9/18/20 : Weighted Pushups & Human Weights

I’d already done a minimal amount of my hspu, band resisted pushups, and diamond pushup triset that I’ve been doing daily.

I had just finished my third set of mantra pushups (which has been my PT pushups for awhile – 3 mantra sets), when my buddy walked in.

A buddy walking in often means a minimal session for me becomes something different.

We got to talking, he wanted to do some weighted calisthenics. I was just going to do weighted pushups with him, I’m always game for them, but as a favor I grabbed my dip belt from my car so he could do weighted dips and chins.

I coached/coaxed him into some good PRs, dips 8xbw+90, weighted pushups 7xbw+100, how I coach/coax is another post coming up soon. For context ; today he was 150lbs, though that’s on the down fluctuation usually walking around at 160. He’s damn close to bw+bw sets for 10+ reps.

Today 9/18/20 got me a lot of write up able content.

•strength from high reps
•adding work to weaker muscle groups, (triceps & shoulders, as my chest is seriously developed)
•shoulder health (my shoulders feel better having done those super controlled heavy reps)
•coaching/coaxing PRs from another
•fairly heavy resistance bands building strength – westside has something here

So for me the weighted pushups :

1st set – 6 reps, the first two at 2p/90lbs, then either the next two at 2p25, and the last two at 2p, or it was the last 4 at 2p25.

It felt shockingly easy.
I had jotted down PRs in the movement, realized this was basically a PR set, and that I should go break a PR at 3p/+135lb which had been a 1rm 6-9 months back.

2nd set – 5x3p PR
This was my 1rm 6-9 months back when I first started weighted pushups, and I left 1-3 reps in the tank. What I’ve done for push strength this year is working very well. 4p/180lbs felt in the bag.

3rd set – 1x4p PR
Now the hspu, band resisted pushup, and diamond pushup triset has added horsepower here. I’ve only done plate loaded 4x including today, and the first session in December. The triset is building raw hp, and I’ve only been doing them having started daily this month.

Then the idea strikes…I just did a rep with 4p, and I have a 150lb human (while not a girl) available at present as weight. I figure I’m good for one rep at a minimum, if it’s plural reps, I’ll post the video.

Get desk staff to film the idea.

Vid Link Spot – video unavailable, filmed but unavailable.

(However I’ve since got this weighted pushups video : 11/1/20)

4th set – 2 reps with a 150lb guy standing on my mid/lower back

He stood lower than I wanted, still human live weight pushups ← s plural, as I did two reps with him as weight.

A little while later

5th set – 1 rep

I did another rep, just a single this time with him higher up on my upper back off camera to confirm I’d get the reps with him standing around my scapula/high on the upper back. He still stood about an inch lower than I’d wanted him to.

Him standing lower was harder on my core, him higher up shifted it from core stability more towards resistance on the chest.

Having someone standing on your back requires your form be dialed in, perfect. I went wicked slow not cause I couldn’t stabilize him…

I’ve stabilized more in plates, but because I could feel him shaking! I didn’t want him to fall off.

What an awesome Friday night session!

We’ll be doing these more often.

I have the idea to mix band and plate during the same reps.

It’d be sweat to bulgarian style live weight standing pushups.

Surprisingly I took video with a guy for low reps before I took video of a girl for high reps on back standing pushups. 5xbw+3p means I’m good for double digit reps with a couple different chicks I know, the question is when and which one will I run into first.

Calisthenics built. These things move up fast…Ape strong.

Persistence & Tenacity