Handstand pushups vs Military press

[DCDave]

Do you guys think one is better than the other?

I've noticed that with behind the neck presses you can get a better range of motion than with handstand pushups. But the bar is so f'ing hard to get away from the rack when I first lift off and I don't have a spotter.

Who preffers one over the other and why?

[papi93]

Have you tried doing handstand pushups with your hands elevated on chairs? Brutally tough.

What are your goals for strength training? With information, I could make a more specific recommendation.

[Canadian Iron]

Military press is done standing, in front of the head, by definition.
If you are sitting down, you aren't doing military presses.
So if you do the exercise properly you won't have trouble getting it away from the rack.

[GSP]

I love handstand pushups, but they absolutely brutalize my shoulder where MP's don't. Not sure what the difference in mechanics is that leads to this, but I haven't done them in years.

[DCDave]

Military press is done standing, in front of the head, by definition.
If you are sitting down, you aren't doing military presses.
So if you do the exercise properly you won't have trouble getting it away from the rack.

Let me rephrase the statement more technically. If I'm sitting in the overhead bench press thing-a-ma-jigger that I will use to push a barbell over my head and bring it down behind my neck, I have a hard time getting the bar away from the back rest once I load over 60 lbs. I have no problem crancking out 10 reps of standing on my hands and lowering my body until my head almost touches the floor.

[Canadian Iron]

1. Use a spotter
2. Lower to weight to something you can handle
3. Try them standing - you just might like them

[legends159]

I like standing cause it hits my core just to stabalize the weight

[DCDave]

1. Use a spotter
2. Lower to weight to something you can handle
3. Try them standing - you just might like them

I can't get a spotter and I hate bugging the other people at the gym.
If I lower the weight I just end up cranking out way too many reps.
I've never tried them standing and might give it a try..if my lower back can take it.

Thanks

[papi93]

I can't get a spotter and I hate bugging the other people at the gym.
If I lower the weight I just end up cranking out way too many reps.
I've never tried them standing and might give it a try..if my lower back can take it.

Thanks

What you can also do is, take the bar out of a squat rack and squat down until you are sitting on an adjustable bench. Complete your presses and when finished, lower to your shoulders and stand back up and rack the weight.

[Ageispolis]

I always thought if I went to jail, and was thrown into solitary, I would spend some of my time doing handstand pushups.

[papi93]

I always thought if I went to jail, and was thrown into solitary, I would spend some of my time doing handstand pushups.

Pistols and King Deadlifts would work well for the legs.