Jayhawk,
I highly recommend the Crossfit workout which will bring up push ups (as well as everything else), but it's takes several weeks to really adjust to the program.
Another option for shorter term results is an upper body "pyramid"
M/W/F
1 pull-up, 2 push-ups, 2 dips
30 second rest
2 pull-ups,4 push-ups, 4 dips
30 second rest
3 pull-ups,6 push-ups, 6 dips
Etc, up to 10 pull-ups and then go back down the pyramid to one pullup, 2 push-ups, 2 dips, etc.
- Extend your rest periods to a minute if you need to but don't skimp on the repetitions, even if you have to do a couple of pull-ups, wait a few seconds and do a few more. You stamina will build in a couple of weeks.
The premise is most people can't do almost a hundred or so push-ups or 55 pull-ups, but by doing them in small increments you tear down the muscle fibers without fatiguing so fast.
So you ony want to build push-ups? you really can't isolate one muscle group since they all support eachother in your movements. You're entire upper body will benefit.
The downside: you can plateau in a couple of months both mentally and physically and you'll have to find a new workout. Crossfit excels at this becaise the workouts are never the same.
Anyway, I used this for my BUD/S students and it worked well. I also did the program myself for several years progressing to using a weight belt for the pull-ups and dips.
Mike-