🏋️ boost your bench press without touching a weight

After seeing and loving The Super Mario Bros. Movie, we can’t help ourselves when we say, “Mama Mia!” at someone’s monstrous lift. It’s reflexive!

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Six American strongmen, led by Brian Shaw, are headed to next week's World’s Strongest Man. Check out a joint training session the U.S. group just posted to YouTube.

Samantha Rice’s resume as a powerlifter is impeccable. So is her ability to break world records with authority.

Working out with barbells isn’t the only way to make chest gains. We broke down nine weightless paths to a stronger bench press.

Strongman

An American Strength Meeting

Next week’s World’s Strongest Man (WSM) is not short on superstar power. It isn’t short on elite American strongmen, either.

This group of titans reveled in their mutual status as countrymen by taking part in a joint training session that included four-time WSM champ Brian Shaw, Trey Mitchell, Bobby Thompson, Kevin Faires, and Evan Singleton. Together, they worked through five events that might mirror what they expect to face in Myrtle Beach.

From some tests of a Log Radder to a Conan’s Wheel dry run, you’ll feel all the strength after seeing these guys get after it.

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Powerlifting

Samantha Rice Dominates

Samantha Rice has been a professional powerlifter for almost a decade — and she has never lost a competition during that time. And after her latest record-laden performance, it’s unclear if the athlete will ever lose.

During last weekend’s annual Pioneer on the Beach, Rice outdid herself in the 90-kilogram division. She broke three raw World Records — a 267.5-kilogram (589.7-pound) squat, a 280-kilogram (617.3-pound) bench press, and a 702.5-kilogram (1,548.7-pound) total — en route to another victory.

On her Instagram, Rice wrote that she would use her well-earned $20,000 prize money on a different aspect of her life: motherhood.

“Now, time for a new Momma SUV,” she wrote after the win.

Words to live by, indeed.

Exercise Tips

Build a Better Bench Without Weights

At a certain point, you might see diminished returns with your bench press progress. You’ll find that you actually have to do other exercises (gasp!) to help increase your gains once that loaded barbell’s in hand.

But, contrary to popular belief, you don’t need weights to make headway. There are other quality ways to get a stronger bench press. Different push-up variations? Check. A wall walk? Check! A tripod crab reach? Uh … check!

Here’s our guide on nine ways you can improve your bench press without weights.

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Everything Else

Dorian Yates’ Doctor Who Trick

• Dorian Yates had a unique way of psyching opponents out during his Olympia dynasty. And just as you’d expect, it involved the show Doctor Who.

• Speaking of American strongmen, Evan Singleton shared his “World’s Strongest Stretching” routine.

• We’re always looking for surefire ways to bolster our core. The toes-to-bar might be your best friend.