Millitary Press Question

Hi there,
 
I have started using this in my push routine - I am doing the standing version, what are peoples thoughts on this? I can only manage around 40kg on this, is sitting using a vertical bench better, or is the standing technique good enough?
 
Thanks

welcome to Muscletalk by the way mate!!
 
It really depends on your shoulder function and your training goals as to whether this move is safe or relevant for you.
 
Sitting will stabilise you a little more due to fixing the pelvis on the seat and certainly if you have a back support you would probably feel like you can push more weight.
 
What are you goals and reasons for choosing this move mate?

To improve the shoulders both strength wise and looks. I just got the idea that the Military Press is favoured as the best shoulder ex as is works all 3 heads?
 
Thanks for the welcome ;)

ok well military press is mainly going to hit anterior and medial delts. It is certainly a move for strength and growth of those muscles. But not so much the posterior head or rear delt.
 
If you tech is good and you have full capacity within your shoulder complex then this is good move. It is often recommended that you start with seated for suport while you build base strength up and then start to incorporate standing which will also challenge your trunk muscles more.
 
It also all depends on what else you are doing. So you would probably need to add in some rear delt work to this for balance
hope this helps mate

Great advice thanks :D
 
I think ill probably try the seated version first then , for stability. Whats a good ex for the rear delts?

rear delt flyes  i find work well for rear delts.
They are also likely to get hit with most rowing movements

^^^good moves and remember to change the degree of flexion you use at the hip/knee or how much you tip over forwards so that you hit the muscles in various angles

Overall I think standing work trumps anything done seated, but it does necessitate being able to hold your pelvis and shoulder girdle in a good position for varying periods of time and stress depending on your rep/load scheme.
 
Likewise, seated alternatives would probably allow you to load up the target muscles a bit more but you lose the more gross demands of standing work.

^^ you are correct my friend but I wanted to offer the starting point as seated for anyone starting out as a safer option to pre-condition the movement with a fixed pelvis until the proprioception starts to kick in and they are stronger and more confident with the movement to change to standing.
dont you agree?

It's all been said above, but for my bit I can tell you my own preferences.
 
Personally I'd plump for the Military Press being in your routine from the start, even if it means you do your heavy work seated and adding a couple of lighter standing sets in.  The feeling, not just in the shoulders, but down through the lats as well that the military press elicits is just great.
 
It's also a much harder press. I know guys who throw up 70's, 80's and 90's for reps on the seated DB press who struggle with a plate or two on the Military Press.
 
My approach to training is fairly flexible but I always make sure every week includes military pressing, deadlifting and squatting - but as Rach points out, this is in line with my aims.

I prefer standing myself, as an inexperienced trainer (still am) I started off sitting and I found I tended to hyperextend my back which caused discomfort.
So, I went away and did a lot of reading and tried to learn the correct technique standing and I find it much better.
I get the fixed pelvis bit and I struggled with it to begin with but I read a great article which helped me a lot, the essence of which was to tighten the core and really squeeze the glutes very hard at the start of each rep and hold it all the way through.
I used to hate this lift with a passion and now I really enjoy it.

i like poached eggs


I prefer standing myself, as an inexperienced trainer (still am) I started off sitting and I found I tended to hyperextend my back which caused discomfort.
So, I went away and did a lot of reading and tried to learn the correct technique standing and I find it much better.
I get the fixed pelvis bit and I struggled with it to begin with but I read a great article which helped me a lot, the essence of which was to tighten the core and really squeeze the glutes very hard at the start of each rep and hold it all the way through.
I used to hate this lift with a passion and now I really enjoy it.

^^good post mate

Thanks for the great advice all, I remember reading about squeezing the glutes, but totally forgot, will remember for next week :)
 
I think I will stay with the standing, but obviously try and perfect the technique and not try to go to heavy!

DeNiro


Thanks for the great advice all, I remember reading about squeezing the glutes, but totally forgot, will remember for next week :)

I think I will stay with the standing, but obviously try and perfect the technique and not try to go to heavy!

Good approach, start light, nail the technique, work up steadily, I'll bet you bust through your 40Kg barrier easily.