i feel like such a training weenie

[JohnRobHolmes]

i was doing overhead presses today, from chest to lockout with a bar. i started thinking about the motion, and as soon as my elbows got above my shoulders i started concentrating on my tri's. my weight went up 20 pounds today, and i feel that i could have done more (OH press weight, not body weight). i have had a sticking point where the hands go above the head. now, i truly feel like an idiot for never realizing why my presses/ handstand pushups have been so weak.

 

[ghettostudmuffin]

Once the bar passes your head it's mostly the triceps doing the pressing and the shoulders are mainly statically contracting at that point. Might try some jerks for power and half reps with slightly heavier than normal weight from the head up only. It sounds like your triceps need work, not your shoulders.

 

[JohnRobHolmes]

yeah, remember that post i made a while back about my triceps? i wasnt joking that they wouldnt contract fully. after this "revelation" i tried some handstand pushups today at gymnastics, and i got about 10. ive never been able to do one in my life. lets hear it for using the triceps!!!

 

[ghettostudmuffin]

That's great. I always liked hadnstand pushups. When I was 156lbs I could do 18. I can't even do a full one now lol, but then again, I weigh 54lbs more than I did back then haha.

Alot of people don't realize that the majority of your pressing power comes from your triceps. Whether you're benching or overhead pressing, the prime movers are your triceps once you pass the halfway point, and that's generally where people get stuck at for the most part.

 

[Tagio]

yup, i do a lot of jerks and not many OHPs and my sticking point is the bar being on my chest haha. once it's over my head it goes the rest of the way.

try some powerjerks, they're fun.