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Unilateral Push Up Progressions

Muscles worked

  • Chest
  • Front Shoulder
  • Tricep

Form Cues

  • Place the hands double-shoulder-width apart on the floor

  • Keep the body in a straight line from head to heels

  • Keep one arm extended and lower down to the other arm until your chest is next to the floor

  • Push back up, extending the arm fully while actively pressing down with the straight arm

  • Alternate between sides

  • Engage the core to maintain stability

  • Protract and depress your shoulders at the top, let them move freely as you lower

Progressions

  1. 01

    Push Ups

    • Start in a plank position with hands shoulder-width apart

    • Keep the core engaged and body in one extended line

    • Depress and retract the shoulders

    • Lower your body by bending the elbows, keeping them close to the body

    • Push back up to the starting position, fully extending the arms

    • Keep the neck in a neutral position

    • Avoid the hip sinking too low or coming up out of the straight body line

  2. 02

    Diamond Push Ups

    • Start in a plank position with hands close together and the thumbs and index finger forming a triangle

    • Keep the core engaged and body in one extended line

    • Depress and retract the shoulders

    • Lower your body by bending the elbows, keeping them close to the body

    • Push back up to the starting position, fully extending the arms

    • Keep the neck in a neutral position

    • Avoid the hip sinking too low or coming up out of the straight body line

  3. 03

    V-Push Ups

    • Place the hands slightly wider than shoulder-width apart on the floor

    • Keep the body in a straight line from head to heels

    • Keep one arm partially extended and lower down to the other arm until your chest is next to the floor

    • Push back up, extending the arm fully while actively pressing down with the other arm arm

    • Alternate between sides

    • Engage the core to maintain stability

    • Protract and depress your shoulders at the top, let them move freely as you lower

  4. 04

    Archer Push Ups

    • Place the hands double-shoulder-width apart on the floor

    • Keep the body in a straight line from head to heels

    • Keep one arm extended and lower down to the other arm until your chest is next to the floor

    • Push back up, extending the arm fully while actively pressing down with the straight arm

    • Alternate between sides

    • Engage the core to maintain stability

    • Protract and depress your shoulders at the top, let them move freely as you lower

  5. 05

    Ring Archer Push Ups

    • Place the rings shoulder-width apart

    • Keep the body in a straight line from head to heels

    • Keep one arm extended and lower down to the other arm until your chest is next to the rings

    • Push back up, extending the arm fully while actively pulling in the straight arm in a chest-fly-like motion

    • Alternate between sides

    • Engage the core to maintain stability

    • Protract and depress your shoulders at the top, let them move freely as you lower

    • Adjust the height of the rings to increase or decrease difficulty

  6. 06

    One Arm Push Ups

    • Place one hand under your chest on the floor in a plank position

    • Keep the body in a straight line from head to heels

    • Lower down, bending you elbow until your chest (nearly) touches the floor)

    • Push back up, extending the arm fully while actively pressing down with the straight arm

    • Alternate between sides

    • Engage the core to maintain stability, a wider foot position can help

    • Protract and depress your shoulders at the top, let them move freely as you lower

Common mistakes

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