“Pressing Thoughts” July 7, 2024
On any given day I can press 5x185lbs.
PR is 10×185 to my knowledge, though it could be a little higher at 12 or so.
Most days I can press 2x205lbs.
I’ve definitely pressed 5×205, maybe 6 or 7.
On a few occasions I’ve pressed 225+, with
2X225lbs, and a 1rm of 235lbs being PR.
Basically I want my current 1rm ish weight to be 15-20rm, these alongside ≥300lbs for 1+.
From a bodybuilding standpoint, getting 75 reps across five sets with long rests is stellar.
That puts on shoulders like you wouldn’t believe!
And a lot of upper back with it.
Everyone with underdeveloped shoulders likely is not pressing hard enough, whether that’s weight, volume, or frequency wise – none of it.
75+ in 5?
I’ve done it, 75+ reps in five sets, with 155 to 165lbs, not caring if the session took around an hour (yeah with rests that long) but there’s a big but here…
I debate whether the press should be treated as a grinding strength-endurance high rep lift at all or solely as a powerful low rep lift.
With the exact same movement pattern it’s like a set of 1-3 and a set of 10+ are entirely different lifts.
I don’t observe this so much on any other big compound lift.
And a set of 5+ feels more to me like the sets of 10+ than a set of 1-3.
10×3, each set off of a clean, preferably a hang clean (this statement holds to all rep ranges – at least for me the hang clean is far more a bodybuilder) consciously driving every rep skyward with as much force as possible…that’s how the 1rm moves upward.
Honestly I have a problem with training heavier percentage wise than I should, instead of dropping the weight and/or reps per set and getting the powerful bar speed which pays off.
Either way, whatever frequency I barbell press at (and backfilling with kettlebell is amazing to barbell press low frequency while scratching my high frequency itch which I do not care to battle against)…
I’m on the journey to a 300lb clean and press.
Common yesteryear. Rare in the present.
Me. One of those who can.
Persistence & Tenacity
P.S. My continued kettlebell habit, I’d say the 2h swing with the 40kg mostly, has added much ease to the barbell cleans as of late.
#barbellpress #overheadpress #militarypress #cleanandpress #doughepburn
motivation – ti (cause the instagram version has this, while all the hashtags only made it into the youtube character count)