Triceps Workout

1. Sit on a decline bench and place your feet under the leg brace. Rest a dumbbell on each thigh.
2. Grab hold of the dumbbells with an overhand grip and lie back on the bench.
3. Position the dumbbells on either side of your chest. Your palms should face outwards and your arms should be bent under each weight.
4. Slowly press the dumbbells up from the elbows until your arms are fully extended over your chest.
5. Return to the starting position by lowering the dumbbells to either side of your chest again. You should feel a slight stretch in your chest and shoulders.

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. Set up a bench or stable elevated surface. Begin with both hands on the bench at shoulder-width or just outside of shoulder-width.
2. Place your feet straight behind you while you tighten your abs and engage the hips. Your hips should not dip or elevate too high during the movement.
3. Slowly lower yourself towards the bench. Once your upper arms are parallel with the floor, pause, and return to the starting position.

1. Place a pair of dumbbells on the floor next to a decline bench. Secure yourself in the bench. Pick up dumbbells and hold them above you with a slight bend in the elbow.
2. Keeping the dumbbells in line with your chest, slowly open up your arms to the sides.
3. Stop when your upper arms are parallel with the floor.
4. Squeeze your chest muscles and slowly return to starting position. Repeat.

1. Adjust the pulley lever to be below you. Stand in the center of the pulley machine while holding both handles. Brace your abdominals and take a step forward.
2. With your chest up, bring the handles up and to the front of your body. The handles will meet at shoulder height.
3. Pause to feel the contraction in your chest then slowly lower the handles to the starting position.

• Holding a pair of dumbbells, sit on a flat bench and slowly lower yourself back.
• Keep a tight core as you push the dumbbells above your chest. The dumbbells will be facing one another and held together.
• With a slight bend in the elbow, open up your chest and slowly lower the dumbbells to the sides.
• When the dumbbells are parallel with the ground, pause, and return to the starting position.

1. Facing down, place yourself on the ground with your hands flat on the floor, directly below your shoulders.
2. Place your feet on top of a bench or box. Only your toes and balls of your feet should be touching the floor.
3. Maintain a flat back and tight core before lowering your chest towards the ground. Bend your elbows at a 60-degree angle until your chest is just above the ground. You should feel a stretch across your chest. Hold for a count of one.
4. Push yourself back to the starting position by straightening your arms. Do not lock out your elbows.
5. Repeat.

1. Set up an incline bench in front of a weight rack, making sure you adjust the incline to a comfortable position. The back of the bench should be facing the weight stack.
2. Sit on the bench placing your back firmly against the backrest.
3. Using an overhand grip, grasp the bar with your hands spaced about twice your shoulder width apart.
4. Lift the bar from the rack by pushing up with your chest muscles and hold it straight over your chest with your arms fully extended. This is the start position.
5. As you inhale, lower the barbell slowly until it touches your upper chest.
6. Hold for a count of one while squeezing your chest muscles.
7. Return to the start position as you exhale, pushing the bar using your chest muscles. Hold for a count of one.
8. Repeat.

If you are new at this exercise, you should use a spotter. If there is no-one available to spot for you, be conservative with the amount of weight you use. Do not let the bar drift too far forward. The bar to should touch down on your chest only. When performing this exercise, you should use a 2:1:1 count. That is a count of two on the downward movement. A count of one to hold and squeeze.a count of one for the upward movement.

1. Set up an incline bench so the back rest is at about a 45 degree angle.
2. Hold a dumbbell in each hand with an overhand grip. (Palms facing away from you)
3. Sit on the bench with your feet flat on the floor and your back and shoulders pressed firmly back against the back rest.
4. Raise the dumbbells up to your shoulder level, keeping your elbows bent at 90 degrees.
5. Push the dumbbells up and away from you using your shoulders and chest while straightening your arms.
6. Continue raising the dumbbells until your arms are straight and the dumbbells are suspended above your chest. Hold for a count of one.
7. Lower the dumbbells back towards your chest by relaxing your chest and shoulders while bending your elbows.
8. Hold for a count of one
9. Repeat.

1. Position yourself on all fours on a mat.
2. Place your hands in front of you and shoulder-width apart.
3. Now bring your hands in towards the center until the tips of your index fingers and tips of your thumbs are touching. This creates a diamond shape between your hands. Your elbows and wrists should be in line with your chest.
4. With your fingers facing forwards, lift off your knees so that your body forms a straight line and just your hands and toes touch the floor.
5. Keep you pelvis straight and abs engaged and aim to keep a straight back throughout the movement.
6. Bend your elbows and lower your body towards the floor, aiming to touch your chest to the top of your hands. Pause briefly.
7. Return to the starting position by extending your elbows and lifting your body off the floor again.

1. Lie on a flat bench with your feet flat on the floor. Make sure your back is completely flat on the bench, with no “arching” of your spine.
2. Grip the barbell with an overhand grip, shoulder width or slightly less than shoulder width apart. (Do not make your grip too narrow as it limits stability of the barbell which can lead to injury)
3. Push up using your chest and shoulders to lift the barbell above your body, then lower it slowly ( a count of 2) towards the centre of your chest. Hold for a count of one.
4. Without “bouncing” the weight, force the barbell back up over the middle of your chest, straightening your arms and locking your elbows once your arms are fully straight. Hold for a count of one.
5. Repeat.

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. 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. Lie with your upper back perpendicular on a bench.
2. Bend your knees and place your feet flat on the floor and flex your hips so that your body is in line.
3. Grasp a dumbbell between your hands under the inner plate, palms facing up.
4. Position the weight over your chest with your elbows slightly bent.
5. Keep your elbows bent as you lower the dumbbell over your head until your upper arms are in line with your torso.
6. To return to the starting position, pull the dumbbell up and over your chest.

Try to avoid raising your hips and maintain a small bend in your elbows throughout the movement.

• With slightly bent knees and a tight core, hold a medicine ball in front of you at hip-level.
• Begin by raising the medicine ball upward above your head with both hands.
• Keeping your elbows bent, forcefully throw the ball at the ground.
• Catch the ball as it bounces back up, and bring it back up above your head.
• Repeat this slam and catch 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.

1. Place two dumbbells or kettlebells on the floor about shoulder width apart.
2. In a push up position, place your hands on the grip section of each bell for support.
3. Spread your legs to slightly wider than hip width apart with your toes supporting your weight. This is the start position.
4. Push down through one bell and at the same time “row” the opposite one upwards by retracting your shoulder and bending your elbow.
5. Hold for a count of one.
6. Your breathing should remain constant throughout the movement.
7. Lower the bell to the floor and without pause, then repeat the movement with your other arm.
8. When you have rowed both arms, that is one repetition.
9. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

This is an advanced level exercise. Lower strength and poor form has the potential for injury to the middle and lower back and wrists.

1. Lean forward into an incline bench
2. Using a neutral grip, hold a dumbbell in each hand so your palms are facing in.
3. Your arms should be fully extended and hanging straight down. This is the start position.
4. Pull your shoulder blades back and flex your elbows to pull the dumbbells up to your sides.
5. Hold and squeeze your shoulder and back muscles.
6. Return to the start position in a slow, controlled movement.
7. Repeat.

1. Stand tall with a tight core and flat back. Hold a pair of dumbbells at your side with an overhand grip. Bend slightly at the knees as you push your hips back. Keep your chest and head up. Upper body should be almost parallel with the floor.
2. With your elbows at a 60-degree angle, bring the dumbbells up. Pause when your upper arm is parallel with the floor. Contract the muscle then slowly return the dumbbells to the starting point.

1. Sit on a bench with back support.
2. Grip a dumbbell at one end using both hands. Your palms should be facing inward.
3. Hold the dumbbell overhead with your arms fully extended.  This is the the start position.
4. Keep your upper arms close to your head (biceps roughly level with your temples) and near to 90degrees to the floor.
5. Moving only your forearms, lower the dumbbell in a smooth arc behind your head until your forearms and biceps touch. Hold for a count of one.
6. Return to the start position by using the triceps to extend your arm and raise the dumbbell. Exhale as you do this.
7. Repeat.

This exercise can be performed standing. However, it places an extra strain on your back so is not recommended for people with lower back problems. You can also perform this exercise using an EZ bar or straight bar with a close grip behind your head, palms facing forward.

1. Attach a rope to the bottom pulley of a cable station.
2. Grip the rope with both hands using a neutral grip. Turn your body away from the cable station.
3. Fully extend your arms until your hands are directly above your head pointing to the ceiling.
4. Keep your elbows  close to your head. This is the start position.
5. Slowly lower the rope behind your head, keeping your upper arms stationary, inhaling as you do so.
6. When your triceps are fully extended, hold for a count of one while squeezing your triceps.
7. Return to the starting position by flexing your triceps  and extending your arms. Exhale as you do so.
8. Repeat.

This exercise can be performed  seated on a plain bench, or one that has a back support You  can also use a single dumbbell instead of the rope.

1. Begin the movement by stepping on to a resistance band with your feet at shoulder-width, toes pointed slightly out.
2. Push the handles of the band overhead while keeping a slight bend in the elbow. Brace your abdominals and do not arch your back.
3. Slowly lower your hands behind your head using only the forearms. The upper arms will stay in place with the elbow pointed up.
4. Push the handles back up, focusing the tension in the triceps.

1. Go into a standard push-up position, supporting your weight on your toes and hands. Your back is flat and your core is tight. Your hands should be directly beneath your shoulders.
2. Lower yourself into a push-up. Focus the tension in the chest.
3. As you descend, bring your right leg up and to the side. Try to touch the knee to the elbow. As you push yourself back up, return the leg to its original position. Repeat with the other side.

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. Get yourself in the push-up position with your hands flat on the ground just wider than shoulder width apart.
2. Ensuring that there is a straight line running from your neck to your heels, lift your right leg off the ground.
3. Keeping your right leg elevated, bend your elbows and lower your body towards the ground until your chest is about two inches away from the floor.
4. Push your body back to the starting position and then lower your right leg to the ground.
5. Repeat the motion with the left leg elevated.

1. Start by standing to the right of a flat bench with a dumbbell on the floor to your right.
2. Place your left knee on the bench with your left hand palm down n the bench in front of it. In this position, keep your back straight.
3. Pick up the dumbbell with your right hand using an overhand grip.
4. Raise your arm until it is in line with your body, keeping your elbow tucked into your side and bent to a 90 degree angle. Your forearm should be pointing straight down to the floor.
5. Extend your arm using your triceps to lift the weight until it is level with your shoulder.
6. Hold for a count of one while squeezing your tricep.
7. Lower to the starting position by bending your elbow to 90 degrees.Hold and repeat.
8. Complete the set for your right arm before changing stance to work your left arm.

Only your forearm should move during this exercise. Keep your elbow in line with your shoulders at all times throughout the movement.

1. Holding a pair of dumbbells with an overhand grip, stand tall with your chest up and core braced. Bend at the hips while keeping your back completely flat.
2. Once your upper body is parallel with the floor, bring your upper arms to your sides. Begin by pushing the dumbbells back and behind you.
3. Pause at the top of the movement and feel the contraction in your triceps. Slowly lower the dumbbells and begin again.

1. Attach a resistance band to a door frame or other stable surface. Grab the handles of the band and walk backward until the slack tightens.
2. Bend slightly at the knees and forward at the hips. Maintain a flat back throughout.
3. Bring your upper arms up and tight to your side. From here, you will pull the band back using the forearms only. The contraction will be felt exclusively in the triceps.
4. Slowly return to the starting position and begin again.

1. Holding a pair of water bottles with an overhand grip, stand tall with your chest up and core braced. Bend at the hips while keeping your back completely flat.
2. Once your upper body is parallel with the floor, bring your upper arms to your sides. Begin by pushing the water bottles back and behind you.
3. Pause at the top of the movement and feel the contraction in your triceps. Slowly lower the water bottles and begin again.

1. Set up 2 flat benches opposite each other. They should be roughly the distance of your hips to the floor apart.
2. Stand with your back to one bench,facing the other, then crouch down placing your palms behind you on the edge of the bench. Your arms should be fully extended at shoulder width, with your fingers facing forward.
3. Place the heels of your feet on the other bench. Keep your legs fully extended.
4. Have a spotter place a barbell weight plate or dumbbell on your lap. This is the start position.
5. Slowly lower yourself down by bending your elbows,until they are at 90 degrees or slightly less. Hold for a count of one.
6. Return to the starting position by pushing yourself up using only your triceps to straighten your arms. Hold then repeat

You will need a spotter to help you with this exercise. Trying to place the weight in your own lap once in position can cause instability and increase the risk of injury. Have your spotter remain with you throughout your set to ensure the weights don't slide off causing injury.

1. Sit on a chair with your hands either next to your hips or slightly under the hips.
2. Lift up onto your hands and bring your hips forward.
3. Bend your elbows and lower your hips down, keeping shoulders down and hips close to the chair.
4. Push back up but don’t lock your elbows and repeat.

1. Get into plank position and place hands wide apart, supporting your body on your toes. Your body should be straight and elbows extended. Keep abs engages and hips lifted off the floor.
2. Allow the elbows to flex and lower your chest to the floor.
3. Pause and then repeat.

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.