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Jort Kramer
IOL rocks!
Posts 566
Jort Kramer 		07-07-20 09:18 AM - Post#900051    

For the past couple of years I've been training the 1 arm kb press as my only pressing exercise (not counting some easy push ups). And I got it to a couple of singles with the 36 kg bell. But now my progress has stopped.

I can only manage to press once a week due to waterpolo training. Would it be advisable to to switch to another type of press for a while?

I dont like flat benching or any type of barbell benching for waterpolo. (Kb) Push pressing, incline kb press or something else I can't think of I can probably manage.

Your advice is appreciated.
jamej
one more time
Posts 510
jamej 		07-07-20 10:28 AM - Post#900055    

1. sit on the floor spread you legs apart and do behind the neck barbell press.
2. bar on back squat down press the bar - behind the neck press - then stand up over head squat style.
3. dumbell overhead carries.

Both (1, 2) will probably require trivial weights to start with but, with patience and consistency your shoulders and everything around them will become stronger and more resilient. However, it is unlikely you'll ever enjoy doing them.
Heck
Settling in pretty good
Posts 62
Heck 		07-07-20 11:06 AM - Post#900059    

I'll defer to others, but for me, the seated see-saw press (the z-saw, I call it), is the press that feels best and allows me to creep forward most predictably. I find that the pistoning action feels far more natural than single-arm presses. Any time a workout calls for single-arm presses, I unapologetically do see-saw instead.
Dan John
Carpal tunnel from posting!
Posts 12292
Dan John 		07-07-20 12:55 PM - Post#900063    

If you have doubles, agreed: the See-Saw.

I like the Half-Kneeling when I want to go lighter, but still "hit" the whole body.
Daniel John
Just handing down what I was handed down...


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Jort Kramer
IOL rocks!
Posts 566
Jort Kramer 		07-08-20 04:43 AM - Post#900081    

Thanks for the suggestions so far. I only have 1 of each kb though. I might be able to do see-saw presses with uneven kb's and switch hands after each round?

I do really want to increase my pressing strength and shoulder girdle mass...
Heck
Settling in pretty good
Posts 62
Heck 		07-10-20 10:38 AM - Post#900174    

I've personally had good success with that unbalanced approach. Pulling down the lighter weight with the opposite arm approximates some of the old pressing "hacks" I've seen in various RKC literature, where they'll have you pull on a vertical pole or something while trying to press a goal bell. Plus, the see-saw action tends to help you be able to squeeze out an extra rep or two with a weight you can already handle.
BChase
Old hand here on IOL
Posts 854
BChase 		07-10-20 02:06 PM - Post#900178    

I like sitting on the floor and pressing. Really forces you to use tension
iPood
Grand Pooh-Bah
Posts 2360
iPood 		07-10-20 02:34 PM - Post#900179    

If I had to choose one pressing exercise, I'd pick the incline bench press: much shoulder friendly than the flat version, you can move significant loads and the 45°angle always felt just right.

I like dips way better, but most people can't do them.
"I think we often spend too much time focusing on max fitness
and not nearly enough on maintaining our minimums.
It seems we need to think sustainable rather than obtainable.
Meaning whatever we do today, we can do it again tomorrow.
Never taking so much from ourselves that we can't."
Dan Martin

BrianBinVA
Carpal tunnel from posting!
Posts 5140
BrianBinVA 		07-10-20 03:01 PM - Post#900180    

My favorite presses are:

Barbell -- push press or incline bench

Kettlebell -- 2-kb jerk or push press

BW -- dip or pushup (rings are best for both, IMO)

Jordan D
Old hand here on IOL
Posts 771
Jordan D 		07-10-20 04:44 PM - Post#900183    

Since we all seem to be listing our favorite presses, here’s a vote for the strict military press.

Why do so many people complain about dips though? I’ve found that going as deep as possible, nice and slow with perfect form, was wonderful for my old shoulder injuries. Almost as good as hanging.
iPood
Grand Pooh-Bah
Posts 2360
iPood 		07-11-20 12:39 AM - Post#900188    

  • Jordan D Said:
Since we all seem to be listing our favorite presses, here’s a vote for the strict military press.

Why do so many people complain about dips though? I’ve found that going as deep as possible, nice and slow with perfect form, was wonderful for my old shoulder injuries. Almost as good as hanging.



I love dips and my body seems to love ring dips specially.

But most people frequently complain about a sharp sternum pain and a myriad of shoulder issues.
"I think we often spend too much time focusing on max fitness
and not nearly enough on maintaining our minimums.
It seems we need to think sustainable rather than obtainable.
Meaning whatever we do today, we can do it again tomorrow.
Never taking so much from ourselves that we can't."
Dan Martin

GeoffreyLevens
At home here
Posts 357
GeoffreyLevens 		07-11-20 12:52 PM - Post#900200    

  • Jordan D Said:
Why do so many people complain about dips though?


Me, I had AC separation about 30 years ago and sports medicine chirodoc said NEVER do dips. Also one exercise I don't remember which unfortunately. And I have found, doing dips does put that shoulder in heaps of pain for many days after. Great movement pattern though if you can do it.
Jordan D
Old hand here on IOL
Posts 771
Jordan D 		07-11-20 01:20 PM - Post#900201    

  • iPood Said:
But most people frequently complain about a sharp sternum pain and a myriad of shoulder issues.



Know it well. It went away after about two weeks of dips when I was 14, and whenever I re-integrate them nowadays, it goes away after about two workouts. I think a lot of bodyweight movements provide similar feedback, because they depend on the integrity of the musculoskeletal system before they can be progressed. Back bridges, for example, which can be "dangerous" for the lower back, but only if you have the violently tight hip flexors typical of modern sedentary populations. Relax that psoas, and back bridges suddenly become amazing.

  • GeoffreyLevens Said:
Me, I had AC separation about 30 years ago and sports medicine chirodoc said NEVER do dips. Also one exercise I don't remember which unfortunately. And I have found, doing dips does put that shoulder in heaps of pain for many days after. Great movement pattern though if you can do it.



Similarly, I've got a handful of age-old partial tears in both shoulders. Hanging makes the pain and grindy-ness disappear, but only after, as the good doctor Kirsch tells us in Shoulder Pain?, pushing through the initial pain. Curiously, dips do the same. After having removed them from my training for a few years, I read a Dave Tate article where he said slow, deep, 100%-controlled dips helped his horrifically mangled shoulders, and I gave it a shot, stayed at 1-3 reps for a while, and low and behold, my shoulders reorganized themselves and dips became pain-free.

Now, if someone has impingement or chronic dislocation laxity, that's a different story. But if it's tight chest/locked shoulder tissues causing pain, then dips aren't the problem, and they might actually be the solution. Of course YMMV, as they say.
Jort Kramer
IOL rocks!
Posts 566
Jort Kramer 		07-16-20 03:46 PM - Post#900381    

I really appreciate the reactions. Thanks guys



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