CBum Chest Workout Breakdown: How Chris Bumstead Builds His Champion Physique

When you think of elite-level bodybuilding, Chris Bumstead—widely known as "CBum"—stands at the top of the conversation. A five-time Classic Physique Mr. Olympia, CBum’s training isn’t just about heavy lifting—it’s about precision, intensity, and deep muscle connection. His chest workouts, often featured on YouTube and broken down across fitness forums, are a masterclass in sculpting size with symmetry.

In this article, we’ll walk through the core elements of a CBum chest workout, explain how he incorporates chest and back supersets, and break down some of his go-to exercises for maximum hypertrophy.

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The Core of CBum’s Chest Training Philosophy

CBum doesn’t chase ego lifts. His training is focused on quality over quantity—using clean, controlled movements and really feeling the stretch and contraction with each rep. His goal isn’t just size, but shape, proportion, and aesthetics, especially in the upper chest, which defines a classic, balanced look.

He typically begins his workouts with a compound press movement and progresses to isolation exercises that target different angles of the chest.

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Sample Chris Bumstead Chest Workout

Here’s a typical chest day CBum has performed, as seen in his YouTube training vlogs and shared routines:

1. Incline Smith Machine Press – 4 sets of 10–12
   Focus is on upper chest development. The Smith machine allows a fixed path, letting him control tempo and emphasize the stretch.

2. Flat Dumbbell Press – 3–4 sets of 8–10
   A staple for overall chest mass. He uses a slight arch and full range of motion to maximize tension.

3. Incline Cable Flyes – 3 sets of 12–15
   Cable tension keeps the chest under constant stress throughout the movement. CBum emphasizes a slow eccentric here.

4. Machine Chest Press or Seated Plate-Loaded Press – 3 sets of 10
   These offer stable resistance and allow him to push hard without risking form breakdown late in the workout.

5. Bodyweight or Weighted Dips (Chest-focused) – 3 sets to failure
   Leaning forward targets the lower chest and helps develop the deep cut between the pecs and abs.

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The Chest and Back Superset Split

On occasion, especially during high-volume phases, CBum combines chest and back workouts in a single session—alternating pushing and pulling movements to maximize pump and keep intensity high without overly fatiguing one muscle group.

A superset example might be:

• Incline Press + Lat Pulldown

• Cable Fly + Seated Row

• Dips + Dumbbell Pullover

This pairing keeps rest periods shorter and blood flow surging across the upper body.

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CBum Chest Workout on YouTube: Real Training, Real Intensity

For those wanting to train like Chris Bumstead, watching his chest workouts on YouTube gives unmatched insight. He doesn’t just train hard—he trains smart. You’ll see him pausing between sets to recalibrate form, adjusting angles by degrees, and always finishing with intention. There’s a mental side to his training that often goes overlooked.

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Personal Experience: Putting the CBum Method to Work

I followed CBum’s chest workout for six weeks during a hypertrophy phase. The biggest surprise? How much more connected I felt to my chest after slowing down reps and emphasizing stretch. The incline focus completely changed my upper pec development. And I’ll admit—those dips at the end of the session? Brutal, but game-changing.

What I learned from training CBum-style was simple: Intensity doesn’t mean rushing. It means focus. The combination of controlled motion, volume, and mind-muscle connection was far more effective than simply moving heavy weights.

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Final Thoughts: Why the CBum Chest Workout Works

Chris Bumstead’s chest routine blends old-school principles with modern precision. There’s structure, intention, and years of refinement behind each movement selection. Whether you’re a beginner looking to build shape or an advanced lifter wanting to refine aesthetics, adopting elements of the CBum chest workout can elevate your training.