I wonder where the chart came from. It seems like adding at least 10 to all the male standards would more realistic. I am 60 and 18 is not challenging.
It's just a general guideline for people to maintain a minimum standard. The numbers and ratings aren't all that important, but if someone cannot hit the "excellent" standard for their age group, they now have a good goal to work towards.
The main point of my article is encouraging people to master pushups with high quality (full range of motion, deliberate tempo) reps. I've got no affiliation with the chart.
I'd also add that doing pushups just to count reps and doing high quality pushups are 2 totally different things. When I was in the army, we all blasted pushups during the 2 minute test period and cranked reps out. But, those pushups were done with almost no tension.
Doing pushups with maximum tension each rep, pausing one second at the bottom, 1 second at the top, and lowering for 2 seconds each rep should be the standard. Again, I don't know what standard this chart is using, but it's a pretty "general population" chart. Similar to the ACSM recommending 90 minutes of "moderate" exercise per week and saying moderate exercise includes "brisk walking." Keep in mind, most of the population doesn't exercise at all.
I was USMC, while not part of the PFT, I have done a lot over the years. I am now mostly diligent about chest to ground and locking out elbows (not locking was a bad habit that I discovered I had from a CrossFit coach). Semper Fi
Awesome stuff! And very impressive bench press. I've also found pushups to have great carryover to other pressing exercises. I was generally plateaued on incline dumbbell bench press for the past year-ish. I've gone back to doing almost exclusively pushups and pushup variations for my chest work since early November, and the past 2 times I've gone back to incline dumbbell bench pressing I've hit rep PRs both times, even without needing a warm up set the other day. Not to mention, I've always found pushups to be incredibly fun so going back to my roots and prioritizing pushups has been a no brainer.
Insane how low the bar is for men.
Thanks for making me feel 20 years younger with this chart!
Any time, brother. 👍
Excellent!
Thanks!
Guess I’m excellent an in my 20’s still! hahah
I wonder where the chart came from. It seems like adding at least 10 to all the male standards would more realistic. I am 60 and 18 is not challenging.
Nice!
It's just a general guideline for people to maintain a minimum standard. The numbers and ratings aren't all that important, but if someone cannot hit the "excellent" standard for their age group, they now have a good goal to work towards.
The main point of my article is encouraging people to master pushups with high quality (full range of motion, deliberate tempo) reps. I've got no affiliation with the chart.
I'd also add that doing pushups just to count reps and doing high quality pushups are 2 totally different things. When I was in the army, we all blasted pushups during the 2 minute test period and cranked reps out. But, those pushups were done with almost no tension.
Doing pushups with maximum tension each rep, pausing one second at the bottom, 1 second at the top, and lowering for 2 seconds each rep should be the standard. Again, I don't know what standard this chart is using, but it's a pretty "general population" chart. Similar to the ACSM recommending 90 minutes of "moderate" exercise per week and saying moderate exercise includes "brisk walking." Keep in mind, most of the population doesn't exercise at all.
I was USMC, while not part of the PFT, I have done a lot over the years. I am now mostly diligent about chest to ground and locking out elbows (not locking was a bad habit that I discovered I had from a CrossFit coach). Semper Fi
Awesome stuff! And that also explains why you're, according to the above standards, "off the charts" haha. Thanks for your service! Semper Fi
Awesome stuff! And very impressive bench press. I've also found pushups to have great carryover to other pressing exercises. I was generally plateaued on incline dumbbell bench press for the past year-ish. I've gone back to doing almost exclusively pushups and pushup variations for my chest work since early November, and the past 2 times I've gone back to incline dumbbell bench pressing I've hit rep PRs both times, even without needing a warm up set the other day. Not to mention, I've always found pushups to be incredibly fun so going back to my roots and prioritizing pushups has been a no brainer.
Thanks for sharing.
I agree