Over the years, the rules for being certified for authentically closing an IronMind Captains of Crush (CoC) No. 3 or No. 4 gripper have grown in response to potential loopholes that are not in the spirit of legitimately closing one of these world-renowned, benchmark grippers.

Because of questions raised about the possibility of someone nudging a gripper shut while it is blocked from view and then turning the hand, showing that the gripper is shut, the fourth rule has been modified, with added language, as follows: "The free hand may be used to position the gripper in the gripping hand, but must then be removed, and must stay at least a foot from the gripping hand at all times during the squeeze. Similarly, nothing may be in contact with the gripping hand or the gripping arm from the elbow down (for example, the free hand is not allowed to steady the wrist of the gripping hand, hold the spring, etc.). At least the last inch of the squeeze must be clearly visible (the gripper cannot be closed while blocked from view and then turned and presented as already closed)."

The revised rules go into effect March 1, 2003.  Click here for the official Captains of Crush Gripper certification rules.