How To Circus Dumbbell Clean & Press

Well, I never thought this day would come but I actually made a Circus Dumbbell Tutorial. I show you different rack positions and all of the basics you will need to improve in this event. Even though I hate it…and it hates me, I hope some of you will find this Video helpful!
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[@QQyoko]

I wore your "Die Empty" shirt to the gym yesterday and my OHP increased by 5%, no joke. Thanks for the long distance spot bro.

[@jordanmarino7831]

SAME. Are these shirts coated with strongman magic?

[@kevinadu1068]

haha, thanks man for buying my shirts(I got der 1st brian)

[@FelixBeatmaker]

Brian, the type of guy to set a circus dumbell record and say he sucks at it

[@samclowes88]

my mentality before I started watching Bryan was work hard, but remember you have to work tomorrow. now it's if I die, I die

[@joshjohnston7388]

Rusty Old Barbell mine is, "if i die, i don't have to go to work tomorrow." I.... may be misinterpreting the message.

[@blaktrumpet]

Rusty Old Barbell Ivan Drago mentality

[@tommyhandley329]

Love seeing this channel blow up. 100% deserved.

[@Simba_The_Catto]

congrats on 50,000 subs

[@Beauxfl3x]

This video is 2 years old and its STILL the best tutorial i have found! With me training for my first Strongman Comp these videos have been EVERYTHING lol

[@oddgeir2330]

By far the best video explaining the Circus Dumbbell.

[@mikeydo9567]

"DON'T be a little teapot!" words to live by...

[@brandonlyons4794]

I have been stuck at 250 strict over head press for a year. any suggestions? I primarily powerlift however I do like to be as strong as possible overall and prefer to keep my shoulder mobility and strength as I was injured overseas. I really only strict press overhead as well as standing dumbbell press for shoulders as well as banded pull aparts and face pulls in between sets of almost all pulling movements. I appreciate all your insight. Actually your video on breathing and bracing was MASSIVE to me. it just made so much more sense than the hundreds of videos Ive seen. thank u again for all your insight

[@joaobomfim4278]

Many thanks Brian. It really amazes me how "technical" some apparently simple lifts are actually, with 3-point contact on the dumbbell, different rack positions and the side hip position.

[@atlasstoned]

Joao Bomfim circus DB is probably the most technical lift in strongman!

[@joaobomfim4278]

yeah, now I can understand why!

[@eskbmxrdr1]

I have been watching your videos for over a year now and have been inspired. I bought a yoke 3 months ago and just ordered my first set of stones. I am so excited to get my strongman on. Unfortunately the East Tennessee strongman community is small. Guess its up to me to grow it. All the inspiration is appreciated!! Congrats on the state record!

[@atlasstoned]

Eric Kennedy well luckily for you North Carolina has basically the best strongman comps in the nation! two in Raleigh every year and one in Charlotte now run by Lynn Morehouse. gonna be a bit of a drive but people come from all over the country for Lynn's shows

[@eskbmxrdr1]

That's awesome. I grew up in Houston and then spent 8 years at fort campbell in middle Tennessee. my wife and I just relocated to church hill and I'm juggling my regimen and deployments but I'll he ready to join a comp next time I'm home

[@travisellison7098]

Videos like this are what got me into strongman. Feels good to go back and reference this later while getting ready for a competition

[@tysjt]

This is the best mdb "how to" I have come across (including in-person). Nice job Brian.

[@GiantTurtleWave]

girlfriend got me the purple rise shirt for my birthday. wore it the next day in the gym, best shirt ever. needless to say she's sticking around.

[@KaosStrengthUSA]

I just rewatched this video since the CDB is showing up at Masters Nationals this year. I'm working on this diligently with my coach and although I haven't hit contest weight yet between his coaching and some of the cues I've picked up from your video that Id been missing in the past I finally feel confident with this movement. I'll be working it this morning and hopefully have some good progress video to post. So thanks for the good training info and keep crushing it man.

[@bonesshakin2543]

I will never compete in a strong man competition and probably will i ever lift a heavy cirkus dumbbell above my head. Yet i watched the whole video and found it interesting and inspirering. You are doing great explaining things. I allways learn something.

[@atlasstoned]

And E why never?

[@bonesshakin2543]

atlasstoned hah! You got me there. Never say never, right. Let's say it's highly unlinekely at least. I have no desire to compete.

[@mcpherss]

"All the 10s of people watching"... classic.

[@landonplambert]

I'm so stoked you did this Brian! I'm doing my first Strongman Novice on July 1 and want to make a good showing and this particular portion of the event has me really anxious!!! Love the way you educate and spread the good word and good vibes! Keep it up because people are watching and spreading it further!

[@benjagaete2695]

I discovered your channel a last week and im loving it!

[@skylernewcomb2507]

Great video, Brian! Interestingly I had circus dumbbell planned for tomorrow! Also, since seeing one of your videos suggesting waiters walks, my axle press has skyrocketed!! thanks for your videos!

[@logand5996]

Thank You! Just now learning it because of my next comp. I was actually going to skip this comp but listened to Brian Shaw's podcast with you, Nic, and Andy where you criticized that mentality so I guess it's time to adapt! Hit 130lbs at 177 bodyweight over the weekend, 3 months till comp time and it'll only get better

[@RobHortn]

I don't do Circus Dumbbells (yet). I'm just here cause I like your videos man and I always learn something about attitude/mentality even if you're talking about a lift I'm not currently doing.

[@jonwaterbury2952]

Hey BRIAN Alsruhe I just went to my second strongman competition and beat almost EVERONE at MENS OPEN SHW and there 350 lb guys there I came in second place and EVERONE called me a mutant :) I qualified for nationals I'm 16 years old thanks for all the helpful vids if I ever do except the invitation to the Nationals I would love bro out with you your so cool!

[@mmmsome]

Brian, this is awesome. Thanks so much. I started putting these in my gym schedule recently and I really like doing them, weirdly enough. Yesterday I got my current PB which was a 40kg (88lbs) dumbell with a Fat Grip - managed with both arms - so there's still a way to go. I never considered tipping my hip over or the direction my knees were bending, so I'm definitely gonna try your technique! I've also been incorporating your belly breath advice into all my lifts, but I kinda screwed it yesterday - as soon as my elbow locked out the 40kg dumbell, I almost blacked out. Gotta practice taking that breath and bracing my entire body without turning my head into a pressure cooker. One question I would have for you personally is - with circus dumbells do you train both arms or just your dominant arm? Thanks!

[@willyslife1903]

I do the side clean and jerk thick handles... not 3 inch but... I never knew how u did the 2 arms... I was pulling 1 arm from floor over head with max best 14I.. i appreciate this video n u man

[@ImSomebady]

As a beginner, breathing and squeezing the bar is something I started adding on my lifts and it helped a lot! thanks Brian! I hope one day I'll be able to do a circus dumbbell set to really know how much you hate it haha

[@73fourthhorseman]

Thanks for the tutorial (as painful as it might have been for you) you definitely hit some things that I have been missing in my circus dumbbell attempts. Helpful? Absolutely.

[@josephdonahue6995]

Very helpful tutorial. Keep up to good work.

[@randygentry1207]

Good point about the fast eccentric ....Theres way more power on the rebound..think about reversing it before it dips to the bottom....thats why the triple jump is such a great distance in track and field

[@chrisallen7484]

Hey Brian, could you please make a video about the adverse health effects of strength training for a long time. I love training but I'm concerned for my joints as I get older.

[@Machete757]

Hey Brian, just wondering if you could do a video on jiu-jistsu. What kinds of lifts would carry over to the mats and help become more explosive and also conditioning for bjj! I know this kind of video would not cater for a lot of the viewers but it'd be a helpful video!

[@joshjohnston7388]

Machete757 i bet there are plenty of subscribers who would be interested in this. i don't fight anymore, but i def try to hang on to what ability i did have.

[@snazmaz7202]

Wow, this is super informative. Very appreciative Brian! Keep up the good work

[@chelseythomas388]

This is a good tutorial even with the love hate relationship going on :)

[@monkeycucumber]

Yeah! Keep adding more tips and adjustments for smaller framed guys and women; sometimes limb proportions or body "curves" can get in the way of strongman lifts. Could you make a video on strongman lifting for women?

[@joshjohnston7388]

Antonio Castaneda yeah man... little guy here. i always benefit from that sort of thing.

[@RonnieLunn84]

Well timed man, have a 150 circus db for reps next weekend. Need to try wrapping my wrist that way so I don't end up black and blue like usual

[@mellowbill8473]

Could be the camera angle, but I swear your fingers actually looked jacked.

[@cimarronshannon298]

Could I practice this with regular dumbells if I don't have a circus one? Thanks for the great content as always !

[@keithmcelhaney7786]

Brian what kind of percentage do you normally do for the waiter walks? also amazing job breaking everything down; and the does and don'ts of the lift. amazing job!

[@jonastheviking3088]

Will try today at the end of my workout, will go for 40kgs hopefully but will already be tired so we'll see!

[@lauriemac28]

Awesome! I was hoping you'd do a video about this, thanks!

[@heavyhank7202]

This is just a great video! It has really been helpful to me. Thank you very much for posting these videos, Brian! Greetings from Washington State

[@williamtopercer5296]

Hey Brian, I recently read an article about raw milk and remembered in an older video you mentioned you often drink close to a gallon of whole milk a day and that you also get it from a local farm. Out of curiosity is the milk you drink raw? BTW Congrats on 50k

[@thispersonsdad7247]

hey Brian, thanks to your advice I went to the gym and put up a 15 pound pr single arm dumbell press, can't call it circus db because it had a regular handle

[@garysellars8914]

Really starting to work on circus dumbell now. I can lift a regular dumbell of the same weight as my circus dumbell so am now starting to practice with the big bell. However one thing i don't see covered is getting over the mental fear of really committing to the lift. The idea of that massive bell going overhead and you maybe losing control of it is pretty scary for beginners at the event. I train in a garage so have been really hesitant about going all out as when i drop the bell it can easily bounce of the crash pads i have and hit the garage wall. That would not be a good outcome. So i'm thinking of taking the lift outdoors with the crash pads so as to remove that worry from the back of my mind.

[@robertkingswood1188]

Ok... I will take the bait - those movements are called supination & pronation Supination when you hold a bowl of soup, palm up Pronation - as in lying prone, sniper position (back up) or just rotation of the forearm... regarding elbow flexion... Supination more biceps Pronation more brachialis of course I should mention supinator and pronator as muscles of the forearm. Ahhh anatomy C'est la vie. Great job Brian

[@joshjohnston7388]

Robert Kingswood close. brachioradialis does most of the pronation work. turn your palm down and watch it pop. i also had a hard-ass a&p professor. thanks for making me work hard, Dr. Tang! I kept your book!

[@robertkingswood1188]

Josh Johnston - I want to thank you for causing me to second guess myself. I hope you can also use this as an opportunity to examine your own anatomical awareness. I recently found this - With the insertion of Brachioradialis so far from the fulcrum of the elbow, it does not generate as much joint torque as the Brachialis or the Biceps. Again supporting my hypothesis, perhaps we could discuss this further? Come to a consensus on the topic as we both raised our voices in an effort to help Brian gain awareness on something I do very much dislike the thought of leaving our discussion unfinished. I hope you are doing well. Cheers

[@joshjohnston7388]

Robert Kingswood i'm still studying, not practicing (years to go), so it is important that i revise any misconceptions i may have. so, inspired by our conversation, i popped Dr. Tang's book open (Gunstream's Anatomy and Physiology, 6th ed., McGraw-Hill) and the qualifier is that brachioradialis only works that hard in supination when the elbow is flexed. otherwise, it's a minor contributor. so it looks like we both had some correct information, but mine needed the qualifier. learning is good! have a great day!

[@robertkingswood1188]

Josh Johnston - I am so glad we could discuss it as this is my understanding also. Types or classes of levers in regards to muscular advantage will help in these matters. Best of luck with your studies! Cheers

[@jerevirvalo1799]

best tutorial in youtube! thanks.

[@BrianAlsruheOfficial]

Wow, thank you so much!

[@amychaseaussie]

Question :Brian how fast can you complete a 1.5 mile run?

[@joshjohnston7388]

sweet! if I can't get a lane on the court for barbell waiter walks, I do heavy db presses and hold overhead until I think I'm gonna die. It's not circus db, but this definitely helps, especially with weights I can't simply clean. thanks!

[@nathanvanover2014]

That is some great information, thank you!

[@massacred666]

Thanks Brian. A question, if I may: at 7:20 you talked about fixing the elbow dropping when you dip. Any suggestions on how to do this? Thanks!

[@atlasstoned]

TheGreatMassacre in my experience it helps a lot to really flex and flare your lat along with focusing on keeping that arm and shoulder tight... constantly slightly pushing the dumbbell towards the ceiling. flexing the lat is huge though!

[@massacred666]

Thanks, Atlas, much appreciated :)

[@anthonini66]

+1 for lats. Particularly isometric stability. Holds at end of set work well.

[@Xabiosa]

Definitely taking notes!

[@beastmode-lc2cp]

great video there's some Manny fun strongman events out there to train

[@justinspike1669]

How do you keep the bell from falling behind you down your back? I get it to the wrack and then it’s just slipping the entire time. I have a grip shirt on and it doesn’t matter.

[@Vigg13]

Hey Brian! Do you only do the circus dumbell with the right side of your body or do you also practise it with the left side of your body for balance purposes? Thanks

[@prince0fsains]

If there was one model of Circus Dumbbell to buy, what would it be? I'm guessing something like the loadable version in the video?

[@kalajainen]

How far before a competition should you start specifically training the events? I just signed up for my first strongman comp (in August). My normal training follows the 5/3/1 program. How far out should I start specifically working on log press instead of barbell overhead press, or a 12.5" deadlift instead of regular height to prepare?

[@wptte]

Aside from the competition aspect, is there a functional/strength benefit of doing CDB? I can imagine both balance and core being hit pretty good (as well as wrist skin thickness, apparently). But are there other benefits to doing these instead of for example push press, training-wise?

[@atlasstoned]

wptte besides just propioception and ability to move your body dynamically... I wouldn't say so

[@saxonhalestrongmanfan263]

When you have strong CDB you can lift people overhead with one arm and that is cool 💪😂

[@connordavis2446]

Hey Brian do you think you could do a video or talk about gaining strength whilst cutting as i have been lifting for a few years and every time i try and cut i always lose more strength than i think is reasonable to expect!!

[@albiebaggins8644]

Yo I've got flat feet, can anyone recommend a pair of Olympic Shoes which have good arch support? Mine can be real painful after squatting

[@jb14_99]

albie baggins I have the adipowers (flat feet myself) and they work great. For reference, I can't wear my support insoles in them because of how well the shoe itself provides support.

[@tytrue8633]

The white dumbbells you have. Can you add weight to those and where did you get them?

[@benpugh7730]

hey brian, what's your thoughts on front rack yoke walks with a barbell. I don't have access to a yoke, and as you said in a previous video it's to dangerous to place the bar on your back

[@corylahey9941]

dope video brian, yo i been curious when should i be breathing durin my bent over rows? since it's always in the air i'm confused if i should be bracing from the bottom exhale at top or what... does it even make a difference? lmao

[@72buffaloman]

circus dumbell ??? uh-oh Brian must be running out of material already.ha.another great video!

[@rothotborski]

As a hint for other lifters: Instead of bending my hip out, I prefer to put my weight on the opposite leg...same goal I think (to keep in line with your center of gravity) but feels better for me...

[@kevinadu1068]

can the circus dumbbell cause imbalances in strength for your over pressing movements or general shoulder strength. I dnt want dis to impact my sports.

[@kindredessex3827]

Would it make sense to do this with regular dumbbells?

[@hfddghfgh1561]

Brian, when I go for heavy singles, doubles or triples on the squat I breath and brace so hard that my eyes are all red after I finished the set. Also when I go "heavy" on a simple exercise like the abwheel. All my lifts feel better the. Ever since I know how to breath and brace, my back feels better than ever etc. any ideas on how to prevent my eyes from getting all red when going heavy? Thanks!

[@stefandrpa770]

Great tutorial💪

[@joshuarempt7689]

do you work both arms with this discipline?

[@bmstylee]

hey Brian. can you suggest a set of lifting​ shoes?

[@erikbentley9005]

wild bill I'm not Brian unfortunately but Nike romaleos (not sure how you spell it)

[@thispersonsdad7247]

chucks

[@RonnieLunn84]

I like the Adidas powerlift shoes, they're a lower heal which I like, not a full on Olympic but still some heel and solid shoe

[@joaobomfim4278]

chuck taylors for deadlifts and low/medium volume squats (mobility); adipower II for anything else worth doing

[@mr.potatohead6138]

wild bill bare feet👍

[@thingwhatever]

What’s the difference between circus press and dumbbell power snatch ⁉️

[@maxmaximus5522]

brilliant as always man!!! hate dumbbell tho 😂😂😂

[@michaelbexarthomas652]

What are good brands for Circus DB?

[@williammagrav610]

Brazil! muito bom apesar que hoje nosso pais não está tao bem por causa do presidente atual mas foi bom ver a bandeira do Brazil ai com voces, muito bom mesmo grande abraço

[@mongoosekhan3079]

Hey Brian! What's your opinion on training barefoot on all lifts? I train at home and don't want to always put on shoes before lifting. Will training barefoot cause any problems or will it take away from my numbers?

[@joshjohnston7388]

Strength MM squat shoes will net you extra pounds, but reduce some of the calf work and the the amount of ankle travel (in the squat). Arnold lifted barefoot. lots of people do. MOST people say flat/barefoot is best for the deadlift. I love lifting barefoot. however, if you compete, you'll want the shoes to squat or overhead.

[@TheAkahige]

Do you think wrestling shoes would work okay? flat, solid, grippy.

[@metalrocks999]

Something about pressing more than the average persons bodyweight with one hand is so badass.

[@paveleminger3494]

do you change your arms when you do circus dumbbels or you do only one side every time?

[@AllensActiveProductions95]

Nightmarre 98 he's said in previous videos that he does both but hates filming an showing us his left side because it's not as clean as his right side, Haha

[@marks.3198]

Be honest, Brian: The real reason you hate Circus Dumbbell is because you had a bad experience with a clown as a child, isn't it? Another great tutorial, boss. Thanks for the information and some chuckles.

[@brianfox340]

I love circus DB.

[@parmeetsingh4763]

I think brian will be a good competitor at strength wars!!

[@EricSabag12]

Any way to do it on normal gym? like with a regular dumbbell?

[@bmstylee]

it's not the same but as my gym doesn't have one I mimic it as close as possible. I am up to 125. lb dumbbell which is the biggest one I have access to.

[@parmeetsingh4763]

Strength wars has about a million subscribers and if you can go there and defeat guys like the faceless(seba kot), tim budesheim, romano rengel and these top tier athletes, you will be viewed by a much larger audience and you might as well add another hundred thousand subscribers!! Look at it from this perspective.

[@MACEDONIANBOY2]

Brian how to heal brachialis tendonitis faster its been almost a month and it hasn't healed. :(

[@MACEDONIANBOY2]

3 months damn man thats way to much.I am kinda scared to do any biceps exercises for now dont want to aggravate the muscle

[@hippo6billion811]

I feel like I would be pretty good at this I can throw a 115 pound dumbbell up overhead I don't even have to press it that much with the arm because of momentum

[@stefantanase5102]

power!

[@laser1675]

holy fuck, what are those forearms? did they initially intended to become legs?

[@salty3069]

Late notification squad :P

[@krakonoskraken8763]

great!

[@robertdy1952]

Brian can you do this on circus?

[@djoledjokovic5987]

your voice is so simillar to Eliott Hulse.

[@dantearcuri3426]

How tall is Brian?

[@joshjohnston7388]

Dante Arcuri six foot.

[@anshuttammishra7503]

notification squad! check!

[@alexj5254]

13 seconds of being posted 4 likes

[@joshjohnston7388]

Spandan Adhikari hey man, i already know it is gonna be good!

[@sheend]

Dude, I thought you were john cena lol

[@randygentry1207]

I knew you was going to get the press when the rack position was above the knee

[@podcastmachine8617]

john cena tryna do a choke slam

[@chainsawvsgod384]

5:01 lol...

[@Fortress333]

3 circus dumbbells disliked this...

[@dannywolfstrongman]

yea I like the 3rd 1 lol ...ok I hate it no no I like it ,,ok never mind it is complicated