Max Effort Upper: Reverse Monster Mini Band Bench Press in Shirt [VIDEO]

After having a year away from the platform and a terrible showing at the 2018 XPC Bench Bash, I'm gearing back up for a multiply bench only competition, the APF Pressing the Pieces Together on April 27th, 2019. This meet helps bring awareness and charity donations for Autism Awareness. I'm looking to compete at 132lbs and just have a good meet back, while running my new gym, THIRST, and rehabbing my low back issues.

For programming and coaching inquires, please email SmitleyPerformanceSystems@gmail.com or visit brandonsmitley.com

Week five and we're in the shirt with a big bench press. I was super pumped about this, as I think I'm going to get a lot better carryover out of this new shirt. I've still got time to break things in, and continue to make some good progress in it, but right now I was just wanting to get some good overload to my system, as I know in two weeks I'll be going to a board to try to determine what an opener and second attempt might be. We've still got a lot of work to do with the shirt, but nothing has felt terribly hard...yet. Kept the accessory work on the light end, since benching in the shirt just straight destroyed me.

I also now have a donation link available for donations towards Autism Awareness for this meet. If you have the time, any monetary donation would be greatly appreciated towards a great cause, thanks to Eric Stone and the APF.

You can donate HERE.

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A post shared by Brandon Smitley, MS CSCS USAW (@bsmitley) on Feb 23, 2019 at 7:07pm PST

Items Used in this Training Session

Warm Up Lateral Raises DB Overhead Press Rear Delt Raises DB Bench Press DB Flys DB Skull Crushers DB Rows DB Curls 15 each

A1) Reverse Monster Mini Band Bench Press Worked up to 355x1 - PR 415x1 - add shirt 445x1 475x1 505x1 - touch

B1) Close Grip Axle Bar Floor Press vs 4.5 Chains Per Side Worked up to 155x5 - PR

C1) KB Skull Crushers 4x10

D1) Standing Single Arm Band Rear Delt Fly 5x25 per arm D2) Single Arm Band Pressdowns 5x20 per arm