How do you get good at push ups?

Question

I am reasonably fit and strong but have a problem with push ups and need to pass a push up test. Any tips?

Answer 1

Hmm, difficult one this....

Practise?

Answer 2

Practice makes perfect.

Try half-push ups to start with. Instead of using your feet/toes as the fulcrum, use your knees instead. It's less strain to begin with. Once you have built up some upper body strength that way, do the normal push ups with your feet/toes as the fulcrum.

You can also make it a bit easier by doing push-ups against a raised area like the edge of a bed, rather than straight off the floor...

You could add some weights to a knapsack and use that to help build upper body strength after you have practiced without the weights. Just take it easy or you could do yourself a mischief.

Answer 3

You should do as many as you can do REALLY WELL, and this number will improve. By keeping your technique ('form') REALLY REALLY correct, and focussing on each part of the movement separately, you will become 'efficient' at performing the movement fairly soon. As this happens, your total will rise very quickly. Pressup tests usually allow a fairly 'sloppy' action, and getting fairly good at doing perfect pressups will make you extremely good at sloppy ones.

The way you breathe during a pressup can significantly affect how easy it is; partly this is because the muscles used to do the pressup are usually helping you to breathe, so each function can interfere with the other.

The correct breathing to develop your pressup technique, is best described as 'blowing yourself up'. Exhaling strongly as you push, all the way to the top, allows you to either:

1; pause at the top, and get a really good lungful, slowly and gently so that you don't 'snatch' at it, then exhale again as you perform the 'negative' (downward) part of the movement.

or:

2; inhale, gently and fully, as you let yourself down to the floor.

(you should only allow 'your nuts and your nose' to touch down)

If your breathing pattern is what's been interfering with the movement, you'll find that your new habit can help with other aspects of fitness, and you'll start breathing more deeply during relaxation, too.

Although they seem like very different activities, climbing, pilates and yoga can also help with your pressup performance, by teaching you to use your upper body in a more versatile way.

Answer 4

Yeah, just do a routine, like start with 10, then 15 mins do 10 more, and so for an hour a week, every week go up 10, at one point I was able to do 60 in one minute, no kidding; I was drained though, I stopped doing them for about 3 years and now I can do about 20 and thats that....

Answer 5

The only way to build up your arm muscles is by using weights and keep working on the push ups - just take it slowly and repeatedly several times a day and you will soon notice the difference. good luck

Answer 6

weight training is good to get the arms stronger and then practice with the push ups

Answer 7

When I started I could do 6 maximum.

I can do a thousand now.

Answer 8

Hmmm, maybe actually do them untill you are good at them? (is there a smiley face for incredulous shock?)

Answer 9

do as many as possible then push your arms to do one more each day (force yourself) YOU CAN DO IT.IF NOT YOU MAY HAVE TO MUCH WEIGHT IN YOUR GUT.LOSE IT.GOOD LUCK.

Answer 10

you're not reasonably fit and stong then are you? push ups aren't taxing.

Answer 11

keep doing a few more every time you do them and you will become stronger