How to Do a One-Armed Pushup
Nobody really cares if you can bench 350lbs, or run three miles in under twenty minutes, or whatever metric you might use to impress your friends. They don’t want to know about your squat form, or your body fat percentage. What they want to know is can you wrestle a tiger? Can you eat fire? Can you snort a line of Tabasco, or can you do a one-armed pushup? Now, I don’t know about you, but there aren’t too many tiger’s in my neighborhood, I like my throat uncooked, and I’d rather drink Prairie Fire than do a line of Tabasco. Which leaves the one-armed pushup. Can you do one? No? Then read on, young padawan, and learn how.
First thing you have to do is realize that this whole process is broken down into stages. You’re going to have to baby-step your way toward awesomeness. So, the first step. Get on your knees like you’re about to do a half pushup, and then open your left knee out to the side and rest it on the floor. I say the left knee because I’m assuming that you want to do a one-armed pushup with your right hand; if this is not the case, then please change the knee that you open up. Then place your left hand on your knee, so that you’re resting on your straight right arm.
Now, you’re ready for the exciting part. Perform that pushup! Notice how your left hand will push on your left knee in order to help you. Make sure to keep perfect form, and to focus on getting a full extension. Try to put as much weight as you can on your right arm, using your left as little as possible. Do this twice a week for 40 total reps on both sides, and when you can do 40 reps in only two sets, move your hand from your knee to your lower back, and go from there.
Now, you’re getting pretty close to the real deal. When you feel good with your hand on your lower back, get into a normal pushup position, but spread your legs wide apart. The greater the spread, the easier the pushup. Reach one arm to the back of your knee, and try for the same pushup style you first started with. Go for 20 pushups on both sides, and when you can do that, put your hand on your lower back again. When you can do that? You’re now doing a one armed pushup! Congrats! Now go tell all your friends.
Remember: these kinds of physical feats are indicative of total body conditioning and overall strength, so while they may seem like a gimmick, they do actual indicate how fit you actually are. Don’t knock it! Getting to this stage will mean a lot of contextual working out on your part, and you should be ready to feel great when you finally accomplish this benchmark, because it will mean you’re on the right track to total fitness!
If you want to build more strength, get in fantastic shape, and look awesome, then check out Tony Horton’s Power 90 workout. It’s not as brutal nor will it break you like the INSANITY workout, but it’s tough, and you’ll look like a new person by the end of those 3 months! Check it out now! Go go go! What are you still reading this for?
