“The Godfather of Bodybuilding,” Charles Glass, pays attention to the smallest details inside the gym. On August 18, 2025, he broke down his gripping technique for pulling movements, revealing how to reduce forearm activation while maximizing bicep gains.
Glass, an established bodybuilding coach, helped shape noteworthy IFBB Pros, including Dexter Jackson and Chris Cormier. His engineering and gymnastics background is the perfect base to help others with lifting mechanics and technique efficiency.
Even minor details, such as how lifters approach their grip, could mean the difference between hitting that coveted personal record or walking away dissatisfied. This has led Glass to shed light on a technique he’s sworn by for years.
Charles Glass Explains How to Grip to Maximize Bicep Gains and Reduce Forearm Activation
In the YouTube video, Glass explained that he doesn’t unhook his thumb when gripping for pulling movements. This allows his fingers to stay locked into the grip so they don’t come out during a tough lift.
“I’m a stickler about the grip. You see a lot of people get a false grip here but I like to feel my hand locked in. I know it’s not coming out, and it teaches me when I do other things, I lock it in, that’s better than sitting on top. When you sit on top, it could easily come out.”
In addition, Glass warned of overgripping, which can take pressure off the biceps while putting more load on the forearms:
“You got to be very careful because a lot of the times, a lot of movements, like curls, I put my hand on it, but I don’t squeeze. I drop my wrist back so I take the pressure off the forearm but put more on the biceps.
Same thing when you’re pulling, you want to feel what you’re pulling. You want to feel it in your grip. Try to keep it out of the forearm. Don’t lock it down. Don’t overgrip, just enough so the fingers don’t come out. Just by touching one finger, you got to lock it in.”
Beyond grip technique, Charles Glass has also offered pointers on how to grow capped shoulders. He explained that during shoulder presses, lifters can rotate their wrist at the top of a peak contraction to effectively grow muscle.
Ultimately, Glass believes in keeping the thumbs hooked into grips during pulling movements. He also maintains that overgripping can work against you and recruit forearms more than biceps during pulling exercises.
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Watch the full video from the CharlesGlassGOB YouTube channel below:
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