Female Fitness

[aprille]

Hello All - Great forum - I hope to be here a lot in the run up to a hopeful career in the RAF.

My questions couldn't be simpler.

Are the Press-ups required within the fitness tests the same for females as for the men? (There is much current debate about females carrying out the traditional press-up - and I am not sure if the RAF have taken this on).

Secondly - If they are the same - Have you any advice on how to perform them. I have excellent upper body strength, however my lower back cant seem to support me, and I bend! I've read else where that press-up bars are helpful to train yourself.

I shall look forward to hearing from you

Aprille

[harry hackedoff]

however my lower back cant seem to support me,

I have the same problem mate
Mind you, I have a huge arse

Ask at your local AFCO or send Hyperlithe a pm
And welcome aboard

[owdun]

In Paris???

[RA_Tom]

On the Army PFT females have a choice as to whether to do the full press up or those pivoting ones. Joking aside I dont think you'll be rquired to do very many, I wouldnt worry about it, dont bother with press-up bars. The best way to practice press-ups is just to do them normally. Whack out a set of ten here and there! Allocate an activity you do regularly and do pressups at that time.

I.e I do 25 when ads come on the telly, I do pull ups when waiting for the kettle to boil. I am quite odd though.

[Stu-]

Member of a gym? If your gym has a back extension station you could solve your problem of the 'shaky back' syndrome!. Use the back extension to train your lower back muscles, this will help.

[Hyperlithe]

What is it you're hoping to join as?

At basic training the girls get to do their press-ups with their hands on a bench, and you really don't have to do very many! This is the same in the annual fitness test, although it may be changing to the floor this year.
But I think it's best to be able to do as many as you can, the same way the blokes do them.

[rach7]

what sort of fitness test are you talking about because the PJFT doesnt require you to do any fitness tests!?
Rachel

[rawli]

Seriously, you will have more trouble finding the gym than taking the RAF fitness test, that goes for men and women!

[Hyperlithe]

The fitness test you will have to do 3 times whilst you are at Halton.