World Wide Grip Battle 2026

I had a chance to host and compete in the Colorado venue of the World Wide Grip Battle 2026.  Jedd was the head promoter and it was going to be a tough run of events.

20mm Block Set Grippers

Euro 2 Hands Pinch (7.5")

IronMind Axle (lockout)

SSE Anvil Lift (6")

I was competing alongside Kim, Jarrod, Marc (from King Kong), Kevin (from King Kong) and Matt.  This was my first time meeting Matt, great guy and his wife Hudson joined us and was willing to keep the score sheet.

I have rated grippers, but not enough to run a contest (highest is 92 pounds).  Sarah offered hers on loan and we had some fill in weights and heavier grippers at 100, 114, 128 and 183 pounds.

Starting off with grippers, I opened with a conservative 59 pounds and went 4 for 4 with closes at 64, 71 (video) and 83 pounds (video).  83 pounds matches my 2024 PR at Dub's Grip Classic.

Next was the Euro.  I opened conservatively again and went 4 for 4 with pulls at 95, 114 (video), 124 (video) and 134 pounds.  134 was a PR as I had been hitting 123 in practice leading up to the meet.

The Axle was the only lift that I felt like really was in my wheelhouse.  I opened heavy at 213 and went on to make lifts at 233, 243 and 248 pounds (video).  This was just a few pounds off of the 251 pounds I pulled at Dub's Grip Classic in 2024.  Had I remembered my lifts, I might have gone a little heavier on my fourth attempt.

Finally we wrapped up with the Anvil.  This was a new implement for everybody.  I had been hit or miss around 120 pounds in training and was thrilled to make 101, 111 and 126 (video) in competition and missed 131 pounds (video).

We started a little late around 10:15, but finished at a reasonable hour around 1:30 PM.  The weather was really nice for February.  We could have managed 6 athletes in the basement, but it was much better in the garage.

Seasoning was an issue on some of the implements, but Matt was pretty helpful with some tips and tricks.  The anvil with fixed connection wanted to rotate and could benefit from an alignment pin.

With a total of 465 pounds, I was well behind the 730 required for an elite total.  It is a PR as my last total was 427 pounds.

126 pounds should be a nice number for the GSI leaderboard.