Pike Push-up
These notes combine advice from 8 reviewed passages across 5 workouts.
Overview
Section titled “Overview”The pike push-up is a shoulder-focused pressing movement performed with raised hips and a steep, upright body angle. It develops strength that transfers to handstand pressing.
Technique
Section titled “Technique”To increase the angle without wall support, place the feet on a couch or another stable raised surface. The elevation makes the pike considerably steeper.
Progression to handstand pressing
Section titled “Progression to handstand pressing”Use the pike push-up to build the shoulder strength needed for handstand pressing. Once the pike push-up is clean and no longer very difficult, reduce its training volume or retain it as a warm-up before harder handstand-push-up work.
A specific progression can move from 3 sets of 10 clean pike push-ups to handstand push-ups beginning at 3 sets of 8. When 3 sets of 12 pike push-ups would be manageable, one set of 12 can serve as the warm-up while the harder movement provides the main challenge.