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November 7, 2005

Combine both flexibility and strength training with the Bent Press

This drill is not really a press but a unique flexibility and support feat. Get a weight to your shoulder: a barbell, dumbell, or kettlebell. Set up so your elbow is resting on your pelvic bone, on the side and even slightly behind you. This calls for some serious shoulder flexibility; chances are it will take you months of partial reps to work into a full bent press.

Slowly lean to the side away from the weight and slightly forward – never back! Keep your eye on the bell at all times and be ready to drop it. Your elbow must rest against your side at all times and your forearm must remain vertical, absolute necessities with heavy weights. The all time record is Arthur Saxon’s 370 pounds!

Eventually you will end up in a semi-squat, your arm finally locked out. Slowly stand up with your arm straight overhead.

For more information on this and related strength topics order Pavel’s Beyond Bodybuilding today

Posted by james at November 7, 2005 6:31 AM

Comments

Even though a bent press from PttP works the triceps and core very well, usually people rely on their tricep movements (bench press and pushups) to work their chest/pecs. So, even someone doing this should probably leave some tricep endurance so he can do weighted pushups or one-armed pushups (Naked Warrior), right? Are there also some kettlebells that might work the chest? As I see it, the best press would work the chest, but more as a stabilizer (along with the lat) to keep it in line, rather than a prime mover.

Posted by: Tyciol at November 10, 2005 1:35 PM

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