February 16, 2011
The Shoulder Press
Setup
- Feet at hip width
- Hands/weights just outside the shoulders
- Elbows down, directly under hands
- Tight midsection
- Closed grip
Execution
- Think of yourself as a column, keep the whole body rigid; w/ tight core
- Pull head back, and press upwards attempting to drive the weight/hands straight up
- Press until directly overhead, arms fully extended, w/ active shoulders (ears should be visual from profile view)
- Keep your ribs locked down throughout the lift! Avoid shooting the hips forward and over arching the low back
Did you know the overhead press used to be an Olympic lift? Up until 1972 the Press was one of three lifts at the Olympics (w/ the snatch and clean & jerk). As lifters transformed the overhead press into an ugly step-brother of the press, the pseudo-standing bench press, the lift became obviously more dangerous and more difficult to judge and was eventually dropped from Olympic competition.
Impressive strength but Don't Do This!!!
Tweet
