{"id":1467,"date":"2010-02-17T09:45:43","date_gmt":"2010-02-17T16:45:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.scotthyoung.com\/blog\/?p=1467"},"modified":"2018-04-04T02:39:59","modified_gmt":"2018-04-04T09:39:59","slug":"my-elusive-quest-to-complete-a-handstand-pushup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.scotthyoung.com\/blog\/2010\/02\/17\/my-elusive-quest-to-complete-a-handstand-pushup\/","title":{"rendered":"My Elusive Quest to Complete a Handstand Pushup"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Photo<\/a><\/p>\n

I\u2019m taking a break from my normal rants on mastery, adventure and the pursuit of the ideal life to talk about a side-pursuit of mine for the last few years: bodyweight fitness<\/em>.<\/p>\n

What is Bodyweight Fitness?<\/h2>\n

If you\u2019ve ever done a push-up or chin up you\u2019ve already experienced a bodyweight exercise<\/a>. Unlike strength training with weights, bodyweight exercises do exactly that\u2013they use your body’s weight to create resistance and build strength.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve had normal strength training exercises as part of my workout routine for awhile now. But while strength training tends to focus on increasing the weight used, bodyweight exercises tend to increase in difficulty by changing the form of the exercise.<\/p>\n

So, as an example, a typical strength training exercise is the benchpress. The major way to increase challenge on this is to just add more weight. Such as, going from 100 lbs to 200 lbs.<\/p>\n

With bodyweight exercises, since weights are rarely involved, this option isn\u2019t usually available. As a result, the form of the exercise is modified to make it more difficult to perform. Such as going from pushups to clap pushups to one-arm pushups to one-arm clapping pushups.<\/p>\n

Why Go With Bodyweight Training?<\/h2>\n

Because it\u2019s fun. Honestly, that\u2019s the major reason I\u2019ve started integrating it into my workout routine. It offers an interesting challenge, particularly when my strength levels have reached a plateau after years of exercise.<\/p>\n

Some side benefits I\u2019ve noticed from the practice is an increase in functional strength. That is, I find the benefits of bodyweight exercise translate more easily outside of the gym. Functional strength itself is a popular fitness movement<\/a>, with the main goal being optimizing strength for practical activities.<\/p>\n

Another side effect has been improved flexibility and core strength. These are two areas I would often neglect when lifting weights which are important for overall fitness.<\/p>\n

I believe bodyweight exercises also help avoid the \u201cgym physique\u201d problem from excessive training on a few major muscles.<\/p>\n

Although physical appearance isn\u2019t my main reason for exercising, I like to joke that I spend time in the gym to look like I spent time playing sports. I think bodyweight fitness, employing more minor muscles in a variety of exercises, makes that easier.<\/p>\n

Beast Skills \u2013 Or Cool Tricks to Impress Your Friends<\/h2>\n

A friend sent me a link to this website<\/a>, which has a great summary of bodyweight fitness in general and gives detailed tutorials to perform some impressive physical feats.<\/p>\n

Part of the reason I\u2019ve enjoyed bodyweight fitness is that it is very satisfying to complete a particular exercise for the first time. Although reaching weight goals (bench pressing 200 lbs, deadlifting 300lbs, etc.) are satisfying, they are difficult to sustain and are approached by degrees.<\/p>\n

Bodyweight skills, in contrast, often come all at once, after perfecting easier skills, and tend to stay with you after they are first achieved. I\u2019ve reached my maximum benchpress of 175lbs several times, only to fall back after a training setback. However, after finally achieving a one-arm pushup once, I\u2019m now able to do it easily and consistently.<\/p>\n

What I\u2019m Training, And Why I Don\u2019t Care How Fast I Reach It<\/h2>\n

As with the title of this post, my main skill I\u2019ve been working on is a handstand pushup. I can get over 5 in a row, provided I\u2019m supported by a wall. The real difficulty with this skill hasn\u2019t been the pushup part, but the handstand part, and I\u2019ve had to do a lot of work on my balance and wrist strength.<\/p>\n

Some of the skills I\u2019ve completed in the past are wide leg one-arm pushups, elbow lever, L-seats, pistol squat and jumping one-leg squats. A few I\u2019ve been training but haven\u2019t reached are:<\/p>\n