Standing Military Press
How to do the Standing Military Press with correct form, the muscles it works, and where it fits a training plan you actually stick to.
Shoulders
Triceps
Barbell
How to do the Standing Military Press
- 1
Start by placing a barbell that is about chest high on a squat rack. Once you have selected the weights, grab the barbell using a pronated (palms facing forward) grip. Make sure to grip the bar wider than shoulder width apart from each other.
- 2
Slightly bend the knees and place the barbell on your collar bone. Lift the barbell up keeping it lying on your chest. Take a step back and position your feet shoulder width apart from each other.
- 3
Once you pick up the barbell with the correct grip length, lift the bar up over your head by locking your arms. Hold at about shoulder level and slightly in front of your head. This is your starting position.
- 4
Lower the bar down to the collarbone slowly as you inhale.
- 5
Lift the bar back up to the starting position as you exhale.
- 6
Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.
Log it, see it on your body.
Every Standing Military Press set you log feeds Ascend's anatomy heatmap, so your shoulders volume is visible at a glance, and counts toward your bodyweight-strength tier.
Where the Standing Military Press fits
The Standing Military Press shows up in training built around a specific goal. See how it fits:
More shoulders exercises
Standing Military Press: common questions
What muscles does the Standing Military Press work?
The Standing Military Press primarily works the Shoulders. It also recruits the Triceps as supporting muscles.
Is the Standing Military Press suitable for beginners?
Yes. The Standing Military Press is a beginner-level exercise, so it's a solid choice if you're new to training. Start light and focus on the movement pattern before adding load.
What equipment do I need for the Standing Military Press?
To do the Standing Military Press you'll need a barbell.
Is the Standing Military Press a compound or isolation exercise?
The Standing Military Press is a compound exercise, it moves multiple joints and works several muscle groups at once, which makes it efficient for building overall strength.
How do I do the Standing Military Press with correct form?
Start by placing a barbell that is about chest high on a squat rack. Once you have selected the weights, grab the barbell using a pronated (palms facing forward) grip. Make sure to grip the bar wider than shoulder width apart from each other. Follow the full step-by-step above for the complete movement.
Log your Standing Military Press sets, free.
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