Front Torso Power

1. Position yourself with your back down on a flat bench placing the hands up on the bar using an underhand grip slightly wider than shoulder width apart.
2. After taking a deep breath in, extend the elbows and lift the bar up off the rack until elbows are extended but not locked. Pause for a brief movement as you fully extend your breath.
3. Lower the weight directly down to the chest as you breath inwards, keeping the movement pattern slow and steady.
4. Once just above the chest, pause, and then press directly up again, exhaling your breath.
5. Continue until all reps are completed and then re-rack the barbell.

1. Lie on a flat bench holding a dumbbell in each hand with an overhand grip.
2. Start by holding the dumbbells slightly wider than shoulder width apart above your shoulders. Your palms should be facing forward.
3. Slowly bend your elbows until they are at a 90 degree angle and your upper arms are parallel to the ground.
4. Push the weights up by straightening your arms.
5. As you push the weights up, move your arms in an arc to bring the dumbbells together, until they meet over the center of your chest. Hold for a count of one.
6. Lower the dumbbells by slowly bending your elbows back to 90 degrees.
7. Continue lowering your arms until they are a little lower than parallel to the floor. (Your elbows should be pointing slightly towards the floor and you should feel a stretch in your chest muscles and shoulders.)
8. Repeat

Be sure to concentrate on a balanced movement when lifting the dumbbells. Use both arms equally spaced and moving at the same speed.

1. Place a pair of dumbbells on the floor. Lie on your back in between the dumbbells. Bend your knees and move your feet towards your butt.
2. Grab the dumbbells and hold them above you. Allow your upper arms to remain on the floor. Begin the movement by pushing the dumbbells over your chest. Pause at the top and squeeze your chest muscles.
3. Slowly bring the weights down to the starting position, allowing your arms to rest for a brief moment before beginning the next repetition.

1. Sit on the seat with your upper chest just above the horizontal handles.
2. Push the foot lever until you are able to grasp the lever.
3. Gras the handles using a wide overhand grip and place your elbows out to the sides just below your shoulders.
4. Release the foot lever and press the hand lever out until your arms are fully extended.
5. Return the weight until your chest muscles are slightly stretched.

1. Get into position by placing your hands flat on the floor, directly below your shoulders.
2. Extend your legs out behind you, with only your toes and balls of your feet touching the floor.
3. Hold your body up and keep your back straight by tightening your abdominal muscles.
4. Your neck and head should be bent slightly back.
5. Lower your chest towards the ground by bending your elbows until your chest is just above the ground or you feel a stretching of your chest and shoulders. Hold for a count of one.
6. Press upwards from your chest and shoulders, straightening your arms as you return to the starting position. Hold for a count of one.
7. Repeat.

1. Begin by sitting on a flat bench. Hold the dumbbell at your side with an overhand grip. Tighten your core and flatten your back.
2. Bring the dumbbells up to shoulder height so that your palm are facing you. Push the dumbbells overhead. Rotate them as you do so.
3. At the height of the movement, your palms should be facing away from you. Pause, contract and slowly return to the starting point through the same rotation.

1. Sit on a military press bench or bench that has a back support, holding a dumbbell in each hand with an overhand grip.
2. Place the dumbbells on top of your thighs with your palms facing down.
3. Raise the dumbbells to your shoulders.
4. Rotate your wrists so that the palms of your hands are facing away from you. This is the start position.
5. As you exhale,  push the dumbbells up and over your head by extending your arms until the dumbbells touch at the top of the movement.
6. Pause for a count of one.
7. Slowly return to the start position inhaling as you do so.
8. Repeat.

This exercise can be performed standing or sitting on  flat bench. For people with lower back problems, the version described is better.

1. Holding a water bottle in each hand, stand straight, with your feet shoulder width apart.
2. Raise the water bottles to head height by rotating your arms forward and up.
3. Your triceps should be parallel to the floor and your elbows bent at 90 degrees. This is the start position.
4. Keeping your back straight and using only your arms, extend through your shoulders and elbows to drive the water bottles straight up, exhaling as you do so.
5. As your arms reach the fully extended position, bring them in towards each other until the water bottles touch lightly together.
6. Hold for a count of one, while squeezing your shoulder muscles.
7. In a controlled movement, return to the starting position, inhaling as you do so.
8. Repeat.

1. Place your left foot onto the middle of a resistance band. Step forward with the right. Tighten your abdominals and avoid arching your back.
2. Press the handles of the resistance band up and stop once your upper arms are parallel with the ground, making a scarecrow formation. The band should be behind your arms.
3. Slowly press the resistance band overhead. Do not lock out the elbows. Lower to the starting position and begin again.

1. Stand tall with a tight core and flat back. Hold a weight plate, dumbbell or kettlebell with both hands in front of your hips. Be sure to use an overhand grip. You can also use a resistance band secured under your feet. Your feet should be shoulder-width apart.
2. With a slight bend in the elbows, raise the weight plate up and in front of you. Pause and squeeze the shoulders when you reach chest level.
3. Slowly lower the plate to the starting position, immediately moving into the next repetition.

1. Holding a pair of dumbbells with an overhand grip, stand tall with your chest up and core braced.
2. Begin by lifting the dumbbells in front of you. Keep the abdominals contracted as you raise the dumbbells. Feel the contraction in the shoulder muscles.
3. Once the dumbbells reach shoulder height, pause and slowly lower the dumbbells to the starting position.

1. Holding the handle of a resistance band in each hand, step on the middle of the band with both feet. Stand up straight with a tight core and flat back.
2. Begin by lifting your hands straight up in front of you with an overhand grip. Be sure to keep a slight bend in the elbows at all times.
3. Pause at the top to feel the contraction then slowly lower the bands to the starting position.

1. Stand straight holding a water bottle in each hand with an overhand grip.
2. Hold the water bottles in front of your thighs with your palms of the facing your thighs. Keep your arms fully extended. This is the start position.
3. Raise the left water bottle out and upwards, while keeping a slight bend in your elbow. Your palms must always face down for this exercise.
4. Continue raising the water bottle until your arm is a little above parallel to the floor. Exhale as you are raising the water bottle.
5. Pause for a count of one.
6. Inhale and slowly lower the water bottle to the start position.
7. As you lower the left water bottle, begin to lift the right water bottle, duplicating the movement.
8. When both water bottles have been raised and lowered in a cycle, that is one repetition.
9. Repeat.

1. Laying flat on the floor with your legs bent and knees pointing upwards, hold the medicine ball on your chest with your hands at either side.  
2. Using an explosive press, drive the medicine ball up and away from your chest.
3. Allow the ball to leave your hands but be ready to catch it again on its descent.
4. Catch the ball and lower it back to your chest to repeat.

Take extra care with this motion! Practice with a very light ball to get the rhythm.

• Stand up straight, facing a wall or a partner. Make sure there is approximately 5 feet of space between you.
• Holding a medicine ball with both hands, bring it up to your chest level.
• Focusing the tension in your chest, explosively toss the ball straight and forward against the wall or have your partner catch it.
• Catch the ball as it bounces back and repeat the movement in rapid succession.

1. Hold a kettlebell in your left hand and bring it to the center of your body. Throughout this movement, be sure to keep your abdominals braced and your gaze straight ahead.
2. Begin the movement by bending at the knees then driving yourself up as you pull the kettlebell up. At the top, rotate the wrist so the kettlebell flips to the other side of your hand.
3. Bend at the knees again with a slight lowering of the hips then drive yourself back up to create momentum. Push the kettlebell straight overhead. Carefully bring the weight down and repeat.

1. Stand over a dumbbell with your feet placed slightly wider than hip width apart either side of the dumbbell.
2. Squat down and take a firm grip of the dumbbell; ensure that your shoulders are positioned upright, keeping your back straight and eyes straight ahead.
3. Explosively lift the dumbbell by extending your hips from the squatting position and allow the dumbbell to travel along upward and close to your body.
4. As the dumbbell reaches your hip level, shrug your lifting shoulder and pull the dumbbell upwards keeping the same line of trajectory if viewed from the side.
5. Bending your working elbow and allowing the dumbbell to extend overhead, slightly squat your body below so that your position is semi-squatted with your working arm fully extended above your head.
6. Maintaining a solid grip on the now overhead dumbbell, drive your feet into the floor and rise upwards from the semi-squatting position to complete the lift.

This exercise is a complicated explosive lift. If attempting for the first time, start with a light dumbbell for form practice. Ideally, do so with a qualified trainer present.

• With dumbbells at your sides, stand with your feet slightly wider than shoulder-width apart and fee pointing slightly outward. Look straight ahead.
• Squat down until your upper legs are parallel with the floor by bending your knees, keep your back straight.
• With an explosive but controlled movement, push up through your heels and press the dumbbells above your head as you return to standing position.
• Still standing, slowly lower the dumbbells down to your chest and then down to your sides by extending your arms.
• Repeat.

• With your feet shoulder-width apart, bend down from the knees, driving the hips back and keep your back flat.
• Grab a barbell with an overhand grip that is shoulder width apart.
• Push off the floor while simultaneously lifting the barbell upward, keeping it close to your body.
• Explosively, pull the barbell up and push it above your head as you allow your hips to dip back towards the ground.
• Stand up to finish the movement.

1. Stand over a dumbbell with your feet placed slightly wider than hip width apart either side of the dumbbell.
2. Squat down and take a firm grip of the dumbbell; ensure that your shoulders are positioned upright, keeping your back straight and eyes straight ahead.
3. Explosively lift the dumbbell by extending your hips from the squatting position and allow the dumbbell to travel along upward and close to your body.
4. As the dumbbell reaches your hip level, shrug your lifting shoulder and pull the dumbbell upwards keeping the same line of trajectory if viewed from the side.
5. Bending your working elbow and allowing the dumbbell to extend overhead, slightly squat your body below so that your position is semi-squatted with your working arm fully extended above your head.
6. Maintaining a solid grip on the now overhead dumbbell, drive your feet into the floor and rise upwards from the semi-squatting position to complete the lift.

This exercise is a complicated explosive lift. If attempting for the first time, start with a light dumbbell for form practice. Ideally, do so with a qualified trainer present.

1. Place a kettlebell between your feet.
2. Stand with your feet slightly wider than shoulder width apart.
3. Bend your knees and push your hips back,bending at the waist while keeping your back straight.
4. Grip the kettle bell with an overhand grip.
5. Keeping your neck and head straight, swing the kettlebell back between your legs.
6. Once the kettlebell is behind you, immediately reverse the direction and drive forward with your hips and knees, forcing the kettlebell upward.
7. When the kettlebell reaches shoulder level, rotate your hand and push straight up, using your momentum.
8. Use your body’s downward momentum to receive the weight as it comes back down.
9. Return to the start position.
10. Repeat until all the repetitions for one arm are completed, then switch.

The exercise can be performed continuously, using the downward momentum to swing the kettlebell backwards. However for maximum benefit, it is better to follow the outline described.

1. Come to the ground, placing your knees below your hips and your hands below your shoulders. Elevate your hips up, extending your legs and arms. Keep the head in a neutral position.
2. Move the right hand forward as you simultaneously move the left foot forward. Afterwards, move the left hand and right foot forward.
3. Continue in this back and forth pattern, always moving the opposite hand and foot. Remember to brace the core throughout the movement.

• Lay face down on the ground with extended legs.
• Point your toes while you place your hands beneath your shoulders.
• Push yourself up into the plank position.
• Maintaining a tight core and flat back, bring your left knee to your right elbow.
• Pause and slowly return each to the starting point.
• Repeat with the other side and keep alternating.

1. Get into a push­up position with hands under shoulders and body straight from head to toes.
2. Engage your core and bend your elbows, keeping them in towards the body.
3. Lower your body towards the floor.
4. Straighten your arms and quickly jump the feet forward to outside of the hands.
5. Jump back to starting position.

1. Lie on a mat and position yourself in a plank position. Place your elbows on the floor beneath your shoulders. Your toes should touch the floor and your torso should be lifted in a straight line.
2. Engage your core muscles and lift one foot off the floor. Keep the rest of your body as still as you can. Your heel should lift until it is in line with your buttocks.
3. Slowly lower the leg to the starting position and repeat with the other leg.

1. In a open, person-free space, take hold of a medicine/slam ball with both hands so that it rests on your chest.
2. Lower your body into a half squat before explosively straightening your legs. Simultaneously press the ball away from your chest and release it at a slightly upward angle.
3. Chase the ball, use a squat to collect it from the ground and perform the same movement.

1. Get into position by placing your hands flat on the floor, directly below your shoulders.
2. Extend your legs out behind you, with only your toes and balls of your feet touching the floor.
3. Hold your body up and keep your back straight by tightening your abdominal muscles.
4. Your neck and head should be bent slightly back.
5. Lower your chest towards the ground by bending your elbows until your chest is just above the ground or you feel a stretching of your chest and shoulders. Hold for a count of one.
6. Press upwards from your chest and shoulders, straightening your arms as you return to the starting position. Hold for a count of one.
7. Repeat.