The seated vertical jump is a simple, equipment-light plyometric exercise that builds explosive power and rate of force development by teaching athletes to produce force from a dead stop. In this guide, Brandon Smitley of THIRST Gym breaks down proper box height, jump stance, landing mechanics, and programming so you can jump higher and get off the ground faster. It’s the perfect power drill whether you’re in a fully equipped facility or training at home with just a chair.
The single leg lateral box jump is one of the best drills for building frontal plane power, single-leg explosiveness, and the hip stability that protects your knees during cutting and change of direction. In this guide, Brandon Smitley of THIRST Gym breaks down how to perform the exercise in both lateral and medial directions, how to program it for in-season athletes, and why it’s a powerful tool for wrestlers and combat sport athletes. Learn the coaching cues, landing mechanics, and progressions that make this single-leg plyometric drill so effective.
The single-leg lateral box jump to bilateral landing is an advanced plyometric that builds single-leg power, lateral change-of-direction ability, and hip stability in one efficient drill. Learn how to set it up, train both the lateral and medial variations, and program it correctly to expose and correct left-to-right asymmetries. Brandon Smitley of THIRST Gym in Terre Haute, Indiana breaks down the biomechanics, coaching cues, and sets-and-reps for this frontal-plane power exercise.
The dumbbell bench press on plyo box solves the biggest challenge facing solo trainers: executing heavy dumbbell floor presses without assistance for setup and dismount. This shoulder-safe pressing variation uses an 18-inch plyo box to match competition bench height, allowing you to build pressing strength with controlled range of motion while maintaining the exact setup and mechanics that transfer directly to your powerlifting bench press. Whether you train alone in a home gym or need an intelligent accessory movement that builds chest strength without requiring spotters, this exercise delivers quality pressing volume with practical execution that eliminates the logistical frustrations of traditional floor press work.
The dumbbell bench floor press using an elevated setup solves the biggest challenge with traditional floor pressing by letting you handle heavy dumbbells without the awkward struggle of getting into position on the ground. This variation delivers all the lockout strength and shoulder-friendly benefits of regular floor presses while using your normal bench press setup, making it perfect for solo training sessions when you need to push serious weight. Whether you’re a powerlifter building lockout power or someone managing shoulder issues who still wants effective pressing volume, this practical setup hack transforms floor press work from frustratingly limited to genuinely productive.
Master the low box hop to lateral pushout to develop explosive lateral movement and rapid direction changes that translate directly to game performance. This dynamic agility drill combines plyometric training with lateral power development, teaching athletes the redirection mechanics needed for defensive footwork, cutting patterns, and court coverage. Learn proper technique, programming guidelines, and why this drill outperforms standard box jumps for building functional athleticism in basketball, soccer, tennis, and other lateral movement sports.