Midwest Grip Championship 2026

The 2nd Annual Midwest Grip Championship will be held Saturday December 12 at Per Aspera Strength! 8168 Monticello Terrace; Shawnee, KS 66227 ---------------------------------------------------- This is an Armlifting USA Sanctioned Contest.  All athletes must purchase an Armlifting USA membership by the date of the contest. A membership to Armlifting USA costs $20 and allows a lifter to compete in as many contests (including online contests) as they would like within the year (membership is good for 365 days from the date of purchase). https://armliftingusa.com/membership Weigh-Ins will take place the morning of the event.  NOTE:  Weigh-ins will be converted to kgs to match the Armlifting USA weight classes, not the lbs weight classes available on Ironpodium.  Please plan accordingly. This event is an Armlifting USA qualifier for the ARNOLD SPORTS FESTIVAL 2027! ------------------------------------------------------ Weigh Ins at 9:00AM Lifting Starts at 9:30AM The first 3 events will be "rising-bar" style grip-focused deadlifts for max weight lifted.   Athletes will have unlimited attempts as long as they are successful lifts.   Time starts when the Bar is loaded; the athletes have 60 seconds to begin the lift. During that minute, there is no limit to how many times the lifter may try to complete the lift. A missed lift will end the athlete's attempts, and the previously successful lift will be their final score for the lift. The fourth event is a gripper held for time, 1 attempt only. NO WRIST WRAPS OR GLOVES ON ANY EVENTS. EVENT 1: Rogue Nunchuck Grip Deadlift MAX This is a 2-handed lift.  A current-model set of Rogue Nunchuck Grips will be attached to a barbell via straps and chains. https://www.roguefitness.com/nunchuck-grips The lifter grabs the handles and lifts with the handles remaining approximately vertical. A thumbless grip is not permitted.  Sumo is NOT allowed, handles must be outside the knees. Other than incidental contact, the hand or handle must not touch the body before the lift is completed—dragging the hand or handle up the leg is cause for an immediate "No lift." The lifter must fully straighten up (back erect, legs and hips locked out); once standing straight, the lifter must maintain control of the lift before getting a down signal from the chief referee, and must then return the weight to the ground.  Ordinary chalk (magnesium carbonate) may be used on the lifter's hand, but nothing else is permitted (tacky, liquid chalk, and wrist wraps, for example, are specifically disallowed). EVENT 2: Titan 3" Axle Deadlift MAX This is a 2-handed lift.  A  Titan Round Grip String Bar will be used. https://titan.fitness/products/round-grip-string-bar No grip aids other than chalk allowed. Ordinary chalk (magnesium carbonate) may be used on the lifter's hands, but nothing else is permitted (tacky and liquid chalk, for example, are specifically disallowed). The Bar must be gripped with the knuckles on both hands facing forward (away from the body) with a double overhand grip. The athlete must complete the lift with knees locked and the shoulders back, awaiting the referee’s down signal before returning the Bar to the platform while maintaining a grip on or contact with the Bar. The referee then indicates whether the lift was passed or not.  IPF powerlifting rules define the key guidelines: resting the Bar on the thighs or any downward movement will disqualify the lift, as would failure to await the down signal or dropping the bar.  A sumo style is permitted, and the feet may move after the lifter has received the down signal. EVENT 3: IronMind Block MAX This is a 1-handed lift.  An official Ironmind Block will be used. https://www.ironmind-store.com/IronMind-Block/productinfo/1248/ The lift starts with the weight in between the lifter’s feet. The lifter grabs the Block in approximately its center and lifts with the Hub remaining approximately parallel to the ground.  Either hand can be used, or switched throughout the attempt while the weight is on the ground. The lifter must fully straighten up (back erect, legs and hips locked out); once standing straight, the lifter must maintain control of the lift before getting a down signal from the chief referee, and must then return the weight to the ground. Contact must be maintained between the lifter's hand and the handle until the weight is resting on the floor. The referee then indicates whether the lift was passed or not. Ordinary chalk (magnesium carbonate) may be used on the lifter's hand, but nothing else is permitted (tacky and liquid chalk, for example, are specifically disallowed). Event 4: Silver Bullet Hold for Time https://www.ironmind.com/product-info/certification/coc-silver-bullet/rules-and-world-records/ The Silver Bullet Challenge shall be conducted in three (3) rounds format. 5 Grippers will be offered:  Guide through Level 1.  The athlete has 30 seconds from the time their name is called to record a valid time in each round. The athlete cannot change gripper within a round, i.e. if he/she attempts a #1 in a round, he/she cannot switch to a #0.5 in the same round; but can of course, attempt the #0.5 or any other gripper in the next round. Best recorded time on THE HIGHEST NUMBER gripper will be final result. An athlete satisfied with their first or second attempt can pass on further attempts.  Either hand can be used. A genuine IronMind Captain of Crush Silver Bullet must be used, with 2.5 kg of weight hanging from the silver bullet strap and this weight may take the form of either an IWF or IPF certified/recognized (calibrated) plate. The Captain of Crush Silver Bullet is inserted by the competitor no deeper than up to the top edge of the clear band, so that the script Captains of Crush® is legible, and so that all four fingers are in contact with the CoC gripper handle (dropping the pinky completely off the end of the gripper handle is expressly prohibited). The CoC Silver Bullet must be aligned with the handles of the gripper. Ordinary chalk (magnesium carbonate) may be used on the lifter's hand, but nothing else is permitted (tacky and liquid chalk, for example, are specifically disallowed). ---------------------------------------------------- If you have questions, please contact: andrew@perasperastrength.com 913-583-6047 @perasperastrength www.perasperastrength.com