This interview with Juha is a special one for me because of several reasons.
Back in the days as I started with steel bending and as I was at red nail level, Juha was one of two benders from whom I got the most inspiration for my bending journey.
Juha is well known for being the first who was able to bend the
Ironmind Gold Nail in IMP´s in one of his training sessions. This is a phenomenal display of strength and pain tolerance in our bending world. But there are a lot of other elite bends from him which show that he is one of the best benders out there ever.
Not "only" a bending monster, he is also strong in general and has the old school attitude which is shown in his very heavy one arm lifts. A great display of strength!
You can find more stuff from Juha in his channels:
Thanks Juha for taking your time with the interview. It´s a pleasure!
Here is the Interview!
Name:
Juha Lehtimäki
Year of birth:
1989
Height:
191cm
Weight:
115kg
Location:
Finland
Occupation:
Factory Worker
Relationship Status:
Married and father of four children
Question 01:
What does steel bending mean to you?
Test of my strength. There is so many different style so prove your strength and I’ve always love olschool training.
Question 02:
When and why did you start steel bending and what does or did your active time look like?
In 2014 I saw my friend Tuomo Anttila bend horseshoes and that looks so cool!
Also I found Paul Knight youtube channel and saw him bend Red Nails and FBBC bars. I noticed that nobody here in Finland hasn’t cert the Red Nail so I decided to be the first one.
Question 03:
What do you love about steel bending?
Couple beers and steel bending with your friends, what could be better! Also our small bending community around the globe.
Question 04:
What do you hate about steel bending?
A lot of people don’t realise how though and brutal steel bending is. It’s a shame.
Question 05:
How does your training for steel bending look like?
I haven’t bend much lately but start again in spring. Maybe not so much double overhand style anymore but more braced and snapping. Normally 1-3 times a week.
Question 06:
How does your other training look like (strength or other)?
Nowdays powerlifting and in summer a lots of bicycling. Also in summer I like to train outside and lift natural stones and concrete blocks. After the neck surgery I try to avoid things that could inflame it or make it worse.
Question 07:
What goals have you set for yourself?
Front squat 200kg and overhead press 115kg. In bending, I'm just happy if I can bend without pain.
Question 08:
What was the most impressive bend you ever saw (live or on video)?
It’s too hard to pick just one! One of the coolest is Ivan Beritashvili cert the Red Nail in reverse style.
Question 09:
Rapid stuff – choose one
Bolts or steel?
Steel
Unbraced or braced?
Back in the days unbraced, nowdays braced Singles or doubles?
Singles
Chalk or not?
Chalk
Beer or water?
Beer
Cordura or leather or both?
Leather
Short bars or long bars?
Long bars
Horseshoes or flat bars?
Horseshoes
Chips or chocolate?
Chocolate
Question 10:
The last words belong to you. What do you want the reader take away? Let us know your poems of steel!
Remember we are small group of people, cheers to others success and make steel bending great again!