Review: Scramble Grip Trainer
By
Gul Nawaz Hussain
Introduction
“Get a grip!” was a phrase I unfortunately heard far too
often whilst growing up. Luckily for me, in BJJ the phrase has different connotations
and a solid grip is something all practitioners are keen to develop.
Most of us will have scoured the web searching for ways to
develop grip strength. Products range from thosethat look like a pair of
pliers,to the “Eagle Claw Grip Catcher” found advertised in martial arts
magazines of yester year and power balls that use centrifugal force and gyros.
Bruce Lee famously coined the phrase “dry land swimming”. He
used it to describe those who do not train in a way which directly correlates
with what they want to excel at. For BJJ players it’s not a generic grip but
gripping the giwhilst it is being pushed and pulled that we want to develop.
Enter the grip trainer by UK based Scramble.
Scramble pride themselves on being an innovative brand. They shun all things
gothic – sorry no flaming skulls or daggers. In its place you’ll find plenty of
modern nuanced designs with a firm nod to Japan
Design and build
quality
When Scramble asked would be reviewers to contact them I
argued my case. I’m of limited talents but arguing a hopeless case well is one
of them. Apart from allowing me to work as a barrister my only skill won me a
pair of Grip Trainers too :-)
The Grip Trainer is small enough to fit inside a kit bag.
First impressions are that it is very well made and aesthetically pleasing. I’ve
had this product for a little over two weeks and had the opportunity to subject
it to some somewhat unconventional testing.
The trainer is made out of gi material. It looks like a gi
sleeve with a sturdy, reinforcedloop/handle at the other end. There is no way
the product could be described as “dry land swimming”. It looks and feels
exactly like the gi you want to better grip.
Use and
effectiveness
The ways in which the Grip Trainer can be gripped will be
instinctive to BJJ players. The sleeve section is long enough to be comfortably
gripped at various points. The cuffs too are just like those on a gi in terms
of design, reinforcement and dimensions.
Upon initial inspection at the academy, it wasn’t clear how
the product should be used. My son helped us get started :-) As the subsequent pictures
show, pull ups (from lying flat on the floor with various grips) were performed
whilst a training partner held the loop. The loop felt sturdy and very secure.
As the pull up was performed, weight distribution was good such that the person
holding the loop felt no uncomfortable exertion or pressure.
It was also used in a ‘tug of war’ manner; the person
holding the loop applying increasing levels of force in a snatching manner in
an attempt to cause the other person to release his grip. In my humble point of
view, this exercise was spot on as you seldom have a compliant opponent moving
at a constant speed, in a linear fashion. The same force when applied in a
staccato way is much more difficult to deal with.
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Both ends of the spectrum:
My 6 year old son Salahudeen and 6’ 10” M1 and Cage Warriors veteran Dave “The
Iron Giant” Keeley.
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At around this time, as if he had sensed his product was
being mistreated, I received an email from Matt at Scramble HQ.In it was a
handy pic of how the item should be used. The item is secured around a chin up
bar or the handle of a kettle belletc. by feeding the sleeve end around the
equipment and then through the loop at the other end. As you’re using the
entire piece of material as opposed to a thin strip like some alternative
products or the loop itself(as we had earlier), this method is infinitely more
secure.
The view of many at the academy was that they would
appreciate an illustrated guide setting out the basic exercises that can be
performed. My simple experimentationhighlighted that there are a plethora of
ways this product can be used. I’m sure many will, like we did, develop their
own particular methods. With a company like Scramble which embraces the use of
social networks, these methods could easily be shared and critiqued.
The final test
At least one other manufacturer has fielded a grip product
for the BJJ crowd. Whilst not having tested it, I understand anecdotal reports
suggested it ripped under stress.
Those of you of a certain age will remember the TV ad’s
where a man was glued to a board and suspended in various dangerous situations.
The aim was to show the strength of the adhesive. It was a good idea in the 80s
so…
The final test was securing the Grip Trainer to
the large crane in our academy (it used to be a storage warehouse) and looking
for a gullible guinea pig brave volunteer. Following protracted
negotiations which settled at 25p and half a chocolate bar resident dare devil James “Hollywood” Fairclough agreed to be hoisted off the
ground whilst holding onto the Grip Trainer. This was done both in the official
wrap around way and by simply placing the loop over the crane’s hook. In short,
the Grip Trainer’s integrity remained intact long after James’ courage (and
bowel control) had failed :-)
Final Thoughts &
Conclusion
With its appearance many may quip “Why not just use an old
gi?” Well there’s nothing to stop you but how many have a gi they are ready to
butcher for such a use? More importantly the Grip Trainer, in terms of design
and reinforcement, is made specifically for its intended use. Yes thesleeve
that you grip is easy to replicate; the way you secure it to something is where
this design seriously comes into its own.
All in all it is a very useful training aid which Scramble
has manufactured to a characteristically high standard.
When you have the kit you then just need to find the time to
use it. For the last few weeks I’ve been working in London and commuting on the
Tube. Whilst being buffeted along the Central Line in conditions worse than the
most severe side control you’ve been subjected to, I had an idea. The Mayor can
bring BJJ to the masses and help commuters stay on their feet by securing grip
trainers to all the bars in the carriages. Result!
Disclosure and credits:
Gul is a Blue
belt 1 stripe training at Gracie Barra Sheffield under Prof. John Goldson. This report represents his own opinions, he is not employed, paid or otherwise connected with Scramble or Meerkatsu. My thanks to Gul for his guest post.
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Review: Scramble Grip Trainer By Gul Nawaz Hussain Introduction “Get a grip!” was a phrase I unfortunately heard far too of...
