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It's going well, Bull. Knock on Wood. My back injury is pretty much behind me. I'm back in Karate 2 days a week and lifting 3 days a week. Lately, I've been doing heavier lifts/more traditional exercises Tuesdays and Thursdays. Then come Saturday I tend to do a lot more of the less traditional stuff. Like the Farmer's walks and maybe not untraditional exercises so much as exercises/machines/movements I don't normally do. For example, this morning, I did some stuff on the Hammer Strength bench and rowing machines. I also did lat pull downs, and Hamstring curls on a stability ball. For me, it's a nice cap to the week. It typically doesn't involve as much "heavy" lifting as it does core, fucntional lifts and things to keep it fresh and real. By the way, I set a personal best on the leg press, Thursday night, at 1100. How's your training been going? Do you still have the numbness?

Wow, thanks for that advice. How's your training going? :)

Your fingers shouldn't be going numb. You may need to lay off of them for a while. You could be aggravating your carpel tunnel, flaring up those nerves and causing that numbness. It could be far worse too...It could be in your brachial plexus; which is sort of like a wire harness for your nerves that flows down through your shoulder. There's a chance that the weight, hanging down, with the Farmer's walks could be causing damage there too. Best bet is to lay off of it for a while, see if it improves and go see your Doctor.

Hi guys, Im new around here :D
I saw this thread and thought I would post up a link to a video thats pretty good regarding the farmers walk and the do's & dont's as well for proper form
Kettlebell Farmers Walk For Full Body Conditioning by Houston Kettlebell Coach Sincere Hogan | Sincere Hogan's New Warrior Training & Kettlebells-Houston
Interested in your take on this.
Oh and Bull, you might try a thin towel on each hand and see if it helps with the finger numbing

Do we need to be worried about the fingers going numb? Happens often with the FW (at least when I do them).

Farmer's Walk. Carrying Heavy things is always a good workout.

I read that when you train your grip with movements that close your hand or keep it closed, you should definitely also train movements that open the hand. Otherwise you might very well injure yourself. Any exercises you can suggest doing? :)

Thanks again.

About time we start the Farmer's Walk Fan Club. :)

Yeah, those Zercher's are bad news...IMO. I even asked one of my Sensei's tonight, what he thought about them...he's a big time power lifter himself. He said the same thing. It makes perfect sense what you're saying about the weight being too far out in front of you...and holding it in your elbow crease doesn't offer a lot of control either. Watch some of them on youtube and you'll see a lot of guys round their low backs doing them; which is a recipe for disaster. Actually, a regular squat with the weight being on your shoulders really forces your core to kick in. They are one of the Best bang for your buck exercises.

I think the Farmer's walks are great. It's kind of ironic that you ask about them, because I've just in the last week really started focusing on them myself. They pretty much work your entire body...especially your arms and can really stimulate your core and legs too...provided you make sure to walk slow and not let momentum carry you. I don't know that I would do them every work out though. Maybe twice a week, with a few days in-between. The reason I say that is because they really target your forearms, and put a lot of strain on them. You don't want to get lateral and/or medial epidcondylitis...tendonitis on the inside and outside of your forearms. Another thing I would do is stretch your forearm flexors and extensors after your workouts. Do all that and you should be ok...and ease into them. Don't try to do a million sets or pounds the first few times. If you feel "Inflammed" after your workouts you can always ice down. My arms are totally pumped tonight after doing them...I love them too...lol.

Thanks a lot for taking the time to post all that, Machine. Much appreciated.

I've always had problems doing zercher squats and always thought it was due to my core being too weak. But now I think it's actually due to the load being too far on my front side. Does that make sense to you?

As for Farmer's, is there actually a muscle this exercise does NOT work?
I love doing those. I was thinking about doing them very often and other exercises only as secondary ones for the next few months. Do you think it's a very bad idea? I really feel the FW everywhere in my body so I think it's really a big bang for your buck type of thing. What do you think (other than the tendonitis thing, ... do I have to fear muscle imbalances or other overuse injuries)? :)

I like Farmer's walks. Great grip builder...great overall work load increaser...sorta the same premise behind pulling a weight sled...only not as intense and it hits more of your upper body than lower body. The only draw back is that if you're doing them all the time with other grip oriented exercises you could get tendonitis around your elbow...but really if you ease into it and give yourself proper rest you should be fine. Dumbell Squats are another fine exercise. However, I would rather do regular squats. Typically Dumbell exercises help you a lot with imbalances and core stabilization. However, squats take a lot of core stabilization and you don't really get a lot of work on imbalances with dumbell squats. I think I would say skip the Zercher's. While they have their ol' school strength building properties...they also carry a lot of potential dangers too. Things, to me, that aren't worth it. One thing that I noticed, when watching them, is that a lot of guys tend to round their low backs while doing them and IMO the exercise itself makes you prone to doing that because your holding the bar in the crease of your elbow, out in front of your body and you can't control the bar like you could with your hands. Another thing that jumps out at me is that your putting a lot of force through your elbow, onto your forearms and biceps. Zercher's are essentially a combination of a deadlift and a front squat; which are both great exercises. The deadlift gives you the grip and lower body benefits while allowing you to more easily hold good form. It also bears the load through a broader area by using all of your arms/upper body as opposed to your biceps, elbows and forearms. Front Squats place more emphasis on your quads and are also easier to hold form on. Plate pinchs are another great grip exercise. There you take 2 plates say 2, 10 lb'ers. Pinch them together and either raise them up and down to the side for a reps or hold them for a certain time frame...like 20 seconds or so. Hope that helps, Bull. Leave them Zercher's alone...lol.

- Farmer's Walks
- Dumbbell Squats (weights in your hands by your side; NOT above the head or resting on your shoulders)
- Zercher Squats

I'd like to ask you folks to share your VIEWS and EXPERIENCES on and with these exercises.

SmashingMachine, what is your view? I have tremendous respect for your expertise and hope you have some points and ideas you are willing to share with us. :)

Thanks, everybody.