Close-Grip Push-ups
This exercise provided courtesy of Mike Clausen, founder and co-owner of DIAKADI Body training gym, voted best personal training gym in San Francisco by CitySearch in 2006.
Benefits
Push-ups are a great exercise because they work the entire chest and triceps while also training coordination and stamina. The close-grip variation of the standard push-up puts the hands closer together, which makes the triceps work harder and also challenges the front deltoids.
Muscles Worked
Chest, Triceps, Shoulders (front deltoids)
Starting Position
Position yourself on the floor in a prone position (face down) with your legs together and extended straight behind you, your elbows in close to your body, and your hands directly underneath your shoulders. Support yourself on your toes and your hands, with your palms down on the ground. Your arms should be straight but without locked elbows. Your spine should be neutral with no arch (see Photo 1).
Exercise
- From the starting position, slowly bend your arms and descend toward the floor. Keep your neck in line with your spine throughout the movement; do not jut your chin out towards the floor at the bottom of the movement. Stop when your elbows are at a 90-degree angle (see Photos 2 and 3).
- Reverse position and push back up to the starting position (see Photo 4). Do not lock your elbows at the top of the movement.
- Without pausing at the top, immediately descend into your next rep.
