Comments on: Static Push Ups: making major progress

By: ultrarunner

ultrarunner — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 08:13:19 +0000

I’ve been doing isometrics and isotension (exclusively, but relatively sparingly) for some time now. I feel that they have helped to “jump start” neurological junctions that were atrophied or unused, or used inefficiently (resulting in a pseudo-Kenyan marathoner body). Not that I regularly indulge such vain considerations, but I’m on my way to an ab six-pack on a very limited amount of isometric contractions alone (plus running, except running never produced any ab definition on its own). Basically, just squeezing the abs and other muscles, either during an “exercise session” or whenever I remember to and feel like it, whether sitting, standing or lying.

Recently, I discovered this:

http://www.maxalding.co.uk/Philosophy/rev_max_1.pdf

Also…

http://www.maxalding.co.uk/HSWP/hswp-01.htm

The old photo illustrations are sometimes a bit (erm, what’s the word I’m looking for?)… but I believe that “building the muscles by nourishing them via enhanced circulation, rather than by stressing them” is worth looking into. It seems to me to be something akin to “isometrics with golf swing coaching”, i.e, squeezing with technique rather than brute force.

Also “Vacuuming the Stomach” seems to have merit (of course, as a yogi, you’ll already be familiar with it (if by another name). See: http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/drryan11.htm

Great for inner core strength. Hits exactly where you feel those knuckles driving into your mid-back at the end of a marathon, as well as around the obliques.

Another thing I’ve been doing is hanging from a pull-up bar (you can use any bar, or basically anything you can freely dangle from). It’s similar to your static push-up, but from the other end. As you practise, you’ll be able to hang longer. Use different grips, and different arm direction set-ups, including arms out to the sides (iron crossish), hanging on two parallel bars, etc., and any static position that looks like a still frame from a gymnast’s routine, e.g. a static dip, with the legs together and at various angles behind you. Basically, it’s static gymnastic routines.

Good for the V-shape torso, chest, shoulders, arms, sucking the gut in, etc.

People warn that it may be rough on the shoulder joints. I haven’t found that to be true.

By: Neil T

Neil T — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 11:09:01 +0000

I’ve just started doing these myself and would suggest doing static squats with arms held in front at 90 degrees to upper body. Really hard at first, but you make rapid progress.

By: Tim Vilayphanh

Tim Vilayphanh — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 01:53:19 +0000

first time for GYM class, did it for 54 seconds, (I’m in grade 9) we held it at 90 degrees. I have been doing them nightly, and now my highest is 1 minute , 6 seconds longer =P, not much difference, but still better than my first.

By: Nate Wright

Nate Wright — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 17:21:32 +0000

hey, cool blog man. I am super into body weight exercises, and really want to boost my push-ups from about 40, current PB(which ive been a few reps over or a few under for the past month, But I am still hoping to hit 70 or so by November. I am 6’6 and weigh 220, so I feel my arm length/weight ratio may play into the difficulty I experience when performing push ups. I am going to use this tip. Cheers.

By: Ravi Raman

Ravi Raman — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 05:42:54 +0000

Awesome Mike!!!! Have you tried the 100 push up program? http://hundredpushups.com/

I am going through it now…

By: michael ksenich

michael ksenich — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 23:41:25 +0000

hey, im 17 and big into dooing push ups and stuff, i tried these kinda of pushups and agree they realy help. i dont really have huge arms or anything but i do pushups all the time so i can do a lot. right now i can do about 80 w/o stopping.

By: ravisraman

ravisraman — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 02:06:16 +0000

Hey C. Conrad, I’m glad this helped you. It is really a great routine and if your goal is to increase your max push-up count…it is well worth it.

Heck, if you are just interested in getting more fit it is worth it as well!

It takes hardly any time.

By: Physical Training Tips - Military Forum

Physical Training Tips - Military Forum — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 02:20:34 +0000

[...] Physical Training Tips Great way to increase your max out for push ups: Static Push Ups: making major progress | Set Higher Standards caconrad0825′s Sig:”Do or do not, there is no [...]

By: C. Conrad

C. Conrad — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 01:48:06 +0000

I’m working on getting into the Army’s OCS program, and this has definitely helped a bunch. I’m not totally out of shape, but I wasn’t up to the required levels for push-ups. Thanks a bunch man! Great routine.

By: Set Higher Standards » Blog Archive » Push Up Max Check In

Set Higher Standards » Blog Archive » Push Up Max Check In — Fri, 18 Aug 2006 06:59:40 +0000

[...] I ran into Paul in the locker room today at the gym. He asked how my push up hold progress was coming along. The answer was that for the past month or so, I haven’t been doing these much. At most I’ll just hold it for a few minutes to work the arm and check muscles out, but will not go to failure. [...]