‘Perfect pushup’ challenge boosts class alertness, fitness, morale

Published April 22, 2009
By Susan Griggs
81st Training Wing Public Affairs

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, BILOXI, MISS. -- An instructor in the 335th Training Squadron has used "perfect pushups" to increase alertness, improve fitness and boost class morale.

Staff Sgt. Scott Capodice, who's taught the third element of the weather initial skills course for 2½ years, had several motives for challenging his students to do 50,000 perfect pushups a few days after his three-month segment of the course began Feb. 19.

Perfect pushups use rotating push-up handles that work the arms, chest, shoulders, back and abdominal muscles. Some fitness experts call the perfect pushup the perfect exercise because the body is usually suspended from the toes all the way to the neck, so all important core muscles of the trunk are engaged.

"Last December, the instructors had a perfect pushup competition," the 10-year Air Force member explained. "I had slacked off on doing them since and I figured this would get me into doing them more. There was a previous class in our building about two years ago that did just a regular pushup competition -- I think they tried to get 50,000 by the end of a three-month course.

"Perfect pushups are more difficult than regular pushups because you can always break the 90-degree angle that the Air Force requires for its fitness test," Sergeant Capodice added. "I hoped that it would boost class morale, keep them from falling asleep and enhance our fitness levels on the physical training test.

He and his seven students did pushups at their own pace only during class breaks.

"The workouts have definitely raised morale," Sergeant Capodice pointed out. "The students are always itching to do the perfect pushups. I usually have to tell them to stop so we can get back to class."

As the class moves on to the next segment of the course this week, the group has done more than 65,000 perfect pushups cumulatively.

Sergeant Capodice wants to try the same regimen with his next class, but admitted, "This class was very, very, very into doing it. I don't know if another class will be able to put up a number like that. We'll see, though -- that might just be the motivation for the next class to try to top them."

In the beginning, pride was the only incentive for the class, but Sergeant Capodice offered to buy them lunch if they surpassed the goal. Tuesday, he made good on the deal -- he provided hamburgers for lunch along with goodies prepared by his wife, Ginger.

Students include Airman Patrick Knapp; Airmen 1st Class Zackary Sura, Carlos Calle and Thomas Heath; Senior Airmen Christopher Dobyna and Amanda Lunch; and Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer William Stewart.

"This is a highly motivated class that gets along very well," Sergeant Capodice noted. "They study together, take care of each other at the dorms and of course, do perfect pushups together to reach their goal. They'll all be great assets to the Air Force and Coast."