How to get better at Military push up

nckfitheart2009

nckfitheart2009

Cathlete
Hi Everyone,

I would like to get better at military push and do a drop set confidently with good form.

Right now my problem is my wrist are weak. I have noticed my left wrist is weaker than the right one :(. I am very desperate to improve and could do with some tips and pointers. I know i will gain much better result. Can anyone please share your thoughts on this?

Kind Regards,

Nathalie
 
The one and only thing that has worked for me is practice (and patience). Each time i try, my wrists get a little stronger and I can do a little more. In the meantime, I just drop to my knees when my wrists cant take it any longer and concentrate on going lower and building my chest muscle. After a while I could do those drop sets in Gym Styles on my toes, but it took a while! And then I had to take some time off, and now I'm back to building up my wrist strength again. Sigh...

I'd love to hear everybody else's thoughts.
 
I tightn my thighs muscle and I distrbute the wait also in thighs and toes. When I first started I had all weight in upper body and it hurt the wrist. But I wemt in military 4 yrs ago did basic training at age 38 never did push ups til 3 months before going in. On the pt test I did 48 pushups. I was only female to pass the pt first time. Proud moment for me. But anyway that is how I did it I played with my weight distribution as I do them sometimes it is evenly distributed and as I get to fatigue I would put weight more toward my thighs and keep going til I could go no more. For practice do that 10 times flip over do sit ups 20 times flip over a d do 10 more push ups. Keep doing that every. Other day and try to add to more reps each time and morre sets. Start off witb 3 sets depending on where u r. I am not advanced in weight lifting but push ups ...I can do. Hope that helps.
 
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If you have a step or a turbo barre, you can start with a higher angle on your toes and gradually lose a riser or take the barre down a notch as you get stronger.
Another way would be to do the modified push ups Cathe does in one of her workouts (which one?) where you start on your toes and lower for six counts, then drop to your knees for the seventh count and push back to the top on the eighth count. Then quickly return to your toes and repeat. Then do the opposite: start in the down position on your toes and push up for six, then drop to your knees for the seventh and eighth counts. Am I as clear as mud on that? :D
The ones Cathe does in either Crossfire or To The Max are very cool. You start on your toes, lower to the ground ALL THE WAY, release your toes and arms for one second, then reengage and push your body to the top in one motion, your whole body moving on the same plane (no lifting your upper body and then the lower).
Of course, actually doing military pushups regularly will also help build strength. I like the 100 Pushups app on my phone. It really helped me increase my push up ability.
All these will build strength over time, and you will be doing set of military style before you know it!
 
Another thing you can try is keeping your wrists straight; hold on to a dumbbell, (like an 8 lb) and using it as an anchor. It's the same concept as the Perfect Pushup gizmo that is seen on TV but without the expense, and the weights aren't as high off the floor.
Just make sure they don't roll on you!
Good luck!
 
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I agree: 8lb wts help keep the wrist straight. That is exactly what I did when I first got Gym Style C/T way back in 2005 ? maybe?
Also, plank work made my core stronger so I can do the pushup as straight as possible and feel supported. There is nothing like that feeling you get when your core is engaged and you push straight up off the floor. It is marvelous.
Keep working at it. Wrist curls may help too.
Or do the first month of STS. There are tons of pushups in that meso cycle. By the end of the four weeks you will definately be rockin the pushups.
 
@lcsavik

I know the feeling you are referring to ( pushing off the floor feeling supported) :) I want to feel that feeling consistently performing 40 to 60 with good form.

Thanks for all tips posted here. I will work out taking those tips on board and achieve my goal.

Thanks everyone :)
 
I agree with pushing your weight back into your thighs/legs. If you let some of your weight roll back into the lower body and feet, your upper body won't fatigue quite as quickly. One of the instructors on DVD even instructs it that way but I am drawing a blank at the moment.
 
I think in Low Impact Circuit Cathe shows a modified pushup that helps you work up to full military pushups. Maybe that is what you ladies are referring to?
 
I do two different things depending on how many push ups are in a set. If we're talking about 1-2 sets of 10 or less, I use dumbbells or yoga props to hold onto. If it's more than that I gradually increase my angle as another poster suggested. My staircase is right outside of my exercise room and I'll pick an angle that works for me; the higher up on the staircase you go, the easier it will be. I've also done wall push ups for a while and transitioned to holding onto the sides of the coffee table when I was ready to increase my angle.

These things will help someone with weak wrists as well as help those that are just weaker in the upper body.
 
Gibbee said:
I agree with pushing your weight back into your thighs/legs. If you let some of your weight roll back into the lower body and feet, your upper body won't fatigue quite as quickly. One of the instructors on DVD even instructs it that way but I am drawing a blank at the moment.
Click to expand...

I tried this, but don't understand how to do it? It didn't seem like any weight was moving back, felt about the same...?:eek:
 
Get in your plank position and roll back onto the toes and balls of the feet instead of staying on your tip toes. If you still can't feel it, try doing one on your tippy toes - and I mean tippy toes... feel how heavy the body is in your arms/shoulders. Then rock back / push back into your feet, adjust your hands and try it again. Like another poster said, tighten your legs/quads to help pull your weight back.

I got to thinking about it and Gilad cues it this way in a DVD workout and also another female instructor. (still drawing a blank)

I don't always remember to do this myself, but it's like the arm position. If I have my arms/hands too wide or too far forward, I feel more strain / work than if I am more deliberate in my body placement. Sometimes keeping up with a DVD I let my form go a bit.
 
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