How To Perform A Close-Grip Pushup
The close-grip pushup is a variation of the standard pushup that targets the triceps muscles. As the name suggests, you perform this exercise with your hands close together. This exercise can be performed with or without knuckles touching.
A great way to build triceps strength and definition, they can also be used as a chest and triceps workout finisher to pre-exhaust your muscles before doing other exercises.
This article will teach you how to perform this style of pushup with proper form. It will also provide tips on how to progress and regress this movement.
Performing The Close-Grip Push Up
- Assume a standard pushup position with your feet together and your hands about shoulder-width apart.
- From here, move your hands closer together until they’re about 6 inches apart. You can keep your palms facing each other or turn out slightly.
- Keeping your core engaged, lower your body until your chest is just above the floor.
- Press through your palms to return to the starting position. Repeat for reps.
Variations
Once you have mastered the basic close-grip, there are several progressions you can do to make the exercise more challenging.
These include:
- Elevating your feet on a bench or box
- Wearing a weight vest
- Doing deficit close-grip pushups (with your hands on an elevated surface)
- Adding bands around your wrists or ankles for added resistance
It can be done with or without knuckles touching, and with palms facing each other or turned out slightly. To make the exercise more challenging, you can elevate your feet on a bench or box, wear a weight vest, do deficit close grip pushups, or add bands around your wrists or ankles for added resistance.
No gym membership or access to exercise equipment? No problem! If you're looking for a way to strengthen your chest and triceps muscles, then the close-grip pushup is what you need. This exercise builds upper body strength as well as core stability, making it an excellent choice for those of us who want to look good and feel great.
Strengthen Your Chest and Triceps Muscles
The close-grip pushup is a variation on the standard pushup. It is performed by placing your hands closer together, usually about two or three inches apart, so that you have to work harder to keep your body straight and maintain proper form.
This exercise engages more of the muscles in your arms and chest than other pushups because it requires greater strength at the elbow joints. Close-grip pushups are an excellent way to challenge yourself if you're already comfortable with regular pushups but want something different!
The first thing you want to do is set up in a high plank position, and then lower yourself down into a deep pushup. When you come back up from the pushup, make sure your hands are as close together as possible so that they can provide maximum resistance for your arms. If there's not enough room between them, try using an object such as a towel or paper plate to create some space. You can also use one hand at a time if there's still not enough space!
This exercise targets your chest, triceps, front-delts, abs, obliques, and lower back muscles.
Video Instruction
The Close-Grip Pushup Exercise
Exercise instructional video.
- Only lower as far down as you can without your shoulders popping forward.
- Squeeze your shoulder blades together and downward at the bottom of the rep.
- Keep your abs tight and your ribs pulled down so that your lower back doesn't arch.
- Finish by spreading your shoulder blades apart, with your shoulders pulled down away from your ears.
Instruction courtesy of Precision Nutrition. Fitness Pros- If you’re interested in becoming a Certified Nutrition Coach, they’re top notch!
Many people think that the pushup is an exercise for beginners. How wrong they are! Not only is the close-grip pushup is a great way to work on your triceps, chest and shoulders, but it has also been used as part of rehabilitation therapy for those who have suffered from rotator cuff injury or shoulder dislocation.
Benefits
Looking for a new exercise to add to your workout routine? Look no further than the close-grip push-up! This variation on the classic push-up is a great way to work your triceps, shoulders, and chest all at once. In this blog post, we'll show you how to properly perform close-grip push-ups and highlight some of the benefits of this excellent exercise.
The close-grip push-up is a great exercise for building strength and muscle mass in your arms, chest, and shoulders. It's a versatile exercise that can be performed anywhere and modified to suit any fitness level. So what are you waiting for? Give close-grip pushups a try today!