The Push Up Versus The Bench Press: Which Is Better?

Surprisingly, rumors say that push-ups are better than the bench press. How can this be? Let's take a look:

The Bench Press

The bench press is obviously better if you are trying to increase chest muscle size for aesthetic reasons. In fact, if you want maximum strength and chest development, the pushup simply can't touch the bench press. Bench pressing places a lot of load on your muscles which is good for muscle development and it also does strengthen your bones, but that's where the bench press's glory ends. Being able to bench 400lbs does not mean the bench press is better than the pushup necessarily.

The one problem with the bench press is that no matter how much you do your body is immobilized by lying down on the bench. This means that when you're lifting any amount of weight, you are not engaging your core mid-section and stabilizer muscles - eventually this will lead to what is called muscle imbalance and possibly lead to injuries in your day-to-day life. The bench stabilizes you itself which means you unknowingly neglect those smaller stabilizer muscles in your back, abs, and even your legs. Let's not forget to mention that the more weight you lift on the bench press the more prone you are to joint injuries.

The Push Up

As for the pushup, although it does not demand as much strength from your chest (for some variations), it is an ancient calisthenic exercise which promotes many other muscles indirectly and engages your core. Why is this important? Because the core of your body is the essential source of power and strength - "core strength."

There are so many variations of the push-up to increase or decrease resistance and to help build a stronger and better core. It is also a natural exercise for your body but don't underestimate how much strength, power, and endurance you can achieve from doing push ups. Although you may not get a huge ripping chest, you can still get a sizable and natural looking chest. Do you really want a chest with so much muscle mass that it limits your range of motion? I wouldn't. Pushups are not just a supplemental exercise, they can also be the main focus of your chest workouts. Let's not forget to mention that push-ups will naturally help you in your day-to-day life and will help you avoid injuries.

So which is better?

The answer is simple: The pushup. But to each his own. Having a core that is strong and stabilized is more appealing for some. Besides what's more impressive, being able to do Planche push-ups and one handed push-ups, or 400 lbs on the bench press?

There are many more variations of the push up with varying levels of difficulty, find out some Brutal Calisthenic Exercises for your Chest

With push ups, you can build chest muscles and strength to your inner, outer, upper, and lower chest. Calisthenic Exercises for Your Chest

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