I would like to be able to safely press behind the neck (or as safely as possible) but range of motion is a problem. I currently do three static stretches: arm across the body, the one where you put your elbow up and touch your oposite shoulder blade while pulling the elbow towards head, and the one with the towel behind the back. Oh and I also include a static pectoral stretch.
I know that in Olympic lifting you pretty much had to be capable of pressing behind the neck. I just wondered if you had any additional techniques (such as the partner assisted wrist stretch you performed on Kevin to help with the catch on powerclean)?
Perhaps I just need patience. Sorry if this is a stupid question you get frequently. BTW i just wanted to thank you for the plethora of free information you have given us. I know your very busy and you don’t have to. Your teachings have really made a difference in my workouts and taken my strength to new levels.
I would like to be able to safely press behind the neck (or as safely as possible) but range of motion is a problem. I currently do three static stretches: arm across the body, the one where you put your elbow up and touch your oposite shoulder blade while pulling the elbow towards head, and the one with the towel behind the back. Oh and I also include a static pectoral stretch.
I know that in Olympic lifting you pretty much had to be capable of pressing behind the neck. I just wondered if you had any additional techniques (such as the partner assisted wrist stretch you performed on Kevin to help with the catch on powerclean)?
Perhaps I just need patience. Sorry if this is a stupid question you get frequently. BTW i just wanted to thank you for the plethora of free information you have given us. I know your very busy and you don’t have to. Your teachings have really made a difference in my workouts and taken my strength to new levels.[/quote]
I actually have a technique similar to the one I used with Kevin. But the picture is on my home computer (about 2000 miles away in Canada).
Basically:
Perform a door stretch (open door, put your elbow at a 90 degrees angle while your upper arm is parallel to the floor… basically your upper arm is parallel to the floor and your forearm is pointing up)… put your elbows on both sides or an open door.
Have a partner push you through the door (gently) to stretch the chest and shoulders… have him relax, then push a bit farther for 6 seconds, relax, push 6 seconds, etc.
I would like to be able to safely press behind the neck (or as safely as possible) but range of motion is a problem. I currently do three static stretches: arm across the body, the one where you put your elbow up and touch your oposite shoulder blade while pulling the elbow towards head, and the one with the towel behind the back. Oh and I also include a static pectoral stretch.
I know that in Olympic lifting you pretty much had to be capable of pressing behind the neck. I just wondered if you had any additional techniques (such as the partner assisted wrist stretch you performed on Kevin to help with the catch on powerclean)?
Perhaps I just need patience. Sorry if this is a stupid question you get frequently. BTW i just wanted to thank you for the plethora of free information you have given us. I know your very busy and you don’t have to. Your teachings have really made a difference in my workouts and taken my strength to new levels.[/quote]
I actually have a technique similar to the one I used with Kevin. But the picture is on my home computer (about 2000 miles away in Canada).
Basically:
Perform a door stretch (open door, put your elbow at a 90 degrees angle while your upper arm is parallel to the floor… basically your upper arm is parallel to the floor and your forearm is pointing up)… put your elbows on both sides or an open door.
Have a partner push you through the door (gently) to stretch the chest and shoulders… have him relax, then push a bit farther for 6 seconds, relax, push 6 seconds, etc.[/quote]
When you get the chance, id love to see a pic of that, just to confirm that I am imagining it the right way, or any other “unique” upper body stretch that you might have come across. I have recently come across a few guys who wish to get better at the “field” part of Track & Field… who are too tight in the upper body to do a lot of the training I would like them to do. Any help is appreciated.
I would like to be able to safely press behind the neck (or as safely as possible) but range of motion is a problem. I currently do three static stretches: arm across the body, the one where you put your elbow up and touch your oposite shoulder blade while pulling the elbow towards head, and the one with the towel behind the back. Oh and I also include a static pectoral stretch.
I know that in Olympic lifting you pretty much had to be capable of pressing behind the neck. I just wondered if you had any additional techniques (such as the partner assisted wrist stretch you performed on Kevin to help with the catch on powerclean)?
Perhaps I just need patience. Sorry if this is a stupid question you get frequently. BTW i just wanted to thank you for the plethora of free information you have given us. I know your very busy and you don’t have to. Your teachings have really made a difference in my workouts and taken my strength to new levels.[/quote]
I actually have a technique similar to the one I used with Kevin. But the picture is on my home computer (about 2000 miles away in Canada).
Basically:
Perform a door stretch (open door, put your elbow at a 90 degrees angle while your upper arm is parallel to the floor… basically your upper arm is parallel to the floor and your forearm is pointing up)… put your elbows on both sides or an open door.
Have a partner push you through the door (gently) to stretch the chest and shoulders… have him relax, then push a bit farther for 6 seconds, relax, push 6 seconds, etc.[/quote]
Thanks CT
I will have to get my girlfriend to help me later but just leaning against the doorway like that i could imagine how effective that would be!
Thib, if u dont have a partner, could u use a chest press machine? and each time set it to a heavier weight, whilst having the back of the seat forward slightly more?? similar motion.
CT, I believe you said behind the neck presses were safe if you’re flexible enough. Is this true? I have a problem with the ohp in front because my hips push forward and I end up hurting my lower back.
[quote]dnlcdstn wrote:
CT, I believe you said behind the neck presses were safe if you’re flexible enough. Is this true? I have a problem with the ohp in front because my hips push forward and I end up hurting my lower back.[/quote]
I’m not CT, but I have flexible shoulders and since adding in the behind the neck push press, my regular push press skyrocketed. I usually have three pressing days/week that look something like this:
Day 1
Military Press
Push Press
Incline Press
Bench Press
All ramped up from exercise to exercise
WTV assistance work needs to be done if I’m not too mashed up
(I don’t go anywhere near my max on the incline and bench on this day - it sets the tone for the subsequent days I find)
Day 2
Bench from Pins 3-4" off chest
Bench Lockout
Regular Bench
Triceps assistance work
Day 3
Behind the neck press
Ramped for ALOT of sets starting very light - something like “micro-ramping” I guess
Shoulder Assistance work (lateral raises, rotator cuff work, face pulls, etc)
This has REALLY given me a lot of progress (push press went from a tough 185x3 to an easy 225x3) in my vertical pressing (I had stalled for quite some time). My bench is also going up - albeit not as fast as my presses.