Technique - Dr Terpstra takes us through our paces
Dr. Peter Terpstra takes us through acceptable and non-acceptable push up techniques. More theory is set out below. The federation continues to bar Dr Terpstra's trained Orangutangs entry to the competition on the grounds that Orangs are unable to interact and trash talk with competitors. Dr Terpstra claims that his Orangs have clocked 220 push ups in one minute. We do not recognise this feat as Orangs are well known short strokers.
The Science of Push-ups
A press-up, also known as a push-up, is a common strength training exercise performed in a prone position, lying horizontal and face down, raising and lowering the body using the arms. They develop the pectoral muscles and triceps, with ancillary benefits to the deltoids, serratus anterior, coracobrachialis and the midsection as a whole. Press-ups are a basic exercise used in civilian athletic training or physical education and, especially, in military physical training. The press-up is one of the seven primary calisthenic exercises. Check out our Push Ups section for the science behind the push up!
The American English term push-up has been used since 1905–11, and the British English term press-up was first recorded 1945–50.
Dr Peter Terpstra, professor in bio-mechanics at the renown Institute for Calisthenic exercises in Berne Switzerland has no need for history nor does he need an introduction to those who know their game. He has already identified the winner if this year's championship in his analysis below. Dr Terpstra, who himself reaches over seven foot tall yet is possessed of no discernible limbs and sweats out of a single gland in his left big toe, will share more illuminating and breathtaking insights with us over the coming months.
The benchmarks
- The world record for most two-handed push back hand ups (in other words, a basic push up) in one hour is 1,940 by Paddy Doyle of the UK, set in 2007. The record for the most non-stop was 10,507, and set by Minoru Yoshida of Japan in October 1980.
- There are zoology observations that certain animals emulate a push up action. Most notably various taxa of the Fence Lizard exhibit this display, primarily involving the male engaging in postures to attract the female. The Western Fence Lizard is a particular species that engages in this behavior.
What's a push up?
In the "full push-up", the back and legs are straight and off the floor. The American College of Sports Medicine (2000) recommends using a press-up test to examine endurance on the upper-body musculature. For a male subject, assuming a dand position (the normal press up position to you and I), with back straight, head up, and hands placed shoulder width apart, lowering his body with his chin touching the mat; the abdomen should not touch the mat.
In the event of an participant's technique being called into question Dr Terpstra's ruling on technical compliance will be final with no right of appeal. Final, he said again (for emphasis).
Several variations are seen, besides the common press-up. These include bringing the thumbs and index fingers of both hands together (a "diamond pressup") as well as having the elbows point towards the knees. These two variations are intended to put greater emphasis on the triceps rather than the shoulder and chest muscles. When both hands are unbalanced or on uneven surfaces, this exercise also works the body core. Raising the feet or hands onto elevated surfaces during the exercise emphasize the upper and lower pectorals, respectively. In any variation of a push up, a person will be lifting about 60% of his or her body weight.
For the insane self-harmers......
Variations on this theme for the insane or masochistic (most of whcih are excluded from the 2009 championships due to participant fatalities in earlier competitions):
- Planche push ups - using only hands without resting feet on floor. Body's centre of gravity must be kept over the hands. Requires great strength and balance as person is lifting 80% of bodyweight. Evidence that you have tried this push up automatically incurs a life time ban from the World Push Up Championship.
- Boxer's push ups - performed on knuckles while avoiding bending wrists, Method also commonly used in martial arts without the gloves.
- Maltese push ups - gymnastic variation of the press-up, in which the hands are positioned closer to the hips, but with an extremely great distance between them.
- Hindu press ups - don't ask as we don't know but words like dand, jack-knifing and squats are used a lot. Apparently Bruce Lee was a fan but he's dead now, whcih says it all really.
- Plyometrics - using platforms, drop from platform to ground, rebound up to platform. Also called drop push..... ah, its all too hard!
- Explsoive push ups - push quickly and with enough force to raise his or her hands several centimeters off the ground, with the body completely suspended on the feet for a moment, a variation of the drop push. Can add in a clap or two if you are feeling really nutty.
Given man's infinite capacity for cruelty, unsurprisingly with push-ups, many possibilities for customization and increased intensity are possible. Some examples are: One hand can be set on a higher platform than the other or be farther away from the other to give more weight to the opposite arm/side of the body and also exercise many diverse muscles. One can perform press-ups by using only the tips of the fingers and thumb. For increased difficulty, press-ups can be performed on one arm or using weights. Man is truly doomed!
For those who like to smoke while exercising
There are some less difficult versions, which reduce the effort by supporting some of the body weight in some way. One can move on to the standard push-up after progress is made.
- Wall push-ups - are performed by standing close to a wall and pushing away from the wall with the arms; to increase the difficulty, move your feet further from the wall.
- Modified push-ups - are performed by supporting the lower body on the knees instead of the toes, which reduces the difficulty.
