A peculiar video shows teenage boys in military uniforms being forced to do press-ups with girls lying beneath them.

The training exercise was filmed in China and is thought to be part of a school programme of quasi-military education.

Chinese media did not report whether the exercises were part of the mainstream curriculum or an extra-curricular club.

Army moves: The exercise was filmed in China and thought to be part of military lessons (left) Video shows a row of boys in the press-up position with a girl lying under him (right)

The footage shows a row of teenage boys are seen in the press-up position, each with a girl lying face-up under him.

As an instructor shouts 'One! Two!' the boys lower themselves down onto the girls and then push themselves up for a second time.

The movement is clearly intended to suggest a sexual position.

The girls look as if they are ashamed of their position and hide their faces with their hands.

Some of the boys appear to be equally embarrassed about the situation and turn their heads away as they lower themselves down.

One unnamed parent raged to Chinese media: 'How can students be taught in such an improper way!'

The exact ages of the Chinese teenagers doing the workouts were not reported but they look no older than 16 (left) Some of the boys appear to be embarrassed about the situation and turn their heads away as they lower themselves down (right)

The exact ages of the teenagers doing the workouts were not reported but they look no older than 16 and possibly younger.

Press-ups, previously called floor dips, are commonly used as a strengthening exercise in military and martial arts contexts but also as punishments in those conditions.