Training Trunk Rotation in the Push-up

A long time ago, I thought that if you weren’t bench pressing, you were wasting your time with regards to your upper body training.

Luckily with age (and a little bit of experience), I realized that there was actually a lot more to upper body development than just bench pressing three times per week!

Nowadays, the push-up is a staple in both my training routines, as well as that of my clients and athletes.

But the biggest issue I run into when it comes to the push-up is monotony. Even if it’s an awesome exercise, if you do the same thing, week in and week out, things can get boring.

So in today’s video, I’m going to cover a handful of ways you can spice up your push-up training by incorporating trunk rotation into the mix.

Now that you’ve watched the video, here are a few key points:

  1. Make sure to reach. Even though we’re not always on a level surface (or sometimes in single-arm support) we can’t forget the basics! Make sure to reach the arm(s) long on each and every rep.
  2. Lock the abs in. Beyond just the trunk rotation aspect of these exercises, they all train the core in a unique way as well. Make sure to keep them locked in and stable throughout.
  3. Focus on quality vs. quantity. When most people here the words “push-up,” I think they automatically assume they should be able to do 30, 40 or even 50 or more reps. Instead, focus on fewer reps/set, and really dial in the technique and feeling the right muscles.

Next time you’re in the gym, give a few of these exercises a shot. I guarantee you’re going to love one (or all) of them!

All the best,
MR

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