Fittest & Strongest

Two World Strongest Man champions and the Fittest Man on Earth walk into a gym…

A Unique Training Session

Three world champions across two strength sports, 2018 World’s Strongest Man (WSM) Höfhor Björnsson, 2023 WSM champion Mitchell Hooper, and Justin Medeiros, spent a training session together, trading sets of behind-the-neck presses and split jerks.

The Event: Behind-the-Neck Press

The behind-the-neck press will be featured at the 2025 Arnold Strongman Classic (ASC) in Columbus, OH, at the start of March. Hooper is the defending champion; Björnsson is a three-time ASC seeking his fourth title.

The Training Session

Hooper started the session with squats, top-setting at 635 pounds. Björnsson got right to behind-the-neck shoulder presses and was joined by Hooper and Medeiros shortly thereafter. They set up pads and lifted the bar straight from their shoulders overhead to a lockout.

Technical Insights

Medeiros utilized a split-jerk stance while Björnsson maintained his traditional pressing motion with feet shoulder-width apart. Medeiros advised Hooper to start the press by generating momentum to move the barbell off the shoulders, saying, "See how much rip you can get from the bar without pressing." Hooper obliged for several reps before performing a full rep with 225 pounds. Medeiros elaborated on the strategy, "It really helps to learn that pattern of getting that bar to go," referring to how Hooper could perform the lift with heavier weights, like 400 pounds.

Conclusion

The technique is ultimately intended for efficiency, not stimulus. The goal is to move the weight from the starting position to lockout as easily as possible, not train any particular muscle group. By learning this pattern, Hooper can convert heavier weights with less physical strain.

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FAQs

• What is the Arnold Strongman Classic (ASC)?
  The ASC is a strongman competition held annually in Columbus, OH.
• Who are the champions featured in this article?
  Höfhor Björnsson (2018 World’s Strongest Man) and Mitchell Hooper (2023 World’s Strongest Man) and Justin Medeiros.