Plyo Push-Up

PushBW

An explosive push-up where the hands leave the floor briefly at the top of the rep without necessarily clapping — the foundational plyometric pressing movement, building power before progressing to clap push-ups.

Demo: Plyometric training demo

Sets

3

Reps

6-10

Rest

1:30

Contraindications

Wrist/shoulder impact on landing — build a strong standard push-up base first.

Setup

Standard push-up position.

Execution

  1. 1Lower under control to the bottom
  2. 2Drive up explosively enough that the hands briefly leave the floor
  3. 3Land softly, absorbing the impact with slightly bent elbows
  4. 4Reset the plank before the next rep

Key cues

  • Explode through the chest and arms together
  • Land soft, don't crash
  • Full extension at the top before the hands leave the ground
  • Keep the core braced through the whole rep

Common faults

  • Not generating enough force to actually leave the ground
  • Landing with locked elbows
  • Losing plank shape mid-air
  • Sloppy hand placement on landing

Tweaks

  • Progress to clap push-ups once comfortable
  • Try on an elevated surface to regress the load
  • Add a slight side hop for lateral power variation

Regressions

Progressions

Muscles

Primary: Pectoralis Major, Triceps Brachii, Anterior Deltoid

Secondary: Core

Sources

Attribution: General plyometric training canon