Skip to main content

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

TikTok’s Left-Right Push-Up Challenge Has User Cores Burning

Fitness can be a motivational challenge. Morning are mornings and evenings are, well, evenings. Just getting out of bed or just easing down from work, many people find it challenging to drive to a gym or suit up to play sports. Need a push? How about a challenge? Specifically, how about a TikTok challenge that already has 900 million views?

What is this ultra-popular pop-up? Why the Left-Right Push-Up Challenge, named after the song that inspired it. How do you do it? Does it work? Read on to find out. 

Recommended Videos

Traditional push-ups are beneficial for building upper body strength. They work the triceps, pectoral muscles, and shoulders. When completed with proper form, push-ups also strengthen the lower back and core muscles by engaging (pulling in) the abs. The problem with typical push-ups, however, is twofold. One, practitioners tend to plateau, thus reducing the efficacy of the exercise. And two, the traditional up-down of a push-up lacks diversity and thus fails to engage critical micro-muscles.

An alternative to normal push-ups, the push-up challenge allows you to work additional muscles in order to achieve a full-body workout. Paired with the song, Grab Da Wall & Rock Da Boat — created by 504 Boyz and Weebie — the challenge also engages participants by asking them to break a sweat to the music’s beat, thus providing a perfect distraction from exercise to focus on actually completing the challenge. 

To begin, simply set yourself up into a push-up position. Then, once the lyrics say “left, right,” release one arm and touch your other shoulder, and repeat that on each side two times. Next, as the rhythm speeds up, do a set of mountain climbers (running from left-to-right foot in a push-up position — a killer workout for your entire core, abs and obliques included. Finally, once the chorus drops, do push-up jacks — push-ups with arms and upper body combined with a jumping-jack motion with the feet. Got you sweating just thinking about it, right?

Related Guides

The Left-Right Push-Up Challenge offers an excellent full-body workout that works a diversity of muscles that can level-up (or down) and differentiate as people want. Check out the now thousands of TikTokkers flipping the push-up challenge on its head. 

Whether it’s doing them while inverted against a wall, hopping between boxes, or simply with beer cans, there’s something in the Left-Right Push-Up Challenge for everyone. Putting your push-up challenge results out for the social media/TikTok world to see is, of course, up to you. Check out the video below if you’re looking for some inspiration and/or direction. 

Read More: Walmart Is Practically Giving Away These Adjustable Dumbbells

Matthew Denis
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Matt Denis is an on-the-go remote multimedia reporter, exploring arts, culture, and the existential in the Pacific Northwest…
The ultimate jump squat guide: Build strength, speed, and endurance
Burn calories, jump higher, and run faster with jump squats
Air squats

You can boost your explosive jumping power and engage your fast-twitch muscle fibers with jump squats. This strength and conditioning plyometric move is worthy of any high-intensity interval training circuit to get your heart pumping and your muscles moving. It’s best to perform them near the beginning of your training session after completing a dynamic warm-up.

Runners are doing jump squats to improve their running abilities. Fine-tuning your technique lowers your risk of injury and ensures you get the best possible results from this effective exercise. Read on for your complete guide to jump squats.
What are jump squats?

Read more
Runners are using this formula to set their marathon goals
Use this formula to help you determine your marathon potential
Runners man running marathon hat sunglasses

Before trying to complete a marathon, many runners finish a half-marathon. A half-marathon is a big accomplishment and an excellent way to refine your running capabilities and make progress toward a full marathon. A full marathon requires a higher degree of preparation, training, and commitment. Runners are using a particular formula and their half-marathon time to gauge their marathon potential. Using this formula can help you set your marathon goals and determine the marathon time you’d like to aim for in the future. Let’s take a look at the formula.
How long is a half-marathon?

A half marathon is 13.1 miles, which is exactly half the distance of a full marathon at 26.2 miles. For runners who’ve crossed the finish line of a 5K (3.1 miles) or a 10K (6.2 miles), a half marathon is typically the next challenge. Most people running their first half marathon complete it in about two or three hours. It might take longer if you switch between running and brisk walking. Depending on the race, the cut-off time for completing a half-marathon is typically three-and-a-half or four hours.

Read more
How many gyms do you have to visit in 24 hours to smash a world record?
Asthma sufferer, Leo Robertson, smashed the world record and visited the most gyms in 24 hours.
Gym sign on road in red concrete with arrow pointing to gym

You have to be pretty determined and have a ton of stamina to beat a fitness world record. In 1969, the heaviest deadlift was recorded at 820lbs, and since then, people have conquered incredible feats of strength and stamina to break fitness world records. From the heaviest sumo deadlift to the longest plank, humans have pushed their bodies to the extreme and powered through incredible challenges. Recently, one persistent man broke another record by visiting a surprising number of gyms in just 24 hours. 
Setting out to break a world record

Leo Robertson from Lewisham, Southeast London, had suffered from asthma and shared that the gym helped him through many asthmatic episodes. 34-year-old Leo decided he would try to smash the world record and visit the most gyms in 24 hours. It took him six months to prepare for this complex challenge. He had to take a photo in each gym along with a video of him doing the reps. He also took witness statements and arranged phone calls with each gym, so he didn’t have to pay for gym memberships for all of them. Leo focused on the Southeast and Central London areas.

Read more