Exercise Guide

Archer Push-up

A push-up that shifts almost all the load onto one arm by straightening the other out to the side. The usual step on the way to a one-arm push-up.

AdvancedStrengthPushCompound
Form
Archer Push-up - Start position
Start
Archer Push-up - Mid position
Mid
Archer Push-up - End position
End

Illustrations by Bryl Lim for Workout Guide, after Everkinetic. Used unchanged under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Details

Primary Muscle

Chest

Equipment

Bodyweight

Difficulty

Advanced

Category

Strength

Force

Push

Mechanic

Compound

Secondary Muscles

TricepsShouldersCore
How to Perform
  1. 1

    Set up in a push-up position with your hands much wider than your shoulders.

  2. 2

    Lower toward your left hand, bending that elbow while the right arm stays straight and slides out to the side.

  3. 3

    Press back up through the left arm to the starting position.

  4. 4

    Repeat toward the right hand, alternating sides.

Tips
  • The straight arm is a kickstand, not a second pressing arm - keep the weight over the bent side.
  • Square your hips to the floor; rotating open makes the rep easier and teaches the wrong pattern.
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