1.wide push-up
The “wide push-up” is just as the name implies — a push-up with the hands placed far apart.
How to do it:
Assume a plank position, and then spread your arms out as far as you
comfortably can. Complete the push-up by lowering your chest to the
ground, then pressing back up to the plank position, while staying tight
through your trunk and hips. You’ll note that you have less vertical
motion with this variation, but it really works like no
other!
2.narrow grip push-up
The “narrow grip push-up” is extremely closely related to what is
commonly known as a“diamond push-up”, but I think it deserves mention as
a stand-alone variation. Don’t worry about inwardly rotating your hands
to connect thumb and index finger.
How to do it:
Position your hands under your chest, at approximately nipple level,
with your fingertips pointed toward your head. Meet one of your new
favorites!
3.overhead push-up
How to do it:
To perform the “overhead push-up,” place your hands on the ground at a
place above shoulder height and ideally higher than your head position.
If you are strong enough to drop all the way down to the ground and
back upwards, congratulations, you are a rare breed.
These full overhead push-ups have sometimes been referred to as “Chinese push-ups.”
4.decline pushups
How to do it:
Find a park bench or stairway that you can use for this push-up. Flip
things around so that your feet are supported above your chest. There
you have it: the “decline push-up.”
This is the first push-up variation we’ll get to that actually is
beginning to place more of a percentage of one’s body-weight onto the
shoulders. More body-weight means heavier and thus that these variations
are harder to perform. Oh boy, now we’re starting to have fun!
5.pike push-up
The “pike push-up” builds on the decline push-up that was just
introduced, but given the placement of your hands it begins to
selectively strengthen the shoulders more so than the chest. Consider it
a preliminary movement to taking the push-up completely inverted.
How to do it:
To perform this skill, place your hands slightly higher than shoulder
height, then stick your bottom in the air. Drop your head downward to
the ground to a target between your hands, then push back upward along
an angle. Make sure to breathe with this one!
6.dive bomber push-up
Ahh, one of my personal favorites: the “dive
bomber push-up.” This is a brutal variation because each time you do a
full set you are essentially lifting your weight twice.
How to do it:
To perform it, start in the pike push-up position
illustrated earlier, then drop your chest down and between your hands.
Next, you’ll keep your momentum going forward and begin to rock upward
into a position they call “upward dog” in yoga practice. You’re halfway
done. Finish the push-up by rocking down and backward, bringing your
chest to the ground again, and then back upward to the starting pike
position. You’re going to love these, I promise
7.semi-planche push-up
Unless you’ve been trained as a gymnast, my guess is that you’ve
never seen this push-up variation before. It is called a “semi-planche
push-up”
How to do it:
entails placing your hands on the ground, with your fingers
rotated backwards, pointing to your feet. You lower your chest to the
ground from this position, and then return to the start. It takes some
special wrist flexibility for sure, but once you get the hang of it,
it’s an awesome variation to spice things up.
8.T push-up
Continuing in the theme of asymmetric push-up variations, here you have the “T push-up.”
How to do it:
Start this variation in a semi side-plank position, with one arm
elevated above your chest, then lower down to the ground. Push back to
the “T” twist position, and repeat. Try switching sides on each
repetition. If you have access to them, youcan also try these push-ups
while holding small dumbbells in each hand
9.Spiderman Push-up
The “Spiderman Push-up” won’t help you climb buildings like a superhero… wait a second, maybe it will!
How to do it:
Start in a single leg push-up position, then drop to the ground,
while simultaneously bringing the knee of the elevated leg to nearly
make contact with your elbow of the same side. As you drop to this
bottom position, play with turning your head to that same side, for a
bit of trunk rotation.
I’d suggest alternating sides with each repetition, but you can certainly attempt a bunch on one side, before alternating.
10.fingertip push-up
The Push-upsThe fingertip push-up introduces a unique element to
the push-up triad of chest, shoulder and triceps strength: finger
strength. It’s pretty self-explanatory, really.
How to do it:
Instead of resting palms down on the ground, elevate your hands on
extended fingers. Maintain this position through out the upward and
downward cycle of the push-up. Impress your friends
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