AMRAP 8 mins, ascending ladder: 3 Handstand Push-Ups + 3 Cleans (185/125 lb), 6 HSPU + 3 Cleans, 9 HSPU + 3 Cleans, 12 HSPU + 6 Cleans, 15 HSPU + 6 Cleans... HSPU grow by 3 each round; cleans grow by 3 every third round.
Primary movement: HSPU/Heavy Cleans
Open 15.4 paired the Open's strictest-ever handstand push-up standard with genuinely heavy cleans at 185/125 - the first time HSPU appeared in the Open at all. The ladder grows the HSPU aggressively while the cleans creep up more slowly, so shoulders drown first, then the barbell finishes the job. The infamous line standard (heels above a measured mark) no-repped thousands and taught the community that inverted pressing has rules.
| Level (Reps) | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| beginner | 21 (scaled) | 18 (scaled) |
| intermediate | 45 | 40 |
| advanced | 75 | 65 |
| elite | 110+ | 95+ |
Total reps in 8 minutes.
HSPU in small chunks immediately - 3s and 4s with brief resets, because shoulder failure here is unrecoverable within 8 minutes. Cleans as committed singles: 185/125 under HSPU fatigue demands a full setup and fast elbows every rep. Kip every HSPU rep with legal range; save strict capacity you don't need to spend. Know exactly where your wall is (most die in the 12-15 HSPU rounds) and get there with time to grind singles.
Scaled: pike push-ups (or push presses 95/65) and cleans at 125/85, same ladder logic.
Log every result, see your progress over time, and know exactly where you stand.