Freestyle Bending
The styles are shown on many videos on Youtube.
Rules for Strict Unbraced Nail Bending
Compiled by Pat Povilaitis (modified by Eric Milfeld)
These are the same rules that are in force for the FBBC and Gripboard certs and lists. Any unbraced style can be used, ie. Overhand, Underhand or Reverse.
1. No part of competitor’s arms/hands may touch body below waist level. Upper arm down to elbow is allowed contact with chest and stomach. Any part of the arm may contact from the pectorals and above. Hands may only contact body from pectorals and above, this is primarily to prevent injuries caused by unsupported rotation of wrist under extreme load during a bend.
2. Competitor may not lean against any stationary object. The feet on the ground are the only permissible contact.
3. The object being bent may not dip below waist level at any time during the bend. Any incidental contact between the arms/hands and any part of the legs during a bend is cause for immediate disqualification. Reference to "during the bend" indicates the time when you are applying force to the object, obviously while wrapping, resting or positioning for the bend your hands sometimes are below the waist.
4. Hand padding can be of any suitable material, cloth, canvas, towel, nylon, leather, etc. but cannot contain any rigid components to add leverage. These will be inspected by referee for compliance. *Material is to protect the hands of the competitor, not to assist by adding leverage. Nail must be wrapped immediately prior to competitor’s attempt in plain view of referee in charge. Allotted time period begins on referee’s start signal, and is up to discretion of contest organizer.
5. Gloves are specifically disallowed, as it is easy to conceal rigid material within the glove, create a fulcrum within the glove, and/or bunch up glove material to the point of being a leverage assistance to the bend.
6. Wrapping or taping of any part of elbows, wrist, forearm, and hands is disallowed. Wrist and tendon strength is key to successful bending and any external aid that assists in tightening of tendons/joints or increases pressure in arms (such as elastic wraps or stabilizers) should be viewed as cheating. Tape or bandage may be applied to surface of fingers and/or palm only in the event of injury to skin and should be kept to a minimum as per judge’s discretion.
7. Application of adhesives or sticky substances to hands, nail, or hand pads is cause for immediate disqualification. These substances will prevent hand padding from slipping or rotating and will remove a necessary element of the grip from the bending process.
8. After a bar has been bent into a "u" the ends should not be more than two inches apart. The two inch measurement is to be taken from the inside edge of one leg of the bar to the inside edge of the opposite leg. When measuring bolts, the innermost portion of the bolt's head may be considered the inside edge. With regards to asymmetrical bends, measure from the inside edge of the bar's shorter leg to a point straight across on the inside of the opposite leg. Essentially you're treating the asymmetrical bend as if both legs of the bar were equal in length to that of the shorter leg.
9. The bend must be completed within 5 minutes for the BHSA, FBBC cert and the Nailman's Top 20 list on the Gripboard [1 minute for bending the Red in the IronMind rules]. See below. The bender may notify the witness that he's ready to start the bend, after which the witness will give the bender a signal to start the bend. The clock will start when the witness gives the signal to start the bend. It must be plainly evident at the 5 minute mark that the bender is no longer attempting to bend.
Rules and list - IronMind Red Nail Roster
Lists - Nailman's Top 20
Rules - Nailman's Top 20
List - FBBC Kings of Steel
Rules - FBBC Kings of Steel
Rules for David Horne's different Freestyle bends.
Rules for Freestyle Bending (using IronMind cordora wraps on each end of the bar)
Same rules as unbraced bending rules apply except the bend has to be performed with only one IronMind wrap on each side of the bar.
The bend must be completed within 1 min.
All bending claims of LEVEL 13 (IM Red Bar or FBBC square bar 6" x 1/4" or FBBC Bastard bar 7" x 5/16") and above should be accompanied with a video (Youtube, gripboard, sent to me, etc) unless it was done in a ratified contest. This video should show the length and width using a tape, and a caliper (digital or mechanical). Bends below this are submitted by the honour system.
BARS/BOLTS LEVEL OF DIFFICULTIES FOR BENDING
LEVEL 19 (FBBC KOAB bar 7" x 3/8")
LEVEL 18 (FBBC Insane Bastard bar)
LEVEL 17 (IM Red Bar 5" or FBBC Magnificent Bastard bar 5" x 5/16")
LEVEL 16 (IM Red Bar 5.5" or FBBC Grand Bastard bar 5.5" x 5/16")
LEVEL 15 (IM Red Bar 6" or FBBC Huge Bastard bar 6" x 5/16")
LEVEL 14 (IM Red Bar 6.5" or FBBC Big Bastard bar 6.5" x 5/16")
LEVEL 13 (IM Red Bar or FBBC square bar 6" x 1/4" or FBBC Bastard bar 7" x 5/16")
LEVEL 12 (FBBC square bar 6.5" x 1/4")
LEVEL 11 (FBBC square bar 7" x 1/4")
LEVEL 10 (Challenge Bar CRS 291-300k or Grade 8 x 5.5” bolt)
LEVEL 9 (Challenge Bar CRS 281-290k or Grade 8 x 6” bolt)
LEVEL 8 (Challenge Bar CRS 271-280k or Grade 5 x 5” bolt)
LEVEL 7 (Challenge Bar CRS 261-270k or Grade 5 x 5.5” bolt)
LEVEL 6 (Challenge Bar CRS 251-260k or Grade 5 x 6” bolt)
LEVEL 5 (Challenge Bar CRS 241-250k)
LEVEL 4 (Challenge Bar CRS 231-240k)
LEVEL 3 (Challenge Bar CRS 221-230k)
LEVEL 2 (Challenge Bar CRS 211-220k)
LEVEL 1 (Challenge Bar CRS 200-210k)
TOP 50 RANKINGS
1st) Michael Hadland - 7" x 3/8" (565lb) bar from Eric Milfeld - 15 Feb 2010 - USA Video
2nd) David Wigren - 5.5" x 5/16" FBBC Grand Bastard bar - 24 June 2008 - Sweden Video
3rd) Takahashi Yoshiyuki - 6" x 5/16" FBBC Huge Bastard bar - 11 Dec 2008 - Japan
3rd) Chad "Judoman" Rickicki - 6" IronMind Red Bar- 14 Dec 2009 - USA Video
5) Eric Milfeld - 7" IronMind Red Bar - USA
5) Aaron Corcorran - 7" IronMind Red Bar - 2007 - USA
5) William McCaslin - 7" IronMind Red Bar - 2007 - USA
5) Adam Glass - 7" IronMind Red Bar - 2008 - Minot, USA
5) Bader Samir Tayeb Alawadhi - 7" IronMind Red Bar - 2007 - Dubai
5) Wes Peart - 7" IronMind Red Bar - 2007 - USA
5) John Beatty - 7" IronMind Red Bar - 2006 - USA
5) Jedd Johnson - 7" IronMind Red Bar - 2007 - USA
5) Russell Hadland - 7" x 5/16" FBBC Bastard bar - 13 February 2008 - USA
5) Dave Johnson - 7" IronMind Red Bar - 5 Apr 2008 - Stafford, England
5) Mark Vogels - 7" IronMind Red Bar - 12 July 2008 - Holland
5) Henrik Nystrom - 7" IronMind Red Bar - 24 Nov 2008 - Sweden
David Horne - 7" x 1/4" FBBC Square Bar - 4 February 2008 - Stafford, England
Matt Carl - G5 x 5.5" bolt – 20 February 2008 – USA
Perry Glover - G5 x 5.5" bolt - 16 Aug 2009 - Philippines
Kevin McFadden - G5 x 6" bolt - 9 April 2008 - USA
Rules for Freestyle Bending (using max size 2" x 2" x 1/4" leather pad on each end of the bar)
Same rules as unbraced bending rules apply except the bend has to be performed with only one 2" x 2" x 1/4" leather pad on each side of the bar.
The bend must be completed within 5 mins.
All bending claims of LEVEL 13 (IM Red Bar or FBBC square bar 6" x 1/4" or FBBC Bastard bar 7" x 5/16") and above should be accompanied with a video (Youtube, gripboard, sent to me, etc) unless it was done in a ratified contest. This video should show the length and width using a tape, and a caliper (digital or mechanical). Bends below this are submitted by the honour system.
BARS/BOLTS LEVEL OF DIFFICULTIES FOR BENDING
LEVEL 19 (FBBC KOAB bar 7" x 3/8")
LEVEL 18 (FBBC Insane Bastard bar)
LEVEL 17 (IM Red Bar 5" or FBBC Magnificent Bastard bar 5" x 5/16")
LEVEL 16 (IM Red Bar 5.5" or FBBC Grand Bastard bar 5.5" x 5/16")
LEVEL 15 (IM Red Bar 6" or FBBC Huge Bastard bar 6" x 5/16")
LEVEL 14 (IM Red Bar 6.5" or FBBC Big Bastard bar 6.5" x 5/16")
LEVEL 13 (IM Red Bar or FBBC square bar 6" x 1/4" or FBBC Bastard bar 7" x 5/16")
LEVEL 12 (FBBC square bar 6.5" x 1/4")
LEVEL 11 (FBBC square bar 7" x 1/4")
LEVEL 10 (Challenge Bar CRS 291-300k or Grade 8 x 5.5” bolt)
LEVEL 9 (Challenge Bar CRS 281-290k or Grade 8 x 6” bolt)
LEVEL 8 (Challenge Bar CRS 271-280k or Grade 5 x 5” bolt)
LEVEL 7 (Challenge Bar CRS 261-270k or Grade 5 x 5.5” bolt)
LEVEL 6 (Challenge Bar CRS 251-260k or Grade 5 x 6” bolt)
LEVEL 5 (Challenge Bar CRS 241-250k)
LEVEL 4 (Challenge Bar CRS 231-240k)
LEVEL 3 (Challenge Bar CRS 221-230k)
LEVEL 2 (Challenge Bar CRS 211-220k)
LEVEL 1 (Challenge Bar CRS 200-210k)
TOP 50 RANKINGS
1st) David Wigren - G5 x 5.5" bolt - 21 March 2008 - Sweden Video
2nd) Ben Edwards - G5 x 6" bolt – 6 February 2008 – USA Video
3rd) Takahashi Yoshiyuki - 5" x 1/4" FBBC round bar - 19 May 2008 - Japan
Copyright David Horne 2006
