Chest Activation | How To Feel Your Chest

[@mountaindog1]

For more great activation videos click the link: kzbin.info/aero/PLNAUreWTt_SjgZzX3ieGcwWeCRuv93hR2

[@paporomanroman5304]

Sr,my friend left chest big,right chest is small,please video solution.thank you

[@1972myc]

He was a great health teacher. He knew his stuff and had an awesome mind muscle connection.. Thanks for your legacy!

[@neftalivazquez1901]

This definitely helps, Im shoulder dominant and rarely feel my chest while training chest. I did isometric contractions between each set of my chest workout and after 6 weeks I definitely noticed a difference. I have yet to try the bands, but isometric chest squeezing works great as well.

[@Lcgamer619]

Hey man. Any update on your chest progress? Im shoulder dominant as well and excited to try these contractions

[@felixhuppert2368]

Was just complaining my chest isn't big enough for competition, but thanks to you I now have 12 weeks to train hard before leaning up. Thanks John.

[@Lcgamer619]

Hey how did your chest progress go with this video? Did it help you

[@Scribemo]

How did it go?

[@mohithegreat7912]

​@@Scribemoig, he's not even alive yet 🤣

[@djGREENmojon]

RIP Mountain dog. Thank you for all your knowledge 🙇🏽‍♂️

[@billdollar6155]

I did my chest Monday morning, an activated with the rubber bands and even in between sets and my chest is still a bit pumped today, excellent results for me. Thank you and have a great day sir.

[@timsanders5090]

The Lat activation was so awesome it helped me achieve a lat pump I never had. Love the content John. Your the most real and relatable instructor out there. Keep it coming!!

[@MrSlipperyTuna]

I asked and John delivered! One of the best KZbin channels bar none!

[@Ryan-ph7nk]

This works guys. Never felt bench press really at all until I started doing this. Thanks John.

[@mountaindog1]

you bet!

[@laraandre1]

So simple , yet so effective. Once again, thanks John!!!

[@mountaindog1]

simple is best

[@ddslayer6]

im gunna try this with your lat activation on chest/back days, those lat activations really been made a huge difference with rowing and pulldowns

[@DonGregers]

Gonna try it tomorrow :D Hopefully i can get the feeling more down to chest instead of front shoulders! Thx

[@DonGregers]

What a difference! Normally i use dumb bells rather than bar on flat bench because i 1) dont feel the chest that well, an 2) have the feeling that im killing my front delts an shoulders instead primarily because i use them way to much because of the lack of feeling. I did this between every set, an boy did it help on muscle connection, i felt more comfortable doing the sets, got more reps in etc. But best of all i actually felt the activation on the chest, an i didt get any pain in the shoulders under the exercise under or afther training because i actually activated the right body part. Thx man! Feeling motivated for next flat bench traning now! :)

[@mistercharlie1776]

I realize I am late to the game and am new to lifting. I just turned 52 and have started a lifestyle change and body transformation. I started at 305 and am now ending week 10 and am at 279. I tried the bands today and after today workout I finally feel it in my chest. Love your channel

[@jfkfjh6156]

Wow, this is probably the simplest, most effective guide i've seen.Thanks a lot!

[@EmilAleksandrovv]

I'll definitely try this since I'm always feeling my front delt and triceps sore after chest day but barely any chest

[@davidgrams8368]

Once I start going heavy with chest thats when I stop feeling the contractions! Im not a great bencher though to be honest! Think we’d all appreciate a bench press tutorial John you mentioned how you setup to bench in a recent vid from your Westside barbell days in terms of scapular retraction. Love to know your thoughts on width and hand placement etc

[@JuliusCaesar103]

Old school wisdom. Love it. Gonna try it out tomorrow

[@richardmoun5273]

This really works, my chest got a good pump from this, did band stretches activation for warm up chest, then reps+band activation , wait 30 seconds than continue, I do 12 reps 5 sets, after every rep I do, I'd match it with 12 band repetition. thank you John

[@wag375]

I love these activation vids. Thanks, John!

[@estrada369265]

2 years later this is posted Im finally watching it... hate how my chest is and well hopefully I actually can grow it more and contract more of the pecks. Thank you!

[@danielrochon2651]

Chest day is tomorrow, will definitely try this. Thanks John!!!

[@lloydmckevitt5628]

Always have the feeling I'm not activating chest as I hope, will try this hope to get some results

[@KumaAdventure]

I love coming back and watching this guy's videos. Great advice I like to revisit from time to time.

[@lollob]

Thank you John!! Was researching something exactly like this an hour ago

[@robertacheson5976]

John, this activation video series is a great idea. I’d encourage you to continue the series with a detailed explanation on quad activation and isolation. Maybe even a multi-parter. I see many many people, particularly tall guys with a high lower body to upper body ratio, struggling to isolate their quads on any movement other than leg extensions - which obviously limits exercise selection and has possible knee sheering implications if overused. I’m sure you’ve had many tall clients. Would love to get an in depth explanation from an expert like you. There is definitely a market demand to address this specific problem and very little solid info to go on. Thanks!

[@1q1q2w2wful]

To be honest John, I saw you do hex presses a while back and I always use that to fire up my chest, really does wonders for me! 👌🏻

[@mountaindog1]

yea that's a good one

[@skimask2006]

Simple but brilliant info at the same time..

[@72Dexter72Manley72]

Nice video John,, Since i have had a shoulder injury that flares up from time to time. I find it hard to feel my chest sometimes. I will try these activation exercises for sure..

[@darkgoesoff5200]

Did the exercises help?

[@72Dexter72Manley72]

@@darkgoesoff5200 Yes, after those activation movements. 👍🏽 So after I go really heavy. I do a couple of slightly lighter weight challenging sets to failure. 12-15 reps. Controlling the pressing and Concentrating on feeling my chest. 👍🏽

[@Censuvius]

The bands really helped me a lot in feeling my chest instead of my delts

[@kracken6218]

Can't wait to try this out. Thank you!

[@michaeldodd3563]

The lat vid was awesome. And so is this!

[@marathonmaxx]

I shall be trying this on my clients next week, thank you

[@billdollar6155]

Having router problems but I will try those exercises to activate my chest on Monday and get back to you thank you.

[@joshsmith6412]

richard larocque how did you go with it

[@tonygibson6806]

I've seen the first tip before but not the band one, cheers John I'm gonna give that a try, always looking for tips for chest my weakest bodypart.

[@rlknight57]

I’ll give this a try because although I get good chest activation and pump from push ups I feel nothing with weighted chest exercises. My chest is pitiful compared to the rest of my physique.

[@Thunder_Bird0]

I have that exact problem i don't feel zip when working chest i have proper form and all but still feel nothing so i appreciate this cheat code hack.

[@christianaikido]

YOU HAVE BEEN VERY HELPFUL....THANK YOU!

[@caruganifelloni5581]

Love your video and your workouts. The best in this business

[@mountaindog1]

thank you!

[@zenzeiii554]

Still learning 🙏 Thanks to John. rest easy legend.

[@robinfielding9506]

That thing you showed us on the dip for lower chest is going to take practice. 😃

[@mountaindog1]

yea its not easy, but once you nail it

[@marcelsamuel7306]

RIP Legend 😢

[@Likefood267]

I have been having trouble activating my chest. I'll try this tomorrow.

[@a.fahim04]

Great advice John

[@thefunnyrocket.8141]

ty man hope the best for you

[@vishaalrathnavarmaneelauth1424]

He died

[@pisky5067]

RIP Legend

[@matthewsinger4902]

My dad caught me activating my chest one time.

[@mountaindog1]

hahah!

[@williamhodgson118]

Matthew Singer I don’t get it

[@clamum]

@@williamhodgson118 🤦‍♂️

[@clamum]

@Emperor Palpameme I'm not the one who didn't get the joke big 🐕

[@zillacutz]

i dont get it

[@kaledelhassan2664]

You are a fucking legend it helps a lot specially if you got shoulder injury it helps to get over the injury

[@AndrewTheTransformer]

Thanks for the vid, i really like the power band chest press method

[@paulwheeler8913]

This was awesome… really helped me feel the activation on the exercises! Best chest pump ever

[@Ave_Satani]

This is exactly the video I was looking for. Thnx 😎👍

[@lucasrufino]

Would be amazing if you did one of those for shoulders

[@JimEverette]

Than you Sir your videos have been very helpful

[@vagabond_trades]

Great no bullshit straight to action video Kudos thankyou

[@NumeroUno112]

John, i just wanna thank you for this! i've already did started to do the "lat activation", but with this one for the chest, it was really helpfull to me because i have a really shitty right shoulder wich keeps holding me back to feel my pecs getting targeted between the exercises.. but today in my chest routine i did your tutorial with some rotator cuff stretches and i've been able to increase at least 30% my bench press strenght! thank you very much for this!

[@leo1209]

Hey John. Love your videos! Could you please do a shoulder (especially rear delts) activation clip. That's the hardest muscle to really connect to for me and many others I've spoken to. Many thanks!

[@babakalhessabi3233]

Thanks a lot for all the great videos. I have been working out now for about 7 years and quite enjoy your training advice/routines. Do you think they are too advanced or can anyone benefit from them?

[@mountaindog1]

hmmm...well the workouts are probably too much for beginners

[@mikehammer2408]

Biggest problem for most not feeling the chest activate is because they usually are set up w their shoulders pronated and taking all of the work. John do a video about showing how the humerus bone crossing the chest for maximum chest contraction/activation. Always great content

[@NDouthwaite]

Great vid. Anyone else want a "how to feel" your glutes video? Up vote if you agree so John can see how many people want this series to continue.

[@vacuumcleaner11]

Nathan D stand up and squeeze your butt like you're trying to hold in explosive diarrhea for 30 seconds. 👍

[@clamum]

@@vacuumcleaner11 Yeah glutes are one muscle that I actually do have a good mind muscle connection with (I'm a noob lifter), along with arms and legs. Back and shoulders? As nonexistent as chest. 😢

[@bigd2829]

@@vacuumcleaner11 you made me die 😂

[@ghostofmoredishesmorebitch1507]

Bend over

[@Punicia]

Just drop the soap in the men's steam room you'll feel them fine after that

[@clamum]

I'll give this a shot. I'm really having trouble with the mind muscle connection with pecs. I've watched a bunch of videos on it and I just can't seem to get it; I was doing dumbbell bench presses earlier today and my frickin shoulders were taking much of the force, as usual. So frustrating. I try to do the whole "push out your chest, squeeze shoulder blades together, lower shoulders" but it doesn't seem to help really. Going 37 years with zero pec muscles probably doesn't help. 😢

[@clamum]

@Jötunn Yeah somewhat. I was recommended a video by Pump Chasers (Chris Jones) named something like "retract scapula" and that finally made it click. Shrug your shoulders up, pull them back, then bring them down. It feels like a weird position but it actually works. My posture is such shit and my shoulders take over so much, and they often shrug up themselves, that I have to do that otherwise my chest barely activates. I still feel like I suck at chest pressing but that trick certainly helps. I will say I still don't get a very good workout doing presses, even with dumbbells which have better range of motion. The best chest workout I've gotten, by far, is simple: floor flys followed by pushups. Super set them (no rest between them) and start at 15 reps. Then rest like a minute. Then do 14 reps of them. Rest. Then do 13 reps. And so on, down to 5 reps. Makes my chest way more sore than any "normal" chest workout.

[@joshpingley1961]

Im over weight and havnt excersied in ages and today i went to do chest excerise and couldnt feel the burn in my chest muscles other than in my delts and triceps when doing dumbell and bench presses. Im gonna give this method a chance tomorrow

[@fitnessfreak-u9g]

I was literally forcing the muscle out of my chest and he was so accurate at this point 1:37 , and i loosen my muscle flexion right away LOL

[@alimmi9]

2:18 The dude walking by looks like he's doing callcenter work while training hahaha..

[@aditya7955]

I am the one in thumbnail

[@matthewschoenborn4833]

John is like a dad that used to bodybuild

[@dzhevdetbeydzhet7667]

Before i start pressing i do 2-3 sets on the peck deck machine, that really helps with activation and connection. Guys that works for any muscle group, pick an exercise that is an isolation and you feel the most, then do 2-3 sets, before your heavy compound stuff. Makes hell of a Difference. 😎💪🏼

[@jackwan2437]

Very helpful thank you!!!

[@sudeephembrom325]

Subscribed.....you are awsome respect

[@Hermanify]

Can't wait to try it this week :D

[@chadpittman7826]

Great content thanks👍

[@kennyshepherd8311]

Thank you!

[@zackrobinson9512]

Loved the lat one will try this today any tips for inner gastroc I tend to feel my calf work more in my soleus and lateral head of my gastroc more. Ive played with foot position different machines etc. Only thing Ive found helps some is over emphasizing my weight going over my big toe. Thanks

[@mountaindog1]

widen stance so weight has to be transferred to big toe

[@zackrobinson9512]

mountaindog1 thanks I'll give it a go.

[@tim9862]

Bro, I am german, I can't do that in the gym💀💀💀

[@FI9009]

Awesome tip! Feeling pump already after one set of those. What about long head of triceps? I have trouble feeling it.

[@MartinTaggart]

Just found the channel great post

[@mountaindog1]

Thank you!

[@mikethomas4628]

I’m depressed over this not being able to fully active my chest. I’m ok with other patterns just not chest and feel it in my shoulders no matter if I have the right 45 degree grip or not I could have a small tear somewhere or weak rhomboids

[@BatmanBoss]

Thanks buddy

[@TRKTKO]

I've played guitar for 14+ years and my left chest is noticeably larger then my right, so much so that I barely workout because it only gets worse and it isn't as bad now that I haven't trained for awhile. One of your videos about activating your chest helped me feel my right side more then ever and I just wonder how long would it take to catch back up to the other side? Is it even possible? It would honestly change my life to fix this.. It's something that's held me back for years and it just sucks the confidence out of me.. Is their special types of rehabs for things like this?

[@mountaindog1]

I dont know if you can ever totally equal it out, but by not training, it definitely wont catch up, I would at least train and see if it grows on that side...

[@TRKTKO]

mountaindog1 Yes you're right, thanks so much for your reply. I do stuff focusing on that side and have reached a comfortable medium. I try not to unbalance other areas in the process. I've learned to accept it because music is my true passion and what I'm good at. I love working out too and your channel inspires me alot. Thanks for your time, I hope you have a great 4th!

[@hshehwhw503]

badass shirt

[@pranavdixit6157]

RIP legend ♥️

[@joecornejo5322]

God I miss his "alright, hi everybody".

[@DatNguyen-hx6rb]

thank you, chest is always my weak point

[@iggytse]

After trying a whole bunch of stuff I find the best way to feel the chest in a dumbbell press is to keep the shoulder blades together through the whole movement

[@stephanreichelt1960]

way less delt involvement

[@JamesGore88]

1:15 You even see Johns pec activate. POP!

[@almosthalo]

Hella great vid! I've been trying to find ways on how to build up my chest and this was hella helpful. Btw how much grams of protein daily do you reccomend to build muscle? I've looked everywhere and everyone has a differ answer.

[@FelixLiriano-o1q]

Dam I feel dumb 😕 I work chest yesterday and I feel it in my arms and shoulders my arms are getting to big

[@hawk1548]

DING! DING! CLASS IS IN PEOPLE

[@D1GItAL_CVTS]

The guy from the thumbnail's my goal physique.

[@SigismundSonOfDorn]

I'm gonna be as built as this man one day

[@ArchLinuxTux]

I don't feel chest untill after any exercise, le after hex press not durring same with bands.

[@soots-stayingoutofthespotl5495]

It's my lower chest I can't feel working. I can do various inclines with dumbbells and feel it working, but then when I do flat or decline I can't feel much of a contraction; it's as though I don't have any muscle there to move the weight (which is partly true, as I definitely have a problem getting the lower section filled-out and rounded, despite doing all the usual suspects such as decline press, high-to-low cable flys and dips weighted or not).

[@morgancheadleofficial]

I’ll be sure to give this a try although chest is a stronger body part for me, any chance you could teach how to feel the lateral and posterior deltoid during raises because a lot of the time I feel my biceps fatigue somehow 😂.

[@mountaindog1]

biceps on lateral raises? thats a new one

[@amixe101]

This was great John! I had a quick question though, is the shoulder allowed to move forward during these activation movements/chest exercises? Everywhere I look for advice I get "the shoulders have to be locked back and down" but I can't really find a contraction when keeping the back so tight. Any help would be greatly appreciated, thank you!

[@mountaindog1]

I dont think a little forward movement is a bad thing..it's the excessive rounding that is bad

[@amixe101]

I appreciate all the advice John, thank you for the response!

[@snowmanbanjo]

I do something similar to number one, but instead of adducting by pushing into the pole, I grab ahold of the pole with my right arm at the eleven o clock position (so it is already adducted and scapula may be slightly protracted) and force adduction by twisting my torso into the arm so to speak. I focus on protonation while doing so. I get a wicked contraction, but is this approach valid in your opinion?

[@mountaindog1]

I'll have to try that, I can picture it, I'll give it a go

[@bluegrassluke2989]

Thank you. I was actually going to ask one of the folks I follow on IG if they had a good routine or visualization for chest activation on bench press. I feel like too much of my front delt gets involved (at least, that's where I feel most sore). I tuck my shoulders and everything - this should help.

[@clamum]

Same here, I really hope this helps. I try to do the proper form as well but it doesn't seem to do much for me.

[@garypriest7679]

I’m going to do it

[@AussieAngeS]

I love bands John, I am going to try these tips. Thank you.

[@treyussery469]

Rip to a great one

[@_booth7992]

Very helpful :)

[@colin5423]

Need this for all body parts haha!

[@tonyteresi8130]

Hi John what exercise is best to do when your pecs are starting to pull your shoulders forward?

[@Cheeks730]

i have a serious problem activating the right chest during bench press