Mike Tyson Push-Ups (Benefits, Muscles Worked + More!)

The fitness world was abuzz when a video of legendary boxer Mike Tyson performing his unique style of push-ups went viral.

With his incredible strength and explosive power, Tyson’s push-ups left many wondering about the benefits and muscles targeted by this unconventional exercise.

In this article, we’ll take a closer look at Mike Tyson push-ups, dissecting their technique and exploring the advantages they offer.

We’ll also delve into the specific muscles worked during this exercise and discuss how incorporating Tyson push-ups into your routine can enhance your overall strength and fitness.

What Are Mike Tyson Push-Ups?

Mike Tyson push-ups are similar to hindu push-ups in some ways as they involve some big movements forward and backward as well as the regular up and down motion associated with push-ups.

During Mike Tyson push-ups, your feet are placed flat against a wall behind you. This differs from the normal foot position used in regular push-ups where they’re placed on the floor behind you.

This change in foot position allows you to perform a squat movement at the highest point of your push-up (more of a horizontal squat against the wall) before lowering yourself down toward the ground, engaging your core to slow down the movement before eventually pushing yourself back up into the starting position.

This push-up variation works a lot of your body simultaneously and is a tough exercise to perform correctly.

Mike Tyson Push-Ups Muscles Worked

Like pretty much all push-up variations, Mike Tyson push-ups work your chest, shoulders, triceps, and core. However, as your legs perform a squat-like movement at the highest point of the exercise, your quads play a big role in the exercise too.

As the movement is so big throughout Mike Tyson push-ups, a lot of work is needed to be done by multiple muscle groups.

This is why this exercise is so effective at not only building muscular strength and endurance, but also for helping develop your cardiovascular fitness too.

Mike Tyson Push-Ups Benefits

Your Legs Get A Workout Too

Push-ups are predominantly an upper-body exercise.

However, as your legs are used to drive your body forwards during part of Mike Tyson push-ups, your legs (in particular your quads) also get a solid workout from the movement.

While your legs play a small role in regular push-ups, Mike Tyson push-ups bring them into play much more and can definitely help build and develop your lower body as well as your upper body.

They Are A Challenging Push-Up Variation

If you’ve been doing push-ups for a while, you might find that regular push-ups are becoming easier over time.

If this is the case, you’ll probably be looking for ways to make your push-ups harder so you can get the most benefits out of them each time you do them.

Mike Tyson push-ups are a challenging push-up variation that can challenge your working muscles in a different way to regular push-ups.

They not only challenge your upper body but they’ll also help develop your lower body and even your cardiovascular fitness too.

Why Are They Called Mike Tyson Push-Ups?

A video went viral showing Tyson doing this unorthodox push-ups variation, and then Mike Tyson push-ups were invented.

How To Do Mike Tyson Push-Ups

1. Start in a push-up position (high plank) with the soles of your feet flat against a wall and your toes on the floor.
2. Bend your legs and move your glutes back toward the wall performing a squat like movement.
3. Drive yourself forward until your shoulders, elbows, and wrists are lined up.
4. Lower your chest down toward the ground (regular push-up).
5. Engage your core to slow down and stop your upper body from actually touching the ground.
6. Push yourself back up into the starting position before repeating all stages for the desired number of reps and sets.

(For those visual learners out there, watch the video below to see the exercise performed in action!)

Are Mike Tyson Push-Ups Suitable For Beginners?

As a general rule, Mike Tyson push-ups will not be suitable for beginners due to the high difficulty level they come with.

Some of the movements involved in Mike Tyson push-ups are pretty complex so unless you have a good foundation of muscular strength and endurance, as well as the appropriate levels of overall fitness, they will likely be too challenging to do correctly.

Tips for Incorporating Mike Tyson Push-Ups into Your Workout

If you’re looking to add Mike Tyson push-ups to your workout routine, here are some tips to keep in mind:

1. Start Slow

Mike Tyson push-ups are a challenging exercise, so it’s important to start slow and work your way up.

Begin with a modified version of the exercise, such as doing them on your knees, or by using a chair or bench to support your feet. As you get stronger, gradually increase the difficulty level.

2. Maintain Proper Form

Maintaining proper form is crucial for maximizing the benefits of the Mike Tyson push-up while minimizing the risk of injury.

Keep your body in a straight line from head to heels, engage your core muscles, and keep your elbows close to your body as you perform the push-up.

3. Incorporate Them into a Full-Body Workout

While the Mike Tyson push-up can be a standalone exercise, it’s also an effective addition to a full-body workout routine.

Try incorporating them into a circuit that includes other compound exercises such as squats, lunges, and rows.

4. Add Variety

To keep your workout routine interesting and prevent boredom, consider adding some variety to your Mike Tyson push-up routine.

For example, you can perform them on a medicine ball or stability ball, or add a clap at the top of the movement.

5. Rest and Recover

Like any exercise, it’s important to rest and recover after performing Mike Tyson push-ups.

Allow your muscles time to recover between workouts, and consider incorporating stretching and foam rolling into your routine to help prevent soreness and tightness.

How Often Should You Do Mike Tyson Push-Ups?

If you’re looking to add Mike Tyson Push-Ups into your workout routine, it’s important to understand how often you should be doing them to see results without risking injury.

Consider Your Fitness Level

First and foremost, it’s important to consider your current fitness level before determining how often to do Mike Tyson push-ups.

If you’re new to working out or haven’t done push-ups in a while, you should start with a lower frequency to avoid overexertion.

Gradually Increase Frequency

As you become more comfortable with the exercise, you can gradually increase the frequency of your Mike Tyson push-ups.

Start with incorporating them into your workout routine once or twice a week, and gradually increase to three to four times a week for best results.

Take Rest Days

It’s important to give your muscles time to recover, so taking rest days between your Mike Tyson push-up workouts is crucial.

This will help prevent overuse injuries and allow your muscles to repair and grow.

Listen to Your Body

As with any exercise, it’s important to listen to your body and adjust your frequency accordingly.

If you’re feeling overly fatigued or notice any discomfort or pain, take a break or reduce the frequency of your Mike Tyson push-ups.

Mix Up Your Workouts

To avoid plateauing and keep your workouts challenging, it’s recommended to mix up your exercises and include a variety of push-ups, such as regular push-ups, decline push-ups, and diamond push-ups.

Conclusion

In summary, Mike Tyson push-ups are harder than regular push-ups as they work more body parts and the technique is harder to master.

That’s all for Mike Tyson push-ups, but how many push-ups should a 13 year old do? Or do push-ups work lats?

Hope this helped!

Sources

Mike Tyson Ear Biting Incident