2025 USAWA Grip Championship

Three USAWA masters athletes and one junior took the platform to contest the 2025 USAWA Grip Championships held at High Country Vigour in Lakewood, Colorado.  Weigh-ins and rules briefings were conducted, and the meet was contested using the one official system, Sanjiv Gupta, Jarrod Fobes and in training was Nisha Gupta.

We started with Pinch Grip, Strict which is a classic lift that has been contested numerous times at the Grip Championship.  This was contested with 1990’s York Plates.  Ben and Jarrod tied with a top lift of 125 pounds.  However, Jarrod lifted first and established the record in the 100kg 45-year-old age class.  Nisha’s 36-pound lift was also good for a record.

The next lift was the Deadlift, Inch DB, One Arm.  This was contested with Nemesis Grips Loadable Handles.  This is a relatively newer lift, but everybody put up great numbers.  This time, Ben had the top lift at 121 pounds.  This was good enough to beat the record in the 100kg 45-year-old.  Nisha’s 41-pound lift was also good for a record.

Then there was the 2-inch vertical bar.  This lift has been contested quite frequently, but the slick surfaces on the competition handles (Custom fabricated by Fat Bastard Barbell Company) made for some uncertainty.  Nisha came through with a third attempt 80 pounds which was nearly her body weight and good for 206 Age-Gender-Adjusted Lynch points and put her in first place overall after three lifts.  Sanjiv lifted a solid 140 pounds, beating his previous 130-pound record.  Jarrod made the unfortunate decision to open at 145 pounds and missed all 3 attempts, essentially taking him out of the competition.  Ben followed successful lifts at 140 and 170 pounds with an unsuccessful 200-pound attempt.  Therefore, Chad Ullom retains his 195-pound record.

Finally, it was time for the Hack Lift, Fulton Bar.  This was contested on the equally slick Apollon’s Axle, but lifts were still impressive.  Nisha established a record, Sanjiv extended his previous record set last year.  Ben had the best lift at 303 pounds establishing the 100kg 45-year-old age class record, but still a far cry from Joe Ciavattone Jr.’s 357 all age record at 100kg.

This final lift put Ben (Dino Gym) in first place and he has the option to host the 2026 Grip Championship.  If Ben defers, the meet will again be hosted by High Country Vigour in 2026.

Total Weight rankings:

1. Ben Edwards – 719 pounds

2. Sanjiv Gupta – 569 pounds

3. Jarrod Fobes – 449 pounds

4. Nisha Gupta – 230 pounds

Lynch/Age/Gender Points:

1. Ben Edwards – 673 points

2. Nisha Gupta – 595 points

3. Sanjiv Gupta – 566 points

4. Jarrod Fobes – 418 points

Complete Results:

USAWA Grip Championship

High Country Vigour

Lakewood, Colorado 

May 3, 2025

Meet Director: Sanjiv Gupta

Scorekeeper: Sanjiv Gupta

Officials: (1-official system) Sanjiv Gupta, Jarrod Fobes, Nisha Gupta (in training)

The Lifts:  Pinch Grip, Strict; Deadlift, Inch Dumbbell, One Arm; Vertical Bar, 1 Bar, 2”; Hack Lift, Fulton Bar

Bodyweight and Lifts in Pounds

WOMENS DIVISION

Lifter Age Body-weight Pinch Inch DB V-Bar Hack Total Points

Nisha Gupta 16 86.8 36 41 (R) 80 (R) 83 230 595

MENS DIVISION

Lifter Age Body-weight Pinch Inch DB V-Bar Hack Total Points

Ben Edwards 49 216.8 125 121 (R) 170 (R) 303 719 673

Sanjiv Gupta 53 208.2 95 101 (L) 140 (L) 233 569 566

Jarrod Fobes 48 215.7 125 101 (R) 0 (R) 223 449 418

No 4th attempts for records were successful

Record Session:

Jarrod Fobes

Scott Lift – 135 pounds

Clean & Press, Middle Fingers – 95 pounds

Sanjiv Gupta

Clean & Press, Alternate Grip – 105 pounds

Side Press, Dumbbell, Left – 52 pounds

Side Press, Dumbbell, Right – 62 pounds