Barbell Seated Behind Head Military Press

DeltoidsBarbellIntermediate
Sit upright on a bench with your feet flat on the ground. Hold the barbell with an overhand grip, placing your hands just wider than shoulder-width apart. Lift the barbell up to shoulder level, positioning it behind your head. Press the barbell straight up overhead until your arms are fully extended. Lower the barbell back down to the starting position behind your head. Repeat the movement for the desired number of repetitions.

How to perform the Barbell Seated Behind Head Military Press

  1. Set up. Set up in a stable, balanced starting position appropriate for the Barbell Seated Behind Head Military Press using your barbell.
  2. Brace and execute. Brace your core, control the descent, and move through a full pain-free range of motion while emphasizing your deltoids.
  3. Reset. Reverse the movement under control and reset between repetitions, keeping your form crisp on every rep.

Coaching cues

  • Move with intent — every rep should feel deliberate, not rushed.
  • Drive force through your deltoids rather than momentum.
  • Keep your breathing steady: exhale on the hard part, inhale on the reset.

Common mistakes

  • Using too much weight and losing positional control.
  • Cutting the range of motion short and missing the target muscle.
  • Letting your spine round or hyperextend instead of staying neutral.

Detailed cues, common mistakes, and demonstration video are available in the Fitly app.

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