Can you hold a planche without protraction? Yes, it’s possible to hold a planche without protraction. For example, 12-15 years ago, most athletes didn’t even know about it - we held a neutral shoulder position and could still perform planche and even Maltese. However, without protraction, it’s much harder to do planche push up or presses. Protraction helps you stay elevated, activate your muscles more effectively, and makes it easier. So if you want to reach a high level, strong protraction is e