Push Press - Throat pressure?

[Bytsi]

I read all about the sore wrists, about proper form, watched the videos... I didn't see questions about this though...

I did Stage 2 1A today, first time with front-squat push press. I had wrist pain issues despite all attempts at shifting position, but just as much, it felt like the bar was resting on my throat! I was working to keep my elbows up, arms out at 90 degrees, let the bar roll onto my fingers and "rest" in the groove of my delts. But it seemed to be resting in the groove of the bottom of my throat - very uncomfortable, and I don't think you're supposed to choke yourself to death on this move!

Is this just me, or does anyone else have that problem? My arms don't really go any lower to get the bar to drop below throat level - is my flexibility THAT bad, or ?????

Hope someone can help me with this one - I did a relatively light weight (40# preloaded barbell) - squats felt pretty easy, and in stage 1 I could db shoulder-press 70#, but there's no way I would even consider going up in weight after the way it felt today!

[PerfectMartini]

Is the bar resting on your clavicle? I'm having a hard time picturing where it would "sit" above your clavicle such that it would restrict your ability to breathe.

[Bytsi]

Originally Posted by PerfectMartini

Is the bar resting on your clavicle? I'm having a hard time picturing where it would "sit" above your clavicle such that it would restrict your ability to breathe.

Hmmm... have to think about that one! I think it is hitting above the clavicle... but I can't see how to lower it and still keep my elbows forward... To hold it lower my elbows would be against my ribs... It's not really cutting off my breathing, but it feels like it "could" if that makes any sense - it's just a very uncomfortable feeling. It seems like it should sit lower, but my arms don't connect to my body in a way that would make that seem possible!

[Bytsi]

Ok, so I was re-doing the forum search to see if anything popped up with the push press, and the embedded link from Natalia from the end of February came up - the crossfit guy doing thrusters... And he specifically says "you wanna get the bar right up in your throat" - so is it SUPPOSED to feel like that???

The other thing I noticed was that he doesn't keep his elbows high like Lou describes in the book - his elbows drop to almost his ribs/torso - which would be much more comfortable for me, I think...

Is there a good reason to force my elbows up for the front-squat part of this? Seems more painful in the wrist to do so, and also pushes the bar further against my throat...

[GinaKina]

I physically can't get my elbows up as high as he says to in the book. I don't know if they're weird or something, but they just don't fit that way. I just get them up as high as I can and do what feels comfortable.

The bar rests on my clavicle also. I know what you mean, I just started Stage 2 and felt just as uncomfortable.