marine pushups

[Candi Barr]

You know, the kind where you clap at the top? What do you ladies think about them? I thought they might fit into DE bench day. I could do them from my knees, but not my toes. Problem was with each rep I'd scoot back across the floor about 6 inches. Guess I'll have to try bracing my feet against the wall.

 

[spatts]

are you landing in a PL bench position that uses your triceps or in a wide chest isolated position?

 

[Candi Barr]

I'm trying to land anyway that keeps me from breaking my nose on the floor, but it seems to be more of a wide chest position. I suppose I could re-position my hands to more of a PL bench position before the next rep, would you recommend that? Thanks

 

[spatts]

Yes, especially if you're going to use it as accessory work on DE Bench day.

You'll probably find you scoot less too.

We also do this with feet up on a bench, with hands on a barbell resting on pins, band wrapped around the back with an end in each hand....for speed.

 

[makedah]

http://www.testosterone.net/articles/192push.html

I've done "explosive" push-ups a few times as a DE bench exercise. I'm still doing "starter" push-ups, however - pressing against a bar in a cage that gets lower and lower instead of trying to progress 'up' from push-ups on knees to push-ups on toes. (I got this idea from my beloved Krista at http://www.stumptuous.com/pushup.html )

So I "explode" off the bar instead of the floor, and I don't "clap" in the middle. I try to do my push-ups in my bench plane - it also seems easier on my crunchy rotator cuff that way.

Being able to do push-ups on my toes is one of my resolutions for 2003. For me, it's more important than my bench numbers right now. So when I do push-ups as a max effort move, I move the bar down in the cage to where I can do 5RM, then farther down until I can only do a 3RM, and then often, a 1RM.

 

[Candi Barr]

Thanks for the link, Makedah, great article! I think I'll dump the clap, it just complicates the descent. I wonder if negatives on pushups would work as well as negatives on chin-ups for people working up to them. I'm interested in one-handed push-ups and that might help.

 

[Nonerz]

We also do this with feet up on a bench, with hands on a barbell resting on pins, band wrapped around the back with an end in each hand....for speed.

wow, that sounds like fun! I'd love to see a video of that...hint, hint!

Originally posted by Candi Barr
I'm interested in one-handed push-ups and that might help.

Me too! I've read that once you've mastered regular push-ups, you can do them with one hand up on a step and add levels to the step. I haven't seriously started on working on the one-handed push-ups quite yet...

Have you tried push-ups with your hands on a (small-medium) stability ball? You are forced to use a closer grip (PL style) which really works the tris. Not to mention your core must be T-I-G-H-T...or you'll lose your balance and fall on your face!

I'd love to hear training methods for 1 handed push-ups if anyone has them?

 

[makedah]

I wonder if negatives on pushups would work as well as negatives on chin-ups for people working up to them.

Apparently so: http://www.ivillagehealth.com/interests/healthy/articles/0,11299,165539_124270-4,00.html

Novice Negatives: Those unable to do either classic or modified push-ups can start in the "up" position, with weight on palms and knees--or toes. Then slowly lower yourself down to a count of five. Relax,then repeat.

Actually, I got this from a page advising folks on how to prepare for the Navy PT test: http://comilstd.org/resources.htm

Push-ups are highly beneficial exercise for building upper body strength. If you are just getting started, you may want to consider starting from your knees and increasing the number of reps and sets until you can perform multiple sets of 20 reps. The next step would be to get on your toes in the up position and gradually lower yourself to the floor (negative). After training with negatives for some time, you will have adequate strength to push-up. If you can only do one good push-up, then rest and repeat the single push-up until you can't do any more that day. Soon you will be doubling your reps and before long you will be able to perform a set of 5 reps. Once you can do 5 reps from your toes, then do multiple sets of 5. Eventually, you will increase the number of reps in each set naturally

 

[JJFigure]

It took me about 4 weeks to get the balance right on a one-hand pushup. I did them every day, and started on my knees. I'd do 3-4 sets and just practice. Once I started to get a feel for where my arm should be positioned, I moved to negatives on my toes - just lowered myself as slowly as possible. Then, I finally got to the point where I could do one - once I could do one, within a week I was doing sets of 3-4 reps. The balancing part just had to click.

 

[Nonerz]

so where do you place your hand? the farther out the "easier" right?

...not that they are particulary easy or anything!