5 of the most common mistakes people make when doing a tricep push-up

No move is more OG or has more cred than the push-up. It’s the punishment of choice for boot camps, Pilates classes, yoga flows, HIIT classes, and the list goes on forever. That’s probably because there are endless variations—from the dive bomber to the pseudo planche—that specifically work all different muscles within your upper body. One such push-up tweak, the tricep push-up, is meant to target the back of your arms, and SolidCore instructor Triana Brown is going to give you the low-down on how to nail it perfectly every time.

“[Tricep push-ups are] a great move for your upper body and your core,” says Brown. Your triceps, which run along the back of your biceps, are used all of the time. But Brown says that she sees a lot of things go wrong when people in her class do tricep push-ups, which means that the exercise isn’t going to do you any favors. Proper form is key to reaping all of the benefits of the move (and let’s be honest, if you’re going to put in the time to do push-ups, why not do them the right way?).

To make sure you’re not making these common pitfalls, keep scrolling for the mistakes Brown sees in class (and take note).

The most common tricep push-up mistakes

1. The head is lifted upward.

2. The elbows are too wide.

3. The chest drops down.

4. The butt is lifted too far up or too low.

5. The back is arched.

If you’re making any of these mistakes, you’re not only not going benefit from the move, but you could also hurt your back (if you don’t keep it in the proper position). Watch Brown’s video for the low-down on nailing a tricep push-up, and then get ready to reap all of the benefits of having super strong triceps.

For more The Right Way tips, here’s a yogi’s take on how to do wheel pose correctly. And here’s how to do bridge pose in proper form so that you can work those glutes.