Being One-Upped by Genetics

[Greg Newton]

Sometimes we discuss the role of genetics in bodybuilding and strength and I was given a good lesson the other day. From years of weights, martial arts and the exercises promoted here, I have a fairly strong grip. I was playing around trying to crush a medium size apple. My 18 year old stepdaughter grabs it and says, “Let me try.”

With an intense look of concentration on her face she began squeezing and the apple burst. Somewhat chagrined, I told her I had softened it up. She demanded I give her another apple and with that same intense look of concentration she squeezed and the second one burst. She began jumping around yelling, “I’m a beast!” I shook my head. “Let me see your hand.”

She held it up. It is as big as mine and her fingers are about ¾ of an inch longer, but slender and not as muscular. Jenny is an inch taller than me, and although not fat, is about the same weight. She is a big girl. Some of her mother’s people were very tall and large Indians and she definitely took after that side of the family. One of her great aunts, when she was in her sixties, strangled and broke the neck of a deer that had gotten tangled up in her clothes line. She told me she didn’t have a gun handy!

So anyway, no matter how hard we train to be strong, fast, coordinated, or well-built, there will always be someone better who doesn’t train, but has been genetically blessed. So, to assuage my ego I challenged her to arm wrestle and soundly defeated her. Now if I could only get that child back into karate!

[Andy62]

It's hard to overcome natural ability.

[mts]

A good friend of my in college was name Mark Whitford. Unfortunatley, he was one of the firemen who perished at the trade center site. Not to digress, I used to try to get him to the gym to lift weights with me. I had to fight tooth and nail for every ounce of muscle I have. He would show up to the gym, look at a weight and got stronger. His genetics were unbelieveable. He went on to do ROTC, then the NYC fire department. To this date I've never seen anything like his genetics for building sculpted, greek like mass. From what he said, all of his brothers were blessed with that type of constitution.

[tom]

Now Y'alls are just making excuses.

If you want to get taller, play basketball.

Tom

[Nathan]

Hey Greg,

That is pretty neat my friend. My brother is pretty similar when it come to baseball. He does not have to practice to be one of the best kids around here. The position he plays is pitcher and so far I have never seen anyone match his speed and accuracy on the field. He also has one heck of a bat. Anyway I just thought this was another example of one of those people that are a natural ability. Anyway All the best.

---Nathan

[Max McKinley]

I'm with MTS. I have had to work hard for every gain I have had. As for athletics, I was fair, but again, had to work twice as hard to be just as good. Good for character development but frustrating. Greg, I laughed as I read how your step daughter danced around saying, "I'm a beast." That was funny to me. I like someone who has a flair for the trash-talk. :)

[tom]

My grip may be genetic. I'm stronger (or used to be when I was into it) with tests than people more muscular than I. I always assumed it came from manual labor at a young age and quite a bit since - shovels, milking, axes, wheelbarrows, nursery pots.

I wanted to crush an apple. For a while I worked at it. No luck. Now I'm beat by a girl. Jeesh. The stronger the girl, the cooler I think she is [I have two daughters, that's why].

I like someone who has a flair for the trash-talk.

Yeah, invented by Cassius Clay and the end of sportsmanship. People under a certain age don't understand what sportsmanship used to mean. This world is such a wonderment that I will stick around as long as I can to see what happens next, but some things I'm ready to leave behind - trash-talk is one of them. That's ok, to each his own.

But "I'm a beast" is cute, coming from a girl. Greg, tell her I'm jealous. Make her smile.

Tom

[MikeNY]

My dad told me about an accident at work, he was using a sledge hammer on a train part, and the hammer bounced off, striking another guy in the forehead as he walked into where the hammer was headed. Dad was worried he killed the guy by accident; the man didn't even stagger, he recognised it was an accident and dad apoligised. Dad told me this was one tough big guy. Now there was another guy in the plant this guy was afraid of! A 6'5" to 6'7" good natured Italian guy from the mountains of Italy, and was as nice a person as you'd ever meet, kindly and gentle.

[mike]

I think grip is highly genetic, moreso than other factors of strength, also I think it has a lot to do with neural efficiency since many grip-masters have mastered the mind game before they really mastered anything.

[Greg Newton]

I think grip is highly genetic, moreso than other factors of strength, also I think it has a lot to do with neural efficiency since many grip-masters have mastered the mind game before they really mastered anything.

Mike,

I still can't get over the intense look of concentration Jennifer got on her face before she burst the apple. It was if she went into another zone of reality. I think what you said has a lot of validity.

Also Tom and Max,

I am going to be sure to pass on your comments to her. She is always ragging on me for being on Bronze Bow. "So Dad, talking to your Bronze Bow Buddies again are you?"

[Andy62]

Don't forget that mental and emotional strength, the same as the body, are shaped not only by training,but also by by genetics.

[omad0n]

While i don't entirely disagree that grip strength is determined by genetics, I would kindly point you all to rock climbing. Simply put, the sport (of which I participate) does huge things for grip and finger strength. Particularly if you are doing bouldering. Now, I'm not saying I could go crush an apple. Heck I've never tried, though I'm kinda curious now. What I can say though is that doing that sport, even if you never go into the really high levels (and I'm far from those myself) will give you a huge gains in those areas.

P.S. - I think it's very cool that she was able to do such an incredible feet. I'm really curious to give it a whirl.

[tom]

Greg, your Bronze Bow Buddies think your daughter rocks.

For quite a while I had a pull-up tower in the classroom. Some boys really got into it, and we had a record sheet for pull-ups, dips, holds, Captain of Crush closures/holds, heavy/light blob holds, pencil held in Trainer hold, every weird combination of anything we could think of.

I would always ask around for any girl that could do pull-ups. As soon as I found one, I'd constantly point it out to any boy who couldn't do as many. I call them super-girls. The only thing prettier than a pretty lady is a strong one.

As a father of daughters, I just want a girl to be able to whup a guy so I don't have to.

I also brought in big nails for bending and any other feats we could think of.

I am no Benny. I can't do anything worth youtubing or bragging on, but grip-wise I could beat almost any work-out person, any non-grip-specialist.

One day a computer tech guy came in. He doesn't work out, doesn't look out of shape, doesn't look in shape. Bam, he closed the #2 first time, with a what's the big deal I don't get it look on his face. For those of you not familiar with the Captain of Crush grippers, that well beyond ordinary for such a person.

Tom

[Greg Newton]

Ouch! I never could quite close the no. 2. In fact, I've only seen one person close it, and he was very large, big boned, and naturally strong. The football coaches were extremely upset they couldn't get him to play ball. But, I like what you do with your students. Young people today need physical expression. Army ROTC gets a lot of play in our feeder high schools so I often get young ladies who can pushup and chin more than the boys.

[Greg Newton]

Okay first of all this isn't Greg it's Jennifer his daughter who crushed the apple. I would like to make it very clear that even though I did crush an apple I am not by any means the same weight as my dad cause then I would be a fatty because I am a girl. I am five eleven but if you saw me I do not look like a giant. AND, I did not dance around saying I am a beast. I held up my arms like Rocky and said it because I am a true champion. I also took Karate for like five years so that's why I am so strong. Oh and yes I do have a flair for trash talk!

Thank you for your time,

Jennifer (apple crusher) Morris
*By the way I am not as obnoxious as I sound!*

[tom]

You go, girl.

And good work on the punctuation editing.

Tom

[Max McKinley]

Okay first of all this isn't Greg it's Jennifer his daughter who crushed the apple. I would like to make it very clear that even though I did crush an apple I am not by any means the same weight as my dad cause then I would be a fatty because I am a girl. I am five eleven but if you saw me I do not look like a giant. AND, I did not dance around saying I am a beast. I held up my arms like Rocky and said it because I am a true champion. I also took Karate for like five years so that's why I am so strong. Oh and yes I do have a flair for trash talk!

Thank you for your time,

Jennifer (apple crusher) Morris
*By the way I am not as obnoxious as I sound!*

Yes ma'am. Whatever you say, Crusher.
:highfive:

[Max McKinley]

Also Tom and Max,

I am going to be sure to pass on your comments to her. She is always ragging on me for being on Bronze Bow. "So Dad, talking to your Bronze Bow Buddies again are you?"

Thank you Greg. I still chuckle at the sense of humor and liveliness you seem to have in your house.

[Greybeard]

Reminds me of when I was a young un. My Dad who was a laborer most of his life was a natural strong man. He had mits that looked like bear paws. Which was a nick name of his. One day when we were taking a break from working in the yard he pick up a medium size potatoe in his hand and crushed it to pulp. I never forgot and tried it many time. And even tho I have a fair grip I've never been able to duplicate it.

[Max McKinley]

As a father of daughters, I just want a girl to be able to whup a guy so I don't have to.


Tom, I have one daughter and three sons, and could not agree with you more. :highfive: