Exercise Scientist Critiques the World’s Strongest Grip
In a Nutshell
Dr. Mike Israetel critiques Ben Galper (Hercules), whose insane grip feats—like upside-down offset lifts, 672-lb hangs, double overhand 516-lb deadlifts, and one-arm pull-ups on tiny grips—show elite precision, control, and power but are hard to validate as "world's strongest" due to their odd, non-standardized nature. He praises the raw strength required (e.g., psychotic balance, massive forearms) while wishing for comparisons to IPF powerlifters via standardized lifts like squats, benches, and weighted pull-ups to contextualize claims. Dynamic lifts outperform isometric holds for growth, and Ben rates as Hollywood stuntman-level impressive.
These notes were generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies.
Hercules has the strongest grip on the planet due to precision, control, and raw power. It's tough to validate claims of being stronger than others with lifts no one else has done except you or two others. Guinness Book of World Records could validate odd lifts, but comparison remains difficult.
Dr. Mike from RP Strength was a professor of exercise and sports science until a giant controversy ended that career. He did Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu until another controversy ended it. He had a short career as a stuntman, actor, and pound-for-pound world's strongest human, lasting 30 seconds in planning. Ben Galper, aka Hercules or Very Polite Hercules, is the subject. Compare his claims to International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) top lifters.
In an upside-down lift with offset weights, gravity assists by pulling the weight and body. Total around 455 pounds on bar, body 160 pounds offset, plus 135 pounds. Bar bends. Not as much load as it seems due to offsets, but requires psychotic balance, coordination, pushing upside down while lifting heavy weight. Getting into position is hard. Intense, circus vibes. Thomas Inch dumbbell visible with Coke can handle. Hack squat also shown.
Takes shitload of grip, lat, and pressing strength. These are odd lifts: non-typical, non-standardized, no world rankings. Impressive but hard to validate relative strength. Limit strength testable via standard technique lifts like close grip bench or underhand pull-ups with weight for reps, or gold standard: strongman or powerlifting (squat, bench, deadlift) testing multiple angles.
Top IPF lifters, many drug-free, are freaks: 120-lb women squat over 405 to depth. Everyone feels weak compared to them. Would love Ben Galper to compare on traditional lifts.
Requires shitload of tricep, lat, abdominal, hip flexor strength in planche position, plus finger and grip strength.
RP hypertrophy app has dozens of pre-made programs from 2-6 days/week for shoulders, arms, chest, back, legs, abs, glutes, with male/female options. Customize for ~$1/day.
Same guy looks more jacked post-haircut, huge forearms. Sarcastic bicep training demo with 300-lb plates between legs: high injury risk, low tension for growth. Do bicep curls and pulling exercises instead. Isometric holds probably cause muscle growth and strength but less than dynamic lifts (concentric, eccentric, isometric). Dynamic lifting yields better results.
672 lbs between legs at 165-lb bodyweight. Grip not limiting; shoulder capsule would rip first on dead hang. Joints withstand due to progressive buildup. 50 kg (110 lb) thin plate hard to grab.
Close with Magnus Midtbo on grip. One-arm pull-up with asymmetric hang on soda can-sized grip is near impossible for most. Axle bar (Coke can width) with trillion pounds. Double overhand 516 lb insanely impressive; typically world's strongest man competitors at 380 lbs do that.
Grip involves neural strength, muscle architecture (insertions/origins), muscle size (bigger forearms better), hand/finger length (longer fingers give leverage advantage; small hands limit despite strong forearms).
Fantasy: Ben Galper doing squat to depth (sets of 1,5,10), strict pull-ups with weight, presses (e.g., strict incline close grip 275 at 160 lb bodyweight). Grip and hanging impressive, but want middle-ground lifts to contextualize pound-for-pound strongest claim. Rates Ben Hollywood stuntman level with impressive lifting. Suggests viewer-submitted impressive people for review.
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