First, something to notice from Sunday’s challenge: when you saw “100 squats,” what was your immediate reaction? When you saw something that promised to be both uncomfortable and unlikely – and possibly impossible – what did you think, and then what did you do? No judgment on yourself about your reaction…just take note.
Monday’s challenge is push-ups: 6 sets of 8 push-ups. In honor of Martin Luther King Jr.’s increasing radicalism through his life, you’re going to do the first 2 sets the way you’ve been doing them. These are for MLK Jr’s early leadership the Montgomery bus boycott in 1955-56, when he was recruited by women of the Montgomery Improvement Association to lead the boycott. The next 2 sets, step it up and do a pushup variation that’s one bit more difficult than you’ve been doing them. If you’ve been doing them on the table, come down to a chair. If you’ve been doing them on your knees, come up on your toes. If you’ve been doing them from a plank, do them with a 2 second pause at the bottom. If you need some variations, check these out. These middle 2 sets are for MLK Jr’s increasing radicalism from the Birmingham movement through Selma and Chicago in 1965. The final 2 sets you’re taking it up another notch, in honor of MLK Jr’s anti-capitalist, anti-US militarism Poor People’s Campaign, launched just prior to his assassination. Yes, these push-ups are going to be really really difficult, but then, so is taking down capitalism.
Let’s get these done wherever you’re able. It’s ok to let people see you struggle. The struggle for the impossible is what it’s all about today.
26 responses to “Mon. – 1/19 Pushups for Martin Luther King Jr the radical”
Cindy Lutenbacher
January 19th, 2015 at 15:13
Done. Dang. But I really do love the way you push us, Kung Li.
And you’re one helleracious writer, bay.
Empish Thomas
January 19th, 2015 at 16:25
Okay, this one was truly a challenge! I did my regular push ups on the wall-two sets. But then I did 4 sets on the floor on my knees (very first time). I was doing okay for three sets but that last one was really hard and I had to push through.
glo
January 19th, 2015 at 16:26
Check! reg/decline/weighted
TK
January 19th, 2015 at 18:52
Done. I did claps
Everette
January 19th, 2015 at 22:23
Make it clap..TK.. lol.
Ash
January 19th, 2015 at 19:33
Done. Knees/toes/ partner clap
Jocelyn
January 19th, 2015 at 19:39
Done! I even got in 3 clapping push ups in a row!
Monaco
January 19th, 2015 at 20:42
Done
researchjen
January 19th, 2015 at 20:52
Done! -Jen
eunicehcho
January 19th, 2015 at 20:59
Done. from the side of my bed, to a chair, to my knees, and last set, tried to get off the floor from a plank (that’s the promised land for me for now).
msullivan574
January 19th, 2015 at 21:24
Done! They were rough. I couldn’t get full plank nose to floor for 8 in a row. But I did hold for 2 seconds on my knees. And maxed out my plank nose to floors at 4 so did 2 sets of those plus holds.
efiada77
January 19th, 2015 at 22:07
This was surprisingly VERY emotional for me…using the imagery of Dr. King’s work & legacy and thinking of my own limitless power as a queer womyn of color was perfect. I even miscounted and did an EXTRA 16 pushups! lol
Everette
January 19th, 2015 at 22:31
Done. Wow. Listening to Ben Harper “Walk Away” First two sets, I did them on the wall and following TK lead, I decided to clap between each push up. I moved to an incline for 2 sets, then to the floor: 1st set on my assisted (knees tucked) 2nd set plank..burns so good.. Team Deadlift!
Evelyn
January 19th, 2015 at 22:38
Modified, but done!
zahra
January 19th, 2015 at 22:55
chest to ground. Held for a few seconds. Made it clap.
Lisa
January 19th, 2015 at 22:57
Done. First 2 sets from the second step on my porch. Next sets from the first step. Last sets were a struggle because I tried to do them on my toes. Had to break those up into groups of 2-3 or 1 at a time but they got done!
shaerobinson
January 19th, 2015 at 23:02
Done.
Chris
January 19th, 2015 at 23:04
Done!
Anushka
January 19th, 2015 at 23:13
^^Loving all the comments – heart happy.
Done with 2 sets on knees to get all the way to the floor; 4 but didn’t make it all the way to the ground – definitely need to work on that.
Tif
January 19th, 2015 at 23:17
Check… Push ups done in Edgewood after reclaiming MLK
Daniel
January 19th, 2015 at 23:48
Done.
Holiday
January 20th, 2015 at 00:05
That was hard. First 2 sets regular, next two pausing at the low bottom, last two chataranga (sp?), cobra, downward facing dog. Done.
Cecilia
January 20th, 2015 at 00:16
Two sets super easy on counter. Sets 3 & 4 on knees. Sets 5 & 6 super hard, slowly painful, failure-get-up-again, but finished off as full plank style (still a lot of room for improvement on the whole chest-to-ground piece though).
Roan
January 20th, 2015 at 00:19
Hell yes. Done!
Alsie
January 20th, 2015 at 00:22
done!
KungLi
January 20th, 2015 at 00:30
Tried to do the last 2 sets one-handed but…not quite – so redid them with a tap to chest.