Alan Mackey
Level 7 Valued Member
I'm partial to the push press.
I'm partial to the push press.
We push the hips forward and lean back, thus creating a path for the barbell, and then forcefully reverse the movement and thus initiate the movement of the barbell.
I like the Push Press also, but if you want to build pressing strength you need a strict press. It will help build your lockout well, and overload the top portion of the lift.
I agree, but... doing push presses with a slower than usual negative phase is a great strength builder.
There is no reason why you can't do several press variations in one training session. Marty Gallagher did something similar with the power clean to deadlift continuum. He called it the "progressive pulls" workout. You start with a weight light enough that you can power clean, add weight and move to a full clean (if you can do that lift), then a clean pull, then finally a deadlift.
Similarly, you can do a "progressive press" workout. Start with a strict press and end with a jerk (if you are competent in that lift). Whenever I do a workout involving pressing something overhead I generally work up to at least a power jerk. It makes the workout fun and there's none of the "which is better" going on.
@Geoff Chafe @Anna C
I'm interested in the use of the belt while pressing.
I've only tried pressing with a belt a couple of times and it felt like it really messed with my technique.
How are you using it? - consciously bracing your abs against it? or some other way?
And would you describe it as an essential safety tool for the lift?
I wonder if the Olympic Press style works better with a Clean before hand? Why I ask this is because of the rebound effect you get with the clean may carry over to that drop to start the press.
@Anna C I've always liked this video of the press aka Olympic press. I'll admit it's not the best at showing the actual technique, but it scores a 10 on the coolness factor because Serge Redding presses 500 lbs.!
Good article here by the late Bill Starr on the technique of the Olympic press: The Olympic-Style Press | Bill Starr
I suppose if you really wanted to be technical about things, you should clean the bar before you press, although one clean and multiple presses would be acceptable.
I think it is a cool lift and it is a bit of a shame that it is no longer part of Olympic lifting.