challenge paying respects to the classic feats.

[Londonjoseph]

I see. 

 

To anyone who wants to bend the red for this feat list, I recommend you use 5"x15" leather pads instead of of the usual 4x12". The more overhang the better. Triples each side too, the thicker the better. 

Also, use crush pads too.

[Ben Helms]

I have just completed The Gold Standard Challenge! Once the video uploads ill share the link. I look forward to more video submissions!

[Ben Helms]

 

[Alawadhi]

13 minutes ago, Ben Helms said:

 

That's an impressive accomplishment! I'll aim to complete all of them, except for the Red Nail bend, as I don't have it at the moment. However, I must admit that I currently lack the endurance for it.

[ZRMMA]

56 minutes ago, Ben Helms said:

 

Beast!

[climber511]

Very cool idea - my results over the years.  I might still hit the Silver but certainly not the Gold these days.

Credit Card Set a C.o.C No.3 - Nope - Block set and MMS
•Lift the Thomas Inch Dumbbell - got it to my knee once - never to lockout
•Lift a Fatman - Right hand only
•Pinch two 45lb plates - Done L&R
•Hub a 45lb plate - Done L&R
•Bend an Ironmind Red Nail - done both DO and Reverse - leather pads and the old Bender Battlefield cordura pads

There is also another version that I wanted to include to bring in more participation and hopefully motivate others to achieve the gold standards. This version is called The Silver Standard. The required feats for this challenge would be the following:

•Credit Card Set C.o.C No.2 - Done L&R
•Lift a “Baby” Inch Dumbbell (135lbs) - My Gracie Bell at 146# - L&R
•Lift a Next Gen Half 100 - both left and right - L&R
•Pinch 35lb plates - wide and regular plates L&R
•Hub a 35lb plate - Done - L&R
•Bend an Ironmind Blue Nail - DO and Reverse - pretty much any pads

Edited August 23 by climber511

[Ben Helms]

1 hour ago, climber511 said:

Very cool idea - my results over the years.  I might still hit the Silver but certainly not the Gold these days.

Credit Card Set a C.o.C No.3 - Nope - Block set and MMS
•Lift the Thomas Inch Dumbbell - got it to my knee once - never to lockout
•Lift a Fatman - Right hand only
•Pinch two 45lb plates - Done L&R
•Hub a 45lb plate - Done L&R
•Bend an Ironmind Red Nail - done both DO and Reverse - leather pads and the old Bender Battlefield cordura pads

There is also another version that I wanted to include to bring in more participation and hopefully motivate others to achieve the gold standards. This version is called The Silver Standard. The required feats for this challenge would be the following:

•Credit Card Set C.o.C No.2 - Done L&R
•Lift a “Baby” Inch Dumbbell (135lbs) - My Gracie Bell at 146# - L&R
•Lift a Next Gen Half 100 - both left and right - L&R
•Pinch 35lb plates - wide and regular plates L&R
•Hub a 35lb plate - Done - L&R
•Bend an Ironmind Blue Nail - DO and Reverse - pretty much any pads

Once I get a video submission from others, ill start the list for both gold and silver. So far, its just me so im not making a list for just my submission haha 

I’d love to see your submission of the silver standard!

[DoctorOfCrush]

Just how difficult is it to get a hold of a Next Gen half 100 or baby Inch? (Like to actually procure )

Edited August 23 by DoctorOfCrush