🏋️ 8 exercises that build bigger, stronger shoulders

Can you believe we're already over a week into 2023? Before we know it, Valentine's Day will be here. Don't worry; we've already prepared a few love notes to the world of strength sports below.

In just under two months, the 2023 Arnold Classic — one of the first major stops in bodybuilding this year — will be here. We took a look at the confirmed roster.

The first episode of the Buttery Bros' Buttery Games fitness competition is in the books. From Martins Licis to Brooke Wells, some of the biggest names in strength reveled in the outside-the-box showcase.

Trying to take better care of your shoulders this year? Check out these eight different dynamite variations of the overhead press.

Bodybuilding

The First Steps to a Vintage Arnold Classic

The road to the 2023 Olympia is well underway, and Friday saw the roster reveal for the annual Arnold Classic bodybuilding competition. Some of the more notable featured names include Urs Kalecinski and Ramon Rocha Quieroz in Classic Physique and Shaun Clarida's return to the Men's Open division.

We're still a few months away from the showdown in Columbus, OH, but the names on this roster make it all but certain this competition will be another classic.

Strength

A Strength Sports All-Star Show

Last week saw the Buttery Bros — documentarians Heber Cannon and Marston Sawyers — post the very first episode of the Buttery Games. This viral contest is supposed to be a fun display of several of the more prominent athletes in the fitness sphere.

The duo paired off seven teams of competitors, including notable entrants like 2019 World's Strongest Man Martins Licis, bodybuilder Kai Greene, and CrossFitter Brooke Wells. These teams were then pitted against each other in a series of events to determine a winner. (Think of it like American Gladiators but with less voluminous '90s hair.)

From a standard 400-meter relay to a "Trophy Truck Race" (as delightful as it sounds!), this series is designed to test some of the fittest people on the planet. And if this sounds like your jam, two more segments are on the horizon. Ultimately, you might even say the first part went as smoothly as a knife through butter.

Training Tips

Press Your Shoulders Into Top Shape

Everyone talks about “International bench day,” but there’s nothing quite like pressing something heavy overhead. It’s pretty much the most innate display of strength — but there's more than one way to build that overhead pressing power in the gym.

Learning new overhead variations not only increases the weight you can use for your barbell overhead press, but they also keep your body guessing and add some much-needed diversity to your shoulder day.

In our breakdown of this shoulder staple, we've featured eight different variations of the overhead press and shined a light on what each can achieve for you in the new year.

Everything Else

Derek Lunsford's Olympia Mission

• Derek Lunsford is one of the more notable absences from the 2023 Arnold Classic. Learn why the 2022 Mr. Olympia runner-up chose to sit this one out.

• Before the 2023 CrossFit season starts in earnest, 2022 Games competitor Kelly Shirley already has two PRs in the books.

• Speaking of CrossFit, here are nine great stretches if you're starting your CrossFit journey.

Sound Off!

What's in a Workout Week?

The Results Are In!

A Pre-Workout Shocker

In the December 21, 2021, edition of The BarBend Newsletter, we asked readers to vote on whether or not they take a pre-workout supplement before hitting the gym. Here are the results:

1. No (56.10%)

2. Yes (43.90%)