We do pushups often as warm up and as punishment. All instructors do push ups while the class does them. All black belts assisting on the floor do them as well as the instructor and students. We are a team Grow together, suffer together, acheive together.
We have push ups, sit ups and jumping jacks as part of the rank requirement also. Incremental for the gup testing for. We do our testing differently then most. I pull people off to the side 1 by 1 or in small groups, and we go over 1 or 2 of the requirements towards their next rank. When they have successfully completed all requirements, they are promoted. We only do a formal test 2 times per year. For 1st dan, 50 push ups, 100 sit ups and 100 jumping jacks. We don't have huge requirements, but it is part of the goal setting and strengthening process we do.
I do disguise alot of the push ups as well. I will, instead of counting them out, make the people repeat what I say...and 1 word per motion... so It on the way down we could say "I"; up would be "intend"; down---"to"; up--- "develop'. You can often squeeze 30-50 push ups out of people this way wihtout them realizing they are working.
Sometimes (don't tell anyone)... I will see a white belt with excellent push ups...and we will have a push up contest......we do sets of about 5 or 10....and I will have parents judge and other students judge....we will do about 3 sets (so all parents can see everyone in the group)...then we eliminate 25 %. Do it again....and again.....and again. Till we get to the top 2.....We never declare a full winner.....we either run out of time, or have a tie.....something....then we finish as a group with a set of pushups..... I can't do this push up challange too often or they would start to figure it out...but every 4-5 months....>It works well!!!
