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Chest Exercises: Presses, Push-Ups and More

Explore chest exercises with barbells, dumbbells, cables, machines and body weight, with practical guidance for controlled, effective training.

Chest exercises train the muscles across the front of the upper body through pushing patterns such as presses and push-ups.

About chest exercises

This category includes chest movements using barbells, dumbbells, cables, machines, and body weight. The setup and resistance vary: a bench press requires a stable bench and controlled bar path, while push-ups use your body as the load. Adjust bench angle, grip, and resistance to suit your experience and the exercise you are performing.

Practical technique

Keep your shoulder blades controlled, lower the weight smoothly, and avoid letting the elbows flare without control. Use a load that allows a stable range of motion and consistent technique. For heavy pressing, use a spotter or safety arms where appropriate; stop if you feel sharp pain and seek qualified coaching if your setup is uncertain.

Above Head Chest Stretch

Above Head Chest Stretch

The Above Head Chest Stretch is a simple yet effective exercise for stretching the muscles in your chest and shoulders. This stretch helps improve your posture and may reduce tension in the upper back. Execution Stand upright with your feet shoulder-width apart. Extend your arms overhead and i

Chest Stretching
Across Chest Shoulder Stretch

Across Chest Shoulder Stretch

The Across Chest Shoulder Stretch is a simple yet effective exercise for stretching the shoulders and upper arms. This exercise helps improve flexibility and reduce tension in the shoulders, which is especially useful if you spend a lot of time at a computer or train intensively. Execution Stand

Shoulders Stretching
Alternate Pullover - Woman Example

Alternate Pullover - Woman Example

The Alternate Pullover is an effective exercise that targets strengthening your upper body, with a special focus on the chest, back, and arm muscles. This exercise is unique because it combines a dynamic movement with core stability, so you not only build strength but also improve your balance and c

Chest Strength Training
Alternating Dumbbell Bridge Press

Alternating Dumbbell Bridge Press

The Alternating Dumbbell Bridge Press is a dynamic exercise that combines strength and stability. By performing a dumbbell press in a bridge position, you activate not only your chest muscles but also your glutes and core for a full-body workout. Execution Lie on your back on a fitness mat, with

Chest Strength Training
Archer Push-Up

Archer Push-Up

The Archer Push-Up is an advanced variation of the traditional push-up that focuses on strengthening your chest, arms, and shoulders with a unique twist. By keeping one arm straight and bending the other, you simulate drawing a bow, which gives this exercise its name. This not only provides a more i

Chest Strength Training
Archer Push-Up

Archer Push-Up

Introduction: The Archer Push-Up is an advanced variation of the classic push-up that focuses on strengthening your chest, shoulders, and triceps. This exercise is unique because it emphasizes one arm at a time, which helps build strength and balance. Execution: Begin in a standard push-up position

Chest Strength Training
Arm Crossover

Arm Crossover

The Arm Crossover is an effective warm-up exercise that helps warm up the chest muscles and shoulders, preparing your body for a more intense workout. This exercise not only improves upper-body flexibility but also increases blood circulation to your arms and shoulders. Execution Begin by stan

Chest Strength Training
Arm Crossover Chest Out

Arm Crossover Chest Out

The Arm Crossover Chest Out is an effective exercise for strengthening your chest and shoulder muscles. This exercise not only helps build muscle mass but also improves your posture by strengthening the muscles around your ribcage. Execution Start with your feet shoulder-width apart and your arm

Chest Strength Training
Assisted Weighted Push-Up

Assisted Weighted Push-Up

The Assisted Weighted Push-Up is an advanced variation of the classic push-up, designed to further develop your strength and muscular endurance. By adding extra weight, you increase the intensity of the exercise, while the assistance helps you perform the technique correctly and gradually add more w

Chest Strength Training
Barbell Bench Press

Barbell Bench Press

The Barbell Bench Press is a classic strength exercise that forms the basis of many fitness routines. This exercise is known for its effectiveness in building strength and mass in the upper-body muscles, with a special focus on the chest muscles. The unique advantage of the Barbell Bench Press is th

Chest Strength Training
Barbell Bench Press

Barbell Bench Press

The Barbell Bench Press is a classic strength exercise that forms the basis of many fitness routines. This exercise is known for its effectiveness in building strength and mass in the upper-body muscles, with a special focus on the chest muscles. Execution Lie on your back on a flat bench and pl

Chest Strength Training
Barbell Bench Press

Barbell Bench Press

The Barbell Bench Press is a classic strength exercise that focuses on strengthening your upper body. This exercise is ideal for building muscle mass and strength in your chest, shoulders, and triceps. Execution Lie on your back on a flat bench and place your feet firmly on the floor. Grip the

Chest Strength Training
Barbell Close-Grip Bench Press

Barbell Close-Grip Bench Press

The barbell close-grip bench press is a modified version of the bench press. Bringing the elbows back alongside the body with the narrower grip places more emphasis on the triceps and less on the chest muscles. Barbell Close-Grip Bench Press ExecutionPlace the appropriate weight on a barb

Triceps Strength Training
Barbell Close-Grip Press

Barbell Close-Grip Press

The Barbell Close-Grip Press is a powerful exercise focused on strengthening your upper body, with particular emphasis on your triceps and chest muscles. This variation of the traditional bench press emphasizes the inner chest and triceps, making it an excellent choice for anyone looking to develop

Triceps Strength Training
Barbell Floor Chest Press

Barbell Floor Chest Press

The Barbell Floor Chest Press is a powerful exercise that targets your chest muscles while also giving your triceps and shoulders a good workout. The unique benefit of this exercise is that it offers a safe way to lift heavy weights without a spotter because the floor limits how far you can lower th

Chest Strength Training
Barbell Floor Press

Barbell Floor Press

The barbell floor press is historically the predecessor of the bench press. Because of the positioning on the floor, the range of motion is smaller than with the bench press on a bench. This translates into greater emphasis on the triceps at the expense of the chest muscles. The exercise can de

Chest Strength Training
Barbell Front Chest Squat

Barbell Front Chest Squat

The Barbell Front Chest Squat is a powerful exercise that targets the development of your lower body and core while also improving stability and balance. This variation of the traditional squat places more emphasis on the quadriceps and anterior muscle chains, making it a unique addition to your tra

Quads Strength Training
Barbell Incline Bench Press

Barbell Incline Bench Press

If you are looking for an effective way to strengthen your upper body, the Barbell Incline Bench Press is an excellent choice. This exercise targets the upper chest muscles and offers unique benefits compared with the traditional bench press by using a different angle. Execution Set the bench to

Chest Strength Training
Barbell Incline Bench Press

Barbell Incline Bench Press

The Barbell Incline Bench Press is a powerful exercise that targets the upper chest muscles. This variation of the traditional bench press helps you achieve more complete chest development and improves your overall upper-body strength. Execution Set the bench at an angle of approximately 30 to

Chest Strength Training
Barbell JM Bench Press

Barbell JM Bench Press

The Barbell JM Bench Press is a variation of the traditional bench press that targets the triceps while also engaging the chest and shoulders. This exercise is named after powerlifter JM Blakley and is known for its effectiveness in building triceps strength and mass. Execution Lie on a flat ben

Chest Strength Training
Barbell Lying Close-Grip Press

Barbell Lying Close-Grip Press

The Barbell Lying Close-Grip Press is a powerful exercise that targets the triceps, chest, and shoulders. This exercise is unique because it allows you to work with a relatively heavy load, leading to significant strength and muscle development, especially in the triceps. Execution Lie on your b

Triceps Strength Training
Barbell Lying Triceps Skull Crushers

Barbell Lying Triceps Skull Crushers

If you are looking for an effective exercise to strengthen and shape your triceps, the Barbell Lying Triceps Skull Crusher is an excellent choice. This exercise specifically targets the triceps brachii and offers a unique way to isolate and develop these muscles. Execution Lie on your back on a

Triceps Strength Training
Barbell Pullover to Press

Barbell Pullover to Press

The Barbell Pullover to Press is a dynamic compound exercise that engages both your upper body and core strength. This exercise combines the benefits of a pullover with those of an overhead press, allowing you to train multiple muscle groups in one fluid movement. Execution Lie on your back on a

Chest Strength Training
Barbell Reverse Close-Grip Bench Press

Barbell Reverse Close-Grip Bench Press

The Barbell Reverse Close-Grip Bench Press is a variation of the traditional bench press that targets the triceps and upper chest muscles. This exercise offers a unique way to work your muscles differently, which may lead to improved muscle growth and strength. Execution Lie on a flat bench with

Chest Strength Training