Goi's Fitness Forum

I have one question to ask. When you guys do pushups (does not matter which variations), do you keep your elbows close by your side like doing a cobra pose? I have viewed many videos on it and most have their elbows flaring out but Steve Cotter in his Body Weight Encyclopedia for Upper Body showed him doing it with elbows close to body. He even advocated doing it that way. I find it challenging doing it that way. With elbows sticking out, it is easy to do quite a number but not with Steve Cotter's way although he did them with ease.

Any comments on this?


Craig Ballantyne does it with elbows closed to body too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zaGKRAlNjE

Chris Comfort does a wide elbow pushup in the first few pushups
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NtybAAzJKs

Steve Cotter did his with elbows much closer to body than these two guys.

like bench, flaring is more of bber style which place more stress to the shoulder. just keep it close, the normal bench grip.

lips wrote:like bench, flaring is more of bber style which place more stress to the shoulder. just keep it close, the normal bench grip.

Thanks Kevv

Just tried the two different methods Yes there is a difference, with close emphasis, can feel it on the back muscles (what you call them? the wings?) while with the flare emphasis, feel it more on shoulder. Me a lousy student, did not pay attention when taught the correct method.

Close is more stable.