‘The Godfather of Bodybuilding’ Charles Glass is back with another creative training routine. Recently, Charles Glass broke down his chest-building workout, featuring six exercises, and shared tips on their execution.
Charles Glass is one of the most decorated bodybuilding trainers around, having helped top-caliber IFBB Pros like Dexter Jackson, Chris Cormier, and Flex Wheeler build contest-winning physiques. His training contributions go beyond the bodybuilding industry, as he’s also guided celebrities such as Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson and Wesley Snipes.
Glass boasts an engineering background and leverages it daily to bring about more results-driven training practices. In addition to leading an impressive bodybuilding career, his understanding of angles and body mechanics gives him an edge, especially since training results are so individualized.
Whether he’s unearthing secrets about the best proteins to eat or his number one exercise for gaining muscle mass, he’s a source of valuable insights for those aiming to improve their fitness, optimize their workouts, and build a stronger, healthier body.
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Charles Glass’ Chest-Building Routine
Find the exercise selections featured in his YouTube video below:
- Guillotine Dumbbell Press
- Champagne Press
- Dumbbell Fly
- Slight Incline Conventional/Guillotine Press
- Flat Barbell Bench Press
- Standing Incline Dumbbell Fly
Guillotine Dumbbell Press
Glass recommended keeping the head neutral during the guillotine presses, aiming for sets between 12 and 15 reps.
“Keep your head neutral,” Glass advised. “This is a three-part series that I use with women. It’s pretty effective. We are doing anywhere from 12-15 reps.”
“Now, the guillotine still works but it’s all upper pec. All the pressure is right there [toward the top of the chest].”
Champagne Press
He urged lifters to raise their chest in the air during champagne presses. Hinging makes the movement more effective for building the upper pec.
“Get the chest up in the air,” he shared. “She does that hinge to push [the dumbbells], it’s not a press. That puts more upper pec.”
Dumbbell Fly
The dumbbell fly was also part of this series, explaining that women don’t need to bother with decline because it works the lower pec.
“So that’s the part of the four-part series. Women don’t need what? Decline. They don’t need to pull the breasts up. Everything we’re doing is for the upper part of the pec so that breast stands up.”
Slight Incline Conventional/Guillotine Press
His next movement was a hybrid between a conventional press and guillotine press — again, for the upper chest.
“These, for her, it’s in between [a conventional and guillotine press],” he shared. “She’s working all upper pec again.”
Flat Barbell Bench Press
He advocates for driving the feet into the ground during barbell bench presses to get most of the body working.
“That’s powerlifting [driving feet into the floor while pushing], you got to get your whole body into the movement.”
Standing Incline Dumbbell Fly
Lastly, he shared that using a pad on the bench could help individuals out on the standing incline dumbbell fly.
“Now, we could use the pad [on the bench], which will give her even more lift.”
Glass has mastered the intricacies of chest training. He’s shared numerous routines focused on growing the pecs effectively. Although he tailors workouts to specific body types, he also credits the decline chest press as the most versatile and useful pec-builder, which can be performed with just a bench and a pair of dumbbells.
As one of the wisest and most accomplished trainers to make waves in the IFBB Pro League, he continues to reinvent workouts to take physiques to the next level. The next time you’re after a solid chest workout, give his exercise recommendations a try. They aren’t just reserved for competitive bodybuilders.
RELATED: ‘Godfather of Bodybuilding’ Charles Glass Explains How to Fix Your Side Lateral Raise
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