military press, need some pointers

[Island Son]

I'm having trouble getting the bar into position for the first rep. After I'm standing with it, then what? Some kind of power shrug where I pull it up and then drop beneath it?
does any know a video link or have a good description of the form?

 

[H_T_]

you doing full clean and presses? if you are, they are very taxing, like a squat for the upper body. but yeah, shoulder width grip should be good. if you go too wide, it's hard to get completely "underneath" the bar. after the first rep, it gets easier. it's that initial kick to get it all started.

 

[Island Son]

not clean and press.... just issues lifting the bar into position for the first military press. I don't want to use a rack
Hmm, maybe I should be doing a c&p for the first rep?
it's the little things that I don't do properly that get me injured... like back strain dropping the bar after SLDL. I'm trying to figure out the beginning/ending of a few exercises

 

[H_T_]

since i've been making thing more difficult, i've had more progress. i pause when i squat and bench. i reset after every rep on the DL. stuff like that goes a long way.

 

[Madcow2]

not clean and press.... just issues lifting the bar into position for the first military press. I don't want to use a rack
Hmm, maybe I should be doing a c&p for the first rep?
it's the little things that I don't do properly that get me injured... like back strain dropping the bar after SLDL. I'm trying to figure out the beginning/ending of a few exercises

Well the clean is the only way you are going to get decent weight into position. That said, most people suck at cleans and have no understanding of the technique - this gets them hurt and prevents them from getting much weight to the shoulders. Use the rack and learn to clean separately (buy Starting Strength www.startingstrength.com as this covers it in detail or Drescheler's Weightlifting Encyclop - better yet go to www.usaweightlifting.org and see if there's a coach in your area - cheap or free - at first generally - as they want to get people into the sport and bring greater awareness to the lifts).

 

[squatpuke]

I'm one of those persons that suck at cleans....I just use the rack...

I put the BB on my chest and scoot under it taking about 40% of the load on my chest...

My first rep is kind of a push press then when it's up, I go behind the neck to ear level....

Just me....

 

[UrlMighty]

I clean the bar up if I'm not drained from an earlier exercise else I just walk it out from a rack. Use a little leg assist if needs be on the first rep, or a big leg if that's all you have. I do my standing presses to the front and bring the bar down to just below chin level. Push your head forwards slightly as the bar clears it.

Getting rid of the bar when you're finished is another matter. You can choose between walking it back into the rack or trying to snap it back down to the thighs in some kind of reversed clean.

madcow2's suggestion of learning to clean separately would be sensible. Ideally get someone to teach you to clean since it's easy to get the movement wrong even when you think you're doing it well.

 

[blut wump]

lol trying to clean after doing deadlifts was something I gave up on long ago after repeatedly hitting myself in the chest with the bar. I just can't get that explosion when I'm already tired.

I mostly use the rack these days. I just have to be careful not to trap my pinky when I'm putting the weight back when I'm using the slim rack.

 

[squatpuke]

I just have to be careful not to trap my pinky when I'm putting the weight back when I'm using the slim rack.

I gotta do that on the wide rack with squats....sucks.

 

[Jim Ouini]

lol trying to clean after doing deadlifts was something I gave up on long ago after repeatedly hitting myself in the chest with the bar. I just can't get that explosion when I'm already tired.

Yep, I think I missed all my push presses in Wks 8-9 of 5 x 5. I knew deads were taxing on the whole body but I had zero explosion from my legs to my hiops to my shoulders.

 

[blut wump]

It's an annoying feeling but you can just tell that it isn't going to happen. I gave up cleaning the bar in either week3 or week4 last run. The box-squats and deadlifts had lasted an absolute age and I looked down at the bar and almost went home to return the next day. Luckily a rack was free and I somehow got through five sets but never cleaned it again for the OHP. I think that session lasted around two hours.

I think I skipped them the last week or else did them quite light, probably the latter.

 

[Guinness5.0]

It's funny how different people end up doing the same things- i started out cleaning the weight up for military but soon realized that it was taking away from my efforts. I was using the rack by week 4 also

 

[b fold the truth]

Why not just do them out of the rack or off the J-Hooks? Works for me...

B True

 

[musketeer]

If you are fresh - doing the military first in your workout - then use a clean. If you are not, use the rack.

 

[Ozz2001]

Votes rack myself...Much easyer with heavyer weight too..

 

[Island Son]

thanks... i always think "it's just me" till i ask a question
looks like i'm starting the rack in a couple weeks

 

[perp69]

I use dumbells without much problem and then yea don't need no rack. I just pull them up real fast and then duck my body under em. Of course, I am probably just a weakling, which is why I don't have any issues yet