Push Ups Question

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I'm curious too. I'm horrid at pushups

Pushups are the worst...the second set on level one of the 30ds are the hardest thing for me in the whole video! Interested to see the answer to this...

Stay on your knees until you can do the standard (toes) in good form. This means you should be able to go just as low on your toes as your knees and keep your back straight.

To decrease the difficulty of push-ups you either need to go from your knees or raise your hands on something like a step and do it from your toes. Either way, you want to do a full range. Doing only part of the range will not eventually get you to the point of doing a full range as you only strengthen in that range you us. So whether you want to do it from your toes or knees, go all the way down. Here is an excellent video on how to do push-ups properly http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwRLWMcOdwI

To decrease the difficulty of push-ups you either need to go from your knees or raise your hands on something like a step and do it from your toes. Either way, you want to do a full range. Doing only part of the range will not eventually get you to the point of doing a full range as you only strengthen in that range you us. So whether you want to do it from your toes or knees, go all the way down. Here is an excellent video on how to do push-ups properly http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwRLWMcOdwI

I second this post - push ups are all about form...do them on your knees until you build up enough strength to do from your toes..i had permanent bruises on my knees until I got strong enough to do them from my toes...and still, when I get tired, instead of sacrificing form, I go back to my knees....

The best thing for you to do is do them on your toes for as many as you can do, say 4 or 5, and then go to your knees and do as many as you can. This way you will build the strength faster to be able to do regular pushups on your own.

Trust me I am always right.

I will second my X-brother...do as many as you can from your toes with good form...it doesn't matter if it is 1,2, 3, or 20. When you get gassed and can no longer do them with proper form, drop to your knees. You can't progress in pushup land if you don't challenge your body to do them the way God intended...from your toes!

I will also strongly recommend push up stands. I use them for P90X for the first time during my 2nd round of P90X and I have seen monumental increases in my reps. The ones on BeachBody.com are expensive, but they are the best made in the universe. You can do wide flange without them tipping, they are very cushy on the handles, and the handles are slightly angled for good body positioning. I LOVE them!

I agree with most people on the topic- do them on your toes as much as you can, then switch to your knees. Also, don't forget about auxiliary exercises- if your goal is to do good pushups, then bench pressing weights that are heavy for you 2-3 times a week, 3 sets of 5, with weight increases every week, will make you stronger surprisingly fast.

I used to not be able to do a single pushup, but I did like you are doing, and added some bench presses, and now I can do 50 in two minutes. Good luck!

As has already been said. Form is king.

How is you're form? Tight core throughout? (remember the pushup is also like a plank...you're just pressing at the same time)
Also, with you're hands, its best to pretend that you are trying to "grab the ground" with you're hands, if that makes sense??
And always look straight ahead, or atleast 3-4 feet in front of you. most people look down. not good.

If you cant manage more than 3 or 4 full form pushups, then use a step to raise you're hands. I more recomend this than knee pushups, unless the person cannot do a full pushup, I find it helps more with conditioning using the correct form.

A simple program for progression could be as follows:
4 x 8pushups using a step height that allows 6-8 reps.
then next time(if you make all 4 x 8 reps that is), lower said stepping object say 2 inches. You might start out at 10 inches from the floor (i have no idea how strong you are, just an example).