A strong body starts with strong hands. A weak grip will be a barrier to developing your strength in all areas.
A strong grip directly translates to better performance in various lifts and movements. In sports like powerlifting, a solid grip is essential for exercises such as bench press and deadlifts and accessory movements like rows. In strongman competitions, carrying events and lifting odd objects require exceptional grip strength. Our Hands of Hercules Grip Strength Training Club at Iron Forge Gym, is free for members to join and is a great addition to your other strength training.
We have several members who either train their grip to improve another sport or compete in grip sport itself. We have members winning competitions and setting world records and are adding equipment all the time. We also host grip competitions here as well if this is something you would be interested in.
Our collection of grip equipment is one of the most extensive in the country and there is very little we don’t have.
If you would like to join our grip sessions, or if you would like some specific 1:1 coaching for your grip strength then please contact Phil (info@ironforgegym.co.uk).
We have recently added an Arm Wrestling Table to the gym and have a growing number of members who are taking to training for arm wrestling. We intend to move towards some competitions and we are expanding our equipment to train for the sport all the time. We are building an Arm Wrestling club and each week more and more people are getting involved. If you would also like to try, then please contact us. It’s for all abilities and can be trained for just like anything else. We are here to teach what we’ve learned and allow people to develop their skills on the table whilst showing everyone how to build the necessary strengths required for the sport.
Follow our progress and keep up to date with what is going on on the
Hands of Hercules Grip Club Facebook Group Page
The Iron Forge Gym Powerlifting Club is a sports club which promotes drug free lifting. We have lifters competing across multiple federations. We promote the following federations, The A/BPU (the British Powerlifting Union, which has both tested and non-tested divisions), British Powerlifting (Formerly the GBPF / IPF), and the BDFPA (British Drug Free Powerlifting Association).
We have lifters competing at regional, national and international level and also hold both inter-club and official federation competitions. We do however of course welcome those lifting in other federations like the GPC, WRPF etc. All are welcome and while we promote Drug Free lifting, we do not discriminate against those who choose to use performance enhancing drugs within federations which allow them.
We also hold beginners classes, workshops and competitions for those wanting to get involved in the sport. We offer coaching and programming to assist lifters of all levels achieve their goal, whether it’s getting started at a novice level, or heading abroad to a world championship.
We have lots of members, all of which are extremely passionate about the sport and are always more than happy to lend a hand to others in the gym. Coaching is led by Phil, but we also have several other qulified coaches willing to share their knowledge, skill base and experience in powerlifting. Online coaching, Programming and 1:1 coaching all available on request. Please email if you are interested or speak to Phil in the gym.
We have a powerlifting team and hold team training sessions on a regular basis. Our primary team sessions are on Thursday and Friday nights. However several people group together to train on other days/times depending on their individual schedules.
It is advisable that beginners and some intermediate lifters attend a workshop first before joining the team sessions. We will always do everything we can to make you feel welcome and part of our team. We are always on hand to give a spot and offer advice.
Please follow our progress and keep up to date on team training sessions and news on our Powerlifting Club Facebook page
WE ARE CURRENTLY LOOKING FOR AN OLYMPIC LIFTING COACH.
We are looking for a qualified olympic weightlifting coach who specialised in this field to be able to offer both group and 1:1 coaching. We are keen to kickstart Olympic lifting back here at Iron Forge Gym but need a specialist coach before this club will take off. Phil is kept busy with the powerlifting, strongman, arm wrestling, grip training, and personal training and would like someone who specialises in Oly lifting.
If you are a weightlifting coach and would like to discuss the prospect of taking some sessions/ workshops here then please email info@ironforgegym.co.uk to discuss further.
Keep tabs on the clubs progression on our Facebook page
We have become quite the Mecca for Strongman Event training in the area. With some people travelling up to 2hours to come and use the equipment and to train together with like minded people.
Tyres, Car Deadlifts, Hercules Holds, Axles, Logs, Sandbags, Atlas Stones, Monster Dumbbells, sled drags, Viking Press, Yoke, Farmers Walk, the list of equipment goes on and on..
Whether you have interests in competing or if you just fancy something new to try with your training, we accept and welcome all ages and abilities. Every event is scalable to any strength level and we will guide you through the events and technique so you learn how to do them all safely and effectively. Its a great form of training with a load of variety and has pratical carryover to general life and all sorts of sports and activities. If you’d like to give it a try, email Phil at info@ironforgegym.co.uk or call 07788268672.
We tend to get a lot of visitors on the weekends by competitive strongman (male and female) athletes looking to get their specialist training in on top of their regular gym training that they do elsewhere during the week.
We always welcome anyone who wants to get involved and try out strongman and are always on hand to help and advise.
Olympic Lifting bumper plates and Bars (Again Faster bars)
Full range of Rogue Competition Powerlifting plates
3000kg (approx) worth of cast iron Olympic Plates
6 Texas Power Bars, 1 Rogue Ohio Power bar
2 Ivanko Competition Bars
2 Competition Squat Bars, 2 Texas Deadlift bars
Safety Squat Bars, Cambered Bars (various), Buffalo Bars (various), Axles (various)
Football Bar, Swiss Bar, Cambered Bench/Row Bars, Bamboo Bar, plus multitude of other speciality bars.
Atlas Stones 40-180kg
Loadable Shield
Blacksmiths Anvil
Heavy tractor Tyres
Loadable Steel Logs (15-70kg)
Axles
Monster Loadable dumbbells
Farmers Walk handles (various)
Yoke (2)
Sleds (multiple styles)
Ropes
Sledgehammers
Sandbags
Kegs
Car deadlift frame
Circus dumbbells
Hercules hold
Viking Press rack attachment
…. plus much more
Hubs
Pinch blocks
Adjustable thick bars
Axles
Horne top
Grenade grips
Fat grips
Meat hooks
V bars
Grippers
One arm lift handles
Rolling handles (various)
Europinch apparatus
Stub and coin grips
Climbing grips
Replica Donnie stone apparatus
Pick axe lever
Rolling thunder handles
Circus dumbbells
Rowing machine and Spin Bike
Indoor Multi-purpose Astroturf area for warm up / conditioning / strongman event training / classes etc.
Foam rollers and SMR equipment including Body Tempering equipment.
2 toilets and shower
2 Changing areas
Kitchen / drinking water
Lockers (some available for semi permanent hire if requested)
Onsite Parking
Drinks and protein supplements available for sale at reception.
Weighing scales available.
Coaching (1:1 and Group)
Classes
Programmes
Competitions
Workshops and Seminars
Day passes available
Memberships
Online / Remote Coaching
Address:
Iron Forge Gym, Unit 1 Forge Works, Mill Lane, Alton, Hampshire, GU34 2QG
Phone:
01483 962991
07788268672
Email:
info@ironforgegym.co.uk