Author Topic: How much can you bench press? (Read 7589 times)

michiganparkour · « **on:** May 22, 2006, 05:44:00 PM »

well basicly how much can every one bench press....a nice little question....

ive gotten up to 110 in less than two weeks or so

Kiba · « **Reply #1 on:** May 22, 2006, 06:06:12 PM »

Last time I checked, which was like 3 months ago, I bench 104 max.

Matthew Menze · « **Reply #2 on:** May 23, 2006, 04:23:34 PM »

Two pounds.

Kidding...ahh like 80 or something...Enough to lift my ass up when i fall down, good enough for me.

Gearsighted · « **Reply #3 on:** May 23, 2006, 05:25:24 PM »

Why are you measuring the bench-press? What function does this serve? Better question: how much can you standing overhead press? I'm shooting for bodyweight, I'm currently 170 and can press 155. This is compared to a better than 215 bench press. That alone is a testament to the increased functionality of the overhead press that forces you to stabilize under the load (much like everyday tasks;)

michiganparkour · « **Reply #4 on:** May 23, 2006, 06:55:14 PM »

i know it doesnt really serve any thing man lol just its just a question

Thomas Edwards · « **Reply #5 on:** May 23, 2006, 08:51:17 PM »

i agree w/ gear...but....
at the end of first semester in my body conditioning class i was putting up 125, but i probably couldn't now...however i can do more pullups.

i'm much more proud of my leg press: 490 lbs. this has probably dropped, but not too significantly due to my hellish crosscountry workouts

Gearsighted · « **Reply #6 on:** May 24, 2006, 02:29:04 AM »

Ugh...don't even get me started on the leg press....how much can you squat?

Daniel Faulkner · « **Reply #7 on:** May 24, 2006, 09:32:59 AM »

i weigh 210 - 215 lbs and can bench 215 lbs.

Ryan Ford · « **Reply #8 on:** May 24, 2006, 02:54:27 PM »

I think there are certainly worse things than bench press. Bench is still a compound lift that uses the back, chest, and arms. I believe it helps in parkour in the way of overall strength and also some specific movements such as saut de chats.

weight = 140
bench =240

Altimot · « **Reply #9 on:** May 24, 2006, 04:38:40 PM »

well, i was benching yesterday with quazar and another traceur who isnt on here very much. Then i went back today to try again and i got:

age:15
weight:145
bench:170.

Gearsighted · « **Reply #10 on:** May 24, 2006, 05:37:20 PM »

I think that the bench has very little to do with the saut de chat, as you're never applying anywhere near max force in the midst of that movement. Even if you were to be vaulting something body height where you actually have to maximally press to make height, the movement would bear a much-closer resemblance to a muscle-up or a dip specifically. Combine this with the fact that a bench press constrains your shouders and especially your scapula to an unnatural plane of motion which has a tendency to lead to degenerative shoulder problems over time, and you have an exercise that is best replaced with more natural movements within the majority of your training.

I don't mind seeing it incorporated occasionally, but it gets old having the bench press be the standard for comparitive strength when it's so flawed on a functional level (which means everyday, real-world ability)

Just my .02

Oh, and Demon, a 240 bench at 140 is sick, either way :p

Thomas Edwards · « **Reply #11 on:** May 24, 2006, 07:51:12 PM »

Quote from: gear on May 24, 2006, 02:29:04 AM

Ugh...don't even get me started on the leg press....how much can you squat?

if i remember correctly, my squat (not overhead, the rest on your shoulders type) was at 180 lbs

i weight 110 lbs, 5'4"

i havn't lifted in forever though, it's been mostly kung fu, crosscountry team workouts, pushups, pullups, no weight squats, static holds, etc. (basically lots of bodyweight excercises)

Ryan Ford · « **Reply #12 on:** May 25, 2006, 09:39:10 AM »

well for some of my saut de chats, especially ones where i need a lot of distance coming out of it, i tend to hit the obstacle with slightly bent arms and explosively push off in a dip/bench motion. my gymnast buddy calls it blocking. i know the block up has been mentioned before. a block up is an explosive pushup that lands you in a standing position. its extremely hard to do, but can you imagine the power it could pack on a saut de chat?

Gearsighted · « **Reply #13 on:** May 25, 2006, 11:19:12 AM »

Ahhh, but there's the trick. For a proper block-up (and pushup, dip, etc.) you have to stabilize your torso against gravity, much like a vault (or any other natural movement). For a bench press, on the other hand, you are stabilized against the bench. How many real-world situations require you to push against force at a perfect 90 degree angle to your torso while on your back?

Once again, the bench press has its place, but it is by not means a worthy movement by which to gauge the absolute or relative strength of an individual. On the same token, it would be a poor movement on which to base a fitness program aimed at increasing functional performance.

Ryan Ford · « **Reply #14 on:** May 25, 2006, 01:25:25 PM »

i agree there are a lot better lifts you could do. with that said, bench is still better than the majority of all the other lifts out there, mainly all the isolation crap.

Gearsighted · « **Reply #15 on:** May 25, 2006, 01:31:06 PM »

That is one thing I can definitely agree with :p

Well, except for ez-bar isolation curls while sitting on a pink stability ball wearing spandex...nothing beats that!

coastal96 · « **Reply #16 on:** May 26, 2006, 03:59:02 PM »

Quote

How many real-world situations require you to push against force at a perfect 90 degree angle to your torso while on your back?

What if I've been knocked down in a collapsing house that is on fire and a ceiling beam has fallen on my chest pinning me to the ground? A bench press is quite applicable there :p

Seriously . . . what about comparing a bench press to a wide stance push up? That is a popular pushup position and seems to me to be essentially the reverse of a bench press movement.

Johnny Boy · « **Reply #17 on:** May 26, 2006, 05:48:28 PM »

Man, i feel so small, young, and weak just reading this thread...

Age: 13
Weight: like, 95
bench: about 50, I haven't done it in a while. I need to work on upper body strength, but other than that im in pretty good shape.

Gearsighted · « **Reply #18 on:** May 26, 2006, 05:57:48 PM »

Quote

Seriously . . . what about comparing a bench press to a wide stance push up? That is a popular pushup position and seems to me to be essentially the reverse of a bench press movement.

The problem is the load. One thing the bench press does shine in is the ability to lift heavy in the movement, where a pushup is harder to adjust in such a way.

Personally I would look more towards movements like the standing overhead press or the wieghted dip, as they are similar pressing movements that have much more to offer as far as real-world functionality. Needless to say you would be denying quite a bit if you ignored pulling and lower-body strength, so the weighted pullup and the squat should also be included in any reasonable comparison.

TheBear · « **Reply #19 on:** May 31, 2006, 06:22:26 PM »

Age: 17
Weight: 280
Bench: 280
Squat: 400+

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Author Topic: How much can you bench press? (Read 7589 times)

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