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. [2] [5] [6] [7]
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. [4]
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. [1] [2] [3] [7]
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. [1] [3]
Sources
Section titled “Sources”1. 2025-05-08, 1878.6-1896.5s
Workout: workout:2025-05-08
Passage: passage:2025-05-08:000762-000770
2. 2025-05-08, 2144.7-2173.7s
Workout: workout:2025-05-08
Passage: passage:2025-05-08:000849-000864
3. 2025-05-15, 2117.2-2152.0s
Workout: workout:2025-05-15
Passage: passage:2025-05-15:000739-000754
4. 2025-05-15, 2208.5-2217.1s
Workout: workout:2025-05-15
Passage: passage:2025-05-15:000760-000763
5. 2025-05-15, 2264.2-2266.3s
Workout: workout:2025-05-15
Passage: passage:2025-05-15:000782-000783
6. 2026-03-25, 3369.0-3379.4s
Workout: workout:2026-03-25
Passage: passage:2026-03-25:001085-001091
7. 2026-03-30, 3315.1-3320.4s
Workout: workout:2026-03-30
Passage: passage:2026-03-30:000788-000790