Originally Posted by
Carbonfiberboy
Just a thought - humans didn't evolve for OHP. Who does that in their daily life, human or other branches on our tree? We pull down and are well built for that. Squats and deads we're built for. Benches not so much. Rows are built in.
Humans have been picking things from off the ground and lifting them overhead for thousands of years. Clean and press is a natural movement which we're evolved to do...I lift things overhead all the time at my job and that's why I find OHP a very functional and useful exercise. I hate bench press because it doesn't have any carryover into real life...As for squats and deadlifts, yes they are a natural human movements that humans have been doing for thousands of years, but also keep in mind that heavy barbell squats are a modern invention. Never in human history have humans been placing heavy weight on their back and squatting with it until failure and exhaustion like modern gym buffs do.