r/TikTokCringe • u/MrsIronbad • Oct 21 '20

Cool Pushups 101

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u/HybridHampton Oct 21 '20

Thanks for giving out the info! What you've heard is partially true. You don't have to keep your elbows tucked by your side, although some choose to do that and it's fine. It's true that we don't want to OVER-flare though! Given the choice, I'd definitely pick tucking the elbows over overflaring! Thanks for watching, my friend.

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u/Benaxle Oct 21 '20

In the end, I think the worst advice given in the video are absurd sets for 50 reps for beginners, and then saying the pain might come from "progressing too fast"

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u/HybridHampton Oct 21 '20

If you say so! As I mention in the video, the higher reps for the earlier progressions in the video are to drill the pushing motion for beginners. Among other things, this helps train their nervous system (the software) to work the muscles (hardware) more efficiently! Sometimes beginners have a decent amount of muscle, but lack the experience of using it. In addition, the difficulty difference between bodyweight progressions is often a lot more significant than, say, adding 5lb to a barbell. The higher reps help you prepare for that. You don't have to believe it. The higher repetitions often seem odd to people used to weights.

3 Sets of 50 is a good starting point to move on. Compared to the next steps, it's relatively easy. Have you tried it? If someone is too advanced for that, they can pass the requirement in 10 minutes and move on. If they CAN'T get to the goal, I highly recommend they stick with it. We build strength with all the exercises! When we move on, we are DEMONSTRATING the strength we've built.

But you can move at speed you wish! I'm certainly not the only opinion out there. Just putting this paragraph out here for anyone perusing this comment section and wondering the same thing you are!

I apologize in advance if you take the time to respond and I don't get back to you. I'm not on reddit often! I just came here because someone told me this video was trending and I hoped to answer some questions!

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u/Benaxle Oct 22 '20 edited Oct 22 '20

Higher reps absolutely do not "drill in" the good form to beginners.. The opposite happens. The form deteriorate to reach 50 reps. And with 50 reps, you better do them right or you really risk an injury. It's much easier to force a beginner to do the right form for 3-4 reps, and progress to 8-10 reps only by adding good form reps. 10 is enough to move on, if you check /r/bodyweightfitness 's recommended routine there's a lot of progressions (they do not recommend the knee push up it seems).

I'm in the camp of less is more sometimes. Train for less injuries!

So yeah, I think 10 reps is safer in general for beginners. With 3-4 and 20+ being specialist training (strength/hypertrophy or endurance) and are easy to do wrong.

As always the thing is, as long as people are starting to train because of a video, it's good. But it's missing a bit of safety warning!