Barbell Standing Close Grip Military Press

1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart. 2. Grasp the barbell with an overhand grip just slightly narrower than shoulder-width apart. 3. Lift the barbell up to your collarbone, resting it across your upper chest and front shoulders. 4. Press the barbell overhead by extending your arms straight up. 5. Keep your core engaged and maintain good posture throughout the movement. 6. Lower the barbell back to the starting position by bending your elbows and bringing it down to your collarbone. 7. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

How to perform the Barbell Standing Close Grip Military Press

  1. Set up. Set up in a stable, balanced starting position appropriate for the Barbell Standing Close Grip 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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