Whats up! I was looking down at the old hands today pickin the dead skin off. I have never worn gloves and I am certainly not going to start now, but I was wondering what kind of shape most of your hands are in. I know I have four calluses on each hand that are as hard as freaking rocks. I can’t ever remember what they were like before the iron game. Anyhow…who else out there takes pride in those nasty-ass, callused-up hands of their’s.
Man, after 16 years of the iron and 9 years of martial arts, you can’t find anything but callus and scar tissue on my hands. It’s a badge of honor, brother.
boy I used to be in total agreement with you but the more I thought about it the less I wanted REALY bad calluses. yea I still got some but now when I do deads (the biggest culprit when it comes to me) I use straps. I thought about what my girl would like on her skin (and like I said they are still callused but just not as BAD as they were) and I figured she would rather have a manly hand that was still human than sand paper on her skin. just my .02 peace
I use gloves to keep my hands soft. I can’t take pride in calloused hands from a hobby. I could not take pride in my weightlifting calluouses and shake my father’s hand who got his from years of hard work. I don’t work hard and feel it is a badge of honor for those who do.
Gloves are for pussies. Or those guys who wear their belts on every exercise they do. I’ve got a nice array of calluses on each hand and some on my fingers. I rip them off on a daily basis. If I want them nice and smooth, I put on some lotion.
Hey Guys,
Sped, you’ve let your calluses get out of control. Calluses are good. They protect the skin under them.
Yes, they are a mark of honor, but only if they are well cared for!!!
Having been involved in martial arts, gymnastic, weight lifting and hard phyiscal labor for forty years, the people who have been trained the best to take care of calluses are the gymnast.
They soak them, shave them, stone them, cream them and use special gels until they have a thin (about 1/16") layer of calluse that is as tough and durable as any weight lifting belt.
Check out some gymnastic related materials on calluse control.
You will be happy you did.
Nate Dogg, Fuck you you little dick! I am so sick of macho pricks thinking that gloves are for the weak. I get thick calluses ‘thru’ my gloves and I’ve got an old gym bag full of worn out gloves. If you don’t want to wear gloves thats fine just keep your mouth shut about other people. Also, I have never used a belt and if I’m going to take pride in something it will be my strength and my physique and not my fucking palms.
I agree with Nate. Gloves are for pussies. They’re a crutch. What’s the point of being able to pull 400lbs if you can’t hold on to it without putting on some pretty gloves? I feel the same aboiut straps. If it’s too heavy use a reverse grip or better yet, hook grip. I’ve seen guys pull 800+ with a hook grip. Chalk should be the only thing anyone needs for lifting.
Greg
LOL! I knew the great glove debate would rear it’s ugly head again. And once again I really don’t care if you think I am a pussy.
Whoa! Lipo, you should take a chill pill. You’re going to work yourself up and have a heart attack. Bro, I don’t care if you wear gloves. That’s your decision. I don’t and that was just my opinion. In real life, you can’t put on a nice pair of gloves when having to lift heavy objects for whatever reason. I’d rather stay more functional. Also, Pavel Tsatsouline has talked about why gloves are bad (neurally). But I don’t care if you wear them or not. Like Greg said, they tend to be a crutch. And hey, that’s my opinion. And remember, opinions are like assholes. Everyone has one. Cheers!
I have pretty big callouses. Can’t wear gloves or use straps in PL or OL. I bring a bag of chalk with me to the gym, chalk up my hands, and go at it.
Arctic Trooper's right though, you gotta take care of your callouses. I've ripped callouses off before and man that is no fun at all! That won't happen if you take care of them, though. Once I started using lotion and filing them down a little that stopped happening.
Just curious, how many of you use a hook grip?
people need to chill some. I use straps as I said earlier but I have no prob hanging on to anything under 600, I just find it more comfortable. I am pretty strong so I do not think I am a “pussy” because I use straps. I just don’t know why people have to get macho or start calling names because someone DISSAGREES with them, SO WHAT, chill out some, life is WAY to short. peace
I use the hook grip for Olympic lifting, and I have a hooked penis! They call me Captain Hook! Ahoy matey, where’s the booty!
Heytey, why do you think straps are not allowed in PL? It’s because it’s a crutch. If you can’t hold one to a lift without straps, then you can’t lift it. It’s simple. You’re only as strong as your weakest link, and in your case, that would be your grip.
If I may interject in this little shit-flinging fest, may I suggest a happy medium in the form of those little foam rubber power grips? They’re not gloves, not pure flesh, and cost about $4 a pair. Honestly guys, there are way better things to beat the fuck out of eachother for. Lata.
"MB Eric: T-Peer mediator since 1454."
-Eric
Deceive yourself all you want, but REAL men don’t wear workout gloves. Sure you’ll see pumpers and muscle babies wearing them as they struggle with the fancy machines and pretty color-coded dumbbells at the local fitness club, but no serious hardcore strength athlete would be caught dead in them.
LMAO, “uhh, doctor, some happy gas for all these guys please…” LIPO, I gotta agree with you 100%, only minus the temper (but I do know where you’re coming from bud). I lift to look good, not to get some sense of being hardcore. So why go to the trouble of getting a great body then have to deal with screwy palms. Personally I get a sense of power from my gloves (I think they’re strong in the Force…), and wear them even on leg day when I really don’t grip much at all. It’s more a psychological thing for me now. Cheers.
power cleans used to tear my hands up like no other, but i am mostly doing snatches now, and they only give me minor calluses. For OLing one could use straps if they aren’t an official OLer but instead use it to help running jumping, or grappling power.
I have calluses, they’re not bad because I use lotion after every shower and it keeps then soft (and who wants a girl with nasty hands??) I’m in the middle on the straps, etc. If you can’t hold the weight to lift it then it’s too heavy for you. Work on your grip. (same with a belt…work on your back and abs) But how do gloves act as a crutch? I don’t have any, but I would assume they act the same as biking gloves do - reduce pressure points and protect the skin. Am I missing something here? (And just for the ‘woman’ perspective, having calluses scratch across my skin is not a turn on…)
Personally, I don’t care if someone wants to wear gloves. That’s fine, especially if they’re not interested in a sport that prohibits glove use. I’ve worn gloves before and it actually felt like my grip was worse… could have been crappy gloves, who knows. Straps on the other hand seem like a crutch to me if you’re interested in functional strength. As others have said, you’re only as strong as your weakest link, and if it’s your grip then you should work on it.