Before continuing, take a few minutes to congratulate yourself for reaching the 6th level of our push-up series – most people never venture beyond the 5th level, the basic push-up. From now on the challenges will be greater, but we can also direct the benefits more specifically as well.
We have been talking about our admiration for push-ups throughout this series. This is why we decided to develop these 10 levels that allow you to gradually develop strength and attempt more challenging push-ups as you progress towards the higher levels.
After overcoming the Final level of the Full Range Push-Ups (the regular push-up), step over here and challenge yourself with the Close Grip Push-Up.
Performing
We assume the same starting position as in the full range push-up (5th level), however now our hands are close together in front of us, with the tips of the left and right index fingers touching each other. Many people try to make triangles or diamond with the hands, but this is not necessary – it’s enough to have the index fingers touching creating an angle between 60 and 90 degrees. Now:
- As you breathe in, from the starting position with your hands straightened, slowly bend your elbows and lower yourself down until your chest touch your hands;
- Once you touch the hands, hold for a second then start to slowly return to the starting position, while breathing out. Continue repeating until you reach your reps goal.
Exercise Notes
The close grip push-ups are well known and usually used as a triceps development vehicle. They are also necessary for proper strength development, but are often neglected in favor of other push-ups, for example, the raised foot push-ups. This is a shame, because the close grip push-ups are the starting point from which we learn to conquer the one hand push-ups. Most people cannot handle one hand push-ups because their elbows are in an unnatural position. In the close gripped push-ups we learn to position the hands to allow the elbows to naturally bent at a large angle, which allows to increase the depth of the push-up (as opposed to the regular push-up, where the position of the hands somewhat limits elbow mobility). By increasing the angle of the elbow bend we train triceps and strengthen the elbow and wrist tendons. Once we have strengthened the elbows with the close grip push-ups, one hand push-ups stop being a problem.
Training
| First level | 1 set of 5 reps |
| Second level | 2 sets of 10 reps |
| Final level | 2 sets of 20 reps |
Technique
If you are unable to complete the first level of the close grip push-ups, continue to practice the full range push-ups, but move your hands closer and closer every time, while maintaining a large number of reps.
After overcoming the Final Level of the close grip push-ups, continue with the next exercise – the Uneven Push-Up.
Featured image source: Youtube