Stephen B.
Level 5 Valued Member
I've been doing getups for a while, and my press has always improved alongside with my getups.
More significantly, this WTH effect is very common even for very strong individuals:
After 6 months of only S&S, Pavel Macek easily pressed his previous Military Press best, and set a PR in the Bent Press
Basically, strong getups seem to create strong presses, developing stronger getups seems to improve overhead presses as well, but the reverse is not true. In my opinion, carryover to other exercises are one of the first considerations in picking strength movements.
In addition:
The getup trains movement quality and whole body coordination, partly through the incorporation of multiple athletic movements, including a OA floor press, technical lift and a lunge, under a heavy load.
Getups challenge the shoulder from multiple angles, as opposed to simply from above in a press or waiter's walk.
Getups train straight-arm pushing, a valuable skill in many sports.
Heavy getups develop strong abs (my limited knowledge tells me that the KB Press does this too with proper technique and tension, but that Getups tend to do this naturally.)
On the other hand...
Presses are better for adding mass using a high volume program.
Presses can create greater maximal pressing strength.
Presses are safer- Dan John pointed this out when he explained why he doesn't do heavy getups: It's a bit risky to hold a very heavy weight overhead with the other hand stuck posted in the ground. During the press, it's much easier to turn or step away and drop the bell if something gets out of control.
Presses are a more popular gauge of strength- for instance, the SFG 2 tests the 1/2BW Press, not a getup strength standard.
Most athletes outside the kettlebell world just do the Military Press, and rarely use Getups. This makes sense for sports like throwing and competitive lifting, where exceptional strength is required, but only in one specific movement. But I feel many athletes, especially in combat sports, would benefit more from heavy Getups.
Should people train one, or both, or neither? Getups with a press at every position? I want to hear what you guys think (and feel free to object to anything I've said).
More significantly, this WTH effect is very common even for very strong individuals:
After 6 months of only S&S, Pavel Macek easily pressed his previous Military Press best, and set a PR in the Bent Press
Basically, strong getups seem to create strong presses, developing stronger getups seems to improve overhead presses as well, but the reverse is not true. In my opinion, carryover to other exercises are one of the first considerations in picking strength movements.
In addition:
The getup trains movement quality and whole body coordination, partly through the incorporation of multiple athletic movements, including a OA floor press, technical lift and a lunge, under a heavy load.
Getups challenge the shoulder from multiple angles, as opposed to simply from above in a press or waiter's walk.
Getups train straight-arm pushing, a valuable skill in many sports.
Heavy getups develop strong abs (my limited knowledge tells me that the KB Press does this too with proper technique and tension, but that Getups tend to do this naturally.)
On the other hand...
Presses are better for adding mass using a high volume program.
Presses can create greater maximal pressing strength.
Presses are safer- Dan John pointed this out when he explained why he doesn't do heavy getups: It's a bit risky to hold a very heavy weight overhead with the other hand stuck posted in the ground. During the press, it's much easier to turn or step away and drop the bell if something gets out of control.
Presses are a more popular gauge of strength- for instance, the SFG 2 tests the 1/2BW Press, not a getup strength standard.
Most athletes outside the kettlebell world just do the Military Press, and rarely use Getups. This makes sense for sports like throwing and competitive lifting, where exceptional strength is required, but only in one specific movement. But I feel many athletes, especially in combat sports, would benefit more from heavy Getups.
Should people train one, or both, or neither? Getups with a press at every position? I want to hear what you guys think (and feel free to object to anything I've said).
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