Joe Kinney (strongman)

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Joe Kinney
NationalityAmerican
OccupationGrip strength specialist
Known forBeing the first man to officially close IronMind Captains of Crush No. 4 gripper
Height1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)

Joe Kinney is an American strongman, grip strength specialist and crush grip innovator from Bean Station, Tennessee. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]

In 1998, he became the first man to officially close the IronMind Captains of Crush No.4 gripper (165.5 kg (365 lb)/ RGC 213 of pressure) [6] [7] which is recognized as the pinnacle feat in world class crush grip. [8] Despite five other men (Nathan Holle, David Morton, Tommy Heslep, Magnus Samuelsson and Carl Myerscough) have managed getting certified on this gripper since then, Kinney did it in a slow and steady paced manner that has never been replicated. [1]

In 1999, he became the first man to close the IronMind Captains of Crush No.3 gripper (127 kg (280 lb)/ RGC 149 of pressure) using only two fingers. [9]

Some of Kinney's crush grip innovations include performing extra heavy negatives (severe negatives) and wrist rolling, and training with the long handled Monster gripper, floor-model gripper and 'Secret Weapon' grip machine. [8] [10] He also advocated on heavy high rep squatting as a building block for hand and grip strength. [3]

Along with Randall J. Strossen and Nathan Holle, Kinney co-authored Captains of Crush Grippers: What they are and how to close them. [11]

References

  1. 1 2 Wood, John (December 1, 2013). "The Man when it comes to grip strength is Mr. Joe Kinney from Bean Station, Tennessee. In 1998, he became the first man to close the Ironmind COC#4 Gripper and did so in a manner that has never been duplicated before or since; it looked easier than a Trainer as he slammed the handles shut. Pictured above is how Joe likes to "open a beer"– by squeezing the can until explodes!". OLDTIME STRONGMAN.
  2. ↑ Strossen, Randall J. (July 27, 2005). "Joe Kinney Squeezing Grippers Again". IronMind Enterprises, Inc.
  3. 1 2 Strossen, Randall J. (November 4, 2004). "Joe Kinney Seminar". IronMind Enterprises, Inc.
  4. ↑ Farrell, Martin (October 20, 2004). "Crush Grip: A Forced Rep Approach". Dragon Door.
  5. ↑ "Grip Hall of Fame, 1990s, Kinney, Joe (USA)". David Horne for www.davidhorne-gripmaster.com. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
  6. ↑ Strossen, Randall J. (August 30, 2023). "Captains of Crush® No. 4 Gripper Certification – Official certification list". IronMind Enterprises, Inc.
  7. ↑ "STRENGTH RECORD, Landmark Feats and others Records". www.strengthrecord.com. Retrieved April 16, 2025.
  8. 1 2 "GET A GRIP WITH JOE KINNEY! Watch the classic Get a Grip video along with two hours of new footage from the first man to Crush the IronMind COC#4 Gripper!". John Wood for www.functionalhandstrength.com. Retrieved May 21, 2009.
  9. ↑ "IronMind History". Archived from the original on February 13, 2009. Retrieved September 14, 2008.
  10. ↑ Wood, John (December 6, 2013). "Joe Kinney's Monster Gripper". functionalhandstrength.com.
  11. ↑ Strossen, Randall J. (April 27, 2006). "Joe Kinney: "I Think My Body Knew It Had To Get Stronger"". IronMind Enterprises, Inc.
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