[quote]Shadowzz4 wrote:
Handstand pushups are more like a high incline bench press than they are military press. Theres is a tremendous amount of pectoral involvement on these. [/quote]
Actually a correctly executed handstand push-up should pretty much resemble an inverted squat, not a high incline bench press. This is slightly less apparent if using a wall, however, when doing them freestanding form is of the essence.
This movement is also much more dependent on shoulder and tricep strength, and not much on pectoral strength.
Also, as far as comparing them to a bodyweight military press, a free standing, full range of motion handstand push up would very closely resemble the intensity of a bodyweight military press. And by full range of motion I mean that the shoulders come in contact with the hands (must use parallel bars, push up handles, or some other raise surfaces to allow for this). As was stated, this would be like ATG squats vs. quarter squats.
The same is not true however when comparing handstand push ups against a wall, and only using a partial range of motion.
Finally as far as a military press requiring more core strength, well only if you’re using a wall. Even doing a free standing static handstand requires tremendous core strength and body control. Doing free standing handstand push ups requires even more.
Try doing them with a pad or pillow under your head, I know that helps me alleviate some of the fear of crashing on your head. As for which is better, HSPU’s all the way. The core stabilization and balance, as well as strength gained from these makes them an incredible exercise, and definently better than a Military press, unless (if you are an absolute freak)they become too easy and you need more weight.
The reason all your advice varies a lot is that handstands and handstand pushups can be done with a lot of different ways.
If you’re arching your back a lot, or bending your knees, your arms can be more forward, and there is more pec involvement.
If you’re stiff as a board, it’s more purely shoulder, and you have to have more control or you go over backwards.
Some people keep arms in tight, others bow them into the side. There’s probably variation like that on how people do military presses too.
I think if you’re doing similar form for Mpress and Hpress then yeah, you SHOULD be able to press your bodyweight.
If you do handstand pushups and not military press your bodyweight, the only explanation I can think of is that it has to do with the different in grip (flat hand versus curls around bar) or wrist extension (bent versus about straight) or possibly the stability since handstand pushups are closed-chain while military presses are open-chain.
I’d be more worried about the fact that you’ve been training nearly 2 years and can’t press more than 100 lbs than about doing handstand pushups. That’s hardly more than half your bodyweight.
Hit the iron. You may not need to press bodyweight in order to do the trick, but it sure wouldn’t hurt to actually have some strength before you attempt it.
Handstand pushups aren’t hard to learn, if I remember correctly. I’ve been able to do them for years.