I did 5 sets of 25 yesterday just to see what kind of a rhythm I could develop doing this exercise. This variant almost totally eliminates triceps involvement and focuses on chest. When you are on the bottom and have to lift your hands off the ground that also causes a reverse chest stretch. Unlike the standard pushup test with the release pushup there is no rest period. No resting on the bottom.
I bench press every week. This exercise made me really sore but no shoulder involvement at all unlike standard pushups.
I'm actually in the military and I think this test is going to be a bitch for a lot of troops. But if they train for it, it will be a great thing. We routinely get young Soldiers with shockingly underdeveloped upper body strength.
Oh, ok, not so bad. The deadlifts will show upper body strength too. Most of us are deficient in upper body strength. I’m getting there and it makes such a difference in all “life” things. I wouldn’t want to have weak upper body any more.