Juha Harju Wins 2008 Finnish Grip Championships

Sakari Selkinaho and Kimmo Kokko have been working hard to develop grip contests in Finland, and yesterday they hosted the 2008 Finnish Grip Contest.

Left to right: Kimmo Kokko, Matti Heiskanen, Juha Harju, Niko Eerola, and Sakari Selkäinaho. IronMind® | Photo courtesy of Juha Harju and Yvonne Häkkinen.
Left to right: Kimmo Kokko, Matti Heiskanen, Juha Harju, Niko Eerola, and Sakari Selkäinaho. IronMind® | Photo courtesy of Juha Harju and Yvonne Häkkinen.


The format of this contest caught IronMind®'s attention because the competition combined solid standardized events with some very nice eye-catching additions that helped to create a well-rounded test of one's grip strength. The events were Rolling Thunder®, Wrist Roller (time), Two-Hands Pinch Grip (time), and Captains of Crush® Grippers.

Juha Harju won the Rolling Thunder® with a new Finnish record of 92.5 kg. Niko Eerola won the Wrist Roller event. Juha Harju won the grippers, closing a No. 3 Captains of Crush® Gripper (credit card set), and Matti Heiskanen got second place by clicking three reps on a No. 2.5 Captains of Crush® Gripper (credit card set), just edging Niko Eerola who got two reps with the No. 2.5 Captains of Crush®. Juha Harju hung on for the win on the Two-Hands Pinch Grip (IronMind® Pinch Grip Block).

Overall, Juha Harju won the men's competition, Matti Heiskanen was second, and Niko Eerola was third.

On the women's side, Jaana Tanner won the Rolling Thunder®, Wrist Roller and Grippers; Yvonne Häkkinen won the Pinch Grip Block. Overall, Jaana Tanner was first, Yvonne Häkkinen was second, and Leena Nurminen was third.

Video clips of the contest are up on YouTube, for your viewing pleasure:

Rolling Thunder®

Wrist Roller and IronMind® Pinch Grip Block

Captains of Crush® Grippers With Credit Card Set



Left to right: Yvonne Häkkinen, Jaana Tanner, and Leena Nurminen. IronMind® | Photo courtesy of Juha Harju and Yvonne Häkkinen. Juha Harju told IronMind®, "Jaana Tanner is real stuff! Very strong woman . . . Leena is her sister . . .Yvonne is my girlfriend." How strong are these women? Jaana Tanner banged out 15 reps on a Trainer Captains of Crush® Gripper, just beating Yvonne Häkkinen by one rep!

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