Breathing
Exhale through the effort and inhale during the controlled return. Keep breathing steadily rather than holding your breath unintentionally.
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The Cuban Press primarily works the shoulders, with the traps supporting the movement. It is a strength movement performed with dumbbell.

1 / 2How to
Movement instructions
Take a dumbbell in each hand with a pronated grip in a standing position. Raise your upper arms so that they are parallel to the floor, allowing your lower arms to hang in the "scarecrow" position. This will be your starting position.
To initiate the movement, externally rotate the shoulders to move the upper arm 180 degrees. Keep the upper arms in place, rotating the upper arms until the wrists are directly above the elbows, the forearms perpendicular to the floor.
Now press the dumbbells by extending at the elbows, straightening your arms overhead.
Return to the starting position as you breathe in by reversing the steps.
Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.
Technique guidance
Exhale through the effort and inhale during the controlled return. Keep breathing steadily rather than holding your breath unintentionally.
General guidance based on the exercise and equipment. It is not personal coaching or medical advice.
Your progress
Keep the same dumbbell setup, range of motion and recording method when comparing Cuban 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
Shoulders 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 shoulders using something else.
Related
Related movements
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