If I can do a one arm pushup, what percentage of my bodyweight would that be equal...

[andrew112]

If I can do a one arm pushup, what percentage of my bodyweight would that be equal to pressing? Would it be 140% of my bodyweight? The reason I have come up with this percentage is because a two arm pushup is equal to pressing 70% of your bodyweight. Thanks.

[ginkgo]

Originally Posted by andrew112

If I can do a one arm pushup, what percentage of my bodyweight would that be equal to pressing? Would it be 140% of my bodyweight? The reason I have come up with this percentage is because a two arm pushup is equal to pressing 70% of your bodyweight. Thanks.

It is less than your body weight since your feet is supporting some of your body weight. Whether you use one arm or two you pushing up the same amount of your bodyweight, but it would be divided by how many arms you are using.

So let us make this simple. If you do a handstand and do a pushup then you are lifting 100% of your bodyweight. Each arm is doing half of that. So a one arm pushup standing on your hand (you can rest your leg against a wall for balance) means that arm is lifting 100% of your body weight.

If someone has figured out that a pushup is 70% of your bodywight-- that is on both hands. So each hand would be doing half of that. So if Vishnu did a pushup then each hand would be lifting 17.7% of his body weight on each hand. Vishnu has 4 arms and hands.

It is said that one in 10,000 people can do a one hand pull-up.

[rocksupreme]

It's not possible to calculate.

Is your body rigid, or do you allow your back or hips to bend? Do you keep you shoulders horizontal, or allow them to tilt? How far down to you go? How far apart are your feet? Is your hand planted directly below your shoulder, or is it under your chest? Or is it lower down, closer to your center of gravity? Do your knees bend at all?

All of these factors will affect the amount of resistance you have to push against.

As Ginko mentioned, if you want to feel what it's like to press your entire bodyweight, you need to be trying this from a handstand position. Um, good luck with that...

[ginkgo]

Originally Posted by rocksupreme

It's not possible to calculate.

Is your body rigid, or do you allow your back or hips to bend? Do you keep you shoulders horizontal, or allow them to tilt? How far down to you go? How far apart are your feet? Is your hand planted directly below your shoulder, or is it under your chest? Or is it lower down, closer to your center of gravity? Do your knees bend at all?

All of these factors will affect the amount of resistance you have to push against.

As Ginko mentioned, if you want to feel what it's like to press your entire bodyweight, you need to be trying this from a handstand position. Um, good luck with that...

Handstand push-ups are hard. Gymnasts do them do develop their strength. I used to also do them since I was a gymnast. Regular push-ups do exercise your abdominal muscles. In yoga they have the plank pose. That means just holding the top position of the push-up to exercise abs.

Then there is the Indian or Hindu push-up. It is not for strength but for cardio/endurance/strength. The ab exercise in that is isotonic not isometric.

[andrew112]

Originally Posted by ginkgo

It is less than your body weight since your feet is supporting some of your body weight. Whether you use one arm or two you pushing up the same amount of your bodyweight, but it would be divided by how many arms you are using.

Let me rephrase myself: If I can do a one arm pushup, what percentage of my bodyweight is it equal to pressing with two arms? Since a two armed pushup is equal to pressing 70% of your own bodyweight with two arms, would a one-armed pushup be equal to pressing 70% of your bodyweight with one arm (or pressing 140% with two arms)?

Originally Posted by ginkgo

It is said that one in 10,000 people can do a one hand pull-up.

Did you mean a one arm pull-up or a one arm pushup (or both)?

[andrew112]

Originally Posted by rocksupreme

It's not possible to calculate.

Is your body rigid, or do you allow your back or hips to bend? Do you keep you shoulders horizontal, or allow them to tilt? How far down to you go? How far apart are your feet? Is your hand planted directly below your shoulder, or is it under your chest? Or is it lower down, closer to your center of gravity? Do your knees bend at all?

All of these factors will affect the amount of resistance you have to push against.

As Ginko mentioned, if you want to feel what it's like to press your entire bodyweight, you need to be trying this from a handstand position. Um, good luck with that...

When I do a one-armed pushup, my body is not rigid; I turn my upper torso in the opposite direction of my pushing arm. For example, if I am doing a OAP (one arm pushup) with my left arm, then my upper torso turns clockwise (when looking at me from the same side that my head is on) as I push my body up. If I am doing a OAP with my right arm, then my upper torso turns counter-clockwise as I push my body upwards.

I start out with my chest and chin touching the floor, and then I push myself up with one arm from that position until my arm locks out; then I lower myself slowly back down to the floor again.

My feet are spread far apart (wider than shoulder-width). My hand is partly under the same-sided pectoral muscle (the same side that my hand is on). I keep my legs straight the entire time and do not bend my knees.

I still have a lot of work to do on my form. I am going to keep practicing until I can do a OAP with extremely strict form, and then I will work on increasing the amount of repetitions (with extremely strict form).

[Honeywith4bees]

Multiply your bodyweight by 2.347 then substituting x for your current percentage of body fat, divide by the number of times that you can hop backwards on one foot while holding your breath.

Just kidding! I have no idea but I think its awesome that you can do one armed push ups!

I myself, just conquered doing two armed pullups. They were the bane of my exercise existence until I figured out how to isolate my scapular muscles. Now I can do three! (I have no trouble doing chin ups by the way, it was pull ups that were giving me such a hard time!)

[andrew112]

Well, I did an experiment to investigate my original question. I got into the same position that I am usually at when I am at the top of the one arm pushup (when my arm locks out) and I placed my hand on a weight scale. The scale read 103 pounds. So I guess if I can press 103 pounds with one arm, then I can probably press 206 pounds with two arms. Does anyone agree? I can do a one arm pushup with each arm btw. Also, when pressing 206 pounds I would have to be in the same position as when I am doing a one arm pushup, that is, my arms have to be more spread out to get the same angle that my arm is with my torso when I do a OAP (one arm pushup).

[ginkgo]

Originally Posted by andrew112

Let me rephrase myself: If I can do a one arm pushup, what percentage of my bodyweight is it equal to pressing with two arms? Since a two armed pushup is equal to pressing 70% of your own bodyweight with two arms, would a one-armed pushup be equal to pressing 70% of your bodyweight with one arm (or pressing 140% with two arms)?

Yes that is it! Each arm was lifting 35%. If you had 7 arms than each would be lifting 10%. It is like the clean and jerk. The 6 million dollar man did it (lifting barbell from floor to over head) with one arm. So I would do that also.

Say it is 100 pounds. It is always 100 pounds whether you lift it with one arm or 2 arms. But with 2 arms each one is lifting half the weight.

Did you mean a one arm pull-up or a one arm pushup (or both)?

Some people can do over 100 push-ups. Sorry but a one-handed push up is not that hard. Pull ups are much harder. I could do 20 but not a one arm pull-up. I never met anyone who could do it. I am not even sure it is possible despite that figure because as your muscles grow and get bigger, the weight of your body goes up. Some have suggested that actually meant a one handed pull up where one hand could hold the wrist of the other arm.

[rocksupreme]

Originally Posted by andrew112

When I do a one-armed pushup, my body is not rigid...

Then you're using a lot of muscles besides your arm. If you bend at the waist, you can add power from your core. If you bend your knees, you can drive with the legs. If you twist, you're adding force from your shoulders and hips.

These "extra" forces won't translate to other movements.

So I guess if I can press 103 pounds with one arm, then I can probably press 206 pounds with two arms. Does anyone agree?

No, I don't, because you're not just using your arm.

Originally Posted by ginko

I never met anyone who could do it. I am not even sure it is possible despite that figure because as your muscles grow and get bigger, the weight of your body goes up. Some have suggested that actually meant a one handed pull up where one hand could hold the wrist of the other arm.

One-arm pull-ups are massively difficult, but they can be done. Not by me, but I watch my friend do them (one arm only, l-sit position, pronated grip) once or twice a week when we work out together. He used to be a gymnast too.

[andrew112]

Originally Posted by ginkgo

Yes that is it! Each arm was lifting 35%. If you had 7 arms than each would be lifting 10%. It is like the clean and jerk. The 6 million dollar man did it (lifting barbell from floor to over head) with one arm. So I would do that also.

Say it is 100 pounds. It is always 100 pounds whether you lift it with one arm or 2 arms. But with 2 arms each one is lifting half the weight.



Some people can do over 100 push-ups. Sorry but a one-handed push up is not that hard. Pull ups are much harder. I could do 20 but not a one arm pull-up. I never met anyone who could do it. I am not even sure it is possible despite that figure because as your muscles grow and get bigger, the weight of your body goes up. Some have suggested that actually meant a one handed pull up where one hand could hold the wrist of the other arm.

Since in a two arm pushup each arm is pressing 35% of your bodyweight, then in a one-arm pushup the arm is pressing 70% of your bodyweight. Therefore, that is equal to pressing 140% of your bodyweight with two arms. Agree?

My dad could do a one-arm pullup when he was younger. He used to do boxing.

[andrew112]

Originally Posted by rocksupreme

No, I don't, because you're not just using your arm.

I still need to clean up my form. Once I get my form cleaned up to the point where my whole body is completely rigid, then I will just be moving the arm and will be able to say that it is the equivalent to benching 206 pounds.

[rocksupreme]

Originally Posted by andrew112

I still need to clean up my form. Once I get my form cleaned up to the point where my whole body is completely rigid, then I will just be moving the arm and will be able to say that it is the equivalent to benching 206 pounds.

You will, of course, be able to say pretty much anything you like, but that won't make it an accurate statement.

If you want to bench 206 pounds, I'd suggest trying a barbell.

[Scipio]

Originally Posted by andrew112

If I can do a one arm pushup, what percentage of my bodyweight would that be equal to pressing? Would it be 140% of my bodyweight? The reason I have come up with this percentage is because a two arm pushup is equal to pressing 70% of your bodyweight. Thanks.

A two arm pushup is not equal to pressing 70% of your bodyweight. It depends on your hand position. That is especially true of one arm pushups. A one arm pushup can be done without moving the torso much, and the arm far away from the torso, and is much harder than the one armed pushups people begin with.

If you want to know how much weight you can press, I would not infer it from other exercises. That is absolutely ridiculous. Go use a bench press and find out.

[Scipio]

Originally Posted by andrew112

Well, I did an experiment to investigate my original question. I got into the same position that I am usually at when I am at the top of the one arm pushup (when my arm locks out) and I placed my hand on a weight scale. The scale read 103 pounds. So I guess if I can press 103 pounds with one arm, then I can probably press 206 pounds with two arms. Does anyone agree?

No, I don't agree at all. Go to a gym and grab the 100lb dumbells and press them, then you can say you press 100lbs. Otherwise, for now, you do a "one armed pushup" not a 100lb 1 arm dumbbell bench. Different activities.

[andrew112]

Originally Posted by Scipio

A two arm pushup is not equal to pressing 70% of your bodyweight. It depends on your hand position. That is especially true of one arm pushups. A one arm pushup can be done without moving the torso much, and the arm far away from the torso, and is much harder than the one armed pushups people begin with.

If you want to know how much weight you can press, I would not infer it from other exercises. That is absolutely ridiculous. Go use a bench press and find out.

Please refrain from calling my statements/ideas "absolutely ridiculous"; it offends me. I am sick and tired of people calling my ideas/statements "flawed", "ridiculous", "impossible", etc.

[joelr]

You could go to a gym, pay the 1 day workout fee and see what you can bench press with free weights. Start low and work up to your max so you don't get stuck. Have someone spot you when you get near your top weight.

Then work with pushups for a month or 2 and repeat the gym process. Then you can see if it had any effect. Benching free weigh is the most accurate.

The movement is different than pushups in some ways so one problem will be if you haven't benched in a long time it takes some practice to get the balance going on to be able to press your max. With that in mind the bench machines might be better. You won't need a spotter either.

I have always found pushups to be only somewhat related to bench press. The easy-ness or hardness of them doesn't change much and I could never ever do a 1 arm push up weather my press was around it's normal level or way higher - 350 2 reps - during a time I was very, er..anabolic.

Any training is good! Home training can be VERY effective. Maybe not the BEST for pure strength but your strength will increase and muscles will respond and grow.

[scotthegeek]

did anyone suggest putting your hand on a scale while doing a pushup

[Scipio]

Originally Posted by andrew112

Please refrain from calling my statements/ideas "absolutely ridiculous"; it offends me. I am sick and tired of people calling my ideas/statements "flawed", "ridiculous", "impossible", etc.

No. This entire thread is absolutely ridiculous. Why don't you post this at a bodybuilding board to get absolutely thrashed? You think you would get as nice and straightforward of a treatment as I'm giving you here?

You want to know what your bench press is? Bench press. There is no equivalence between pushups and the bench press because they are different movements.

[Beuford]

Originally Posted by Scipio

No. This entire thread is absolutely ridiculous. Why don't you post this at a bodybuilding board to get absolutely thrashed? You think you would get as nice and straightforward of a treatment as I'm giving you here?

You want to know what your bench press is? Bench press. There is no equivalence between pushups and the bench press because they are different movements.

He just wanted to know how much a one arm pushup is if a two arm pushup is 70% of your body weight. Now he probably knows more about it than he did before posting this. I see nothing ridiculous with that.

[andrew112]

Originally Posted by scotthegeek

did anyone suggest putting your hand on a scale while doing a pushup

I already tried that, read my previous post.

[andrew112]

Originally Posted by Scipio

No. This entire thread is absolutely ridiculous. Why don't you post this at a bodybuilding board to get absolutely thrashed? You think you would get as nice and straightforward of a treatment as I'm giving you here?

You want to know what your bench press is? Bench press. There is no equivalence between pushups and the bench press because they are different movements.

This thread is NOT ridiculous. I tried doing a bench press yesterday after I was already tired from doing one arm pushups, and I pressed 194 pounds. Right before I did that I put my hand on a scale while in a one arm pushup position and the scale read exactly 1/2 of 194 pounds. Therefore, everything I have said in this thread is valid. Close-minded people like you absolutely despise me.

[bluedragon]

Originally Posted by ginkgo

Some people can do over 100 push-ups. Sorry but a one-handed push up is not that hard. Pull ups are much harder. I could do 20 but not a one arm pull-up. I never met anyone who could do it. I am not even sure it is possible despite that figure because as your muscles grow and get bigger, the weight of your body goes up. Some have suggested that actually meant a one handed pull up where one hand could hold the wrist of the other arm.

Many people climb ropes using only their hands. Isn't that very similar to doing a 1-arm pull-up?

[Brutha]

Since in a two arm pushup each arm is pressing 35% of your bodyweight, then in a one-arm pushup the arm is pressing 70% of your bodyweight. Therefore, that is equal to pressing 140% of your bodyweight with two arms. Agree?

It makes no sense to speak about using more than 100% of your bodyweight in this context.

Whether you are lifting 1kg with one hand or with two hands you are still lifting the same 1kg.

[andrew112]

Originally Posted by Brutha

It makes no sense to speak about using more than 100% of your bodyweight in this context.

Whether you are lifting 1kg with one hand or with two hands you are still lifting the same 1kg.

No, you are missing what I am saying. If you lift 1kg with one hand and can also lift it with the other hand, what if you lifted 2kg with 1kg in each hand? Then you would be lifting 2kg, or double the amount that you would be lifting with one hand.

[ginkgo]

Originally Posted by bluedragon

Many people climb ropes using only their hands. Isn't that very similar to doing a 1-arm pull-up?

Yes you would think that it is similar. But I could climb 20 feet of rope while keeping my legs in an el (L) position parallel to the floor. I guess the rope being flexible makes a big difference. Actually the grip on the bar is a much inferior grip than the grip on the rope. But I had to think about that.

[ginkgo]

Originally Posted by andrew112

Well, I did an experiment to investigate my original question. I got into the same position that I am usually at when I am at the top of the one arm pushup (when my arm locks out) and I placed my hand on a weight scale. The scale read 103 pounds. So I guess if I can press 103 pounds with one arm, then I can probably press 206 pounds with two arms. Does anyone agree? I can do a one arm pushup with each arm btw. Also, when pressing 206 pounds I would have to be in the same position as when I am doing a one arm pushup, that is, my arms have to be more spread out to get the same angle that my arm is with my torso when I do a OAP (one arm pushup).

No you keep doing the same thing. It is like you saying that if you cut a cake in half each slice is 50% of the cake and so both slices weigh 200% of the cake. In the above you said that when you put 1 hand on the scale it said 103. Then you are saying that if you would have (and you could have) put both hands on the scale then the scale would say 206.

Well try it and put both hands on the scale and see what you will come up with. Can anyone guess what the scale would say if he put both hands on it instead of one hand. It would still say 103. A headstand is on 3 points. So put your head on the scale with your 2 hands and now it is like 3 hands, but it will say 103. Not in headstand position but in push up position.

Try this. Stand on a scale with both legs and it will say 147. Then lift one leg up and stand on it with one leg. What will it say? It will still say 147. Now you are saying that if one leg on it makes it say 147 then if you put both legs on it, it will say 2x147, like 300. But it will still say 147.

Now here is what you do. You put both feet on a scale and it ill say 147. Then keep one leg on the scale and it will say 147. Then go and get another scale. Now stand with one foot on each scale. What do you think each scale will say?

Can anyone figure this out. Each scale will say 147/2 (73.5). You take the weight and divide it by the number of hands or legs you are using. Actually there is a chiropractic machine that does this. I tried it at a fair.

Each scale said the same so he said that he could not help me. I already go to a very good one. But I asked and he said that he had one guy where one side was 37 pounds heavier on one side. That is from leaning over to one side.

Get a 3rd scale and put a hand on each and your head on one. The weight you get on each scale will add up to 103. Each hand and head is holding total weight divided by head and hands on scale. Now if you have 2 heads then put each hand on a scale and each head on a scale. All 4 scales will add up to 103.

[andrew112]

Originally Posted by ginkgo

No you keep doing the same thing. It is like you saying that if you cut a cake in half each slice is 50% of the cake and so both slices weigh 200% of the cake. In the above you said that when you put 1 hand on the scale it said 103. Then you are saying that if you would have (and you could have) put both hands on the scale then the scale would say 206.

No, I am not saying that. I am saying since the scale read 103 at the top of a one-arm pushup position, then that means that I can press 103 pounds with one arm. Therefore, what if I pressed 206 pounds with 103 pound dumbells in each arm? They would both add up to 206 pounds.

[ginkgo]

Originally Posted by andrew112

No, I am not saying that. I am saying since the scale read 103 at the top of a one-arm pushup position, then that means that I can press 103 pounds with one arm. Therefore, what if I pressed 206 pounds with 103 pound dumbells in each arm? They would both add up to 206 pounds.

Sorry my mistake. You should be able to do a little more with a barbell than twice since there is synergy. That means that the total is greater than the some of the parts. When lifting free weights there are some muscles needed to balance the weight and it is easier to balance with 2 hands.

The confusion comes from talking about push-ups and pressing weights or pressing your body and whether you are using 2 arms or 1 arm. I have misunderstood what you are saying at the beginning. "equal to pressing"-- you were talking about pressing weights with 2 arms. You were asking if with one arm you can press up 70% of your body weight then with 3 arms you should be able to press 210% of your bodyweight in free weights. That would be correct if you had 3 arms.

But like others mentioned there is no need for the theory since you can do it since you have 2 arms. The above with 3 arms will be theory since it cannot be tested out unless someone has 3 arms. If your question were more clear I could have just said "yes." You asked can 2 arms lift twice what one arm can lift. Yes.