How to Do Close-Grip Pushups

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By Diane Ursu
eHow Contributing Writer

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Close-grip pushups are are a great exercise for building chest and tricep strength. This is a difficult exercise that requires a good foundation in upper body strength training. It is recommended to start with regular pushups first (arms extended straight from the shoulders).

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Floor mat
Clothes that allow you to move freely

Step 1

Properly position yourself by lying on the floor on your belly with your legs extended behind you. Place your hands under your shoulders.
Step 2

Push up to extend your arms, lifting your body off of the floor.
Step 3

While keeping your hands at the same level in relation to your chest, move them inward and form a triangle on the floor with your thumbs (bottom of the triangle) and forefingers (sides of the triangle).
Step 4

Inhale and lower your body toward the floor while bending your elbows out to the side. Keep your body straight while using your stomach muscles to stabilize your torso.
Step 5

Exhale and extend your arms to push your body back up. Repeat.

Tips & Warnings

Warm up by doing cardio exercise for at least 10 minutes and stretching before strength training.
If you feel pain, modify your position. If changing position doesn't alleviate the pain, quit doing the exercise.

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