Overhead Press tutorial as part of the Fitness Factory series designed to build fitness for rugby. The Overhead Press is the most useful sports specific upper body strength exercise once the raw strength has been developed by the Bench Press as it utilises the whole body to transmit force from the floor to the barbell in the same way you would when tackling or handing off an opponent. Brought to you by Rugby World Magazine.

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25 Responses to “Weightlifting for Rugby Fitness – The Overhead Press”

  • mlmcginn610 says:

    @rugbyworld08 yea def at that age go for reps and form and build a foundation first

  • rolfeder says:

    @carneyshaun For rugby and sports in general, the PUSH press is superior. You develop full body explosive strength with it. A routine full of squats, power cleans and push presses will take you far.

  • rugbyworld08 says:

    @hurock2 Learning good technique is the most important factor. 3 to 5 reps is a good range to work in but do not allow yourself to push for weights that you cannot move with good technique. At your age 8 reps may be better as it still allows you to build strength and also gives you more reps to practice technique.

  • rugbyworld08 says:

    @deolm The difference with the Military Press is it is done with the feet together, heels touching. This reduces the base of support and make it slightly more difficult to lift heavier weight.

  • mattyflynn says:

    @Cherimoya9 man,youve just described line out lifting.feet together,lifting in an upward motion. granted its only for the pack,but its an essential part of the game.

  • deolm says:

    Is the overhead press the same exercise as the military press?

  • hurock2 says:

    hi nice video i am 14 years old i play as a foward are this workouts good for me? i am intending to do squats deadlifts and bench press i am thinking to do 3 to 5 reps with high weight what do you think can i do high weight i need your opinion pls thank you

  • escafallen says:

    @rugbyworld08 ye good answer i use both heavy weights barbell lower with dumbell but alternating allows better muscle devellopment

  • rugbyworld08 says:

    @carneyshaun the barbell will allow you to lift more weight and get stronger. Dumbbells can be used as accessory work for stability.

  • carneyshaun says:

    what do you think is better barbell overhead press, or dumbbell overhead press? for rugby that is.

  • mmbosu says:

    i only ever played rugby once and don’t watch it that much, but it seems to me you that you need such strength when theres a scrum or with throw ins (including where a man is loftef into the air to catch the ball

  • rugbyworld08 says:

    @Cherimoya9 This is aimed at developing general pushing and shoulder strength for rugby and is not supposed to mimic the exact movements of a game. As the description says “it utilises the whole body to transmit force from the floor to the barbell in the same way you would when tackling or handing off an opponent”. All of these exercises are designed to strengthen general movement patterns such as pushing, pulling etc. which are then tranferred to specific strength by game practice.

  • Cherimoya9 says:

    The upward lifting motion doesn’t seem to be used much in rugby. Most of the forces in the game are in the horizontal plane of motion, not vertical, and almost never with 2 feet together.

  • rugbyworld08 says:

    No.

  • odeseoutlaw says:

    Can you use a curling bar for this?

  • 010mikey says:

    delts, triceps, abs

  • cdhfootball says:

    what musclse does this work

  • LOLMAN22 says:

    from my personal experience yes it matters especially if you are lifting heavy weights. When I was a novice, my breathing was all wrong and I couldn’t even perform 5 reps…

  • rugbyworld08 says:

    @alexolife If you are going heavy on these they require a great degree of mid section stabilisation so it often requires breathing at the bottom (where the bar is racked on the shoulders) and taking and holding a deep breath while performing a repetition in order to perform the valsalva manoevre for spinal stability and safety.

  • alexolife says:

    Does it matter when you breathe in and out?

  • johnpaul94 says:

    barbell exercises are generally better for all around muscle mass and strength.

    This exercises does not work the traps. Upright rows, shrugs, deadlifts, and power cleans work the traps. Not military press. The military press works the shoulders and the triceps.

  • spoooky18 says:

    is this exercise good for traps?

  • sum182wrestling says:

    Dumbells train stability wher’as barbells train strength more.

    I think that it’s is a personal preference and should be position taylored.

  • gayknobs says:

    ahh i see. thanks.

  • rugbyworld08 says:

    This exercise uses a barbell and so is different from a dumbbell press because it uses different equipment. More weight can generally be lifted with a barbell and more emphasis on stabilisation is generally required with dumbbells. Which exercise you choose depends on your training goal.

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