# The Bridge without benching

**URL:** <https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/the-bridge-without-benching/8572>\
**Category:** Training Q&A \[Moderated\]\
**Created:** [April 13, 2020, 5:54pm UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/the-bridge-without-benching/8572 "2020-04-13T17:54:26Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Mimir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Mimir](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/Mimir)\
**Post date:** [April 13, 2020, 5:54pm UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/the-bridge-without-benching/8572/1 "2020-04-13T17:54:26Z")

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About a month ago, I was reaching the limit of my tolerance for a modified greyskull routine, which came after a SS stint. I had been training for about 4 months total and gotten to

BW - 190  
Squat - 260 (3x5)  
Dead - 340 (1x5)  
Bench - 210 (3x5)  
Press - 125 (3x5)  
Front Squat - 170

My plan looked like:

MON  
Squat 3x5+  
Rdl 3x6-9

TUE  
Press 3x5+  
Row 3x6-9

THU  
front squat 3x5+  
Dead 1x5+

SAT  
Squat 3x5+  
Bench 3x5+  
Row 3x6-9

( with the 3x5+ being the greyskull last set amrap, and 3x6-9 being a double progression - when I can can hit 9 across, increase to a weight I can do 6 across)

I was eagerly eyeing the Bridge as my next program because grinding out fahves was getting a little harrowing and I had been through several resets.

The 'rona happened… I ran to the internet to buy gym equipment, and I lucked out in that I was able to get: squat stands, 400lb in plates and a barbell. Problems - I lost a month of training and no bench. I’ve resumed my plan, adding in some extra pressing volume to compensate for the lack of benching. My numbers took a hit but I think in ~2 weeks I’ll be back where I was.

Question - assuming I won’t have a bench for the foreseeable future and assuming I won’t be able to get into a gym anytime soon either - how can I think about make some modifications to the Bridge to compensate for the lack of benching?

I looked through it and I think it would be be overkill if I moved all bench volume to an equivalent press movement. Open to other template options as well - strengthlifting would make sense movement-wise but I doubt I’m ready for that template in terms of my capacity to handle that type of volume.

Looking for suggestions - thanks

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**Author:** ![Jordan\_Feigenbaum](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.barbellmedicine.com/jordan_feigenbaum/32/1315_2.png) [@Jordan\_Feigenbaum](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/Jordan_Feigenbaum)\
**Post date:** [April 16, 2020, 3:10pm UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/the-bridge-without-benching/8572/2 "2020-04-16T15:10:58Z")

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You could do The Bridge with only pressing variations, though I bet you could floor press.

Alternatively, you could do the Beginner Template starting at block 2 and pick your own exercises. This would be my preference, but if money is tight I’d just do The Bridge for now with all pressing exercises -save for maybe a floor press.

-Jordan