Are push ups useless?

I know this is a body weight forum. I don't mean to disrespect push ups.
Just wondering how usefull they are for fighting. Everyone is doing them. Is this a case of stabborn tradition or is there something that I don't know.

Well they are usefull as a begginger exercise. After a while you need to change things to make them work.
Here are a few tips.

-Plyometrics
-One arm
-Feet elevated
-Jump in push up position forward few times and than back
-Hold the body an inch from the floor for 5 seconds every time you do a push up.

Let's see, Lightweight.
Will push ups make you stronger?
Yes, for the first dozen reps.

Will they improve your physical conditioning?
Yes

Are there more difficult variations so that you can progress?

Yes

One finger handstand push-ups?

Priceless :-D

Actually I seen a Kungfu movie where one Shaolin monk did a one finger handstand push up. Don't know how real it is. By the same token a video was circulating around the net, showing a Shaolin monk performing one thumb handstand push up. I don't think he was free standing though.

Actually I seen a Kungfu movie where one Shaolin monk did a one finger handstand push up. Don't know how real it is. By the same token a video was circulating around the net, showing a Shaolin monk performing one thumb handstand push up. I don't think he was free standing though.

I seen the video too. His finger bended like crazy.

I know this is a body weight forum. I don't mean to disrespect push ups.
Just wondering how usefull they are for fighting. Everyone is doing them. Is this a case of stabborn tradition or is there something that I don't know.

Standard push ups are 50/50 stubborn tradition and good exercise.
I don't belive that it's the utimate exercise though.

I know kids who argue that push ups work every part of the body.
That is a myth.

Are push ups useless?
IT depends on the level you are talking about. For a pro fighter, standar push up may not do much. I am sure there are variations that will challange any professional.
For a out of shape person they are good.
Try plyomtric push ups on the knuckles. That may be good for learning what happens on the impact.

[speedy]

Call it a science experiment. On my site there are a handful of pushup routines. Try one for a month, and you will notice that you are this much stronger, and slimmed down that much more (as long as you don't eat like a pig).

If you do any exercise for a while you can slim down.
Will it help to throw a power punch though?

[speedy]

Exercises will help, but unless the technique is right, it's all arm. I mean it, I used to box this guy that was pretty strong, but the weakest punches. The reason is he had lousy technique. It's of the arm, snap of the hip, and using your whole body at times.

Again,
mass of the person is important and technique is important.
if you use leg, waist and not just arm than you must use exercises to strengthen waist and leg too.
Just not sure which one's lol

[koltz]

If you could work out on getting OA pushups with a dubble clap probably from a small elevation chances are youll be darn strogn and fast, enough to one hit ko most street guys to a coma..

Depends on oens body weight too but I think even the scrawny 130lb guys would be pretty strong and fast for thier weight

If you could work out on getting OA pushups with a dubble clap probably from a small elevation chances are youll be darn strogn and fast, enough to one hit ko most street guys to a coma..

Depends on oens body weight too but I think even the scrawny 130lb guys would be pretty strong and fast for thier weight

One arm push up with double clap. :)
Yes, you would be kicking butt than.

If you could work out on getting OA pushups with a dubble clap probably from a small elevation chances are youll be darn strogn and fast, enough to one hit ko most street guys to a coma..

Depends on oens body weight too but I think even the scrawny 130lb guys would be pretty strong and fast for thier weight

One arm push up with double clap. :)
Yes, you would be kicking butt than.

One arm jump or plyometric push ups are the bomb. I saw that in my dream. lol

[Pryrates]

Actually I seen a Kungfu movie where one Shaolin monk did a one finger handstand push up. Don't know how real it is. By the same token a video was circulating around the net, showing a Shaolin monk performing one thumb handstand push up. I don't think he was free standing though.

I seen the video too. His finger bended like crazy.

Is there a chance that you have the link to that video?

Here is something you may like.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xaO-kHZvHo&mode=related&search=

[Pryrates]

Is this real? It doesn't look so to be honest...

[koltz]

I heard of that vid , 90 year old chineese monk doing one finger one arm pushup flawlesly , it is impressive but is below my expectations.......

I heard of that vid , 90 year old chineese monk doing one finger one arm pushup flawlesly , it is impressive but is below my expectations.......

Why is it below your expectations?

What do you expect 90 year old monk to do?

[koltz]

Well I heard hes doing handstand pushups on one finger freestanding or soemthing , and I though omg that's awesome but it's just a locked handstand , as I said it's still impressive

It's all about Chi.
Got chi? lol

I hope it is used for some kind of one finger strikes.

[CombatStrength]

Standard pushups are good for the upper arms, abs and lower back to a degree. once you get good at them, you need to add plyo's, medicine balls, gym rings, raised surfaces.. that sort of thing.. then you can hit the stabilizers and such..