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just a quick question for all the lads who have been training for quite a while, or anybody with sports qualifications. when training,

"which would you consider to be the most effective method of increasing maximums, such as press-ups and sit-ups. sets of a determined number, eg 3 x 20 or 3 sets to failure?

i realise a good training programme should include both,

There have been alot of threads about how to improve Press Ups/Sit Ups so if you do a quick search im sure you will find all the information you will need mate.

On another note,

i realise a good training programme should include both

Then why did you ask the question?

the ACTUAL question was which is best?

Well I dont do any of those so I dont know but at a guess I would say that 3 sets of an even amount of pressups would be better. For example, 3 x 20 press ups.

Just give them both a try for a few weeks and see which one works for you

I'd say do a majority of say 3 sets of 20, and once, mabie twice a week do 3 sets of max but not too often as to not overtrain. All types of training will produce some results, its just making sure that you don't over train and vary to avoid getting completely fed up with your routine.

Whatever happened to the tread to end all pushup threads

Phil

It's not a case of which is beat, but what's best for the indavidual.

You could work variou's type's of set's against quantity, Circuit's based on time, maxing out on certain time's or even just doing overload session's in training.

The answer is not what's best, but working out what's best for you!

In my opinio, i think it's better to set targets, cause if you go for a target it often forces you to go beyond what you think is your maximum in order to reach it.

By doing maximum repetitions you will overload the muscles and damage the fibres. When your sleeping your muscles repair themselves. The body adapts to these changes and the level of performance increases.

So do maximum repetitons for 1 set, and then a set number for the others.

Remember to use variance in your work outs, as this shocks the muscles into growing and developing, therefore improving!!

I like to use a combination of the two. There are about 5 different types of press-up workouts I do. Sometimes doing 3 sets of a certain amount with limited rest eg 20-30 secs and make sure on the last set you can't do it. Either by reducing rest or incresing the number of reps. This gives you a target to work towards preventing failing when you've had enough but also you dont finish before you're knacked. Ive found my maximum hasn't really increased for months (65-70) but i've got better at smaller numbers in groups with rest inbetween.

Pyramid is hoofing,

With a partner so you get the right rest in between sets,
EG
20 down to 1 press ups (staying in front support the whole time)
10 down to 1 pull ups


Also:
3 sets of 20 press ups??
Thats 60 press ups with 2 rests in between
Sorry mate but that is seriously weak!!!!!!!!
You should do sets of atleast 40, even if you have to stop for a few seconds to shake your arms out.
I used to do sets of 40, by the time I did my PRMC I was doing 3 sets of 90.

You've got to actually do some work if you want results mate!

F&*k me!!!

cglees is right... BUT some of us werent born strong cglees. I could only manage 15 rm standard/style pushups a few months back (now thats PURE weak !!) but now do 4 sets of 40.

The way i improved was by dropping and giving 15 whenever i walked past my front room, and adding 5 per week. When i started hitting 50-60 pushups on a regular basis i started doing only sets (its not been very long mind hehe).

p.s. did you hurt yourself to get into hunter coy mate ? Hope it wasnt anything too bad, i read somewhere that being in hunter coy statistically increases your chances of passing out/passing all the tests due to the additional time learing all of the skills like fieldcraft/map reading etc... is this true ?

personallly i use both, you get a better "burn" doing failure.

Fair one mate, you've got to start somewhere I guess.

I had a stress fracture and nerve damage in my shin.
Been in Hunter for 20 weeks, took them that long to diagnose the nerve damage!!!!!

Yes your right, I think the Hunter Coy pass out rate is something like 90%, its a combination of
a. Most of us have been in so long we've lost our opt out right and have no choice but to pass out
b. Seeing training from outside the bubble and realising its not really that hard if you get your head round it
c. Getting a bit more understanding of how good life in a unit CAN be, and knowing that Lympshcvitz is ''NOT THE MARINES MEN''

Hello people,
I came across this interesting web site which has lots of useful articles on fitness and strength training specifically for military application. There is an article that advises against training to failure, but rather to train numerous times throughout the day at about 50% of max reps.

http://www.militaryfitness.org/PowerPushups.html

It is well worth a read and there are some other useful articles on pull ups etc.

They seem to advocate the reverse of the 10-1 style we know. In other words 1-10. The logic being that if you don't train to failure, you can do more reps and thus improve muscle endurance.

All the best,
Ben