How can I improve on my push ups?

MariaChele85

Do I continue to do as many as I can and eventually I'll get better or should I build upper strength first? My main objective is to be able to get lower than what I am currently at. These are regular push ups not girlie push ups. Thanks for the help

clariangel

bump, I'm curious as well

NikkiSixGuns

I'd say keep doing what you can and always try to go lower. You will get there eventually, as long as you keep pushing yourself to do more than you think you can. When you knock out that first set of REAL push-ups you're gonna feel awesome!

Doing some plank holds and other upper body strength moves in addition to your push-ups will help. Triceps dips, chest press & chest fly, overhead presses and rows are some of my favorites.

Good luck!

jacksonpt

I'm not sure I understand.

You say you're doing as many as you can... then you say you want to be able to get lower. I assume you aren't/can't go all the way down? Can you feel a certain muscle giving out which is preventing you from doing a full push-up? Push-ups are primarily about your chest and triceps, but rear delts also play a role, as does your core.

Try elevating your hands/upper body. Do them on the second stair if you can, or on a low chair/bench. Keep the same form, don't use your knees as in "girlie" pushups.

Briko3

Do I continue to do as many as I can and eventually I'll get better or should I build upper strength first? My main objective is to be able to get lower than what I am currently at. These are regular push ups not girlie push ups. Thanks for the help

Start out doing as many "low" pushups as you can. It might only be one. Focus all of your energy on getting those first few in perfect form. Then finish your set with what you're doing now. It will probably mean less overall, but the only way to get " full range" and good form pushups is to focus on doing them that way. Not to mention if you're only going halfway down, you're not getting the full benefit anyway, so less is really the same or more.

AmyRhubarb

There's a great program for increasing/improving your pushups - http://hundredpushups.com/

Briko3

I'm not sure I understand.

You say you're doing as many as you can... then you say you want to be able to get lower. I assume you aren't going all the way down?

Try elevating your hands/upper body. Do them on the second stair if you can, or on a low chair/bench. Keep the same form, don't use your knees as in "girlie" pushups.

This is good advice. Better to have proper form than to do a lot of "semi pushups"

MariaChele85

I'm not sure I understand.

You say you're doing as many as you can... then you say you want to be able to get lower. I assume you aren't/can't go all the way down? Can you feel a certain muscle giving out which is preventing you from doing a full push-up? Push-ups are primarily about your chest and triceps, but rear delts also play a role, as does your core.

Try elevating your hands/upper body. Do them on the second stair if you can, or on a low chair/bench. Keep the same form, don't use your knees as in "girlie" pushups.

Yes I'm sorry that's what I mean, I can't go all the way down. I do what I can, but there is alot of room for improvement. When I go "down" I dont have enough strength to push myself back up. Would you say that's tricep?

nickymaz

My experience has been that the only way to get good at pushups is to do pushups, doing machines or bench press just doesn’t replicate it. Your triceps and deltoids are major accessory muscles to the pushup so working on them will benefit you too.

I would really stress form over everything. One way to improve your form is to do pushups in front of a mirror so you can see how far down you are able to go. I’ve seen folks who can do a hundred pushups but they aren’t proper pushups.

jbucovetsky

I would pump out as many as you can. Then go to your knees and continue to your max. That will help increase the depth and qty.

ixap

You can try negatives.
Lower yourself all the way down, but in a very controlled, slow movement.
Then if you can't push back up, just worm back up, and repeat.
You can do a few sets of 3 or 5.

916lude

I'm not sure I understand.

You say you're doing as many as you can... then you say you want to be able to get lower. I assume you aren't/can't go all the way down? Can you feel a certain muscle giving out which is preventing you from doing a full push-up? Push-ups are primarily about your chest and triceps, but rear delts also play a role, as does your core.

Try elevating your hands/upper body. Do them on the second stair if you can, or on a low chair/bench. Keep the same form, don't use your knees as in "girlie" pushups.

This. If you can't go all the way down, try elevating your hands. Start with hands on the counter, then a coffee table, etc etc until it's tough to go all the way down, but still possible. Do pushups in that position until you can work yourself lower. Once you can do it without hands elevated, start elevating the feet to increase difficutly. Or put one leg in the air while going down and alternate.

birdieaz

Focus on form first, even if it means only doing a few. I could barely do 2 pushups a month ago, now I'm up to 30 with good form. As a bonus my belly is flatter and firmer, pushups really work that core.

karoumee

I found this...it might help

http://hundredpushups.com/

meshashesha2012

break out your pushups into sets of various heights.

maybe do a set at whatever your normal height is... then a set of less reps a little lower, then a set of negatives where you slower lower yourself to the ground, then finish off with a set of whatever the most challenging of the easiest version you can do.

i also agree with focusing on your form. sloppy push ups aren't helpful at all

MoreBean13

Use a staircase. Choose a stair height where you can do 8 good form pushups. If that is still too much of an angle, start with a countertop. When you are able to do 3 sets of 8 good form pushups, move down a stair. Continue every other day-ish until you are eventually on the ground, doing good form pushups.

Lift_hard_eat_big

Do weighted pushups

MariaChele85

Thankyou all for your help. I will focus on good form and doing a few full motion rather than alot of half push ups.