Breathing
Inhale as you lower the bar to your chest. Exhale forcefully as you press the bar back up.
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The Barbell Bench Press primarily works the chest, with the shoulders and triceps supporting the movement. It is a strength movement performed with barbell.
1 / 2How to
Movement instructions
Lie back on a flat bench. Using a medium width grip (a grip that creates a 90-degree angle in the middle of the movement between the forearms and the upper arms), lift the bar from the rack and hold it straight over you with your arms locked. This will be your starting position.
From the starting position, breathe in and begin coming down slowly until the bar touches your middle chest.
After a brief pause, push the bar back to the starting position as you breathe out. Focus on pushing the bar using your chest muscles. Lock your arms and squeeze your chest in the contracted position at the top of the motion, hold for a second and then start coming down slowly again. Tip: Ideally, lowering the weight should take about twice as long as raising it.
Repeat the movement for the prescribed amount of repetitions.
When you are done, place the bar back in the rack.
Technique guidance
Inhale as you lower the bar to your chest. Exhale forcefully as you press the bar back up.
Curated exercise guidance. Review your setup and adapt it to your current ability.
Your progress
Keep the same barbell setup, range of motion and recording method when comparing Barbell Bench Press sessions.
Weight, repetitions and completed sets.
Example: 3 sets of 8 reps at 30 kg. Next time, record the actual result, even if it is the same.
Look for more repetitions at the same weight, or a heavier weight for comparable repetitions. Total weight lifted also changes when you add sets, so it is not a strength score.
Read the tracking guideThe examples show how to keep a record. They are not workout targets or a personalised training plan.
See how Jijibisha tracks your progressMuscles
Muscle guide
Chest is the primary muscle group. The lighter highlights show the supporting muscles involved in the movement.
Swap it
Different equipment, same muscle
These movements also target the chest using something else.
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