French Press
The french press is a tricep exercise which uses a barbell in a similar movement to the skull crusher or jawbreaker exercise!
Teaching points
- Lay on a bench on your back holding a dumbbell between both hands.
- Start with the arms extended at chest level, with the hands pointing to the ceiling.
- Keep your upper arms still as you bend the elbows, lowering the dumbbell towards your head.
- Once the elbows are bent to around 90 degrees and the weight is behind you head, return to the starting position.
- This exercise is sometimes also called a skull-crusher!
Variations & progressions
- Perform using a barbell.
Muscles worked
- Triceps Brachii.
Alternative exercises
- Tricep extension using a resistance band.
- Overhead tricep extension using a resistance band.
- Tricep dip.
- Tricep kickback.
- Jawbreaker.
Related injuries
- Inflammation and rupture of the triceps tendon.
