Overhead Pressing - 'Squat for the Upperbody'?

[Jim Ouini]

Interesting article in the latest issue of MILO (great issue btw) about 'Olympic Style' pressing, the author makes the point of how the bench is similar to the leg press in that you're pushing away from the body in a supported posiiton.

Whereas with the Olympic Press is more like a squat because of the combination of balance and power necessary to complete the lift.

Anyway, I'm still having trouble figuring out exactly what the OP is, as far as I can tell it's somewhere between a strict MP and a PP, since it doesn't have the intentional leg drive of the PP but does involve getting all the muscles of the body into the lift.

Regardless, I've only done limited OHP, really only getting serious in the 5 x 5 's, so I think I want to get a lot better at these.

 

[Shepherd4]

Interesting article in the latest issue of MILO (great issue btw) about 'Olympic Style' pressing, the author makes the point of how the bench is similar to the leg press in that you're pushing away from the body in a supported posiiton.

Whereas with the Olympic Press is more like a squat because of the combination of balance and power necessary to complete the lift.

Anyway, I'm still having trouble figuring out exactly what the OP is, as far as I can tell it's somewhere between a strict MP and a PP, since it doesn't have the intentional leg drive of the PP but does involve getting all the muscles of the body into the lift.

Regardless, I've only done limited OHP, really only getting serious in the 5 x 5 's, so I think I want to get a lot better at these.

The Olympic Press is really just a military press, but subject to the originally strict (but ultimately somewhat lax) rules governing its performance. It was dropped from olympic weightlifting in the early 1970's, among other reasons, because lifters were laying back so far that it was starting to resemble a standing bench press.

For 5x5 purposes, when it says olympic press, just think military press. That is, shoulder width grip (roughly) and feet next to each other. Some guys stagger their feet forward and back, but I'm afraid of the potential to torque yourself into injury with your body (and spine) not aligned neutrally.

mpc

"Think of Tiger Woods out there hitting a bucket of balls. He's not swinging the 5-iron to get stronger -- he's swinging it to hone the groove. Hone the groove."

 

[bignate73]

i rotate these in opposite of benching for my "upper" days. I'm considerably weaker, obvioiusly, but feel worked nonetheless. good to build your core up by holding weight overhead too.

 

[mekannik]

http://jva.ontariostrongman.ca/PRESS.htm

My buddy in SoCal lifts in the same gym as Russell Knipp - dude wears a Hawaiin shirt and sweat pants, works up to 495x3 back squats with no belt. Guy is in his 50's or 60's. Does hang cleans with 225 (iron weights, not bumpers) and still has tremendous form - drop dead, gorgeous, "I wish I could clean like that" form.....

And to top it off - he is cool as hell. Totally rips on 99% of the shit he sees in the gym.

 

[Jim Ouini]

Thanks for the link. This Knipp guys sounds awesome. I must try these Olympic Presses.

 

[blut wump]

I remember seeing a picture of someone bent way back at the hips doing a press. Silly stuff.

Stick with your MP which is how I understand the OP was intended, as Sheperd4 says.

 

[Tagio]

military presses with strict form or very slight cheating are great. i mean like you stiffen your body a bit on the initial push, maybe bend back a few degrees at the sticking point. more cheating would be pointless except in a competition. i don't think standing militaries can replace a bench press (very different exercises) but if I could only do one, it would be the standing ohp (for physique or strength development).