OK. This is my Mount Everest.
For many years now, I have been dreaming of the day when I could rack up 4 train wheels and press it over my head.

Maybe some are already there, and maybe some have a similar dream...

Well, let's get it!!

Rules:
- Cannot be a push press...has to be a strict, no-knee-bend press.
- You can use whatever layback you want.
- You can rack it and unrack it however you like. If you want bonus points, you can clean it off the ground first...:eek:
- No smith machines...it has to be a barbell not attached to anything
- Starting position has the barbell touching the deltoids or upper chest
- Finishing position is full lockout overhead
- Really, that's all I can think of now. If you have additional suggestions, I can edit them in later.

Good luck to all.

My "entry form"...

Current 1RM is 195.
My goal is to get it by the end of the year.

From today's workout:

Standing BB Press
45 x 15
95 x 10
135 x 8
155 x 5 x 5 sets - New PR!! Mwahaha...:evil:

I've never tried this, I'm in. No idea where my max is, but would probably depend on how far I leaned backwards.

Are we pulling this off the floor or starting from the racks?

OK. This is my Mount Everest.
For many years now, I have been dreaming of the day when I could rack up 4 train wheels and press it over my head.

Maybe some are already there, and maybe some have a similar dream...

Well, let's get it!!

Rules:
- Cannot be a push press...has to be a strict, no-knee-bend press.
- You can use whatever layback you want.
- Really, that's all I can think of now. If you have additional suggestions, I can edit them in later.

Good luck to all.

Are we pulling this off the floor or starting from the racks?

Good point....I'll need to add that to the rules.
I take it off a squat rack in the front squat position.

What do you guys think?

Having to clean it would make it way harder for me...in fact it would put this on hold until I rehab my spinal erectors...

Good point....I'll need to add that to the rules.
I take it off a squat rack in the front squat position.

What do you guys think?

Having to clean it would make it way harder for me...in fact it would put this on hold until I rehab my spinal erectors...
No reason you should have to clean it, because jerk and push press aren't allowed.

I was just thinking about starting this thread this morning - what a coincidence.
My PR's on the OH Press are 80kg(176lbs)x5, and 85kg(187lbs)x3.
My 1RM estimate is 90kg(200lbs).

I always clean the bar, I like doing things the hard way. I think the thread should be irrelevant as to whether it begins with a clean or from racks, since its the actual press itself we are trying to improve. (My bar is bent now so I'll either start using a different bar or stop cleaning, cleaning with a bent bar is very bad).

For the next 10 weeks I will probably be doing top sets of 3, starting at 80kg and adding 1-2kg each session. Once a week (Modified Bill Starr 5x5). 225lbs is quite a way away.

BW 88kg(194lbs).

edit : ^above i mean as long as the actual press is strict it shouldn't matter wether it's cleaned or taken from racks. jerks obviously not allowed.

No reason you should have to clean it, because jerk and push press aren't allowed.

I
I always clean the bar, I like doing things the hard way. I think the thread should be irrelevant as to whether it begins with a clean or from racks, since its the actual press itself we are trying to improve. (My bar is bent now so I'll either start using a different bar or stop cleaning, cleaning with a bent bar is very bad).

edit : ^above i mean as long as the actual press is strict it shouldn't matter wether it's cleaned or taken from racks. jerks obviously not allowed.

Rules updated...:nod:

Starting position is up to the individual.

Rules updated...:nod:

Starting position is up to the individual.
Haha I'll clean it then, it isn't the clean I have to work on :nod:

Don't look at me funny, but I think I might have this just by a whisker. I definitely have 205#. The thing about this one is that when you get close to your max, just a touch more weight can feel like a ton.

I'm on deload this week but I'm in.

The thing about this one is that when you get close to your max, just a touch more weight can feel like a ton.


:nod: Absolutely.
I got 195 last week and attempted 205...its "only" 10 more pounds, but I wasn't really that close on the attempt...:lol:

Haha I'll clean it then, it isn't the clean I have to work on :nod:

You sir are an animal.






Edit: I also took smith machines out of the equation in the rules by specifying that it has to be a barbell that is not attached to anything

You sir are an animal.






Edit: I also took smith machines out of the equation in the rules by specifying that it has to be a barbell that is not attached to anything

I wish, I just found out one of my friends can power clean 350 now and another is over 400. I have work to do.

I wish, I just found out one of my friends can power clean 350 now and another is over 400. I have work to do.
Hell no, 350 and 400!?

I thought 240 was pretty good.

Hell no, 350 and 400!?

I thought 240 was pretty good.

I didn't believe it until I made him load up 315 and he got it easily for 4-5 hang reps. :eek:

I didn't believe it until I made him load up 315 and he got it easily for 4-5 hang reps. :eek:
How much does he weigh? How much training experience does he have?

They are squat cleans right?

I didn't believe it until I made him load up 315 and he got it easily for 4-5 hang reps. :eek:

350 and 400 are off the ExRx strength standard charts....
Those dudes are world class...:nod:

Wow!


I thought 240 was pretty good.

It is...you got me beat....

How much does he weigh? How much training experience does he have?

They are squat cleans right?

It was a power clean he weighs 220 and has been training for 6 years, the 400 lb one weighs 280 and has been training for the same time, I believe.

It was a power clean he weighs 220 and has been training for 6 years, the 400 lb one weighs 280 and has been training for the same time, I believe.
I see, I guess those are attainable numbers if you have six years of training experience. Pretty crazy that they didn't even have to squat clean it.

I didn't see the 350 or the 400, but the 315x5 was easy and power hang cleaned.

My best set currently is 12 reps at 60 kg (~133 lbs) and my max is just slightly over 80 kg. About mid face is the weak point of this movement for me. I need to strengthen my arms if I'm going to increase this lift further.

Hell no, 350 and 400!?

I thought 240 was pretty good.
240 is a decent power clean. I think the ExRx table (http://www.exrx.net/Testing/WeightLifting/CleanStandards.html) is pretty good on this particular lift.

I hit 105 kg the other day, so I'm catching back up to you, Pete. :evil:
I need to regain some honor after watching you fly by me these past months. :lol:

My best set currently is 12 reps at 60 kg (~133 lbs). Based on past experience, that should put my max around 185 lb at the moment. A couple inches below and above the forehead is the weak point of this movement for me. I need to strengthen my arms if I'm going to increase this lift further.


240 is a decent power clean. I think the ExRx table (http://www.exrx.net/Testing/WeightLifting/CleanStandards.html) is pretty good on this particular lift.

I hit 105 kg the other day, so I'm catching back up to you, Pete. :evil:
I need to regain some honor after watching you fly by me these past months. :lol:

Those charts always make me feel completely abnormal. According to them, I have an advanced bench press, a borderline elite press (which I don't believe is actually all that great), and an intermediate power clean. Hmm. Time to work on the clean, I guess?

Anyway, I am in for this press challenge. 225 is actually my life goal, so it may be awhile. But, I will get there eventually, though it may take a few years.

Edit: I also took smith machines out of the equation in the rules by specifying that it has to be a barbell that is not attached to anything

I would agree with no Smith machines but stuff like the Pro-spot or those rope based safeties would be OK with me.

I wish, I just found out one of my friends can power clean 350 now and another is over 400. I have work to do.

Um. Holy crap. That's a speecy spicy meatball.

It's scary to think some people out there have so much power that they can clean 400lbs+.

Anyway back on the subject, I think it would be useful to know what other people's training plans are like to achieve their press goals...
eg:
Which assistance exercises will you be using?
Will you be using 2.5, 5 or 10lb increases?
How often will you train the primary pressing muscles a week?

I might try the jerk/push press if it gets me used to heavy weights in some useful way. Hopefully increasing bench + squat poundages should fuel standing pressing strength.

I hit 105 kg the other day, so I'm catching back up to you, Pete. :evil:
I need to regain some honor after watching you fly by me these past months. :lol:
It's all due to eating 5000 calories a day.

Even if I do have you on cleans, your overhead squat is crazy.

OK. This is my Mount Everest.
For many years now, I have been dreaming of the day when I could rack up 4 train wheels and press it over my head.

Maybe some are already there, and maybe some have a similar dream...

Well, let's get it!!

Rules:
- Cannot be a push press...has to be a strict, no-knee-bend press.
- You can use whatever layback you want.
- You can rack it and unrack it however you like. If you want bonus points, you can clean it off the ground first...:eek:
- No smith machines...it has to be a barbell not attached to anything
- Really, that's all I can think of now. If you have additional suggestions, I can edit them in later.

Good luck to all.
What about ROM? I usually start with the barbell racked dead on my shoulders. However, I know some guys start with it around their Adam's apple or chin, while others with an eccentric, which can both make a pretty big difference.

It's scary to think some people out there have so much power that they can clean 400lbs+.
What scares me more is that there are people out there who snatch that. :eek:

Though he hasn't been posting videos for a while, I was following this guy on YouTube -- does a 180 kg (just slightly shy of 400 lb) power clean right here:

D38D8CPSHLM

Definitely crazy.


Anyway back on the subject, I think it would be useful to know what other people's training plans are like to achieve their press goals...
eg:
Which assistance exercises will you be using?
Will you be using 2.5, 5 or 10lb increases?
How often will you train the primary pressing muscles a week?

I might try the jerk/push press if it gets me used to heavy weights in some useful way. Hopefully increasing bench + squat poundages should fuel standing pressing strength.
I'm already concentrating on the jerk and overhead squatting, so too much strict pressing would probably be overkill for me. I'll probably hit it hard just once per week and then put in some supplementary work around my weak point using push presses and partials on a second day.

BTW, I wouldn't count too much on the bench press or squat fueling your standing press. If you were doing a push press or jerk, that would be another story, but, IME, the strict press generally gets very little carry-over from benching and the squat doesn't help anything when you're not dipping and driving. Jerking or push pressing weights up and then performing some strict heavy or even supermaximal eccentrics with them every once in a while is something you might try though.

It's all due to eating 5000 calories a day.

Even if I do have you on cleans, your overhead squat is crazy.
You're an animal for packing that many calories in day in and out. :tucool:

What about ROM? I usually start with the barbell racked dead on my shoulders. However, I know some guys start with it around their Adam's apple or chin, while others with an eccentric, which can both make a pretty big difference.


How about:
Starting position has the barbell touching the deltoids
Finishing position is full lockout overhead.

For those cleaning it, the starting position would be your catch position.

Opinions?

I'm in!

Rules updated...:nod:

Starting position is up to the individual.

How about:
Starting position has the barbell touching the deltoids
Finishing position is full lockout overhead.

For those cleaning it, the starting position would be your catch position.

Opinions?


I went ahead and edited the starting and finishing positions into the rules...

Personally I catch it with elbows up, but there is no way I can strict press from that position, so I will be dropping my elbows and maybe widening the grip a little.

Personally I catch it with elbows up, but there is no way I can strict press from that position, so I will be dropping my elbows and maybe widening the grip a little.

Definitely....pressing from the rack position would probably shear my hands off at the wrists...:lol:

I start the press with lower arms under the bar with the bar resting across the shoulders and upper chest.

Happy 4th of July.

205 @ 188 pounds about 10 minutes ago! From the rack, since my clean sucks. Would have gone for 225 but I felt that twinge in my left shoulder and I know better....

Not bad for an old desk jockey. Man, I am pleased as punch right now!!! If I can do it, anyone can with a little consistency and self-discipline. Shoulders were my absolute worst body part, when I started.

I have to thank Mr. Stone. Without his inspiration, I'd still be struggling to press 95, as I was a little over 4 years ago. Much respect.

I'll get pictures of 225, since this is teh interwebs where everyone can press 300.

Happy 4th of July.

205 @ 188 pounds about 10 minutes ago! From the rack, since my clean sucks. Would have gone for 225 but I felt that twinge in my left shoulder and I know better....

Not bad for an old desk jockey. Man, I am pleased as punch right now!!! If I can do it, anyone can with a little consistency and self-discipline. Shoulders were my absolute worst body part, when I started.

I have to thank Mr. Stone. Without his inspiration, I'd still be struggling to press 95, as I was a little over 4 years ago. Much respect.

I'll get pictures of 225, since this is teh interwebs where everyone can press 300.

Nice job!

Standing military press is definitely one of my weaknesses....This thread is motivating me to improve on that though....

205 @ 188 pounds about 10 minutes ago! From the rack, since my clean sucks. Would have gone for 225 but I felt that twinge in my left shoulder and I know better....
Damn good press.

I was racking the bar after my single stiff legged deadlifts on inverted bosu, and thought why not press a couple. 135# was trivial, but 185# got stuck at the bottom. (!?) I suppose I will have to make a more serious effort on Friday which is the actual upper day.

so I will be dropping my elbows and maybe widening the grip a little.

Oh yeah - I forgot the widening the grip thing for the strict press. Now that you've reminded me, my grip today was really close and that probably explains some of the failure.

I got 110lbs (50kg) yesterday morning. I'm not really into strength but OMG 225lbs would be a lot.

About what I thought. I have a ways to go.

1x3@135

Oh yeah - I forgot the widening the grip thing for the strict press. Now that you've reminded me, my grip today was really close and that probably explains some of the failure.

How wide are you guys gonna take it?

How wide are you guys gonna take it?
Yeah I'm also wondering. It appears harder the farther apart you space your grip.

Yeah I'm also wondering. It appears harder the farther apart you space your grip.

I dunno. I think with the grip too close it doesn't help. I think this depends on how much layback you use.

By the way this thread needs this:

3nJrYPVJ88M

205 @ 188 pounds about 10 minutes ago! From the rack, since my clean sucks.


Awesome! :tucool:
That's my next attempt....I got 195 and missed 205 my last 1RM session....


Would have gone for 225 but I felt that twinge in my left shoulder and I know better....


Good move...:nod:

By the way this thread needs this:

(Insane youtube press video)

Good lord.....That's over 2.5 times my 1RM....and just to rub it in, he cleaned it first too...:cry:

Here is what I did for shoulders today.

Push Press
95 x 8
135 x 5
185 x 3
205 x 1
225 x 1 - press lockout
235 x 0 - miss due to poor technique...

BB Standing Press
135 x 8 x 3sets


- With better push press technique I feel like I could get 255 or better....
- What was really encouraging was that on the 225 I pressed it to lockout from about 1 inch over my head. So if I can just press it from my mouth past my forehead I'm home free on the standing BB press challenge...
- I definitely felt these in my back...probably not the greatest idea in the world to do push press max out the day after deadlifts...live and learn

Last night I push pressed 207.5 and then got four reps of 135 on military press.

Got 217.5 on push press and then got five reps of 137.5 on military press. I still can't compete with chico's 12 reps of 133 though.

Last night I push pressed 207.5 and then got four reps of 135 on military press.

Got 217.5 on push press and then got five reps of 137.5 on military press.

Nice Pete! :tucool:

Huge improvement for a week's time...:nod:

From today's workout:

Standing BB Press
45 x 10
95 x 8
135 x 5
165 x 5 x 5 - New PR

I'm going to try a 1RM next week.
I still need work on my form. I use little to no layback.
In watching that video that Zen posted, I see how it can be useful....that guy layed way back...:eek:

Nice Pete! :tucool:

Huge improvement for a week's time...:nod:
Thanks Michael. I've really been focusing on overhead pressing recently.

From today's workout:

Standing BB Press
45 x 10
95 x 8
135 x 5
165 x 5 x 5 - New PR

I'm going to try a 1RM next week.
I still need work on my form. I use little to no layback.
In watching that video that Zen posted, I see how it can be useful....that guy layed way back...:eek:


07.31.08 Lifts:

Standing BB Press
45 x 10
95 x 8
135 x 5
175 x 5 x 5 - PR

* The 5x5 was absolute max effort on the last two sets. On the 5th rep of the fourth set and the 4th and 5th reps of the 5th set, I was shaking almost to the point of losing control....I thought my eyes were coming out of my head on the final rep...they were really bloodshot...
* I need to try and hit 205 for a single next week...

I did 10x57.5 kg, 8x60 kg, 6x65 kg, 4x70 kg today as a part of my regularly scheduled programming.

I videoed that second set in case anyone wants to see how I perform the lift.

ju0zxo6Bkz4

My form could be cleaned up slightly by exchanging the bit of horizontal movement the barbell has for horizontal movement of the torso, allowing the weight to use a straighter, more efficient path.

I did 10x57.5 kg, 8x60 kg, 6x65 kg, 4x70 kg today as a part of my regularly scheduled programming.

I videoed that second set in case anyone wants to see how I perform the lift.

ju0zxo6Bkz4

My form could be cleaned up slightly by exchanging the bit of horizontal movement the barbell has for horizontal movement of the torso, allowing the weight to use a straighter, more efficient path.

what did you video it with? has anyone said anything? I'd like to video my lifting to look at my form.

what did you video it with? has anyone said anything? I'd like to video my lifting to look at my form.
Just a regular camera. This isn't a commercial gym, so there's no one to say anything about it. At my university gym, no one has made any remarks either.

My form could be cleaned up slightly by exchanging the bit of horizontal movement the barbell has for horizontal movement of the torso, allowing the weight to use a straighter, more efficient path.

I don't know man....form looked pretty good...:nod:
Sure, off the chest the bar moves just a hair out into an arc, but you actually want front to back movement of the torso...that's where you get your layback and moving your head back to allow for a straight path up...

Anyway, I thought it was pretty good....

Something I know for sure though....you sure as hell made that set look easy...:nod:

Sure, off the chest the bar moves just a hair out into an arc, but you actually want front to back movement of the torso...that's where you get your layback and moving your head back to allow for a straight path up...
Yeah. That's what I was trying to say -- exchange that bit of bar arc for more front to back torso movement.

Rewatching the video though, I'm not too worried about it. The reps I was keying into when I was thinking about that were the last two, as I was fatiguing. The other ones looks fine.

My form could be cleaned up slightly by exchanging the bit of horizontal movement the barbell has for horizontal movement of the torso, allowing the weight to use a straighter, more efficient path.

I was thinking just that, but it's not clear you would gain all that much. The horizontal movement of the bar has an insiginificant momentum cost. It's really whether or not you can use the torso flexion to get produce more vertical force. You can see a huge amount of that in the Redding video earlier in the thread.

07.31.08 Lifts:

Standing BB Press
45 x 10
95 x 8
135 x 5
175 x 5 x 5 - PR

* The 5x5 was absolute max effort on the last two sets. On the 5th rep of the fourth set and the 4th and 5th reps of the 5th set, I was shaking almost to the point of losing control....I thought my eyes were coming out of my head on the final rep...they were really bloodshot...
* I need to try and hit 205 for a single next week...

Inching closer....

08.07.08 Lifts:


Standing BB Press
45 x 15
95 x 10
135 x 5
165 x 2
185 x 1
205 x 1 - PR
185 x 3
165 x 5
165 x 5

2 sets of 8 reps at about 160. Wonder what I would max out?? hmmmm....

2 sets of 8 reps at about 160. Wonder what I would max out?? hmmmm....

According to this:
http://www.exrx.net/Calculators/OneRepMax.html

You are at 199....however, if you are doing 2 sets, I'll bet you could do more than 8 if you went all out...

I got 200lbs today(my bodyweight) which went up very easy, I could have probably tripled it.

Went up to 210lbs, only went halfway.:doh:I think its because my elbows were in the wrong place.

Video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezPlok-DY6s)

At least I got my first ever bodyweight press.

I got 200lbs today(my bodyweight) which went up very easy, I could have probably tripled it.

Went up to 210lbs, only went halfway.:doh:I think its because my elbows were in the wrong place.


Don't sweat it....10lbs is actually a huge jump on this exercise...

I got 200lbs today(my bodyweight) which went up very easy, I could have probably tripled it.

Went up to 210lbs, only went halfway.:doh:I think its because my elbows were in the wrong place.

Video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezPlok-DY6s)

At least I got my first ever bodyweight press.
Nice work. :tucool:

Don't sweat it....10lbs is actually a huge jump on this exercise...

Yes, it is.

This looks useful:

sebbhlKhs2E

Jim Wendler (who recently got a 300 pound military press) recommends a false/thumbless grip for the press. I asked him why and this was his response:

1. It tracks better (better bar path).
2. I can lift more weight. (http://asp.elitefts.com/qa/default.asp?qid=79711&tid=)

Thought it was relevant to this thread.

Here's some motivation:

X8BRaqxAmOM

Dmitrii Berestov pressing 150 kg (~330 lb) overhead.

(Of course, that's less than 65% of his best C&J. He lifts in the 105 class, BTW.)

On Friday, I pressed 9x155, so I'm guessing I have a 90 kg press on a good day now. My last max was 85 kg. I'm on track, but it's going to be tough squeezing another 25 lbs out of the lift before the end of the year.

// I have no regard for consistency in units, haha.

// I have no regard for consistency in units, haha.

Not so bad for us Europeans. I find I'm constantly converting between pounds and Kg so I know what people are lifting and weigh.