# alternative to military press

**URL:** <https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/alternative-to-military-press/984>\
**Category:** Training Q&A \[Moderated\]\
**Tags:** press, home-gym, variations\
**Created:** [February 23, 2018, 10:45pm UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/alternative-to-military-press/984 "2018-02-23T22:45:42Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![George\_Locke](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.barbellmedicine.com/george_locke/32/861_2.png) [@George\_Locke](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/George_Locke)\
**Post date:** [February 23, 2018, 10:45pm UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/alternative-to-military-press/984/1 "2018-02-23T22:45:42Z")

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I train in my basement, and the ceiling is too low to press anything but an empty bar.

I can do half-kneeling presses, and I have a low pulley I’ve been using to do half-kneeling single arm shoulder cable presses (punching up, basically; the angle is not straight up, so it’s like a 75 degree incline press). I’ve also done kneeling DB presses, but that limits the weight available quite a bit. I can do seated presses, as well, naturally. My lack of hip/hamstring mobility makes it impossible for me to do a Z press (seated on ground, legs outstretched).

What do you recommend? (Aside from going to a gym…)

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**Author:** ![Austin\_Baraki](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.barbellmedicine.com/austin_baraki/32/1095_2.png) [@Austin\_Baraki](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/Austin_Baraki)\
**Post date:** [February 24, 2018, 3:30am UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/alternative-to-military-press/984/2 "2018-02-24T03:30:14Z")

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I’d probably use seated or kneeling presses.

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**Author:** ![JStrause](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JStrause](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/JStrause)\
**Post date:** [February 24, 2018, 2:17pm UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/alternative-to-military-press/984/3 "2018-02-24T14:17:54Z")

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I have a similar issue in my basement and cannot press inside my power rack. I bought a pair of squat stands and found the lowest point in my basement where I can press and the plates go between the joists. Alternatively, I take them outside when the weather is decent. Obviously I’m not sure what your exact situation is, but this worked for me. A bit of extra work to set up but I think it ls worth it.

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**Author:** ![George\_Locke](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.barbellmedicine.com/george_locke/32/861_2.png) [@George\_Locke](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/George_Locke)\
**Post date:** [February 27, 2018, 8:28pm UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/alternative-to-military-press/984/4 "2018-02-27T20:28:33Z")

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@JStrause Glad to hear you’ve found some solutions. I might find some joists to go between if I ripped out the plaster in the ceiling, but that is definitely not going to happen 🙂

Stands outside, OTOH, is an option worth exploring once the weather changes.

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**Author:** ![schmatt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7feea3/32.png) [@schmatt](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/schmatt)\
**Post date:** [February 28, 2018, 1:19pm UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/alternative-to-military-press/984/5 "2018-02-28T13:19:09Z")

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Another option that people have mentioned is just loading with smaller size plates, if you can at least get those to fit. Some people just buy a bunch of 10lb plates. Not very convenient, and may not work as you get to heavier presses.