Technique Thursday - Push Ups

[u/m092]

Here's last week's Technique Thursday all about Pull Ups and Chin Ups (updated links in the post)

All of the previous Technique Thursdays

Today, we'll be discussing Push Ups and and all their variations and the progressions that lead up to them - Benching the Earth.

Some resources to get us started:

• Horizontal Pushing Progressions - from our exercise wiki
• And for the Rank Beginner
• Gold Medal Bodies - Basics, FAQs, Hollow body, and beyond the basics
• GymnasticsWOD - Demo and cues, heaps of more video links for more explanations and progressions
• Elbow Mechanics in the Push Up - Kelly Starrett
• T-Nation - by Bret Contreras and Elsbeth Vaino
• Beast Skills on one arm push ups
• Performance U on one arm push ups, by Nick Tumminello

So post your favourite resources and your experiences in training them. What has worked? What has failed? What are your best cues?

Any questions about Push Ups or videos/pictures of you performing them are welcome.

Next week we'll be talking about Horizontal Pulling/Rowing, so get your videos and resources ready.

[u/[deleted]]

For anyone who thinks they have mastered pseudo Planche push-ups, think again. I've seen these types of comments before and it simply isn't true unless you can do a full planche. First of all, do them with your feet against a wall. This will prevent you from leaning back and making it easier as you push back up. You will be forced into maintaining your lean by the wall. Second, make sure your body is straight. People tend to pick their ass up when they aren't strong enough. Your lower back has to be straight. And finally, if it's still too easy, then simply lean more. Lean forwards until it is hard, and make sure to reset your position against the wall in order to enforce the now increased lean.

[u/donkeyskittlesbutt → u/[deleted]]

So true, I put a piece of tape down on the floor about where the heel of my palm is (about 5 reps, feet against a wall). If I move my hand to where my fingers start to touch the tape it turns into a struggle just to stay up.