Charles Glass has mastered the art of training thanks to years of experience coaching some of the most prolific athletes in the IFBB Pro League. In his latest venture, shared via Instagram on January 2, 2025, he explained how to avoid tearing your pec muscle, recommending lifters steer clear of conventional flat presses.
Known as the ‘Godfather of Bodybuilding,’ Charles Glass has coached numerous elite bodybuilders, helping them achieve their peak physiques. He was instrumental in guiding athletes such as Flex Wheeler, the late Shawn Rhoden, and Chris Cormier to the top of the sport.
Charles Glass’ influence extends well beyond bodybuilding, having trained several A-list celebrities, including Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson and Hulk Hogan. As an expert in strength training and overall physique development, his insights are highly sought after.
Charles Glass Advocates Against ‘Traditional Flat Presses,’ Shares How to Avoid Pec Tears
In a recent post on Instagram, Charles Glass once again imparted his wisdom to fans, this time revealing how lifters can avoid tearing the pec muscles, advising that they stay away from flat presses.
Level Up Your Fitness: Join our 💪 strong community in Fitness Volt Newsletter. Get daily inspiration, expert-backed workouts, nutrition tips, the latest in strength sports, and the support you need to reach your goals. Subscribe for free!
“It’s called the conventional flat press, why? Because you put more stress on the tendons there. And there’s a possibility you can tear it.
If you’ve ever noticed, most people tear their pec when they are doing what? Flat bench. So I put it on a little bit of an incline and it takes that stress off.”
To avoid pec tears, he believes it’s best to implement a high, low, and medium incline by adjusting the bench angle.
“Yes [flat is the most dangerous], it will tear you up,” he adds. “You go high, go low, go mid and that’s one set. The set is designed so you can get more out of it. You go from here [upper chest, mid-chest] back here or champaign in the center.”
While Charles Glass advises against conventional flat presses, he has provided tips in the past on how to effectively grow the upper pecs. He revealed high-incline bench tips that were utilized by bodybuilding greats like Dexter Jackson.
“They all have real thick upper pecs, Cormier, Flex Wheeler, Rico McClinton, Dexter Jackson, Aaron Baker, they all had really good upper pec. And we never did it low. What I mean by low, for me, that’s low [below 45 degrees]. You can handle a lot more weight that way.”
“Top shelf you got to go higher.”
With decades of first-hand experience, Glass has become skilled at tailoring workouts to his client’s needs, ensuring optimal gains and injury prevention. He has also shed light on how to build muscle efficiently while minimizing strain.
Charles Glass continues to lead the charge as one of the most knowledgeable bodybuilding coaches when it comes to lifting mechanics. On your next chest day, give his tips a try to boost your gains.
You can also follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and
YouTube for even more content.
