In response to Tuesday’s email, 3 Pushups Kicked His Ass, I received a testimonial that is almost beyond belief.

Over the years some people have accused me of “hype” when all I’m doing is telling true stories about what can and does happen when people follow the exercises I teach in Combat Conditioning and/or to members of the Matt Furey Inner Circle.

Well, I can assure you, this testimonial is so far out there that it raises the bar on hype.

Here’s what this reader wrote, followed by my comments:

I tested it (pushups) out when I was in my mid 30’s and when I was able to get to 500 pushups in an hour. I went to the weight room to test my bench strength. I had not been in the gym lifting for about over a month.

I had to get used to the bench again and was now training my mom.  First week I did 315lbs, it felt weird. Second week 405 lbs, still felt weird because I had not been benching for over a month. Third week tried 475 lbs, still felt strange but not overly heavy.  Fourth week I found someone to spot me and I put 510 lbs on the bench and pushed it up twice.

I know if I want to increase my bench strength doing pushups, hindu-pushups and even adding upside down hand stand pushups (which I could only do 5 at that time 275lbs)

I’m a believer. Keep sharing the truth with us.

I’m going to test my strength after I heal up from surgeries by going back to the body weight and flexibility exercises you have shared throughout the years.

Thank you for what you do, it has been worth every dollar spent to learn the information you shared.

Wishing you and your family the best

JE
Dallas, Texas

M.F.: JE, man, that is hard for me to believe – even if I saw it with my own eyes. I’m sure you can respect that. Once you’ve healed from your surgeries, please shoot some videos of yourself doing pushups and follow it up, when you’re ready, with footage of you benching. That would be truly awesome to see. Heal up quickly. KATN.

Now, for something that was witnessed:

Back in 2001, Dr. Dave Woynarowski came to town to train with me. We were at a local YMCA, swimming for about an hour, when we decided we’d had enough. I went to the locker room, put on a pair of shorts, a tee-shirt and a pair of flip-flops, and prepared to leave.

Before exiting, though, I spotted the free weights in the house, and meandered over to them, just for fun.

I loaded the Olympic bar with a pair of 45’s, making for a 135-pound lift. While still wearing my thongs, I cleaned and jerked the weight overhead.

That was my warmup set. One rep.

I added more… and more… and more.

One rep with each successive weight.

I got to 275 pounds, a weight I had never cleaned and jerked before. To my amazement, I easily accomplished the feat.

Dr. Dave then warmed that it was probably not safe to continue, especially in my flippers, so we left.

While leaving the good doctor did say, though, that it looked as though, based on how easily I lifter 275, that I could have done 300.

What I just described was the first time in three years that I lifted a weight (other than my own), and the last time in my life I lifted a barbell with weights on it.

That was 18 years ago.

So yes, bodyweight exercises, including bodyweight pushups, can make you much stronger. They also increase flexibility and endurance. So you get all three in one shot.

Can you bench 515 pounds from doing pushups alone?

I doubt it. But if you use a combination of both to achieve that sort of poundage, I’m all for it.

Whatever you choose to do, bodyweight exercises alone or a combination thereof, I’m in your corner.

Latch onto my programs and let’s see what you can accomplish in 2020.

Kick ass, take names,

Matt Furey