Both movements are common in weight training programs. What Muscles Do Barbell Military Presses Work? To get the most out of barbell military presses, you've got to execute the exercise with proper form. For greater balance, assume a stride stance, i.e., one foot slightly in front of the other. It’s strange to use this exercise for hypertrophy as far as triceps is much less active in this exercise than, for example, in a narrow grip press. Military Press vs. Behind-the-Neck Press | … How to Military Press At the starting position, the barbell is just above your deltoids. The main muscles worked by the barbell military press are the shoulders, particularly the anterior and... Tri's Too. The Military Press Assume a well-balanced standing position with your feet shoulder width apart and your toes pointed slightly to the sides. The sense of military press Anyway, the military press is a multi-joint exercise, which involves mainly – the front delts, triceps, and the middle delt. Grab the bar with hands slightly wider than shoulder-width, palms facing forwards. Feet should be roughly shoulder-width apart. The military press is a great shoulder building exercise that works your front shoulder muscles (anterior deltoids), top shoulder muscles (lateral deltoids), traps and triceps. With this one exercise, you will work all three muscles in your shoulder (with emphases on those mentioned above). The prime movers in the overhead press are the anterior and medial deltoids — posterior deltoids get some love too, as they are the stabilizers when the … Top Priority. Do It Right. The military press and behind the neck press are very similar lifts that use many of the same muscles. Create full-body tension by tightening your core and pushing your heels into the ground.