I like them because of increased range of motion, better stretch on my chest. Granted that can still be done flat handed on boxes but feels a bit easier with handles...although haven't tried yoga blocks yet so will see. For carry over to other calisthenics activities on hands I think you're right that flat handed is the better option however if that's not the primary goal then I think handles are a great option...for someone like me who does a lot of other neutral grip exercises it probably has carry over. Ultimately I like a mix of both.
I'm kind of in the opposite boat right now. I'm doing pushups on the ground (as opposed to barbell/dumbell bench) because I have an RSI in my hand that makes it hard to grip things with my thumb. It's good to have it in my repertoire so I can keep moving while I'm living with that injury.
I train at home and i stack books on a table and chair to do dips and i go really deep and slow with pauses at the bottom and lock up. No issues with wrists ever. Same with push ups sometimes i use books hehe. Never read them.
Uncanny timing!... I've been using grips and parallette bars for quite some time now because a bad wrist but the problem is still there. I only just decided to get back on the floor and slowly try to build that mobility and strength again. Those angled pads look very useful for my situation!
Even if I'm very strict and careful about tucking the elbows eventually my shoulders get injured with lots of pushups. But, I can do neutral grip pushups all day with zero pain. I use pushups handles to do the neutral grip.
I tried them for a few months, but went back to hands on floor. Now they're doing a fine job propping up an old couch in my workshop. If push up handles are helpful for others then that's great, but they didn't work for me. Haven't seen your videos for a long while Matt, you're looking great!
What is your opinion on the "Bear Blocks" push up blocks compared to say a simple cork yoga block... specifically for push ups? which one is better and safer in the long-term and why exactly?
You do this professionally so who am I to disagree with your take but I do. If this was the other way around the take on bars would sound ridiculous. Orientation and load is what makes these workouts different but no one does a bench press with their palms flat. Although I have found that it's easier (for me) to bench press with my palms flat. The bar is steadier and overall I have better control and range of motion. I don't jitter even when I'm close to failure. Getting that extension at the top isn't a war. Thinking about this movement in real life (outside a workout setting), if you are going to be lifting something off of you in that position, your palms probably will be flat. Gripping also changes something about doing push ups. Palms flat I'm pushing myself off the ground then controlling my decent. Gripping a bar I'm pushing myself off the ground and then pulling myself towards it or pulling the ground towards me. A bar adds an element of balance to the exercise. Like palmed bench presses, who says we have to grip the bar when using it for push ups? Another thought is why shrugging is such a common mistake people make, I did it. I think palms flat on the ground is a natural position if we're going to be moving around. I think it's because it's more unnatural to be static in that position not about to take off like a toddler. Maybe that's why we shrug because we're instinctively ready to go. The grip position we instinctively know that outside a bear hug, this is how you hold on. I do have to also say that for me personally it feels like I'm hyperextending my wrist when doing push ups. The only reason they're flat is because my weight is pressing them into the ground. Palms flat for me is unnatural, splayed out like a spider balancing on my fingers is better.
To get the deficit push by using yoga blocks and very glad I did. There would be no way I could do shoulder presses using the bars (especially at 60 years of age). Great video, thanks.
my question would be should we also do dips flat handed? as i see handles vertically the same way they are horizontally. and what about ring push ups? open to correction
I've used flat platforms for dips too. it's a bit hard to find a way to do them, but I find they are far more effective for keeping the shoulders packed and elbows in alignment.
Right now I got so fat that I can't even do one push-up and I learned I've been doing them wrong my entire life with my elbows out putting all the stress on my shoulders and neck. My buddy said elbows in and that's when I discovered I was too weak to lift myself up, on top of that I broke my wrist and arm in motorcycle accident years go /now have 80% limited range of motion in my right hand so doing push-ups really hurt. I bought the "perfect push-up grips" and they immediately allowed me to do them on my knees. I been doing 100 reps everyday for the last week and now I am feeling A LOT of soreness/tension on my elbows... curious if the grips is what caused that, would it make more sense to abandon them altogether and go bare knuckle? or just fight thru the wrist discomfort? what are your thoughts?
It's not the grips that caused the soreness, it's the fact that you've been doing a hundred everyday without rest. You need to give your body time to recover, I'd say don't do them more than every other day. Also, wrist or joint discomfort in general isn't something you should fight through, especially with a pre existing injury. You should consult with a physical therapist for how to deal with wrist discomfort.
I couldn't figure out the spelling of the company of the ascent platforms. I've been looking for a pair since I have a wrist injury. Are there any others you'd recommend? Thank you for all your videos.
It may be desirable to use palms but it might not be for you... I have diagnosed carpal tunnel in both wrists and so I use them, but I stretch wrists some and experiment with palms and do some, some that way...I'm experimenting, working on that but if or when that fails or causes problems then I'll just use push up handles, at least mostly and or when going heavy or symptoms arise... Independent of this doing some stretching of the wrist is probably a good idea, but look into it, you don't want to exacerbate a problem either, but this may or may not allow you to do pushups off of your palms. "If it hurts don't do it"? Maybe you can address it, maybe not? Some may need to use push up bars, even if they try different people's ideas of stretches and exercises to address this problem... It may be desirable to use palms but it might not be for you...
Amazing and I remember that video haha!! I must have watched it like hundred times because I did not understand why you were so against handles. Years later I do all my push-ups on my palms now and it feels amazing.. my fingers do tend to curl up after 6reps anything I can do for that ? Thanks !!
I think the slight finger curl may be a good thing. Many coaches recommend "clawing" the ground with the finger tips to improve strength and stability in the hand. I would embrace it.
@@karmacop217 no can put the handles where you want but i keep them with so when i do a wide push up i can switch to a normal push up by placing my hands on the board instead of the handles.
@@joeri0409 the issue isn't the exercise, you gotta balance out your anterior and posterior chain, you're just wearing out your rotator cuffs spamming those pushups
You are wrong, those supports protect your wrists, especially if you have them injured, you also make them deeper
you should watch the whole video - he specifically addresses injuries at 1:55
I like them because of increased range of motion, better stretch on my chest. Granted that can still be done flat handed on boxes but feels a bit easier with handles...although haven't tried yoga blocks yet so will see.
For carry over to other calisthenics activities on hands I think you're right that flat handed is the better option however if that's not the primary goal then I think handles are a great option...for someone like me who does a lot of other neutral grip exercises it probably has carry over. Ultimately I like a mix of both.
One of the best push-up variations I've done I started doing recently. Reverse grip fist push-ups done on pillows. It's quite a variation!
nice, thanks!
But why not to do both - push-ups hands on the ground and also with push-up bars.
Because there must be only one winner
I'm kind of in the opposite boat right now. I'm doing pushups on the ground (as opposed to barbell/dumbell bench) because I have an RSI in my hand that makes it hard to grip things with my thumb. It's good to have it in my repertoire so I can keep moving while I'm living with that injury.
I train at home and i stack books on a table and chair to do dips and i go really deep and slow with pauses at the bottom and lock up. No issues with wrists ever. Same with push ups sometimes i use books hehe. Never read them.
Hm well, when I'm doing weighted pushups I always use the handles, nice stretch, deeper ROM, feel it more in my chest. And it's more challenging.
Uncanny timing!... I've been using grips and parallette bars for quite some time now because a bad wrist but the problem is still there. I only just decided to get back on the floor and slowly try to build that mobility and strength again. Those angled pads look very useful for my situation!
Even if I'm very strict and careful about tucking the elbows eventually my shoulders get injured with lots of pushups. But, I can do neutral grip pushups all day with zero pain. I use pushups handles to do the neutral grip.
Yes same. My left shoulder always feels uncomfortable with regular pushups.
I use them but mostly if my wrists start hurting, which happens quite often as I have tiny child hands ✋️
I tried them for a few months, but went back to hands on floor. Now they're doing a fine job propping up an old couch in my workshop. If push up handles are helpful for others then that's great, but they didn't work for me. Haven't seen your videos for a long while Matt, you're looking great!
Great timing, I was actually considering getting them mainly to go between my hands with elevated feet and help on my L-sit. I will reconsider now
Some push up handles help with better chest activation (angled handles)
Would you recommend the kensui ascent platforms over the yoga blocks and if so why? Let me know thanks!
@matt your approach of using suspension trainer for pushup is my go to.... With suspension trainer you get much more versatility
I agree. You lose some inherent stability, but that can be a good thing too.
What is your opinion on the "Bear Blocks" push up blocks compared to say a simple cork yoga block... specifically for push ups? which one is better and safer in the long-term and why exactly?
You do this professionally so who am I to disagree with your take but I do. If this was the other way around the take on bars would sound ridiculous. Orientation and load is what makes these workouts different but no one does a bench press with their palms flat. Although I have found that it's easier (for me) to bench press with my palms flat. The bar is steadier and overall I have better control and range of motion. I don't jitter even when I'm close to failure. Getting that extension at the top isn't a war. Thinking about this movement in real life (outside a workout setting), if you are going to be lifting something off of you in that position, your palms probably will be flat.
Gripping also changes something about doing push ups. Palms flat I'm pushing myself off the ground then controlling my decent. Gripping a bar I'm pushing myself off the ground and then pulling myself towards it or pulling the ground towards me. A bar adds an element of balance to the exercise. Like palmed bench presses, who says we have to grip the bar when using it for push ups? Another thought is why shrugging is such a common mistake people make, I did it. I think palms flat on the ground is a natural position if we're going to be moving around. I think it's because it's more unnatural to be static in that position not about to take off like a toddler. Maybe that's why we shrug because we're instinctively ready to go. The grip position we instinctively know that outside a bear hug, this is how you hold on. I do have to also say that for me personally it feels like I'm hyperextending my wrist when doing push ups. The only reason they're flat is because my weight is pressing them into the ground. Palms flat for me is unnatural, splayed out like a spider balancing on my fingers is better.
I have a synovial cyst from front squats. I lost mobility in my right hand. Push up handles are a blessing until surgery
To get the deficit push by using yoga blocks and very glad I did. There would be no way I could do shoulder presses using the bars (especially at 60 years of age). Great video, thanks.
I've been using bricks for pushups for a long time. Directly doing it on floor hurts my wrist.
Love using bricks too. I wrap them in Gorilla Tape so they don't scratch up the floor if you're on tile or hardwood.
my question would be should we also do dips flat handed? as i see handles vertically the same way they are horizontally. and what about ring push ups? open to correction
I've used flat platforms for dips too. it's a bit hard to find a way to do them, but I find they are far more effective for keeping the shoulders packed and elbows in alignment.
@ RedDelta .. How did you Make the ones you had .. The Pvc one looked very sturdy ..
I use them so my face doesn't touch the floor... but yoga blocks feel better than handles.
Right now I got so fat that I can't even do one push-up and I learned I've been doing them wrong my entire life with my elbows out putting all the stress on my shoulders and neck. My buddy said elbows in and that's when I discovered I was too weak to lift myself up, on top of that I broke my wrist and arm in motorcycle accident years go /now have 80% limited range of motion in my right hand so doing push-ups really hurt. I bought the "perfect push-up grips" and they immediately allowed me to do them on my knees. I been doing 100 reps everyday for the last week and now I am feeling A LOT of soreness/tension on my elbows... curious if the grips is what caused that, would it make more sense to abandon them altogether and go bare knuckle? or just fight thru the wrist discomfort? what are your thoughts?
It's not the grips that caused the soreness, it's the fact that you've been doing a hundred everyday without rest. You need to give your body time to recover, I'd say don't do them more than every other day. Also, wrist or joint discomfort in general isn't something you should fight through, especially with a pre existing injury. You should consult with a physical therapist for how to deal with wrist discomfort.
Muuuum, that man is crawling across the wall again!
LOL!
Great for weighted push ups.
wow this makes so much sense , thankyou so much , i was about to go into pushups on rings thinking rings would be better .... ?
Ring push-ups are more just different Han better/worse. It's another tool in the tool box.
I use them
I'll start doing both thanks
I couldn't figure out the spelling of the company of the ascent platforms. I've been looking for a pair since I have a wrist injury. Are there any others you'd recommend? Thank you for all your videos.
It's Kensui, here's their website: cutt.ly/SZUMEj9
you can also use GRINDSTYLE at checkout for a discount
It may be desirable to use palms
but it might not be for you...
I have diagnosed carpal tunnel in both wrists and so I use them, but I stretch wrists some and experiment with palms and do some, some that way...I'm experimenting, working on that but if or when that fails or causes problems then I'll just use push up handles, at least mostly and or when going heavy or symptoms arise...
Independent of this doing some stretching of the wrist is probably a good idea, but look into it, you don't want to exacerbate a problem either, but this may or may not allow you to do pushups off of your palms.
"If it hurts don't do it"?
Maybe you can address it, maybe not?
Some may need to use push up bars, even if they try different people's ideas of stretches and exercises to address this problem...
It may be desirable to use palms
but it might not be for you...
So true, always respect pain. But at the same time don't accept it either. I hope you can eventually overcome the CT.
I use self made paralettes and I think there great...
Amazing and I remember that video haha!! I must have watched it like hundred times because I did not understand why you were so against handles. Years later I do all my push-ups on my palms now and it feels amazing.. my fingers do tend to curl up after 6reps anything I can do for that ? Thanks !!
I think the slight finger curl may be a good thing. Many coaches recommend "clawing" the ground with the finger tips to improve strength and stability in the hand. I would embrace it.
Bum wrist. I did push ups for years on the floor and prefer it, but any sort of wrist flexion kills me. So handles it is
Thx Matt ! for me it s all about rings. I know it s a pure emotional thing but pu or dips without my rings are tasteless 🤣
lol, it's all about adding flavor to the palette.
I use a Push Up board, i like it
That thing? It stays at fixed lengths.
@@karmacop217 no can put the handles where you want but i keep them with so when i do a wide push up i can switch to a normal push up by placing my hands on the board instead of the handles.
@@joeri0409 yeah but then it's just a regular push up, not a deficit push up
@@karmacop217 yes but i switch so i dont get injured what happend to me by doing the same movements for to long
@@joeri0409 the issue isn't the exercise, you gotta balance out your anterior and posterior chain, you're just wearing out your rotator cuffs spamming those pushups
Do you watch Vegetable Police?
no one cares
You must be miserable :/
@@limon2796 I'm very happy because I don't listen to bad advice
@@armandom28 why is this bad advice? He explain his reasoning here and I think its a very good avice
Says the guy leaving a comment and helping me get paid.