Pushing up to a record turned down by Guinness three times, John Morrow is fighting back on the back of his hands.
By Stephen Elliott, selliott@qconline.com
Photo: Todd Mizener
Quad Cities Martial Arts instructor John Morrow makes his attempt to break the Guinness Book of World Records for push- ups using the back of his hands at Lee Lohman Arena at St. Ambrose University in Davenport. Unofficially Morrow did 123 push-ups in one minute. The record currently is 100 push-ups. This was Morrow's fourth attempt at a push-up record for the book.
He pumps out his push-ups at a blistering pace, with the palms of his hands facing upwards and the back of his hands against the gymnasium floor. The push-ups come fast, 123 are counted before the minute is up.
Inside the Lee Lohman Center at St. Ambrose University, applause comes from the 50 or so college students looking down from the balcony, and martial art students, faculty and media standing around push-up king John Morrow.
Accomplishing Herculean feats is nothing new for the Moline martial arts instructor and sixth degree-black belt. In recent years, Mr. Morrow's name has become synonymous with the push-up, or a facsimile of one.
Last Friday, he unofficially broke the world record for push-ups done on the back of the hands.
The previous mark, 100, is held by a man from England, according to Mr. Morrow.
"I'll do it again if you didn't get that," he says to the television cameras in the gymnasium. Then, smiling, he says, "Don't make me do it again."
The energy is uncommon for most, but Mr. Morrow, 54, likes the challenge.
"Part of martial arts is mind training and pushing yourself," Dr. Jim Gillilland, 61, a friend and fellow martial artist who came to support Mr. Morrow. "In class, we'll do finger push-ups."
Nodding toward his teacher and referring to the back of the hands, Mr. Gillilland says, "But, these are painful to do."
Mr. Morrow fed off the energy from the impromptu audience watching him.
"This is a 54-year-old man," marveled Dr. Mike Orfitelli, chairman of the college's kinesiology department. "I guarantee you there are people younger here who couldn't do 20 of these push-ups.
"He's showing us that, 'I'm in my fifties and I'm doing it,'" he said.
Mr. Morrow has been up and down the push-up road before. Always opening doors, but never able to walk through, he has been turned down three times by the Guinness World Book of Records in the pursuit of a title.
The first time Mr. Morrow tried to break the world record for push-ups in one minute, judges turned his efforts down because the uniform he wore obscured his elbows.
During the second attempt in late 2004, he used sophisticated biomechanical analysis equipment to document his push-ups. Along with videotape, he submitted visual three-dimensional motion data collected by the equipment from Palmer College of Chiropractic.
He did 141 push-ups in a minute, but the judges deducted four of them for "body movement." Someone else had just been documented at 138, so he barely missed having the record.
On the third attempt last August, he did 142 push-ups in 60 seconds, but the Guinness judges said no again. "The videographer cut my body off at the thighs from the side view," Mr. Morrow explained.
Guinness finally said the record is not breakable within their guidelines. Hence, the new record attempt with the back of the hands.
Mr. Morrow's student and computer expert, Scott Latham, owner of Chrysalis Computer Solutions in Bettendorf, had cameras in place to cover, "arms, legs, feet, toes. We've got to have different views and make sure he's not cheating."
After completing the attempt, Mr. Morrow said his message is that age is just a number. He continues to do a workout regimen three days a week with various push-ups, dips and chin-ups.
Last Friday also was the 40th and final day of his annual fast. It's something he has practiced for years, replacing solid foods with juices, water, and an occasional protein drink. He says it strengthens the mind and detoxifies the body.
He has dropped 26 pounds and reduced his body fat from 21.8 to 15.4 percent.
"You can miss a meal once in a while, and it won't hurt you," he said.
After filling out paperwork, along with video clips and names of witnesses supporting his attempt, he will submit the information again to Guinness for their inspection.
"I'm doing this to show that someone 54 years old is still in the prime of life," he said. "When you're this age, it takes a little work. But, you know, it's worth it."
