Tips to get better at push-ups?

girlalmighty08

Push-ups are by far one of the hardest exercises for me, but I am determined to keep at it! I do them several times a week in my workouts (I do Tabata-style/Strength training classes 3-4x a week for 60 minutes that include push-up sets), but I don't seem to be getting any better at them. Right now I do them on my knees, and depending on the day I can do 5-10 solid ones before my form gets compromised. But I can't seem to progress! Any tips? Full push-ups are my Everest!

LKArgh

Do them at different times, not in the middle of a cardio class. So that you are not tired and you can focus.

pzarnosky

Start a weight routine and make sure you target your chest and triceps. If your strength class isn't improving your push ups then its probably not enough to stimulate much muscle growth.

rainbowbow

http://hundredpushups.com/index.html

singingflutelady

Practice them on an incline. Gradually decrease the incline until you can do them with your hands on the floor. This works better than doing them on your knees. Also add bench presses and other chest exercises

BusyRaeNOTBusty

singingflutelady wrote: »

Practice them on an incline. Gradually decrease the incline until you can do them with your hands on the floor. This works better than doing them on your knees. Also add bench presses and other chest exercises

Yup, incline are better than doing them on your knees. You can do them at the bottom of the stairs, start higher up and gradually move down.

srv524

I would pick a small number to start off with like 2-3. Then do 2 tricep, 2 bit wider, 2 regular, 2 bit wider, then 2 chest (really wide). I started off doing these with 10 each (turned out to be 50 total) then increased by 1 every couple days. You hit different angles and target different chest muscles with each range.

SonyaCele

build your triceps and lats . If you can do 5-10 on your knees, start out doing them strict and then only drop to your knees when you have to.

debrakgoogins

BusyRaeNOTBusty wrote: »

singingflutelady wrote: »

Practice them on an incline. Gradually decrease the incline until you can do them with your hands on the floor. This works better than doing them on your knees. Also add bench presses and other chest exercises

Yup, incline are better than doing them on your knees. You can do them at the bottom of the stairs, start higher up and gradually move down.

This all day. If you are working out at home, push a chair against a wall and do the push ups on that. A step up with adjustable heights would work too. At each level stay with it until you have the form and strength to do 12-15 without losing the proper form. Then, lower your incline and do the same. Rinse, repeat.

blondie_mfp

debrakgoogins wrote: »

BusyRaeNOTBusty wrote: »

singingflutelady wrote: »

Practice them on an incline. Gradually decrease the incline until you can do them with your hands on the floor. This works better than doing them on your knees. Also add bench presses and other chest exercises

Yup, incline are better than doing them on your knees. You can do them at the bottom of the stairs, start higher up and gradually move down.

This all day. If you are working out at home, push a chair against a wall and do the push ups on that. A step up with adjustable heights would work too. At each level stay with it until you have the form and strength to do 12-15 without losing the proper form. Then, lower your incline and do the same. Rinse, repeat.

adding my vote, too! I did mine on my knees for ages and never made any progress. switched to gradually decreasing the incline along with bench pressing, and voila! magic.

Packerjohn

This article talks about push up progressions:
http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2011/02/15/proper-push-up/

Sued0nim

Dive bomber push up looks great

disasterman

Do planks! Try to keep increasing your plank time and you'll get a stronger core for doing better push ups.