Rolling Thunder is a one-hand deadlift first developed in 1993 by IronMind Enterprises, Inc.. It primarily tests grip strength via a rotating, thick handle of 2 3⁄8" (6.03 cm) in diameter and 7 1⁄2" (19.05 cm) in length (rotating portion is 6" (15.24 cm)) attached to a weight loadable Olympic loading pin via a carabiner.[1] The thickness of the handle is derived from the Thomas Inch dumbbell.
Throughout the years, it became an internationally recognized method to measure 'support grip'[2] which is one of the three facets of hand strength along-with crush grip and pinch grip.[3]
Versions
editThe first version (V1), had a black coloured handle and was used from 1993 to 2008. However, as the records with this handle kept on increasing during the 2000s, it was observed that the handle drop test (which was used to verify the rotating nature of the handle) didn't work anymore. Despite rotating without added weight or upto moderate amounts of weight, it would not rotate at the verge of the world record weights at the time. To mitigate this, Randall J. Strossen developed the second version (V2) which featured a dark blue coloured handle. It was better than its predecessor however, uniformity of the device was not even. When some of the devices rotated well, some exhibited the same issue V1 had which was not rotating at world record weights in 2012/13. Further developments were made and the third version (V3) was introduced with a dark blue handle which featured distinctive closed end caps contrary to the hollow cylinder of V1 and V2.[4]
World record
edit- 287.7 pounds (130.5 kg) (with the V3) by Alexey Tyukalov (2013 Visegrip Viking)[5]
- → Regarded as the current all-time world record since previous records with V1 and V2 were affiliated with flaws in the units.
Progression of the world record
editHolder | Weight | Event name and Location | Date |
---|---|---|---|
Jan Bartl | 265.4 pounds (120.4 kg)[6] | 1 May 2000 | |
(Rule change: Previously, they allowed a competitor to use a thumbless (false) grip. Because it was later felt that this was not in the spirit of the lift, since it allowed strong-wristed competitors to remove the grip element of the event by cocking their wrists, thumbless grips are now no longer allowed.[7]) | |||
Jan Bartl | 258.5 pounds (117.3 kg)[6] | 31 May 2001 | |
Magnus Samuelsson | 262.0 pounds (118.8 kg)[7] | 3 Jun 2003 | |
Andrus Murumets | 267.0 pounds (121.1 kg)[8] | 16 Jun 2003 | |
Laine Snook | 274.2 pounds (124.4 kg)[9] | 2006 Pullum Sports Exhibition Luton, United Kingdom |
1 Aug 2006 |
Mark Felix | 301.0 pounds (136.5 kg)[10] | 18 Jan 2008 | |
(Version change: By now, the rotating nature of the handle was not happening anymore hence V2 was introduced. All records above, were with V1). | |||
Mark Felix | 323.5 pounds (146.7 kg)[nb 1][11] | 2012 Bodypower Expo Birmingham, United Kingdom |
22 May 2012 |
Alexey Tyukalov | 331.8 pounds (150.5 kg)[12] | 2013 A1 Grand Prix Moscow, Russia |
30 Jul 2013 |
(Version change: It was noticed that both above performances including Snook's unofficial record[nb 2] were done with official but flawed V2 handles which resembled the same error V1 had, hence V3 was introduced and all the previous records were nullified). | |||
Mike Burke | 282.2 pounds (128.0 kg)[5] | 2013 Visegrip Viking San Jose, California, USA |
10 Oct 2013 |
Alexey Tyukalov | 287.7 pounds (130.5 kg)[5] | 2013 Visegrip Viking San Jose, California, USA |
10 Oct 2013 |
Women's world record progression
editHolder | Weight | Event name | Date |
---|---|---|---|
Becca Swanson | 135.0 pounds (61.2 kg) | St. Louis Steel Fingers Challenge | 01 Jul 2002 |
Elizabeth Horne | 144.4 pounds (65.5 kg) | British Rolling Thunder Champs | 07 Apr 2007 |
Jaana Tanner | 147.2 pounds (66.8 kg) | IronMind Grip Classic Volume II | 28 Jan 2012 |
Jaana Tanner | 152.7 pounds (69.3 kg) | IronMind Grip Classic Record Breakers | 26 May 2012 |
Irina Postnikova | 159.2 pounds (72.2 kg) | Armlifting World Championships | 22 Sep 2012 |
Ludmilla Gaiduchenko | 170.2 pounds (77.2 kg) | Armlifting World Championships | 22 Sep 2012 |
Hafsa Mason | 176.3 pounds (80.0 kg) | West Coast Arm Sports Hands of Doom II | 21 Aug 2024 |
Similar equipment
editSince IronMind, numerous other competitors have produced similar products specially following its flawed design with V1 and V2.
'Grip Genie RGT'[14] is known for being more difficult than IronMind V3 because it rotates more freely and rapidly due to less friction. The world record with this is held by Carl Myerscough at 226.0 pounds (102.5 kg).
'Gods of grip' Godlike rolling handle[15] and 'Titan' rotating deadlift handle[16] offer three handle diameter options at 2", 2.5" and 3".
Notes
edit- ^ The lift was displayed 332.2 pounds (150.7 kg) during the event, but it was later revealed that the actual weight was 323.5 pounds (146.7 kg) and it was a computational error on the scoresheet.
- ^ On 8 Mar 2012 Laine Snook lifted an unofficial 332.0 pounds (150.6 kg) during training at his home gym.[13]
References
edit- ^ Strossen, Randall J. (April 27, 2021). "Rolling Thunder®: One-hand deadlift rules and world records". IronMind Enterprises, Inc.
- ^ "Rolling Thunder Revolving Deadlift Handle". www.gripandlift.com.au. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
- ^ "IronMind History". Archived from the original on 13 February 2009. Retrieved 14 September 2008.
- ^ "Official IronMind Rolling Thunder". www.godsofgrip.com. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
- ^ a b c "VISEGRIP VIKING 2013 SAN JOSE MEN". www.strengthresults.com. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
- ^ a b "IronMind Resource Pages About Grip Training, Hand Grippers, and Hand Strength". IronMind. Archived from the original on 27 November 2021.
- ^ a b Strossen, Randall J. (3 June 2003). "Magnus Samuelsson Breaks Rolling Thunder World Record". IronMind. Archived from the original on 1 May 2023.
- ^ Strossen, Randall J. (16 June 2003). "Rolling Thunder: Andrus Murumets Sets a New World Record at the IFSA All Strength Challenge". IronMind. Archived from the original on 27 September 2022.
- ^ Strossen, Randall J. (1 August 2006). "Laine Snook Breaks Rolling Thunder World Record". IronMind. Archived from the original on 20 October 2021.
- ^ "Rolling Thunder World Championships 2008 (Alternative names: Mohegan Sun Rolling Thunder™ Championships)". www.strengthresults.com. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
- ^ Strossen, Randall J. (22 May 2012). "Mark Felix Demolishes Rolling Thunder World Record". IronMind. Archived from the original on 14 August 2023.
- ^ Strossen, Randall J. (30 July 2013). "Rolling Thunder World Record Broken by Alexey Tyukalov". IronMind. Archived from the original on 28 October 2022.
- ^ "Laine Snook rolling thunder - new handle - 315lbs and 332lbs". YouTube. lainesnook. 8 March 2012. Archived from the original on 17 September 2023. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ "Grip Genie RGT (Rolling Grip Thing)". www.gripgenie.com. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
- ^ "Godlike Rolling Handle". www.godsofgrip.com. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
- ^ "Rotating Deadlift Handles". Titan Fitness. Retrieved 1 November 2024.