I feel like Brian's channel is the best kept secret. He has the absolute best tips and tutorials for all the major exercises, and it has helped me out a lot.
I feel like front loaded movements are the secret to engaging the glutes. like front squats with heavy kettlebells or sandbags, zercher squats, even the split squat deadlift with heavy kettlebells or sandbags, even the kneeling hip thrust to lunge up, shoulder loaded w/sandbags.
Flexing your butt is so key in pressing, literally gives you the stability to explode with the weight. Also squeezing the shit out of the bar allows you more power. Great video!
@Alex I would consider myself an advanced to elite presser... in my opinion I would definitely not do slow negatives and isometric holds with a barbell military. Military and push pressing is a power move. Once you start loosening up you are more prone to injury and pains just like the bench. If you bench and military explosively with solid form and tightness, you're at less risk for injury and tweaks. Use the machines and dumbells for light isometric stuff. Good luck.
Yeah. Push press seems help my strict press for the lockout. Using heavy weight by getting help from the leg drive in the bottom part and about half way to lock out is all ur strength
This is one of my favourite complete guide on overhead press. Brian isn’t only a great lifter but also an amazing teacher. Really appreciate him quite a lot. Thank you! 🙏
@ryan rogers idk Nsima looks pretty athletic himself but it really comes down to experience.. it would be more fun to see either of the two strangle Mark Bell lol
Awesome video!!!!! Love Z-presses .... at 115lb I can max 90lb and then max 145lb on Overhead press!! Such a great teaching video, his cues are incredibly helpful:) Especially the breathing/bracing/butt tight and opening the window cues. This type of training has helped me place top 5 nationally in strongman as a Light Weight Women. Thanks Brian!
This is awesome! Probably the best Overhead Press instructional video I've seen. I have always had problems with the standing press (over 10 years of lifting) and switched to seated dumbbells which has been great (and less injury-prone), but I have been dying to get back into standing. Thank you!
The longer you can go with one breath is better. If you have to breath every rep you're either focused too much on breathing or you're pressing your 3 rep max.
Brian is the man. Great content. Z presses are fantastic. I hit 205 for a triple and I don't think I ever got 225 x 1 but it helped me tremendously with 2 strongman comps that I had at the time. Ended up winning one overhead event in one and I tied for first in the other one. Great video guys.
I love that in these videos you guys do the atmosphere is so relaxed. It doesn't seem scripted or anything, just people learning from each other and sharing it with the world. Also gotta love all the info you guys and brian put out for free.
Key takeaways: 1- stack wrist 2- squeeze bar 3- squeeze gluteus 4- keep bar on mid foot and push slightly backwards instead of forwards 5- breath on top of the rep
Brian looks even more jacked with the camera there using. I dont even know now how that's possible. Also who would want to see brian alsruhe on jre. Even mark bell and brian. Hell even brian shaw or larry wheels while I'm at it. Joe has a way of opening people up and it would such a informative podcast with a variety of topics to lifting down to where these guys get there inspiration and so on. Think it would be awesome.
Awesome content. At 50 years of age, just back in the gym after being inconsistent for literally decades. Followed this advice today, OHP 132 pounds for sets and reps after following this.
Most people arent used to this. And the focus is obv on the butt, but with the Overhead press, you should FLEX EVERYTHING. Called hyperidiation. You are the strongest when everything you flex everything
Dang Mark.... ever since I found your channel not too long ago I am HOOKED! I love your good vibes and positive energy / words you share. Also I noticed the song playing around 1 minute in the background i recognized from Daily Driven Exotics. Anyway thanks for the great content, first time commenter and new subscriber here.... big fan of you and your brothers.
@@kelevra4774 Gives me PLENTY of good videos to keep watching then!!! Not a little late, just in time because now I get to watch all of those videos you are talking about for the first time... jeaalous? :b jk
A helpful video with tips that I need. My goal is to increase my overhead press strength. I have a short basement gym and usually engage in seated press. The principles should still apply.
I like to use the rack pins in the rack or spotter arms when overhead pressing. I set it up just under my rack position so I dont need to take any steps. I simply walk up to the bar, lift an inch or two into my rack position and press from there. No Steps and less time wasted.
I personally think the OHP correlates, to strengthening the triceps, like a vertical close grip bench. So the tri,s get hit maximally without the chest...The delts obviously get used, but push press to take them out...So in theory tri s get overloaded and eventually stronger and that,s how I use it as a accessory to beef up my tri s for the bench.
My favorite lift, hands down. I’ll often finish the last set with Push Presses to crank a few extra reps, past failure Edit: definitely about to add that Z-press...
Good overall everyday, every exercise starter bar that won't let you down is the rogue bar 2.0. Medium knurling, not much whip under at all under 350lbs, good finish and affordable.
Wow watching this vid I realize I have been doing this exercise wrong... I arch my back a lot but keep the bar in front of me when my arms are extended up, also there is a lot of wobbling while raising the bar so I think one of my arms is stronger than the other.
I'm going to try going a bit wider with my grip again. I learned OHP from Rip and he suggests doing really narrow grip. I also tried his press 2.0 but could never really get the feel for it.
Shaine MacDonald same here my grip is always the edge of the knurl. Yet when you see big over head pressers they always go near the rings. I’m scared to adjust it incase I’m weaker 😩😩
Same. I simply cannot lock out the same weight with that perfectly vertical grip. I've been experimenting with grip width on this for a long time, and just outside vertical works best for me.
4:51 That was a nice lockout! 💪 That's such a beautiful thing to see for us overhead pressers! Clean and solid. Now just add more weight and repeat 9:25 🤘 21:59 🤕
The barbell overhead press I do them almost daily as the first exercise of any with weights, but I never get it the way I wanted to even after learning from this video. I usually cheat by not touching the chest by always lockout at the top, I also use dumbbells to press to help with better form.
These tips were awesome and worked for me. I have been struggling with this lift. Yesterday I followed these tips and was able to add 5 lbs to the bar easily and plan to add 5 more next time. Thank you!
Hmmm ... I might need to try some of these methods, even to simply spell my normal movement. I'm plateauing right now at a 225 push-press (185 strict), and I need to find ways to break that. That Z press is going to come in handy.
I like the part about breathing. Pulling air into your belly. So many lifters breathe into chest because ego won’t let them push their belly out. This breathing into belly is so crucial to core development which allows lifter to be more successful at exercise. This guy knows what he saying.
I asked this, because when in overhead pressing, my form looks Very similar to his. In order to make the bar touch my clavicles i need to let my forearms and wrists travel a little bit foward and internaly rotate my shoulders a bit. But If i maitain the shoulders externaly rotated and my forearms straight under the bar like Pillars on a building, the bar rests a little bit above my clavicels.
@@Abner.EspFisio idk if you are really jacked your arms might not ideally move thru those ranges but otherwise id recomend working on shoulder mobility and some of the muscles in your back to help pull you into a good position.
Try exhaling with a little force before breathing and bracing. Often when people get faint or dizzy from holding the breath it's because they don't exhale fully and try to force air in when there's no space.
Brian likes to get air then get a rep or 2... if i do this with above 185 my lights go out. So my method is get air unrack clich the Glutes(prison shower defense)one more breath in... if feel dizzy I re-rack... if i feel good I get a rep and then breathe at the top the rest of the time
Very recently I feel to faint right when I unrack, even on light weight. It didn't happen before, I apply your advices on bracing before unracking and staying tight but cannot feel good like I used too... Weird.
might be a good idea to get your blood pressure checked, yours might be out of whack. I just started OHPing recently and I felt pretty fainty even with light weight for the first few sessions, now I'm pressing over bodyweight and haven't really had any issues. Might just take time for your body to get used to it.
I feel like Brian's channel is the best kept secret. He has the absolute best tips and tutorials for all the major exercises, and it has helped me out a lot.
Its no secret my friend
I feel like front loaded movements are the secret to engaging the glutes. like front squats with heavy kettlebells or sandbags, zercher squats, even the split squat deadlift with heavy kettlebells or sandbags, even the kneeling hip thrust to lunge up, shoulder loaded w/sandbags.
@@marcusmcevoy1797 BS I just found this channel today. I came from untamed strength.
Jaegerjaquez ?
It's an awesome channel for learning exercise variations... whenever I'm switching things up I go to his vids to get ideas
Flexing your butt is so key in pressing, literally gives you the stability to explode with the weight. Also squeezing the shit out of the bar allows you more power. Great video!
@Alex I would consider myself an advanced to elite presser... in my opinion I would definitely not do slow negatives and isometric holds with a barbell military. Military and push pressing is a power move. Once you start loosening up you are more prone to injury and pains just like the bench. If you bench and military explosively with solid form and tightness, you're at less risk for injury and tweaks. Use the machines and dumbells for light isometric stuff. Good luck.
would you flex your glutes the entire time ? do you let go at the top position ?
this, squeezing the shit out and exploding is my #1 cue
@@lejohnbrames flex your glutes the entire time start to finish
I need 10% of Brian's energy.
@@tttyyy949 Definitely. Gotta apply that progressive overload. Haha
Very nice to see Brian with you guys, instant like
Gluteos
Who else finds the clanking of metal plates on the bar satisfying?
It's almost ASMR for me. I could sleep in a gym if other people were lifting. Kind of like Joe Pesci in My Cousin Vinnie sleeping in the jail. LOL
“Nothin’ sounds sweeter than a couple of 45s slappin’ together.” - CT Fletcher
Vlad Khomutov Always man.
I have bumper plates, they do sound nice when you load them onto the bar though.
I do...very soothing.
That tip on breathing on lockout is massive, always struggled to get out the 5th rep on my sets cos I tried to do it in one breath
Right? Biggest takeaway for me from the video!
For future reference, he talks about it at 9:40
Push press into a strict negative really helped my strict press... Just getting used to stabilizing that heavier weight on the way down was huge.
Yeah. Push press seems help my strict press for the lockout. Using heavy weight by getting help from the leg drive in the bottom part and about half way to lock out is all ur strength
I've been waiting for this video. Brian is a beast at overhead pressing so I'm looking forward to this!
Excellent explanation. Strength is never a weakness when you remember to flex your butt! Thanks Mark and Brian
1:00min into the video and Smelly hits you with the "how muchya"
Brian is my spirit animal.
This is one of my favourite complete guide on overhead press. Brian isn’t only a great lifter but also an amazing teacher. Really appreciate him quite a lot. Thank you! 🙏
The Z-press is great. It's really humbling the first time, when you realise how many other muscles you use even in the strict press.
It's called the Lieutnant Dan's Press
Me and my baby wrists approve of this Video!
Hooray!!! Awesome video!
You and Brian should roll next time he comes out!
@ryan rogers idk Nsima looks pretty athletic himself but it really comes down to experience.. it would be more fun to see either of the two strangle Mark Bell lol
To be clear zero hate for Mark Bell... though it did take like 3 weeks to get my Elbow Sleeves... for Petes sake it was a fathers day gift
The "natty professor"
Looks soo natty.. yet more jacked than mark 😂
I am so, SO happy you guys are working together. Love Brian, his content, and his total honesty. Please keep collaborating on videos!
Awesome video!!!!! Love Z-presses .... at 115lb I can max 90lb and then max 145lb on Overhead press!! Such a great teaching video, his cues are incredibly helpful:) Especially the breathing/bracing/butt tight and opening the window cues. This type of training has helped me place top 5 nationally in strongman as a Light Weight Women. Thanks Brian!
Oh hey! It's Alena. You n Brian seem like great people 😁
Man, 145Ib at 115 is no joke. Impressive!
That’s incredible pound for pound strength!
This is awesome! Probably the best Overhead Press instructional video I've seen. I have always had problems with the standing press (over 10 years of lifting) and switched to seated dumbbells which has been great (and less injury-prone), but I have been dying to get back into standing. Thank you!
"Rebreathe on lockout" is such a good tip. Thank you Brian and Mark. I'm new to overhead press and shit's not easy.
Is that recommended only when wearing a belt?
@@NeuronActivation no, without belt as well. I'll be doing it every rep rather than every 3 reps; that's too long for me
@@bassemb Maybe because you're lifting too heavy.
The longer you can go with one breath is better. If you have to breath every rep you're either focused too much on breathing or you're pressing your 3 rep max.
It's not an easy movement, but it's definitely a beastly movement.
Breathing at lockout... Such a good tip!! This video is so much better than others I've found online. Keep doing whatcha do!!
Brian thanks for your generosity, this vid is GOLD 😘
Brian is the man. Great content. Z presses are fantastic. I hit 205 for a triple and I don't think I ever got 225 x 1 but it helped me tremendously with 2 strongman comps that I had at the time. Ended up winning one overhead event in one and I tied for first in the other one. Great video guys.
so useful, many thanks brian
I love that in these videos you guys do the atmosphere is so relaxed. It doesn't seem scripted or anything, just people learning from each other and sharing it with the world. Also gotta love all the info you guys and brian put out for free.
Brian is an awesome guy
Brian is the man. Awesome video.
Very good job Brian!
Key takeaways:
1- stack wrist
2- squeeze bar
3- squeeze gluteus
4- keep bar on mid foot and push slightly backwards instead of forwards
5- breath on top of the rep
Brian looks even more jacked with the camera there using. I dont even know now how that's possible. Also who would want to see brian alsruhe on jre. Even mark bell and brian. Hell even brian shaw or larry wheels while I'm at it. Joe has a way of opening people up and it would such a informative podcast with a variety of topics to lifting down to where these guys get there inspiration and so on. Think it would be awesome.
failed my last set of 5 at 170lbs because I ran out of air and took a breath at the bottom. Never thought to breath at lockout. THANK YOU!!!!!!!
Keeps it nice and simple. Far too many videos just over analyse the overhead press. Thanks for sharing.
Wish i can a add a like to this video everytime i rewatch it. These tips that Brian gives have been really helpful 💪🤙
Awesome content. At 50 years of age, just back in the gym after being inconsistent for literally decades. Followed this advice today, OHP 132 pounds for sets and reps after following this.
Doing my first strict press this was great! Thank you.
Brian is looking huge. Keep up the good work.
Got to be the best video I have seen on pressing, so detailed and great advice...many thanks!
Great job having Brian on, glad to see him out there!
Also note .Do the z-presses with higher rep ranges, compared to the heavier strict/push presses.
I subbed solely for having Brian as a guest in this video 👍🏻
So happy to see brian!
Brian is a great instructor. Been watching his videos a lot the last year.
Brian is my hero
Nsima and Brian are some of my favorite lifters! Awesome video. Though we all know that Mark and Nsima know how to OHP!
Hey Brian , be carefull with your tips, I am a dentist…, and the kids need new shoes!
indy789 are you white?
@@clenjones5748 His teeth definitely are
Jeewantha Bandara hopefully he is too!
Three things we’re in this video
1- good info
2- mutual respect
4- lots of humility
Very well explained👍
Awesome! Video! Great information especially the breathing which I personally needed information on and I just got it! Thanks!
Thanks for this guidance it's good for my workout,
The second he said flex his butt I was all ears. I just learned to do that the other week. It makes a world of difference.
Most people arent used to this. And the focus is obv on the butt, but with the Overhead press, you should FLEX EVERYTHING. Called hyperidiation. You are the strongest when everything you flex everything
Very helpful tips!
Ill implement these new approaches to my OHP next week!
The Z press? we always called them "Lieutenant Dan's"
I will never refer to them as anything else again. That is SO much better!
@@brianfox340 😂
Dang Mark.... ever since I found your channel not too long ago I am HOOKED! I love your good vibes and positive energy / words you share. Also I noticed the song playing around 1 minute in the background i recognized from Daily Driven Exotics. Anyway thanks for the great content, first time commenter and new subscriber here.... big fan of you and your brothers.
Man you’re a little late
Check 2-3 years ago
When he was a little fatter and silent mile was there
That was the golden age
@@kelevra4774 Brian is bringing the golden age back
But the Ed Coan, Quiet Michael era had some sagely advice
@@kelevra4774 Gives me PLENTY of good videos to keep watching then!!! Not a little late, just in time because now I get to watch all of those videos you are talking about for the first time... jeaalous? :b jk
Thank you for this outstanding tutorial!
Awesome advice!!! So packed with information 👍
Thanks for this it will help me with my overhead press a lot.
A helpful video with tips that I need. My goal is to increase my overhead press strength. I have a short basement gym and usually engage in seated press. The principles should still apply.
I took the breathing and bracing techniques to the gym today and it upped my 5RM by 20 lb. F****** amazing. Where has Brian been all my life?
I like to use the rack pins in the rack or spotter arms when overhead pressing. I set it up just under my rack position so I dont need to take any steps. I simply walk up to the bar, lift an inch or two into my rack position and press from there. No Steps and less time wasted.
I personally think the OHP correlates, to strengthening the triceps, like a vertical close grip bench. So the tri,s get hit maximally without the chest...The delts obviously get used, but push press to take them out...So in theory tri s get overloaded and eventually stronger and that,s how I use it as a accessory to beef up my tri s for the bench.
I agree If someone has underdeveloped delts (the main reason you'd ohp) and triceps and has a bench plateau then it's a great lift to build
triceps are the key to almost any big push movement, everyone can benefit with a bit more of triceps strength !
Soo many great tips!
While doing OHP the tip of my nose was in the way. No blood, no broken bones, but lot of swearing. :D
This is my specialty and I stillgot good tips.
AWESOME VIDEO... THANKS FOR THE TIPS...
Brian is the man..!!
My favorite lift, hands down. I’ll often finish the last set with Push Presses to crank a few extra reps, past failure
Edit: definitely about to add that Z-press...
loool just did a workout yesterday and was doing push presses to grind the last few reps...do you think it helps in progressing up the weight?
Definitely my favorite lift, I haven't been training it for very long.
Great video. I am a fan of clean & press over bench. I am building a home gym, and need recommendations for a budget barbell?
Good overall everyday, every exercise starter bar that won't let you down is the rogue bar 2.0. Medium knurling, not much whip under at all under 350lbs, good finish and affordable.
Yeah same here, the clean and press is more or less my main excercise.
Currently stuck on 190lbs 1RM and stuck on 160 for six. I'm confident this will push me past the plateau.
Wow watching this vid I realize I have been doing this exercise wrong... I arch my back a lot but keep the bar in front of me when my arms are extended up, also there is a lot of wobbling while raising the bar so I think one of my arms is stronger than the other.
I'm going to try going a bit wider with my grip again. I learned OHP from Rip and he suggests doing really narrow grip. I also tried his press 2.0 but could never really get the feel for it.
Shaine MacDonald same here my grip is always the edge of the knurl. Yet when you see big over head pressers they always go near the rings. I’m scared to adjust it incase I’m weaker 😩😩
Same. I simply cannot lock out the same weight with that perfectly vertical grip. I've been experimenting with grip width on this for a long time, and just outside vertical works best for me.
Should we engage our serratus by protracting our shoulder blades or retract our shoulder blades at the starting position of the overhead press.
So helpful!!!
The video I needed! I'm sure I've been doing this wrong the whole time.
4:51 That was a nice lockout! 💪 That's such a beautiful thing to see for us overhead pressers! Clean and solid. Now just add more weight and repeat
9:25 🤘
21:59 🤕
This is top tier content.
The barbell overhead press I do them almost daily as the first exercise of any with weights, but I never get it the way I wanted to even after learning from this video. I usually cheat by not touching the chest by always lockout at the top, I also use dumbbells to press to help with better form.
These tips were awesome and worked for me. I have been struggling with this lift. Yesterday I followed these tips and was able to add 5 lbs to the bar easily and plan to add 5 more next time. Thank you!
Hmmm ... I might need to try some of these methods, even to simply spell my normal movement. I'm plateauing right now at a 225 push-press (185 strict), and I need to find ways to break that. That Z press is going to come in handy.
I agree with the breathing at the top, but I take short breaths with every rep. That allows for heavy sets of 12 before running out of air.
Aren't you supposed to shrug towards the top of the OHP for scapula rotation to avoid impingement?
Use the squat rack support on squat it slightly. That way you don't need to worry about unracking and reracking
I like the part about breathing. Pulling air into your belly. So many lifters breathe into chest because ego won’t let them push their belly out. This breathing into belly is so crucial to core development which allows lifter to be more successful at exercise. This guy knows what he saying.
Sir, what about knee position? Do you recomended for locking the knee? I feel more stable when lock my knees
Didnt know John Cenas real name was Brian Alshrue
Great video 👌
why when mark was overhead pressing the bar didnt touched his clavicles, is this due to atropometry or his form and tecnic.
He lacks shoulder mobility from benching so much lol
I asked this, because when in overhead pressing, my form looks Very similar to his. In order to make the bar touch my clavicles i need to let my forearms and wrists travel a little bit foward and internaly rotate my shoulders a bit. But If i maitain the shoulders externaly rotated and my forearms straight under the bar like Pillars on a building, the bar rests a little bit above my clavicels.
@@Abner.EspFisio idk if you are really jacked your arms might not ideally move thru those ranges but otherwise id recomend working on shoulder mobility and some of the muscles in your back to help pull you into a good position.
Great info.
Thank you for the information...
Bridal alsruhe is the man!!
thank you
Last week 165x3 was a struggle and I ended up needing legs. Took these cues and got a solid 165x4 with a full stop at the bottom and zero legs. Damn.
Hey mark which version of your straps are you using in this video?
Good collaboration love Brian
What if I pretty much always almost pass out when I hold my breathe during the walk out though
Try exhaling with a little force before breathing and bracing. Often when people get faint or dizzy from holding the breath it's because they don't exhale fully and try to force air in when there's no space.
No, I don’t hold my breathe during the walkout anymore and just don’t have to deal with it
Is it super imperative to bring the bar down to your clavicle every rep or can you stop just below the chin?
So mike bisping is teaching the OHP. Awesome!
What do you think of the Bradford press?
Brian likes to get air then get a rep or 2... if i do this with above 185 my lights go out. So my method is get air unrack clich the Glutes(prison shower defense)one more breath in... if feel dizzy I re-rack... if i feel good I get a rep and then breathe at the top the rest of the time
What elbow sleeves do you use? Are they neoprene?
great, thx!
What about the Olympic press like how Tommy Suggs or Serge Redding used to do?
Very recently I feel to faint right when I unrack, even on light weight.
It didn't happen before, I apply your advices on bracing before unracking and staying tight but cannot feel good like I used too... Weird.
might be a good idea to get your blood pressure checked, yours might be out of whack. I just started OHPing recently and I felt pretty fainty even with light weight for the first few sessions, now I'm pressing over bodyweight and haven't really had any issues. Might just take time for your body to get used to it.
Yeah thats normal. Happened to me also. Its bcs u dont use to place the weight in front of u. Just keep practicing and ure good