Bodyweight Exercise: Close-grip Push Up

The standard push up is a great exercise. It works your arms, chest, and shoulders, and even your core.

This is a push up where your grip is fairly narrow, hands about shoulder width apart.

Step 1: Place your hands flat on the floor, about shoulder width apart (no wider than that.) You should be on your hands and toes, and your body should be stiff.

Don’t drop your hips, and don’t push your butt up into the air.

Step 2: Lower your body down to the floor until your chest brushes the ground. Keep your elbows tucked in by your sides. Your elbows should go down and back, not flare out to the side.

Then push back up to the starting position.

It is best to use a 2-0-1 cadence for push ups. That is, take 2 seconds to lower your body down, 0 seconds rest at the bottom, and 1 second to push back up.

Close-grip Push Up video:

[video coming soon]

See more exercise guides in The Bodyweight Exercise Collection.