push ups?

[dragons_wrath99]

If you can't do the actual push-up, it's good to just start out in the proper push-up position and hold it. Have somebody with experience look at you to make sure that your hands are in the right places and that your back is straight. After you're in the correct position, just hold it as long as you can. When you've done this routinely for a while, perhaps a week or so, you'll be able to hold it much longer and will eventually be able to do a push-up. Good luck!

[Meguro]

If you can't do the actual push-up, it's good to just start out in the proper push-up position and hold it. Have somebody with experience look at you to make sure that your hands are in the right places and that your back is straight. After you're in the correct position, just hold it as long as you can. When you've done this routinely for a while, perhaps a week or so, you'll be able to hold it much longer and will eventually be able to do a push-up. Good luck!

This works especially well if you hold the "down" position with your elbows bent instead of locked.

[Goju_boi]

or you could do the push up's with the knees on the floor to help build up upperbody strength if it's that bad. I prefer weights to build up strength and power and push up's for endurance

[Kara]

ya know... Everything here is valid, in my opinion.

For me I could not even do one from the toes. NOT ONE! it took about a full week everyday, trying to complete one. it took a month to do 5.... Ya really weak in that aspect. but I got up to 50. I did reps of 10 - 5 times, all under 15 mins.

however now - since I havent been doing much of anything... Man! I would be lucky if I could complete 10! At the moment there is stragistic plan developing to get my butt in gear.

I would also suggest switching up the position of your hands too. It will strenghten other areas and your become stronger. I have read (in this thread I beleive) that your biseps are only as strong as your triseps. Good point. Calistetic practice can help alot, especially for push ups becoming easier.

[Goju_boi]

yeah, with what u said about positioning. If u want to make them tougher keep your elbows really close to you or just put your hands together when u do them.

[Jeet Kune Do]

When I first started, I could do 2, now I can do 40, the most i have ever done in one day is 200 (20, rest, 20, rest............).

When people start to do push ups, they go down and as soon as they think that they cant do it when they try to push UP, they give up and fall, I obeserved my friends trying to show off but they couldnt do 1 because they kept giving up when they were nearly there, but I tryed and I didnt give up and did 2, over the year I got to 5, then 10, then 15 then 20, I sticked with 20 until I was dared to do 25, then i did, then a week after I did 32, and then 1 month later when I wanted to train, I had the eye of the tiger and did 200 in one day, and then i did 40 in one go the next week.

Never give up

[Sohan]

I did 1000 when I was 17 for a competition in my home town. It took about an hour and a half and I got my picture taken with the mayor and a local sports figure. The second place guy got about 350, but he had to stop frequently. I got a good pace going, and took minimal long pauses. My arms were sore for a week afterward, but it was worth it. Still have my trophy, too.

I just built up by doing pushups every day, in sets at first, and then it was basically 200 straight. Pushups are really just an endurance exercise once you get past 100, so the first 100 are really the toughest to build up to. After that, it's just fighting the boredom. Same with the old fashioned situps.

Respectfully,

Sohan

[greenbelt_girl15]

I know what you mean Sohan.The most I've done at one time was 110 in pyramid sets (10, rest, 9 rest, etc.) during a gym class and by the time I was at about 70 it started getting much easier.It really does just get to be an endurance thing.

Though I still can't do more than 40 straight

[Sohan]

I know what you mean Sohan.The most I've done at one time was 110 in pyramid sets (10, rest, 9 rest, etc.) during a gym class and by the time I was at about 70 it started getting much easier.It really does just get to be an endurance thing.

Though I still can't do more than 40 straight

That's still pretty darn good. Most women don't have the upper body musculature that men do (less testosterone), and this shows up in pushups and bench press.

But I'm impressed!

Respectfully,

Sohan

[Cybren]

As I understood it doing pushups slow had less benefit since you're not building explosive power (I've usually trained for speed. my record thusfar is 75 pushups in 45 some seconds)