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The 100 Pushups Philosophy

By Johnny Grube

I have always said a man that can do 100 straight pushups will almost always be in great shape. How can I say that a man that can do only 100 pushups be in great shape?

The first thing is 100 straight pushups are not easy for the average man or even most weight trainers. I have been training for over 30 years and have never seen any man do 100 straight pushups in person.

I have seen 70 I have even seen 80 pushups in a row but not 100. The reason that 100 pushups are rare is because it takes more than just strength it also requires a total body effort to execute the pushup while keeping the body straight throughout the entire exercise.

But, to get the big bench almost always requires low reps and long rest periods. Sometimes longer than 2 minutes. Building a big bench is not getting you conditioned to do anything but lying down and pushing a weight off your chest. And oh yeah telling people how much you can bench.

Really, how many men do you think that go to the gym can do many more than 50 pushups? Here’s another difference with the pushup and the bench press. Training to bigger bench numbers, you will push and push and push some more all in the name to get the big bench, but the majority of people once they get to their max number of pushups stop and think workout over.

The Bench press requires no conditioning what so ever to get stronger. But, there is no way you are not going to be sucking wind working up to 100 pushups, pushups in a short period of time become an anaerobic exercise meaning no oxygen. No oxygen to the muscles means hard times and this is when most will quit. Pushing a little farther will not mean injury. What it means is you will train your mind and body to get a little tougher and stronger.

I have seen it many times over the years; bring me a guy that can do 100 pushups some pull-ups and sprints. A guy that can bench press 300 lbs and works his way through the gym doing every type of bench incline, decline, cross over’s on machines and does curls etc. And put these two guys in an athletic type of contest and I can almost guarantee that the man that can do 100 pushups will be the winner and he will also be plenty strong!

And here is something you bench press specialists won’t like to hear. Most guys in the gym that are focused on the bench press are functionally weak. This is not my opinion it’s a fact focusing on the bench press works very few muscles the pushup works many more and conditions the at the same time.

About the Author:

Johnny Grube is the holder of 10 bodyweight fitness world records. He has over 30 years of training experience as well 30 years working labor he is an expert on the subject of functional bodyweight training and the author of "Ultimate Physical Fitness in 5 Minutes."
www.wildmantraining.com