Reigning three-time World’s Strongest Man (WSM) Tom Stoltman and his older brother, 2024 Europe’s Strongest Man (ESM) Luke Stoltman, vlogged a push workout in early March 2025.
Luke is preparing to defend his ESM title on April 5 in Leeds, England. Tom returned to the drawing board after his seventh-place finish at the 2025 Arnold Strongman Classic (ASC).
Warm-Up for Heavy Dumbbell Pressing
The duo warmed up by burning at least 80 calories via exercise bikes, followed by light resistance exercises and mobility drills:
- Bench Dips
- Bottoms-Up Kettlebell Press
- Prone-Lying Mobility Drills
Pressing kettlebells while balancing the weight on the handles can reinforce shoulder stability, muscular control, and grip strength while identifying imbalances. These benefits transfer to dumbbell exercises, and the stability demands provide progression with lighter weights.
[Related: Frank Boniello Wins 2025 World’s Strongest Firefighter]
Addressing Dominant Delts
The brothers transitioned to overhead presses using an axle bar — thicker than standard barbells. Tom attached resistance bands to the loaded barbell to help him incorporate leg drive.
I’m shoulder dominant, so when I press, I stop [short]; it helps dip into the press.
—Tom Stoltman
Bands resist the press toward lockout, forcing more technique and explosive extension through the legs.
“When the band tension kicks in, you have to really explode,” Tom said. To master his form, he performed eight sets of two reps with 120 kilograms plus the bar.
Step back go into it explosively; get under, and pop up.
—Luke Stoltman
Dumbbell Progression, 130KG Challenge, & Misloading
The session highlight was Luke’s max dumbbell overhead press attempt. He started with assisted dumbbell presses at 70 kilograms, grabbing a weight rack for stability. To generate power, he focused on minimal leg drive, strict form, and lateral flexion.
As the loads increased, Luke incorporated jumps, like weightlifters, using extension and momentum to propel the bar to lockout. Movement efficiency matters in completing lifts. Muscular stimulus is not the goal; it is the efficiency of movement.
Unverifying the dumbbell resistance, Luke assumed he hit a max of 130 kilograms. However, upon weighing, his lifts were 20 kilograms lighter than anticipated since the adjustable dumbbell he used for the workout weighed 60 kilograms. If Tom had not questioned the lift, he might not have known.
“I thought I was an idiot,” Tom joked. “You can do 130 kilograms, but not even [the best pressers] can make [130 kilograms] look that easy.”
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Featured image: @stoltmanbrothers on Instagram
