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Best Way to Improve Push-up Score

Hopeful Hoya

Well-Known Member
pilot
Contributor
I'm in the process of training for the Navy PFT and I've been scoring decently on the run (hitting 12 mins consistently and peaking at 11:30) as well as the sit-ups (maxing in the high 60s). But push-ups are the one area that I'm not pleased with, and I can currently do around 32 good form push-ups as a max. I'm working to improve that, but I was wondering what program is best, as there seem to be several competing philosophies (such as doing a high number over the course of a day or doing several max sets with a few minutes of rest in between). What do you guys think?
 

egiv

Well-Known Member
What I found to be very effective when preparing for OCS was to do a quick, simple pushup workout 3 times a week. So, in addition to whatever other workouts you may be doing, set aside a little time (I liked doing it in the morning before I went to work) and do 10 sets of pushups with a 1 minute timed rest. You could start off with sets of 10: so you do 10 pushups, rest 1 minute, 10 more pushups, rest 1 minute, and so on 10 times. The first few times you might be burning by the end but in general it will feel pretty easy and only takes about 15 minutes. At the end of the week, try a max effort set and watch your numbers go up week to week. As you get stronger, increase your sets of 10 to 15, 20, etc. The key is forcing yourself to do it and not cheating with rest time or skipping days you don't feel like it.
 

User1993

Member
I'm a civilian, but I've been busting ass to get a 300 on the Marine pft. For me push ups aren't too tough. I'm currently struggling with pull-ups, but I'm following the Armstrong program which requires 3 max effort push up sets 5 mornings a week. The first week I was doing 30 pushups comfortably, now I can easily knock out 50. I'd say the key thing is to go till your arms give out. Also just make sure you do atleast 3 sets a day. Should see some good results pretty quickly. mix up your arm placement too. I'm actually about to start elevating my legs when I do them.
 

Fins Out

Well-Known Member
Your mileage may vary but this has worked for me. I do them about 3 times a week with a rest day in between.

Pushups - do 20, rest for 20 seconds, 19, rest for 19 seconds, and so on until you finish at 1. Feel free to start lower at 10 or 15 (or hell, even 5) and work your way up from there.

Situps - get thee an ab wheel. On your knees, wheel forward, wheel back. Recommend starting at about 3 sets of 5 (you'll thank me in the morning) but work your way up to 10 sets of 10. If it gets too easy on your knees, do it standing up (that's what she said). Other things like doing traditional situps while holding a weight straight armed over your head or laying on the floor with a weighted barbell moving your legs like a windshield wiper or "V" works as well.

Pullups - toss a 10 or 25 pound weight in the mix to keep things lively.

Overall, find something that works for you and stick with it. The journey of 1000 miles begins with a single step, or some crap like that.
 

Hopeful Hoya

Well-Known Member
pilot
Contributor
Awesome, thanks for the advice guys! I'll try those out and let you know how it works out.
 

TigerKiller

Active Member
One thing that I have found helps is adding isometrics (read: static holds) to whatever program you are doing. This is because the PFT is an endurance event in that maxing out scores requires continuing to push past that 1:00min mark that many people (including myself) burn out at. Peak muscle recruitment happens when both the acting muscles and counteracting muscles in the movement are contracting at equal rates. Try holding pushup position/pullup position with arms at 90 degree angles for 30-60sec before pumping out as many pushups/pullups as you can. You can also do this with holding squat or leg chair and then max squats or hold a v-sit and then max situps.
iso_contractions.gif
 

GlassBanger

IntelO
Contributor
Awesome, thanks for the advice guys! I'll try those out and let you know how it works out.

Hoya, how did this workout for you? I know you posted a big ol' thread on "A Word on OCS" but I didn't see specifics on what you did from this thread to help you. My pushups are abysmal so I need all the help I can get.
 

GlassBanger

IntelO
Contributor
Not sure if this has already been posted, but Jeff Nichols is quite good on this. Been following it for 6 weeks, and it's made my numbers jump:

Thank you for this, pushups are actually really the only thing I am struggling with preparing for OCS. Yay for having approximately 50% less upper body strength than males! I've been planking, doing pushups, doing chest and various arm workouts, and my pushup count is not increasing. *worried*
 

OT-VA

Member
Thank you for this, pushups are actually really the only thing I am struggling with preparing for OCS. Yay for having approximately 50% less upper body strength than males! I've been planking, doing pushups, doing chest and various arm workouts, and my pushup count is not increasing. *worried*

You'll be fine! Also, I've heard from Stew Smith that you can alternate A days (200 in one sitting in as few sets as possible) and B days (200 throughout the day in however many sets you want. Could be 50x4, 25x8, 10x20, etc.) Just get the muscle memory in place. Also, if you can, do dips and weighted dips. They help with explosiveness and transition muscle endurance.
 

NicNakPaddywhak

Well-Known Member
pilot
You'll be fine! Also, I've heard from Stew Smith that you can alternate A days (200 in one sitting in as few sets as possible) and B days (200 throughout the day in however many sets you want. Could be 50x4, 25x8, 10x20, etc.) Just get the muscle memory in place. Also, if you can, do dips and weighted dips. They help with explosiveness and transition muscle endurance.
That Stew Smith program works. I use his TRX and Push/Pull workouts to great effect. My IST at OCS was 50 pushups, just enough to pass. I almost maxed it out at 80 during my out PFA, and I haven't had a PFA below 75 since.
 

GlassBanger

IntelO
Contributor
You'll be fine! Also, I've heard from Stew Smith that you can alternate A days (200 in one sitting in as few sets as possible) and B days (200 throughout the day in however many sets you want. Could be 50x4, 25x8, 10x20, etc.) Just get the muscle memory in place. Also, if you can, do dips and weighted dips. They help with explosiveness and transition muscle endurance.

The assisted-dip machine at the gym is intimidating; I don't want to make a fool of myself trying to figure out how it works for me LOL. I'll keep greasing the groove and trying Stew Smith's method.
 

Hopeful Hoya

Well-Known Member
pilot
Contributor
That Stew Smith program works. I use his TRX and Push/Pull workouts to great effect. My IST at OCS was 50 pushups, just enough to pass. I almost maxed it out at 80 during my out PFA, and I haven't had a PFA below 75 since.

I’m guessing not having a Gunny screaming in your ear about your form helps a bit too ;)
 
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