Exercise Guide

Pike Push-up

A push-up done with the hips high, which tips the pressing angle toward vertical and makes it a shoulder exercise. The bodyweight route to a handstand push-up.

IntermediateStrengthPushCompound
Form
Pike Push-up - Start position
Start
Pike Push-up - Mid position
Mid
Pike 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

Shoulders

Equipment

Bodyweight

Difficulty

Intermediate

Category

Strength

Force

Push

Mechanic

Compound

Secondary Muscles

TricepsChestCore
How to Perform
  1. 1

    Start in a push-up position, then walk your feet in and lift your hips until your body forms an inverted V.

  2. 2

    Set your hands slightly wider than your shoulders with your head between your arms.

  3. 3

    Bend your elbows to lower the crown of your head toward the floor just in front of your hands.

  4. 4

    Press back up until your arms are straight.

Tips
  • The higher the hips, the more vertical the press and the harder it gets.
  • Elevate your feet on a box once floor pike push-ups get easy.
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