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Across animal species, males and females develop secondary sex characteristics — physical traits that aren\u2019t directly related to the reproductive system, but nonetheless distinguish the sexes from each other.<\/p>\n
In males, these features are sometimes just for display, and make the animal more attractive by exhibiting its health and genetic fitness. Such is the case in the lion\u2019s mane and the peacock\u2019s plumage.<\/p>\n
But these distinctive features can be functional as well, as in the case of the antlers of deer (as well as elk and moose). A buck\u2019s antlers emerge as its testosterone rises and are a sign to does of its health, virility, and adeptness at finding food (antlers must be regrown every year and are nutritionally \u201cexpensive\u201d to support). At the same time, antlers also enable a stag to dominate other males in sparring contests.<\/p>\n
Humans sport secondary sex characteristics too, and while there\u2019s a constellation of traits that makes males more sexually attractive, one that exerts a particularly salient effect is the v-shaped torso.<\/p>\n
During childhood, boys and girls have pretty much the same physical proportions. But once puberty hits, testosterone surges in boys and estrogen rises in girls, which results in changes in the shape of their respective bodies. Males have a lot of androgen receptors in their upper bodies. When that surge of testosterone hits during puberty, it latches on to those receptors in the muscles, cartilage, and bone, and causes the shoulders, back, and chest to broaden and widen, creating that distinctively masculine v-shaped torso that starts wide at the shoulders and tapers down to a narrower waist.<\/p>\n
A v-shaped torso is not just a visually attractive indicator of health, potency, and the ability to obtain resources (muscles take food to fuel), but also competitive prowess. As with gorillas and chimps, us human dudes use punching as a primary tool in physical fights for dominance, and the strength of one\u2019s shoulders plays a big role in the strength of one\u2019s swing. Big, strong shoulders are a sign to other males not to mess with you and a sign to females that you are a potential protector.<\/p>\n
Thus, as anthropologist Richard Wrangham notes<\/a>, \u201cbroad shoulders . . . are the human equivalent of antlers.\u201d<\/p>\n So shoulders are man antlers.<\/p>\n Or mantlers, if you will.<\/p>\n While genetics has a lot to do with the size and definition of your man antlers, with some hard work and basic strength training movements, you can grow them to more bull-moosian proportions. To get the scoop on how to get bigger and broader shoulders, I hit up my barbell coach, Matt Reynolds<\/a>, for advice.<\/p>\n Unless you\u2019re a bodybuilder, focusing on developing specific parts of your body is not a sound way to go about your fitness training. Fortunately, there are exercises you can do that will shape and strengthen not only your shoulders, but the rest of your physique at the same time, and which should be part of every man\u2019s regular workouts anyway.<\/p>\n As Matt explains: \u201cOf course, I\u2019m going to recommend that all men take up a full-body barbell strength training program. Squatting, deadlifting<\/a>, benching, and shoulder pressing will give you all-around useful strength and provide a balanced, strong-looking physique. With that said, two of the main barbell lifts are conducive to building man antlers: the shoulder press and deadlift.\u201d<\/p>\nThe Main Lifts for Stronger & Bigger Shoulders<\/span> <\/h3>\n
Barbell Shoulder Press<\/h3>\n