Deck of Cards Torn!

[Derek Simonds]

I trained with David Whitley tonight. He is an ole time strongman and RKC level gazillion. When he asked me if there was anything I wanted to work on I said I would love for him to look at my card tearing technique. I have never torn more than 40 cards at once.

I tried a couple of times with a block of rubber to get the feel. Took a deck, went at it and nothing. Tore half the cards, half again and then said to him you tear a deck and let me watch. Literally it looked like he was twisting the lid off a jar of jelly, and it took him 2 to 3 seconds.

Hmm. David says take the deck and tear the whole thing. I say ok, get set up and give it hell. He says you got it I can hear it tearing don't stop and the next thing you know I have two halves in my hands!

http://i49.tinypic.com/2ivmzhi.jpg

Tearing cards is a painful feat of strength. My left hand which clutches the cards is red from the tip of my index finger all the way through to my thumb and it was worth every bit of it. I am going to practice a few more times and then get it on video.

Wow! I was really excited.

[Garrett Smith]

Awesome, man!

[sarena kopciel]

Thats way cool!!

[Mike ODonnell]

Don't try that trick in Vegas......they may not appreciate it at the blackjack table.

Otherwise, well done! Phonebooks are next!

[Donald Lee]

Wow. Impressive. Do you have big hands, Derek? And, are your forearms jacked? :D

[Arden Cogar Jr.]

Sweet. You are the man!!!

All the best,
Arden

[Derek Simonds]

I do have large hands. Phone books are actually much easier than a deck of cards. I have been tearing phone books vertically for a while. When I tear the cards on video I will do a phone book also.

MOD I am sure they wouldn't appreciate that at all in Vegas.

[Derek Simonds]

So back in Nashville and it was squatting time. So I picked up a deck on the way to the gym. These were more plasticized than the first deck I tore. I also left in the 4 extra cards. I was mainly planning on doing some isometric stuff to try and build up my tolerance. I would squat then give the cards a good wrenching. I did this a couple of times and some HS kids were benching and I could tell they were watching so I said what the hell and I gave it a go.

http://i48.tinypic.com/1ibu5g.jpg

Tore all 56 cards! It was no where near as pretty and I struggled slightly with the finish. I had to really grip hard to tear all the way through. I think that my left hand was too low on the cards as the tear is kind of diagonal. I did accomplish one other thing, I found out my hands are not tough enough yet.

http://i50.tinypic.com/xf9qfd.jpg

It is a small blood blister. More annoying then painful. Having the kids watch made me want to tear those cards so bad it was good motivation. When I was done one of the kids said what are you training for? I said "huh" he said what are you trying to do get stronger hands, I said no I am training to tear decks of cards in half... Really didn't have a better answer than that.

[Allen Yeh]

You should have told them "the rip off nosey teenager head Olympics!"

[Shawn Casey]

That's awesome. I've done 39 cards. It's probably the hardest thing I've ever done. I can put everything I've got into it and burnout without denting the cards and I've backed off a little and just hold steady for a while and they will rip slowly but surely. I have girly hands and a whole deck is too big for my hands right now. I got a ton of used cards from vegas so, practice makes perfect. That Rocks though. Keep it up.