Why This Lesson Matters
You’ve built the strength, dialed in technique, and worked through progressions. Now it’s time to put it all together and hit your first proper push-up with confidence and control.
Your First Full Rep (Step by Step)
Set Up – Hands under shoulders, fingers forward, elbows soft.
Brace – Core tight, hips in line, glutes squeezed.
Lower – Controlled descent, elbows at 45°, nose just above floor.
Press – Explosively push back up, maintaining body line.
Building Volume
Start with single, perfect reps. Quality first.
Build to 3–5 reps in a set.
Over time, progress to 3 sets of 8–10 reps before exploring harder variations.
Common First-Rep Mistakes
❌ Sagging hips (core not braced).
❌ Elbows flared wide.
❌ Only going halfway down.
✅ Fix them by slowing down and returning to a regression if needed. One clean rep beats 10 sloppy ones.
Mini Reflection
👉 What would doing your first push-up mean to you? Write it down. Keep it as your motivation for when it gets tough.
Pro Tip
Think of your push-up like a plank that moves. If your plank form is solid, your push-up will follow.