Is there any reason why women wouldn’t be able to train to do full push-ups, vs. pushups on their knees? I know that women typically have less upper body strength then men, but not all men can do pushups either. Yet it is generally assumed that men can train to do full push-ups, but women are often only required to the easier kind. Is there any physiological reason behind this, why it would be too hard for women to do proper pushups?
Strong women can easily do pushups - even one-armed pushups.
I know some women do ‘girl pushups’ because they don’t have the strength to do full pushups, but I’ve never heard that ‘women do girl pushups and men do regular pushups, full stop’.
I’m a girl, and I do regular pushups (a variety of them, even).
I’m a female who did regular pushups with no trouble in high school. Since then, I became sedentary and can easily do knee-pushups, but not the regular ones anymore. But I also know men now (and knew males in high school) who can (could) only do knee-pushups.
But as to why, statistically, it’s harder for women to do regular pushups? Women tend to have higher body fat than men (because of estrogen), and lower muscle potential for the same reason. So weaker arms are lifting more body weight in a woman than in a comparably-trained male.
I googled “pushups female” (and skipped over the Bra ads) and found a Q&A session where someone was asking if females taking the “Air Force BMT” (whatever that is) had to do “male” or “female” pushups, and the response was that females have to do “male” pushups to pass the Air Force BMT, just not as many of them.
(Oh, yes, there was another response mildly rebuking the questioner for using those terms, as the PC definitions apparently are “full” and “modified” pushups.)
Yes; women can do normal push-ups. The US Army uses push-ups as a test of physical fitness, and while women are not required to do as many, they are required to use correct form for a push-up to count.
The reason I’m asking is that I recently started taking martial arts, and we have to do pushups. “White belts and ladies” can do modified pushups, and everyone else has to do real ones. White belts have only just started training so maybe they can’t do pushups yet, but the implication is that they will get better, so by the time they go up to senior belt levels, they will be able to do full pushups. But the women apparently will never work up to full pushups. I guess rachelellogram has the answer, women will achieve less from the same training due to hormones and body composition.
The FBI has the same policy. They generally have to half as many, acknowledging the difference in general upper body strength. The requirements for pull-ups are similar while sit-ups and running are more competitive with their male counterparts.
I’m male and do pushups from my knees. I have to, because I have arthritis and can’t do “regular” pushups. However, I will be the first to tell you that I still get a good workout with them.
I am a VERY weak female-type person and I’ve never done girl pushups. I’ve tried several times to stick with the 200 Pushups program and never done knee pushups. I don’t keep on with it because I’m a lazy slackass, not because I’m chromosoneally deficient.
Do a regular push up if you want! Don’t let someone else tell you that you can’t do one. Of course you’ll be able to work up to it, just like a ‘white belt’ can.
I heard in high school some ridiculous tale about women’s reproductive organs being damaged by the strain of full pushups. I’m fairly certain this is total horsepuckey, but has anyone else ever heard it?
I think the problem lies in that, not being able to do a pushup is not a good workout for being able to do pushups. If you want to train to be able to do 20 pushups and you can only do 1 at a time you are not getting a good enough workout to make yourself better.
Just like in weight lifting, if I want to raise my max bench press from 295lbs to 300lbs. I don’t go to the gym every day and lift 295lbs once. I start at the bottom and work to raise my reps at 185 or 200lbs.
The “girl” part of this whole thing is a misleading leftover from Gym class
Yes, this is the explanation going round at my daughter’s school as to why girls can’t do pushups.
That was the [del]excuse[/del] reason my wife gave me. I’m sure that she heard it in school too.
I am in the worst shape of anyone I know well (of my age (40)) and I can easily do 20 standard pushups. I’m very surprised that your school will even let you train if you cannot.
Hilarious. I’ve never heard that one, and there were girls in my high school used every excuse in the book to get out of… well nearly anything in gym class! How was this supposed to happen, allegedly?
Dunno, but I heard the same thing about the triple jump when I was in high school. Go figure.
No idea how this mysterious damage was actually being inflicted, alas.
My first Kung Fu teacher was an attractive woman, and she could do ***handstand ***pushups, something that I have never achieved. While I agree with the policy of “white belts” doing easier forms of exercise, the women should be encouraged to improve just like the men.
I can add that this did not damage her reproductive organs; she has two beautiful children right now, so go for it!