Dead Hang World Record: 80 Minutes 41 Seconds
The dead hang world record is 80 minutes 41 seconds, set by Kenta Adachi of Japan on 18 November 2022 and verified by Guinness World Records. This page documents the record holders, how the record has progressed over time, and the training behind it. Want to take on a challenge yourself or compete with friends? See our dead hang community page for group challenges and leaderboards.
In This Article
Current Dead Hang World Record
The Guinness World Record for the longest duration in the dead hang position is 80 minutes and 41 seconds. Kenta Adachi of Japan set this record on 18 November 2022 in Shunan, Yamaguchi. Adachi is a coast guard navigator and diver who also holds the Guinness record for the most consecutive pull-ups, with 651.
Adachi hung from a horizontal bar with his feet off the ground for the entire attempt. His hands stayed on the bar without repositioning. The attempt was filmed, witnessed and verified by Guinness adjudicators. He broke the previous record of 16 minutes 3 seconds, set by Harald Riise of Norway on 7 November 2020.
To understand the scale of this achievement: the average untrained adult hangs for 30-60 seconds. Adachi held for more than 80 minutes, over 100 times longer than the average person's maximum effort.
Record rules: The Guinness dead hang record requires a full bodyweight hang from a horizontal bar. Both feet must leave the ground completely. No kipping, swinging or repositioning of the hands. The timer stops when any part of the body contacts the ground or the athlete releases the bar.
Men's Dead Hang Records
Competitive dead hanging has grown rapidly. The following table lists the verified holders of the Guinness "Longest duration in the dead hang position (male)" record and the times that preceded the current mark.
| Athlete | Country | Time | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kenta Adachi | Japan | 80:41 | 2022 | Current Guinness World Record |
| Harald Riise | Norway | 16:03 | 2020 | Previous record holder |
| Tazio Gavioli | Italy | 13:52 | 2018 | Former record holder |
The men's record progressed steadily and then jumped dramatically. Tazio Gavioli held 13 minutes 52 seconds in 2018, Harald Riise extended it to 16 minutes 3 seconds in 2020, and Kenta Adachi then set a new mark of 80 minutes 41 seconds in 2022, more than four times the previous record.
Women's Dead Hang Records
Guinness does not list an open female duration record for the dead hang. The headline category, "Longest duration in the dead hang position", is a male category, currently held by Kenta Adachi. The female dead hang record Guinness does verify is an age title: oldest person to hold the dead hang position (female).
That title belongs to Ann Crile Esselstyn of the USA, who held a dead hang for 2 minutes 52 seconds at the age of 90 years and 231 days on 6 March 2026. She took it from Annie Judis of the USA, who set the record in 2024 at the age of 81.
| Record | Holder | Country | Result | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oldest person to hold the dead hang position (female) | Ann Crile Esselstyn | USA | 2 min 52 sec at 90 years 231 days | 6 March 2026 |
| Previous holder of the same title | Annie Judis | USA | Set at age 81 | 2024 |
Outside the record books, lower average bodyweight gives women a favorable strength to weight ratio for hanging, and trained female climbers and grip athletes commonly hold dead hangs beyond 3 minutes.
Dead Hang Record History & Timeline
The dead hang has evolved from an obscure grip training exercise to a competitive discipline with an official Guinness world record, organized competitions and a growing community of athletes.
Progression of the Guinness dead hang world record from 2018 to the current mark of 80:41.
The competitive dead hang scene continues to grow. Online challenges, gym-hosted events and organized grip sport competitions have created a pipeline of athletes pushing toward new records.
How World Record Holders Train
World class dead hang athletes do not simply hang for as long as possible every day. The principles below reflect how endurance grip athletes typically train, balancing forearm endurance, grip strength, recovery and mental conditioning.
Training Principles
- Sub-maximal volume. Multiple sets at 60-80% of max duration rather than daily max attempts. This accumulates time under tension without overtraining the forearm flexors.
- Bar thickness variation. Training on 28mm, 32mm and fat bars builds broader grip endurance. Thicker bars recruit more muscle fibers and improve endurance on standard bars.
- Grip endurance intervals. 30-second hangs with 15-second rest, repeated for 10-15 rounds. This trains the ability to sustain grip under accumulating fatigue.
- Weighted hangs for strength. Adding 20-40% of bodyweight for short holds (10-20 seconds) builds the strength reserve needed for extended unweighted holds.
- Mental conditioning. Hanging beyond 8-10 minutes requires managing extreme discomfort. Record holders practice breathing techniques and pain management strategies.
Sample Weekly Schedule (Advanced)
| Day | Session | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | Max duration | 1 max attempt + 3 sets at 70% |
| Tuesday | Weighted hangs | 5×15 sec with +25% BW |
| Wednesday | Rest | Active recovery, wrist mobility |
| Thursday | Endurance intervals | 12×30 sec on / 15 sec off |
| Friday | Fat bar work | 4×45 sec on 32mm bar |
| Saturday | Long holds | 2 sets at 80% max duration |
| Sunday | Rest | Full rest day |
This level of training requires years of progressive development. Start with the beginner dead hang program and work through the full progression ladder before attempting advanced protocols. See how dead hang grip carries over to climbing, CrossFit and combat sports in our dead hangs for athletic performance guide.
How You Compare to the World Record
The gap between an average dead hang and the world record is enormous. Here is how common performance levels stack up against the 80:41 record.
| Level | Typical Time | % of World Record |
|---|---|---|
| Untrained beginner | 15-30 sec | 0.3-0.6% |
| Average gym-goer | 30-60 sec | 0.6-1.2% |
| Trained intermediate | 60-120 sec | 1.2-2.5% |
| Advanced grip athlete | 2-5 min | 2.5-6.2% |
| Elite competitor | 5-10 min | 6.2-12.4% |
| World record | 80:41 | 100% |
Reaching 2 minutes puts you in the top 5% of the general population. Reaching 5 minutes requires dedicated training over months. Breaking 10 minutes places you among the world's best competitive dead hang athletes.
Test Your Dead Hang
Find out where you rank among all age groups and training levels.
Use the Dead Hang CalculatorVary Bar Thickness Like the Record Holders
Serious dead hang training rotates between standard and thicker bars to build broader grip endurance. Our buying guide covers bar diameter, weight rating and mounting options for home training.
As an Amazon Associate DeadHangs.com earns from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. See our affiliate disclosure.Frequently Asked Questions
What is the world record for a dead hang?
The Guinness World Record for the longest duration in the dead hang position is 80 minutes and 41 seconds, set by Kenta Adachi of Japan on 18 November 2022. He broke the previous record of 16 minutes 3 seconds, set by Harald Riise of Norway on 7 November 2020.
What is the female dead hang world record?
Guinness does not list an open female duration record for the dead hang. The headline category, "Longest duration in the dead hang position", is a male category. The female record Guinness verifies is an age title: oldest person to hold the dead hang position (female), held by Ann Crile Esselstyn of the USA, who hung for 2 minutes 52 seconds at 90 years and 231 days on 6 March 2026.
Can a normal person hang for 5 minutes?
A 5-minute dead hang is extremely difficult. The average untrained adult holds 30-60 seconds. Reaching 5 minutes requires months of dedicated grip training, specific forearm endurance programming and mental conditioning. Fewer than 1% of regular gym-goers achieve this.
How long can the average person dead hang?
The average untrained person dead hangs for 20-40 seconds. Men average 30-60 seconds and women 20-40 seconds. With 4-8 weeks of training, most people reach 60-90 seconds. The world record of over 80 minutes is more than 100 times longer.
Is a 3 minute dead hang impressive?
A 3-minute dead hang is impressive by any standard. This places you well above 95% of the general population. Most trained gym-goers never reach 3 minutes. It requires dedicated forearm endurance training beyond general fitness work.
Who holds the dead hang world record?
Kenta Adachi of Japan holds the dead hang world record at 80 minutes 41 seconds, set on 18 November 2022. He also holds the Guinness record for the most consecutive pull-ups, with 651.
What is the world record for hanging on a bar?
The record for hanging on a bar in the dead hang position is 80 minutes 41 seconds, set by Kenta Adachi of Japan in 2022 and verified by Guinness World Records. It is the same category often searched as the longest dead hang.
What is the longest time hanging from a bar?
The longest verified time hanging from a bar in a dead hang is 80 minutes 41 seconds by Kenta Adachi of Japan in 2022. The previous record was 16 minutes 3 seconds by Harald Riise of Norway.
Related Guides
Sources & References
- Guinness World Records. Longest duration in the dead hang position (male): 80 min 41 sec, Kenta Adachi (Japan), Shunan, Yamaguchi, 18 November 2022.
- Guinness World Records. Oldest person to hold the dead hang position (female): Ann Crile Esselstyn (USA), 2 min 52 sec at 90 years 231 days, 6 March 2026.
- Guinness World Records. Longest duration in the dead hang position: Harald Riise (Norway), 16 min 3 sec, Baerum, Norway, 7 November 2020.
- Bohannon, R.W. (2019). Grip strength: An indispensable biomarker for older adults. Clinical Interventions in Aging, 14, 1681-1691.
- Leong, D.P. et al. (2015). Prognostic value of grip strength. The Lancet, 386(9990), 266-273.
- American College of Sports Medicine. (2021). ACSM's Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription. 11th edition.