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One-Arm Push Up
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One-Arm Push Up

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How to Perform

  1. Begin in a plank position with your feet slightly wider than hip-width apart for stability, and place your working hand directly beneath your shoulder while your free arm rests against your lower back.
  2. Engage your core and glutes to maintain a straight line from head to heels, ensuring your hips don't sag or pike upward during the movement.
  3. Lower your chest toward the floor by bending your working arm elbow, keeping it close to your body at approximately a 45-degree angle from your torso.
  4. Inhale as you descend, maintaining tension throughout your entire body and distributing weight evenly through your supporting hand.
  5. Descend until your chest is about 2-3 inches from the floor, or as low as you can while maintaining proper form and body alignment.
  6. Push through the palm of your supporting hand, exhaling as you extend your arm to return to the starting position.
  7. Keep your shoulder blades stable throughout the movement, avoiding any rotation or collapsing toward the supporting side.
  8. Complete all repetitions on one side before switching to the other arm, maintaining consistent breathing and tension throughout each repetition.

Important information

  • Master standard push-ups and progress through intermediate variations like elevated feet and diamond push-ups before attempting the one-arm push-up.
  • Keep your elbow tracking in the same direction as your middle finger to protect your shoulder joint during the movement.
  • Prevent rotation by actively engaging your core and squeezing your glutes throughout the entire exercise.
  • If you're struggling with the full movement, start with an elevated surface for your supporting hand to reduce the difficulty level.

Exercise Details

Primary Muscles

Pecs Triceps Front Delts

Muscle Groups

Chest exercises Arm exercises Shoulder exercises

Mechanic

Compound

Risk Areas

Pecs Triceps Front Delts

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The one-arm push-up stands as a formidable milestone in bodyweight training, representing the pinnacle of upper body strength development. This advanced movement dramatically intensifies the classic push-up by concentrating your entire body weight onto a single arm, creating an asymmetrical challenge that few fitness enthusiasts ever master. When executed properly, this exercise primarily targets the pectoral muscles with extraordinary intensity, forcing them to stabilize and generate power in a way that conventional push-ups simply cannot match. The triceps experience tremendous activation as they work to extend the elbow under significant load, while the anterior deltoids (front shoulders) undergo extreme stress as they stabilize the shoulder joint throughout the movement. What makes the one-arm push-up particularly valuable is its versatility across training methodologies. In HIIT (High-Intensity Interval Training) protocols, even just a few repetitions can spike your heart rate and metabolic response due to the full-body engagement required. 

For bodybuilders seeking functional hypertrophy, the exercise creates muscle-building tension that can help break through plateaus when traditional weighted exercises have stalled progress. The strength demands of this movement extend far beyond the primary muscle groups. Your core transforms into a stabilization powerhouse as it fights rotational forces that threaten to collapse your form. The non-working arm side requires exceptional anti-rotational strength, teaching your body to maintain structural integrity under asymmetrical stress: a quality rarely developed in conventional gym training. 

Despite its intimidating appearance, the one-arm push-up represents a worthy pursuit for serious fitness enthusiasts. Its mastery not only signifies exceptional strength-to-weight ratio but also demonstrates tremendous body control and proprioception. The functional carryover to athletic performance makes it particularly valuable for combat sports athletes, climbers, and anyone seeking to develop real-world upper body power without equipment dependencies.

FAQ - One-Arm Push Up

What muscles does the one-arm push-up work?

The one-arm push-up primarily targets the pectoral muscles with extraordinary intensity, while heavily engaging the triceps and anterior deltoids. Your core also works overtime as a stabilization powerhouse, fighting rotational forces that would otherwise collapse your form.

How can I progress toward a one-arm push-up if I can't do one yet?

Start with elevated one-arm push-ups (hand on a bench or box), gradually lowering the height as you build strength. Incorporate archer push-ups and uneven push-ups (one hand on a medicine ball) into your routine, while strengthening your core with anti-rotational exercises like Pallof presses.

What are the most common form mistakes with one-arm push-ups?

The most common mistakes include rotating the hips/torso toward the working side, flaring the elbow outward, and insufficient core bracing. Keep your body in a straight line from head to heels, position your working hand at mid-chest level, and maintain a tight core throughout the entire movement.

How often should I include one-arm push-ups in my training routine?

Limit one-arm push-ups to 2-3 sessions per week with at least 48 hours between sessions to allow for proper recovery. Due to their intense nature, 2-4 sets of 3-5 reps per side is sufficient for most advanced trainees to stimulate growth without overtraining.

Are one-arm push-ups safe for my shoulders?

One-arm push-ups can be safe for healthy shoulders when performed with proper form, but they place significant stress on the shoulder joint. Ensure you've mastered regular push-ups, maintain a tight core to prevent shoulder destabilization, and stop immediately if you experience any joint pain rather than normal muscle fatigue.

Alternative Exercises

Stability Ball Pike Push-Up

Stability Ball Pike Push-Up

The Stability Ball Pike Push-Up stands as a formidable challenge in the realm of advanced bodyweight training, elevating the traditional push-up to an entirely new dimension of difficulty. This movement seamlessly blends shoulder strength development with core stabilization, making it a powerful addition to any serious fitness enthusiast's repertoire. This exercise primarily targets the front deltoids, the anterior portion of your shoulders responsible for that coveted capped look, while simultaneously engaging the triceps as crucial secondary movers. What truly sets this exercise apart, however, is the extraordinary core engagement required to maintain proper positioning throughout the movement. Perfect for integration into high-intensity interval training sessions or CrossFit WODs, the Stability Ball Pike Push-Up delivers maximum stimulus with minimal equipment. The instability factor introduces an element that traditional gym machines simply cannot replicate, forcing your body to recruit stabilizing muscles throughout your entire kinetic chain. Bodybuilders also appreciate this movement for its ability to isolate and sculpt the shoulders while maintaining functional strength patterns. The compound nature of this exercise makes it particularly effective for developing practical, real-world strength. As you progress with this movement, you'll notice improvements in overhead pressing power, core stability, and overall body control. The intense demand placed on your core musculature creates a synergistic effect, enhancing total-body strength beyond what isolated movements can achieve. For those seeking to break through plateaus in their fitness journey, the Stability Ball Pike Push-Up represents an excellent progression tool. The instability of the ball coupled with the inverted body position creates a unique challenge that forces muscular adaptation. This exercise embodies the principle that true strength isn't just about moving weight: it's about controlling your body through space with precision and power.

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Bodyweight Full Squat With Overhead Press

Bodyweight Full Squat With Overhead Press

The Bodyweight Full Squat With Overhead Press combines lower body power with upper body pushing strength in one fluid movement, creating an efficient full-body exercise that elevates your heart rate while building functional strength. This intermediate-level compound movement simultaneously targets your quadriceps, glutes, and front deltoids, making it perfect for those looking to maximize their workout efficiency. This versatile exercise fits seamlessly into various training methodologies including HIIT circuits, bodybuilding routines, and CrossFit workouts. The dynamic nature of combining a squat with an overhead press creates a cardiovascular demand that burns calories while developing both strength and muscular endurance throughout your entire body. What makes this movement particularly valuable is how it mimics everyday functional patterns: the kind of integrated movement you might use when lifting objects from the ground and placing them on a high shelf. By training these movement patterns together, you're enhancing your body's natural coordination systems while developing practical strength that translates to daily activities. The full squat component engages your entire lower body kinetic chain, activating the quadriceps as primary movers while recruiting the glutes, hamstrings, and core stabilizers. Meanwhile, the overhead press portion develops shoulder strength and stability, particularly in the anterior deltoids, while engaging your triceps and upper back muscles as synergists. For those focused on metabolic conditioning, this exercise delivers impressive results by recruiting large muscle groups simultaneously, significantly elevating oxygen consumption and caloric expenditure. The compound nature makes it particularly effective for those with limited workout time who need maximum benefits from minimal exercises. Regular incorporation of the Bodyweight Full Squat With Overhead Press can lead to improved posture, enhanced core strength, better overhead mobility, and increased lower body power—all critical components for athletic performance and daily function. Whether you're focused on building strength, enhancing endurance, or improving overall fitness, this exercise delivers comprehensive benefits in a single, efficient movement.

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High Pulley Overhead Tricep Extension

High Pulley Overhead Tricep Extension

The High Pulley Overhead Tricep Extension stands as a quintessential isolation movement for anyone serious about developing their triceps. This intermediate-level exercise has earned its place in countless bodybuilding and strength training programs due to its effectiveness at targeting the triceps brachii with remarkable precision. When you're looking to add definition and power to the back of your arms, this movement delivers consistent results by emphasizing the long head of the triceps—the largest portion of the muscle that significantly contributes to that coveted horseshoe appearance. The beauty of using the cable pulley system lies in the constant tension it provides throughout the entire range of motion, something free weights simply cannot replicate with the same efficiency. For intermediate lifters who have mastered basic tricep movements, the High Pulley Overhead Extension offers the perfect progression to continue challenging these muscles. The exercise excels at isolating the triceps while minimizing involvement from supporting muscle groups, making it particularly valuable for bodybuilders seeking targeted hypertrophy in their arm development strategy. Strength athletes benefit from this movement as well, as stronger triceps translate to improved performance in pressing movements like the bench press and overhead press. The overhead position specifically trains the triceps in a stretched state, which research suggests may optimize muscle growth and development of functional strength through a complete range of motion. While primarily known as a bodybuilding staple, this exercise bridges the gap between aesthetic-focused training and practical strength development. The controlled nature of the movement allows for focused mind-muscle connection—a critical component for maximizing growth stimulus in any resistance training program. Whether incorporated into an arm-specific training day or as a finishing movement in a push workout, the High Pulley Overhead Tricep Extension delivers exceptional value for intermediate lifters committed to building impressive, powerful arms.

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Push-Up to Renegade Row

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The Push-Up to Renegade Row combines two powerful compound movements, creating an intermediate-level exercise that delivers remarkable bang for your buck in minimal time. This dynamic pairing targets multiple major muscle groups simultaneously, with primary activation in the pectoral muscles, triceps, and anterior deltoids during the push-up phase, then shifting focus to the latissimus dorsi during the row component. What makes this exercise particularly effective is its ability to transition seamlessly between pushing and pulling patterns, creating a comprehensive upper body challenge that also demands significant core stability throughout the entire movement sequence. The stabilizing effects reach beyond just the primary movers, engaging the rotational muscles of the core, rhomboids, and even the lower body as you maintain a rigid plank position. Athletes across various disciplines incorporate this exercise into their regimens for different purposes. HIIT enthusiasts appreciate its cardiovascular demands when performed with pace, while CrossFit athletes value its functional strength carryover to more complex movements. Bodybuilders might employ slower, more controlled variations to maximize time under tension for muscle hypertrophy. From a strength development perspective, the Push-Up to Renegade Row builds balanced upper body power while addressing common weaknesses in core anti-rotation capabilities. This makes it particularly valuable for athletes seeking to improve performance while reducing injury risk. The unilateral component of the row helps identify and correct strength imbalances between sides. Research suggests that multi-planar exercises like this one promote greater neuromuscular coordination than single-plane movements alone, potentially enhancing overall athletic performance. The intensity can be easily modified through weight selection, rep schemes, and tempo manipulation, making it adaptable to various fitness levels despite its intermediate classification. Whether you're looking to build functional strength, enhance muscle definition, or improve athletic performance, the Push-Up to Renegade Row deserves consideration as a time-efficient addition to your training arsenal.

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