Push Ups - How low?

[nikon]

So I've been working hard, as most here have been and getting to where I need to be, slower than I would like but I'm getting there.

In the last year, I've lost 99 lbs, went from not being able to run an 10th of a mile to being able to do the 1.5 and benching little to my bodyweight.

Situps are still a bit of a chore and so is the run. I have the benchpress outta the way and can do the pushups but I fear that I am not getting down far enough. Is elbows at 90 degrees far enough down? Should I try to go lower?

[The13ig13adWolf]

congrats on your progress. glad you asked this question, i'm curious as well. i always assumed they were military style but i could certainly be wrong.

[Robb]

I've never been in the academy obviously, but some of the Certified Physical Training Instructors that work at the Academy have told me to put an object as tall as your fist would be under your chest, and go down until you touch it since thats how far they need to go down.

[james13f]

In the Army the standard is until your upper arm breaks the plane, i.e. goes lower than parallel with your back. Make sure that you keep your back straight, and lower your whole body as you go down.

Hint: Go even lower when training, almost all the way down to the ground. That way when you take the test, the push-ups are easier than you are used to.

[AndrewTx]

I like to touch my nose to the ground. I know somewhere, and I can't remember where, the standard was touching someone's hand placed flat on the ground with your chest. Those are at least good training standards, if it's easier for the actual test then you'll be golden.

[LJ_af]

In the Air Force it is until your upper arms are parallel the the ground. But like james13f said, when working out, go lower. Just don't drop to the ground.

[michiganstud]

In the Air Force it is until your upper arms are parallel the the ground. But like james13f said, when working out, go lower. Just don't drop to the ground.

Put a tennis ball between the floor and your chest. Once you hit the ball that's far enough down.

[Group9]

Put a tennis ball between the floor and your chest. Once you hit the ball that's far enough down.

That's a good technique. Our testing protocol is for the counter to place his fist on the floor under the testee, and if he doesn't touch it, it doesn't count.

[Figgy]

When I took the agility test here in NY, they used the officer present who had the smallest hands. He made a fist placing it on the ground so that it was in line with where my hands were on the ground. I had to go down until I hit it.

Prior to the test I had heard that the standard was 3 inches down so to practice I took a plastic cup and cut it so it was 3 inches tall and placed that on the ground where the fist would be going down until I hit it. It seems to me like a tennis ball might roll when you hit it.

[The13ig13adWolf]

if ya have boobs....does that suffice??? :p

[Bearcat06]

if ya have boobs....does that suffice??? :p

And what nice boobs you have.....:D

[The13ig13adWolf]

And what nice boobs you have....

you didn't answer my question perv :p ;)

[Group9]

if ya have boobs....does that suffice??? :p

We will need to see a picture of you doing push ups to accurately answer that question.

[lax854]

So I've been working hard, as most here have been and getting to where I need to be, slower than I would like but I'm getting there.

In the last year, I've lost 99 lbs, went from not being able to run an 10th of a mile to being able to do the 1.5 and benching little to my bodyweight.

Situps are still a bit of a chore and so is the run. I have the benchpress outta the way and can do the pushups but I fear that I am not getting down far enough. Is elbows at 90 degrees far enough down? Should I try to go lower?

there is no set way to do a pushup. Just like benching, some say go to 90 degrees. Some say go to the bar is one inch from your chest. It really all depends on your strenght and how hard the pushup is to you. If you can do 10 pushups all the way down to you feel a stretch in your chest, i would probably say do 20 pushups to your arms go 90 degreees and start working up from there.

[Switchback]

I like to touch my nose to the ground...

That is a horrible gauge. I am sorry and I mean no offense. However, if you get down and do push-ups you will note that you can have your head in avariety of positions. In fact, a big fault in many peoples' push-ups is that they have their head pushed too far forward and htis prevents them from lowering far enough to do a proper push-up.

The best technique for head placement is to look at the ground approximately 18" in front of you. That should keep your head in line with your body.

As to how low to go, I have come across 2 gauges. Both have already been mentioned. If they follow the Cooper standards, you will likely be bound to lowering to someone's fist. The other was based on having your upper arms break the horizontal (bending your arms beyond the 90 degree mark).