Ought to Wrestlers Bench Press? – Outdated Faculty Gymnasium

Ought to wrestlers bench press?

Okay, we’ve all heard the anecdotes, and possibly you end up reciting them as properly – “wrestling isn’t a urgent sport”

“Bench Press isn’t practical”

“When you’re in your again urgent up, it’s too late”

Whereas I agree that wrestling entails the “pulling” muscle groups of the again and biceps way more than the “pushing” ones, it is very important be robust in each place.  Hand preventing entails each pushing and pulling, and also you positively want a powerful chest to cradle up an opponent.

So the quick reply is “sure”.  Regardless of the lengthy standing myths inside wrestling tradition, all wrestlers ought to bench press.  The marginally longer reply is that when programming bench press for wrestlers, be sure that higher physique pulling actions are prioritized at a 2:1 ratio – i.e. every week do twice as a lot quantity pulling as you do pushing. So if throughout the season your athletes are lifting weights twice per week, ensure each days embody some heavy pulling (weighted chin ups on sooner or later, and rows paired together with your urgent motion throughout the second carry), and that the whole quantity of units for urgent is half that of your pulling actions for the week.

Another methods to make the bench press “sport particular” for wrestling:

1. Usher in your grip – by shortening the grip to no wider than shoulder width the bench press turns into safer for the shoulder and forces the athlete to make use of their lats to stabilize and push the bar.  Conserving the grip medium/slender additionally extra intently mimics the place a wrestler would “push” throughout hand preventing reasonably than with their elbows out broad.

2. Go single – the only arm dumbbell press is one in every of my favourite urgent variations for wrestlers, notably in season.  And not using a second dumbbell to counterbalance, the only arm press requires an amazing quantity of anti-rotational core energy and forces the athlete to drive into the bottom with their glutes – making this press as “practical”  because it will get.

3. Begin low – Performing a Pin Press out of a rack is a good way to construct concentric energy (urgent up) with out the soreness related to eccentric (decreasing the bar) loading.  Set the pins or rack in order that the bar is simply above the chest on the backside place.  Get set beneath the bar, tense up the lats and squeeze the bar earlier than exploding up right into a press.  Rack after which have your spotters decrease, or loosely information the bar again down.  Re-set earlier than every rep – don’t bounce off of the rack.

Keep in mind!  You may’t get sufficient “pulling” actions – even on days off, face pulls and band scap retractions can be utilized as prehab to construct resiliency and shoulder integrity – however that doesn’t imply it’s best to neglect your presses.  My wrestlers bench press 12 months spherical, and yours ought to too.

Crucial factor is having a structured energy plan that addresses all the bodily wants and calls for of wrestling – fortunately for you, I’ve you lined.  Take a look at my Wrestling Energy e-books HERE