Training in portions?

[Adam]

When exercising for greater strength, is the benefit from making 20 pushups/situps/squats five times with a break in between for a total of 100 just as great as making a 100 outright without a pause?

[YODA]

For greater strength forget pushups - they're a muscular endurance exercise.

With that aside - it depends on the quaility fo the pushups. With most peopel it would be a choice of 5 x 20 slow correct pushups or 1x100 nodding dog impressions.

If your form is good you'll get benefits either way - why not try both at alternate workouts?

[grandmaster mat]

what should i do instead of push ups to get greater strength?

[YODA]

Originally posted by grandmaster mat
what should i do instead of push ups to get greater strength?

Flat Bench Press

[grandmaster mat]

kool thanks

[Adam]

I think I may have been misunderstood. If I make perfect form slow pushups, situps or squats, is there any difference in benefit if
I make them in portions (like 5 x 20) or in one sitting? (1 x 100)

[Greg-VT]

For strength, I would think I would do 4 of 6-12 reps. In the case of 4 x 6, I would use the maximum weight I could handle without to much strain for a count six, have a break. Then continue with the other 3 Sets in the same fashion.

Set and Rep' amounts would vary with the exercise, but same high weight/low count would apply.

Would this be correct for targeting strength increases, but not necessarily targeting growth (although unavoidable) ?

I'm learning here, let me soak up what those with more knowledge have to say...

And Yoda, just a question regarding what you said about pushups and endurance. If I where do add some weight to the pushup, to have me able to do a max of 3x10, would that still count it as an endurance exercise? Or would it become more of a benefit to strength? (In the case of one not having easy access to a bench-press.)

Again, anyone PLEASE correct me if I'm wrong.

tah

[THEGREAT1]

push ups can work for strength initially if u are weak to begin.

adding weight will make for more strength assuming it is in significant amounts, quite hard to do that with press ups due to your proximity to the ground and the parts of the body you'd attach the weight to. (u don't want unneccesary strain on the back etc)

[balmo130]

If you are at a point where you are going to add weight to your push ups, you definetly need to change to a different exercise like a chest exercise.

It is hard to hold form when you add weight to your push ups and it's a lot more benefical and productive to strength train properly.

Remember, a stronger muscle is also a enduring muscle and vice versa. No matter what you are training for (strength or endurance) both will increase no matter what. Just focus on becoming stronger.

[YODA]

If I where do add some weight to the pushup, to have me able to do a max of 3x10, would that still count it as an endurance exercise?

Nope.

Or would it become more of a benefit to strength? (In the case of one not having easy access to a bench-press.)

Tadaaaaa........ you got it :D

[MichaelS]

ive got an article on training (by Stuart McRobert) for strength/size and it has these points

STRENGTH FOCUS
1. low reps
2. long rests between sets
3. pauses between reps (at least on some movements by some trainees)
4. infrequent training
5. few work sets (low volume of work)

SIZE FOCUS
1. higher reps
2. briefer rests between sets
3. very short or no pauses between reps
4. greater frequency of training
5. not so few sets (higher volume of work)

So doing multiple sets of lower reps yields greater strength with less size, hope this helps...