A lot of calisthenics skills involve hanging. Front lever. Back lever. Human flag. Muscle-ups. Pull-ups. Swings. So naturally people ask… “Should I train grip?” Short answer 👉 usually no. Long answer 👉 sometimes yes — for very specific reasons. Let’s break it down. 🤔 Why grip usually isn’t the problem For most bar skills, grip is NOT what fails first. It’s usually the bigger muscles: • Back • Shoulders • Core That’s why just crushing grip all the time doesn’t magically fix pull-ups or muscle-ups. So if your goal is ONLY pull-ups or levers… You probably don’t need dedicated grip work. 🧠 So when SHOULD you train grip? There are really only three good reasons 👇 1️⃣ You want hanging-based skills Things like: • Bar swings • Monkey bars • 180s / 360s • Ninja-style movement If you want real body control while hanging, grip matters. 2️⃣ Grip is the hidden limiter Some people fail skills early because: • Grip gives out first • They can’t stay on the bar long enough • They panic when fatigue hits If your body has strength but your hands quit — grip training helps. 3️⃣ You want better pulling range (muscle-up prep) Most pull-up struggles happen at the TOP. Chin above bar. Chest to bar. If you’re going to hang anyway… Why not train that top position? 💪 How to train grip (the right way) Treat it like any other muscle. Option 1️⃣ Strength-focused hangs Hang as hard as possible. • One-arm hangs • Added weight • Fingertip emphasis If you can hang longer than ~30 seconds, it’s too easy. Option 2️⃣ Micro-hangs (circuits) Think: • 5 sec hang • 10 sec rest • Repeat 4–6 times That’s one set. Both work. Pick one. 🔥 Bonus: Grip + pull-up carryover Instead of JUST dead hanging, do this 👇 Hold the bar at the top (chin over bar). Then slowly drop into a dead hang. Now you’re training: • Grip • Upper pull strength • Muscle-up range Way more efficient. 🌀 Why swinging changes everything Swinging increases load on: • Grip • Shoulders • Core Side-to-side swings → bar swings → spins.

When I coach a sport or a team, there’s always that post-session moment, talking about what went well, or how we can improve for next time. When I train alone, I used to give myself a specific chocolate protein bar that I really liked. Not the healthiest, but it got me excited. It became part of the ritual, like tricking my brain into looking forward to training. Those who use the app can rate their workout from 1 to 10, and it can be powerful. It forces you to reflect for a few seconds. 💬 What about you? Do you reward yourself after a workout with food, reflection, or something else that keeps you motivated?

So many guys will lock in HARD for a few weeks. Go to the gym everyday, Wakeup at 3, 4, 5am everyday, Work hard on their goals and studies…. But when they miss one day… They let EVERYTHING go to shit. Now they’re back to scrolling 7 hours a day, while gooning twice, and they haven’t hit a full workout in 3 weeks. Let me ask you (scroll up to my profile picture) Do I look in bad shape? I’ve skipped HUNDREDS of workouts. I’ve eaten junk food THOUSANDS of times over these past 5 years... I’m still in fantastic shape. I didn’t just MAGICALLY lose my gains because I ate cake. I actually probably MADE gains because I have a hard time gaining weight 😅 Reframe your mind. Consistency isn’t a daily streak. It’s how many times in a month you did x topic. Measure in months and years, not in days, and streaks. You can follow Skool profiles, if you think I can help you (for completely free), then follow my account. Cheers, Brandon

Everyone’s got that one time of day when their body just clicks. For some, it’s early morning when it’s quiet, calm, and you can get it done before the world wakes up. For others, it’s later in the day when you’ve warmed up to life and feel stronger. I’ve trained at every time possible. Morning sessions make me feel sharp and productive, like I’ve already won the day. Evening sessions though, that’s when I feel the most focused. There’s something about moving after everything I need to do that day is done and this is the only and last thing to end the day. 💬 So, what about you? When do you feel strongest, morning, midday, or night? And if you’ve tried different times, did you notice your performance or energy change?