If you want clear, unfiltered advice on how to live smarter, get fitter faster and overcome life’s challenges, you're in the right place – The Hard Way.

In this edition, Joe shares:

• Why grip strength is more than muscle
• What Tommy Caldwell taught him about holding on
• The rope climb test that leveled up his own son

Hi, it’s Joe here, writing this week from Florida in the great United States of America, where I’m wishing a happy Fourth of July to every Spartan out there, whether American or friends of our country, who know real independence is earned, not given.

Lately, I’ve been thinking about grip strength, which is the simplest test that never lies. When I was a kid growing up in Queens, we didn’t have fancy gyms or workouts under shiny lights. My training was climbing fences when I needed to get out of trouble, hauling pool gear for my neighbor’s business, and pulling myself up scaffolding at the construction sites where my dad worked. I didn’t think of it as training back then, I just knew that sometimes you had to hold on. And I knew that if you couldn’t, you’d get left behind.

Even now, rope climbs are an obstacle for me. They’re not complicated, but they expose every weakness in your grip, your back, and your mind. That’s why I still do them. You don’t build real strength by showing off where you’re strong, but by holding on in areas where you might fail.

There’s good science behind that too. Doctors measure grip strength because it tells them more about your health than most people realize: your endurance, your resilience, and your ability to handle stress. You can look fit, but if your grip is weak, you’re not as strong as you think you are.

I just spoke with Tommy Caldwell, one of the best climbers alive. This is the guy who free climbed the Dawn Wall on El Capitan… nineteen days living on a vertical face, gripping edges barely wider than a credit card. And he did it after losing part of his finger in an accident that would have ended most careers. He told me if you can train your mind to hold on no matter what, you’ll find out you’re stronger than you think.

Years ago, when my son Charlie was still in middle school, he told me he wanted an Xbox. I said, “Sure. But you’re gonna earn it.” I pointed to the rope climb machine in the garage and told the kid if he could do 29,035 feet (the height of Everest) he’d get it. Charlie sat out there for hours non-stop. His hands started bleeding. He didn’t stop until he hit that number. He didn’t know it at the time, but he leveled up before he ever turned that Xbox on.

Whether it’s fences in Queens, a rope in your garage, or your own life trying to shake you off, the same rule applies: when everything wants you to let go, you hold on. That’s how you level up.

If you want to test that, grab a rope and see how long you last. Just you and your grip. And if you can’t hang a rope from your ceiling, we partnered up on a piece of gear that does the job, it’s called the Ropeflex Spartan Grip. It’s simple, and brutal. We tested it on a few Spartans, take a look.

You Ask, Joe Answers

Q: “Joe, what’s the hardest part of training for you now?” — Liam P.
A: "Staying uncomfortable. It’s easy to slip into routines that feel good but don’t push you. The hardest part is looking for hard - reminding yourself that comfort never made anyone strong." — Joe

One more thing. Good luck to everyone racing in Morzine, France this weekend. It’s one of the most beautiful and punishing places on the planet for a rope climb.

Hurry up,

Joe