Thor's Hammer Question

[Ben Edwards]

I just re-read the rules of the Thor’s Hammer and realized that if I’m interpreting the rules incorrectly, I could be in for some trouble come contest time. I used the swing style yesterday, but it wasn’t just a single swing to overhead. It was two or three mini swings before the big swing to get the 2″ vbar overhead.

Is this allowable by the rules in place? Or is it a single, uninterrupted swing to overhead? If that’s the case, I will stick to the snatch style of doing the lift. And it won’t allow nearly the weight to be lifted that the swing style will.

Here’s the quote from the rule book…”Once the weight leaves the platform it must remain in continuous motion till the lift is completed. The lifter may choose to swing or snatch the weight to an overhead position.”

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[Lance Foster]

Ben, the lift allows the weight to be moved, like in the dumbbell swing. The drawback for me is being able to stop the weight from moving once overhead; the snatch style worked best for me.

The Gloved One

[Ben Edwards]

Thanks, Lance! I will continue to work with the swing then. I don’t have enough wrist strength to effectively work with the snatch style.

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[KCSTRONGMAN]

That is the way I read it. If you use the swing, you just have to keep it swinging it once it leaves the platform until you have it overhead. If you stop it, you must return it to the platform and start over. A minute to get the lift in.

I'm the lyrical Jesse James

[Ben Edwards]

Thanks, Eric! That’s how I interpreted it too. I really like the 1 minute rule. And moving it non-stop is not a problem. Getting it fixed overhead cleanly is the problem, haha.

On Thursday, I did a few Thor’s Hammer singles and finished with a contest-legal 53 pounds. Ended the workout there. I had lofty goals in mind for the OTSM, but to be honest I don’t think I can eke much more out of this lift. I am enjoying it though. My wife even tried it with a very light weight. So did my 3-year-old Josephine.

I have a simple plan to work towards a 60+ pound lift at the OTSM. It may or may not work. But that’s part of the fun.

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[KCSTRONGMAN]

60# would be big! Good luck

I'm the lyrical Jesse James

[Ben Edwards]

Not super close to nailing 60lbs yet. But since the last time I posted I’ve done 3 Thor’s Hammer workouts where I at least tried to get the feel for close to my goal – 58lbs in this case. Have gotten to the point where I can get it fixed overhead just for a split second for a single or three in a workout. And the lower weights are of course getting smoother and easier to get contest-legal lifts with. 46lbs was very easy yesterday.

I don’t have the left shoulder flexibility to do anything overhead anymore. Not a new development. But what I have been doing to make it feel like the right hand is not getting totally overworked and having all the fun is doing swings left handed with the same weight that I use right handed for the Thor’s Hammer. Doing swings with the 2″ USAWA vbar has a nice feel to it.

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[Ben Edwards]

Well, 3 weeks out from the OTSM and I failed yet again with 60lbs on the Thor’s Hammer. I got a contest-legal lift with 55lbs yesterday though. So I’m edging closer. I am always good for a bit more in a contest though.

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[KCSTRONGMAN]

You might get me. My best in training is 52.5

I'm the lyrical Jesse James

[Ben Edwards]

KCSTRONGMAN wrote:

You might get me. My best in training is 52.5

Well in that case, I’ll pull a real D-move and ask for 53 at the contest, haha!

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[KCSTRONGMAN]

I might be able to hang with that…

I'm the lyrical Jesse James

[KCSTRONGMAN]

Got 55# today. First one was iffy, 2nd was rock solid. Thor’s hammer is a fickle mistress.

I'm the lyrical Jesse James

[Ben Edwards]

KCSTRONGMAN wrote:

Got 55# today. First one was iffy, 2nd was rock solid. Thor’s hammer is a fickle mistress.

Very nice! I totally agree. I will sometimes miss one attempt (badly) and then – not letting go of the bar – swing it again and make a good lift right after that.

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