Clean & Press 2

The photo above, on the left, is a good, strict press. The series of photos below is of American lifter, Russ Knipp doing a Russian style press in 1967. Notice how he begins. He is not standing erect, but instead he is leaning back before even starting to press. With strong abdominals, he forcefully comes erect and at the same time starts pressing. He lays back again to let the bar pass his face and allow his arms to lock out. Then, he arrives at the final position, almost erect, to complete the lift. A properly executed Olympic press is a fast lift. However, although not a strict military style press, the Olympic press is also not a jerk. It is a lift unique unto itself. By the way, this lift was a world record in the 165 pound class with 350 pounds.

Before the bench press became popular, the "Press" was the standard for the strength world. The bench press wasn't practiced until the 1950s and didn't become really popular until the 1970s. Today they ask you, "How much can you bench?" Years ago the question was, "How much can you press?"