One Arm Push-up Critique

So I decided to film my OAP attempt earlier. I very rarely do these and I first done legs together OAPs when I was at straddle planche level way back then. I rather do planche push-ups, but just did these earlier for fun. These were also done just right after a full planche push-up so I wasn't fresh.

The one done on my right arm looks spot on. Legs got separated slightly though. My left arm one looks kind of slightly off. I could do at least a couple more reps on each arm as it didn't feel like it took that much strength.The hardest thing is the balance as I'm not very used to it. Not bad for never specifically training them right?

To note, I never did any specific training for these at all and hardly ever played around with these. These came from just training planche and was before I even started to train planche push-ups. It also doesn't take much triceps strength as it is not the one arm diamond variation and I don't even feel it on my triceps even though they are quite a bit weaker than before. It's mostly the shoulder taking the load. So if legs together OAPs are one of your long term goals along with planche or planche push-ups then there is no need to do specific training for them as just training the planche is enough. 

I don't think these type of OAPs transfer much to GST skills other than some general front delt strength and some core tension. Do you guys think there are any uses or benefits from this exercise? 

The one arm pushup is one of the things that led me to BtGB in the first place. I did Pavel's Naked Warrior (That title is SO cheesy), and wanted to go further. I still have the OAP although I haven't trained them in years. Funny how they seem to be the pinnacle of strength for so many people - I spent years thinking that it was impossible for mortals, until I bumped into to Pavel's work.

The main benefit of this exercise is that it is a great party trick, since it looks a lot harder than say, a PPP. The worst thing about the OAP is the number of atrociously executed attempts that are flooding Youtube

Kidding aside, I think the diagonal cross-loading of the torso leads to some very useful core strength, and also some finesse in terms of balance.

Yeah, it's true that there are not many videos of legs together OAPs done with good form on youtube. I've only seen a couple youtube videos that showed legs together OAPs with good form. Even a lot of people do the straddled ones with atrocious form too. 

This is pretty much a party trick, but I find PPPs to be easier though. Does that diagonal cross-loading of the torso mainly stress the abs and obliques for core section?

I also wonder if you lift approximately 60% of your body weight on one arm with these OAPs.

B1214N said:

(...) I also wonder if you lift approximately 60% of your body weight on one arm with these OAPs.

Put your hand on your bathroom scale and find out...

FredInChina said:

Put your hand on your bathroom scale and find out...

Fu@$%&@ Genius. 

The thing is my bathroom scale is broken.  Perhaps, one you guys can test it out for me? All you need to do is the top part of push-up and no need to actually do the push-up right?

I did this back then, and as I recall the scale showed 51 kg, at a bodyweight of about 75. So roughly two thirds of bodyweight, depending on where the hand is placed in relation to the shoulder.

Thanks! Was that with the hand directly under the shoulder?

I assume that it was, but I don't have documentation. I followed the form in Pavel's book. 

38.4 kg at 54.4 kg body weight, when I do it with your form!

That's pretty close to 2/3 BW, it's just a little bit more than 2/3 BW. So I guess roughly 2/3 BW is right for legs together OAP. How about the straddled ones? Stupid question, but will the weight be the same at both the bottom and top of the push-up since you shift your hips more beyond towards your working arm at the bottom compared to the top? 

56 / 84 straddled.

Thanks that was 2/3 BW. How far were your feet apart?

As far as they can go.  I just tested a slow diamond pushup, the scales ranged from 56 to 64 depending on how low I was.

I think it's the same for most types of pushups, something in the 2/3 range.  I don't think 1 vs 2 arms makes a difference.