Push ups using a Bo/staff

[Teh El Macho]

I found this interesting clip on youtube where a dude is showing several variations of sit ups and push ups using a Bo.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=neN_uDYeQTA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=neN_uDYeQTA

I'm more interested in the push ups since I like knuckle push ups. Normally I have to switch from push ups with my index and finger knuckles to push ups with the lower three knuckles (say one set with the former, and then one set with the later).

After watching the clip, I decided to give them a try (in my case with a 1" rattan stick and with a 1.5" dowel... the 1.5" worked better for me btw.) What I liked about it was that by gripping the dowel

1. all four knuckles get aligned to the floor, and
2. makes (or at least, makes feel) the wrist to be more stable (my left wrist is shitty so this change was good.)


Any thoughts?

[kwoww]

Very interesting. Not sure about using a stick/dowel/bo/staff/etc, but I was intrigued by the foot position. I'd always learned to do pushups with my feet together. But it would be nice if he told us which muscle groups each one worked, though, so we didn't have to try each one or figure it out. :icon_joke

[Teh El Macho]

Yeah, that was a bit weird. It may be a precautionary measure for people trying knuckle push ups the first time. Keeping the foot separated gives greater stability - perhaps the people in the clip do not want people to fall on the back of their wrists.

It's akin to Rhadi Fergunson in his bodyweight exercise DVD. He's explaining jumping push ups and he makes a point for people not to clasp (in case someone misses the clap and bend his wrists.)

Going back to those knuckle push ups, once a person is accostumed to those, he should have no problem bringing the foot closer and make the exercise more challenging.

[Judah Maccabee]

Wide-foot position is also good for Hindu Pushups / divebombers

[nomamao]

I've tried out the side pushups, and I think they are fine, but I'm not quite sure if one NEEDS the bar in order to do these pushups at all.

I also tried some pushups with the palms facing towards my head, and that was a bit different, but i don't know if they are any better than regular pushups... I'd have to do them for a couple of weeks straight, and not do regular pushups or anything to find out.

But, I'm a fan of bodyweight exercise.

Thanks, for the link.

[Abusivemelon]

Wide-foot position is also good for Hindu Pushups / divebombers

Lol I love that name.

[ironlurker]

Any thoughts?

I wonder if it would help with bench pressing. I've found switching to sessions of push-ups and bodyweight stuff from time to time (closed chain) instead of my usual upper body workout (freewights and barbell- open chain) helps with getting through lifting plateaus, and I wonder if this particular form might even be more helpful. Might be an interesting experiment.