Any son of yours that grows up in wrestling or gymnastics…
Any daughter of yours that grows up in gymnastics or cheerleading…
Now this isn’t a comprehensive list.
Kids should grow up playing every sport imaginable, both formal and informal.
Those particular sports however are going to build an athleticism and work ethic that makes it very easy to remain fit for life.
They’re all a big headstart.
The kids, boy and girl, stuck all day indoors on electronics really miss out.
Even something as simple as riding a bike regularly and doing a few pushups is a big help.
Don’t overlook the monkey bars.
Monkey bars alone made mandatory through daily middle school and high school pe class could solve america’s collective obesity.
Activity as a child builds a baseline strength naturally higher than that of the rank beginner who has found their way away from a screen (for the first time in their life), and into the gym.
I’ve noticed that amongst girls capable of doing strict pushups having grown up in gymnastics or cheerleading is regularly a commonality.
It makes sense factoring in all the shoulder work involved.
Girls don’t normally get much upper body stimulus.
Girls capable of the calisthenics trifecta of pullups/dips/pushups, get props.
Especially those under 25.
And I’ve seen the builds (and ages but that’s not my point right now) run the gamut amongst those capable.
They aren’t the 50 year old kettlebell instructor who had decades to get her abilities.
They did so in a pretty abbreviated time frame.
(And I view this differently than guys who are very strong under 25, then stall out til mid 30s in max strength.)
Pushups seem to be the one women struggle most with, and get last.
They’re capable of all three, they’re all just somewhat rare in general.
So again, props.
For women having pushups is like them having a 135lb bench (which is the next level for them past pushups). It’s the start of another level, a higher level of fitness, particularly in upper body strength.
Persistence & Tenacity