One Arm Dumbbell Bench Press

One Arm Dumbbell Bench Press demonstration

How to Perform

1. 1Lie down on a flat bench with a dumbbell in one hand on top of your thigh.
2. 2By using your thigh to help you get the dumbbell up, clean the dumbbell up so that you can hold it in front of you at shoulder width. Use the hand you are not lifting with to help position the dumbbell over you properly.
3. 3Once at shoulder width, rotate your wrist forward so that the palm of your hand is facing away from you. This will be your starting position.
4. 4Bring down the weights slowly to your side as you breathe in. Keep full control of the dumbbell at all times. Tip: Use the hand that you are not lifting with to help keep the dumbbell balance as you may struggle a bit at first. Only use your non-lifting hand if it is needed. Otherwise, keep it resting to the side.
5. 5As you breathe out, push the dumbbells up using your pectoral muscles. Lock your arms in the contracted position, squeeze your chest, hold for a second and then start coming down slowly. Tip: It should take at least twice as long to go down than to come up.
6. 6Repeat the movement for the prescribed amount of repetitions of your training program.
7. 7Switch arms and repeat the movement.

Tips & Common Mistakes

• •Focus on controlled movements rather than speed or momentum
• •Maintain proper breathing - exhale during the exertion phase
• •Start with lighter weight to master the form before progressing
• •This is a great exercise for beginners - focus on form over reps
• •As a compound movement, this exercise works multiple muscle groups efficiently