Working Out
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I have always found that push-ups are the best exercise to improve push-ups. I am sure we have some fitness guru's out there that may know some exercises that will help. But for me, I just had to do push-ups.
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MAJ (Join to see)
Pushups, and planks, my back is always the first thing to go out during the pushup event so planking helps especially after my arms are too tired to do any more pushups.
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5-10 sets to failure. In a few sets, immediately after muscle failure go to your knees and keep going.
Use a weighted vest or plate on your back in the first set sometimes.
Do tricep exercises also - cable pulldown, close-grip pushups, etc..
Focus on flexing your pecs.
SFC Stephen King, any amendments?
Use a weighted vest or plate on your back in the first set sometimes.
Do tricep exercises also - cable pulldown, close-grip pushups, etc..
Focus on flexing your pecs.
SFC Stephen King, any amendments?
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SFC Stephen King
Triceps are the muscle that you must build as SGT (Join to see) mentioned variety of hand placememt will also build you reps.
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I actually am a big fan of weight training to improve push-ups. Obviously you still need to actually DO pushups when training, but I used to train up and max the push-ups NOT by doing frequent push-ups, but by hitting the bench-press, dumbbell press and weight exercises to hit the triceps muscles in the arms. Stretching is also key.
I don't know if the old rule of thumb still holds true or not, but it used to be said that a healthy person can bench their own weight. That may be a bit ambitious to start off with, but you don't need to be Arnold Schwarzenegger to do that. And if you think about it, if you can push your own body weight on the bench press, you are pushing more pounds that you are in a push up, because some of your body weight aint moving. If you Google "how much body weight are you pushing in a push up", most estimates range from 60% to 80%, so with that in mind, you could alternately put on a backpack loaded with weights and do push-ups that way, if you can't access a gym or don't like gyms.
There are various schools of thought on weight training depending on if you are looking for size, strength or endurance. I think most people are best served by finding a balance between these. Whether you hit the weight bench or not, find what works for you and train accordingly.
Good luck.
P.S. I only maxed the Sit-up one time, but I do NOT recommend anyone do what helped me: I had pneumonia for six weeks at San Hill, and all that coughing day & night, did really work the abs! LOL.
I don't know if the old rule of thumb still holds true or not, but it used to be said that a healthy person can bench their own weight. That may be a bit ambitious to start off with, but you don't need to be Arnold Schwarzenegger to do that. And if you think about it, if you can push your own body weight on the bench press, you are pushing more pounds that you are in a push up, because some of your body weight aint moving. If you Google "how much body weight are you pushing in a push up", most estimates range from 60% to 80%, so with that in mind, you could alternately put on a backpack loaded with weights and do push-ups that way, if you can't access a gym or don't like gyms.
There are various schools of thought on weight training depending on if you are looking for size, strength or endurance. I think most people are best served by finding a balance between these. Whether you hit the weight bench or not, find what works for you and train accordingly.
Good luck.
P.S. I only maxed the Sit-up one time, but I do NOT recommend anyone do what helped me: I had pneumonia for six weeks at San Hill, and all that coughing day & night, did really work the abs! LOL.
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