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Push-Up to Side Plank
A flowing combination of a push-up and a side plank rotation that trains pressing strength together with anti-rotation and lateral core control.
CoreBodyweightPress with rotation
GoLightWeight mediapush-up-to-side-plank
Demonstration coming soon
Primary
ObliquesPectoralis major
Secondary
Anterior deltoidsTricepsRectus abdominisGlute medius
Equipment
Bodyweight
Pattern
Press with rotation
Setup
- 01Set up in a strong push-up position with hands under the shoulders.
- 02Squeeze the glutes and brace so the body forms one straight line.
- 03Place the feet about hip width apart for a stable rotation base.
- 04Keep the neck neutral with eyes on the floor slightly ahead of the hands.
Execution
- 01Lower into a full push-up under control and press back to lockout.
- 02Shift weight onto one hand and rotate the whole body to the side.
- 03Stack or stagger the feet and reach the free arm to the ceiling into a side plank.
- 04Hold the side plank briefly, rotate back to the push-up position, and repeat to the other side.
Checkpoints
- -Hips stay level during the push-up and do not sag in the side plank.
- -The body rotates as one unit, shoulders and hips together.
- -The supporting shoulder stays packed, not shrugged toward the ear.
- -The top arm finishes stacked directly over the bottom shoulder.
Common mistakes
- -Rushing the rotation and letting the hips drop out of line.
- -Cutting the push-up depth short to get to the plank faster.
- -Letting the supporting elbow hyperextend or the wrist collapse.
- -Turning only the shoulders while the hips lag behind.
Programming notes
- -Use 2 to 4 sets of 6 to 10 total rotations, alternating sides each rep.
- -Program early in a session or in circuits; fatigue degrades the rotation quality quickly.
- -Regress by dropping the push-up and rotating from a high plank if pressing strength is the limiter.
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