Non-Functional? Please… When performed correctly, the bench press certainly can be an excellent upper body strength builder. John Davis certainly wasn’t any worse for the wear for bench pressing in his routine, and he was one of the finest Olympic weightlifters and all-around strength athletes in history.

The bar looks to be loaded to around 400 pounds and Davis seems to be handling it pretty easily. Note the fact that there are no uprights. This shot was taken at Yarick’s Gym in Oakland, California.