“A perfect push-up is basically the perfect plank that descends and ascends,” says Brandon Hirose, master trainer at Crunch Gym in New York City. In theory, it sounds really simple. But anyone who’s found themselves in a “drop and give me 20!” kind of situation, know it’s anything but. To get started with your journey, Hirose and Maillard Howell, owner of Dean CrossFit and founder of The Beta Way, broke down four moves to build your strength for an on point push-up.
How to build strength with 4 push-up alternatives
1. Static plank holds
No surprises here. Getting the good old-fashioned plank under your belt is necessary before you attempt any variations of the push-up. According to Howell, static plank holds teach you how to manage your body weight before attempting to lower it down and lift it back up.
To get started, get onto your hands and knees, then lift your knees off the ground so you hips and shoulders are at the same level. Engage your core, tuck your tail bone, and make sure your glutes and inner thighs are working hard.
Complete five sets of 5-second holds, followed by five sets of 10-second holds, and five sets of 20-second holds, and so on.
2. Eccentric Push-Ups
“From the top of the push-up, slowly descend to the ground,” instructs Howell. Then, you can get return to you high plank however you need to (using your knees is fine)! This move is all about trying to keep your body in a straight line and your core fully engaged.
“You can challenge yourself with tempo work and increase the time it takes to come down as you get stronger. If done right, this time should increase over a week,” says Hirose.
Complete five sets of descending for 5 seconds.
3. Tricep kickbacks
“The triceps are very, very small, but they’re probably one of the most powerful muscles in my opinion,” says Howell. “They’re the main pushing muscle of the upper body.”
To do a tricep kickback, place your left hand and left knee on a bench. Support the right side of your body by placing the right foot firmly on the floor. Grab one dumbbell with your right hand and position the arm at a 90-degree angle. Without moving the upper arm, straighten through the elbow.
Complete five sets of five reps on each side—using a lighter weight. Then work your way up.
4. Scaled push-ups
How you angle your push-up can make it a little more easy to tackle. So when you’re just learning, Howell recommends positioning a barbell at belly button height on the squat rack and practicing your push-ups from there. “The higher the bar is, the easier it is. The lower the bar is, the more it will mimic a traditional push-up,” says Howell. “As they get stronger over time, I’ve had clients just lower the barbell.”
Be sure to maintain that flawless plank position—even as you lower down and press back up.
Complete five sets of five reps. Next time, lower the barbell and try the same amount.
Speaking of moves that make your muscles quake, here’s how to get the hang of a pull-up, and how to master the donkey kick.
Sign Up for Our Daily Newsletter
Get all the latest in wellness, trends, food, fitness, beauty, and more delivered right to your inbox.
Got it, you've been added to our email list.
