Adding to his grip world credentials, Gil Goodman has just been certified on the IronMind Red Nail—proving his capability as a short steel bender.

“After completing the Captains of Crush No. 3 Certification and Crushed-to-Dust Challenge back in 2015, I always had it in the back of my mind to also certify on the Red Nail, but between training and competing in numerous competitions in the intervening years, I just didn't have the time to focus on my bending,” Goodman told IronMind.
 
“Since 2015, I have competed in The International King Kong Grip Challenge 5 times (placing top 10 every time, winning the 93kg weight class twice and overall champion once), I won the South Jersey 4 Grip Competition (pound for pound and overall), and I placed 3rd in the inaugural Living Legends Grip Competition as well as winning, placing, and breaking records at several other contests. All the rigid and intense training prompted me in the Winter of 2019 to take a break to focus on some personal goals and feats, which meant getting back on the road to the Red Nail.
 
“The bend itself was fairly straightforward. I warmed up by stretching my beat-up body for about 20 minutes, did a few pull ups, bent a 60D nail, a 5/16" x 7" Grade 2 bolt, then I set up the cameras, wrapped up all three red nails in IronMind pads and bent them all in 60 seconds.
 
“With all the gaps in my training for this feat, it's impossible to say how long exactly I worked on it, but I can say with certainty that I would not have accomplished it without the help and encouragement of MANY friends, not the least of whom being my coach Ross Twanmoh, bending pros Stanley Salley and JT Straussner, and my loving girlfriend and strength mentor Maria Bascetta. I would also be remiss not to mention the Behind the Bend Podcast that, while new, has had many elite benders as guests and is full of knowledge and experience and is a wonderful resource for other benders on the hunt for the Red or Gold Nails.
 
“Next stop, I suppose, is the CoC No. 3.5 Certification. Wish me luck,” said Goodman.
 
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