“The Godfather of Bodybuilding,” Charles Glass, knows how to completely transform gym results with simple tweaks to form. In his latest video shared on September 4, 2025, he revealed a game-changing tip to accelerate rear delt growth.
From Bikini to the Men’s Open, Glass’ impact on the sport is undeniable, thanks to years of experience. His gymnastics and engineering background give him the perfect foundation to sculpt effective training routines.
Glass has had a hand in shaping heavy-hitting bodybuilders, including Chris Cormier, Dexter Jackson, and the late Shawn Rhoden. He’s also guided celebrities to bigger and better physiques, like Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson. What separates his wisdom from your typical trainer is how he modifies specific exercises to elicit more growth via body mechanics.
There are three deltoid heads: anterior (front), lateral (side) posterior (rear) — and all require different training stimuli for growth. Oftentimes, the rear delt is forgotten about since lifters can’t see it in the mirror, but it’s essential to sporting that coveted 3D shoulder look.
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Charles Glass’ Staple Tip for Bigger Rear Delts
During the video, Glass explained the importance of elbow positioning. He doesn’t let them drop during reps on the rear delt fly machine; instead, he keeps them raised up so he can pull stronger with his rear delt and traps.
“I reverse the grip so that my elbows don’t drop down. They stay up with me. When I do it this way, my elbows can go down, and I’m doing this, so it’s slightly pinching in. I want to keep the elbows up so I can pull with more with the rear delt, and rear trap, and mid-trap,” explained Charles Glass.
“Rear delts need precision, not ego lifting.”
While training mechanics are his expertise, Glass has also discussed nutrition. He recently laid out the best protein sources he relies on to help his clients build quality muscle. To enhance hypertrophy results, he said to start with chicken and then follow it up with ground beef.
Glass hasn’t been the only bodybuilding veteran to discuss the value of rear delt training. Open icon Lee Priest also broke down why he always chooses to prioritize rear delts first in shoulder workouts. He says that by starting with them, lifters can avoid injuries.
Rear delts can be tricky to hit, making Glass’ go-to tip worth trying out. Above all else, he says to avoid ego lifting and to keep the elbows from dropping down during sets.
RELATED: Jeff Cavaliere Reveals The 3 Greatest Rear Delt Exercises for Massive Shoulders
Watch the full video from the CharlesGlassGOB YouTube channel below:
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