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Bradford/Rocky Presses

Bradford/Rocky Presses is a beginner compound barbell exercise that mainly works your shoulders, with help from your triceps.

💪 Shoulders🏋️ Barbell📈 Beginner🔗 Compound🎯 3-5 sets of 5-10 reps
Bradford/Rocky Presses: starting position
Starting position
Bradford/Rocky Presses: end position
End position

How to do the bradford/rocky presses

  1. Sit on a Military Press Bench with a bar at shoulder level with a pronated grip (palms facing forward). Tip: Your grip should be wider than shoulder width and it should create a 90-degree angle between the forearm and the upper arm as the barbell goes down. This is your starting position.
  2. Once you pick up the barbell with the correct grip, lift the bar up over your head by locking your arms.
  3. Now lower the bar down to the back of the head slowly as you inhale.
  4. Lift the bar back up to the starting position as you exhale.
  5. Lower the bar down to the starting position slowly as you inhale. This is one repetition.
  6. Alternate in this manner until you complete the recommended amount of repetitions.

Muscles worked

Primary: ShouldersSecondary: Triceps

Sets and reps

For strength, do 3-5 sets of 5-8 reps with 2-3 minutes of rest. For muscle growth, 3-4 sets of 8-12 reps with 90 seconds of rest. Add a little weight when you hit the top of the range on every set.

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Bradford/Rocky Presses alternatives

Exercises that train the same main muscle, including options with other equipment.

Face PullCable · IntermediateOverhead PressBarbell · BeginnerCuban PressDumbbell · IntermediateLeverage Shoulder PressMachine · BeginnerBattling RopesOther · BeginnerHandstand Push-UpsBodyweight · Expert

FAQ

What muscles does the bradford/rocky presses work?

It mainly works your shoulders; your triceps assist.

How many sets and reps of bradford/rocky presses should I do?

For strength, do 3-5 sets of 5-8 reps with 2-3 minutes of rest. For muscle growth, 3-4 sets of 8-12 reps with 90 seconds of rest. Add a little weight when you hit the top of the range on every set.

Is the bradford/rocky presses good for beginners?

Yes. It is a beginner-friendly movement: start light and focus on the form steps above.

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