What is a push-up with hand release?

A "push-up with hand release" is a variation of the traditional push-up. In this version, you start in a standard push-up position, lower your body to the ground, and then briefly lift your hands off the floor when your chest is touching the ground. After releasing your hands, you place them back down and push up to return to the starting position. This movement helps ensure proper form and full range of motion by forcing a reset at the bottom of each rep.

The Mind Pump Podcast hosts, including Adam Schafer, detail that this variation can be beneficial as it emphasizes the engagement of the muscles throughout the entire movement and can be performed with progressive levels of difficulty, such as on your knees for beginners or with feet elevated for added intensity 1.