experiencelifemag.com Print › | Back › Clear the Bar The source of many a humiliating grade-school gym memory, the pull-up is actually a great whole-body workout. Here’s how to get your chin over the bar - with confidence. By Krista Scott-Dixon May 2008 Muscles in Motion Why Pull-ups? Still Skeptical? The Easy Way Up Mistakes You're About to Make (But Can Avoid) Who hasn’t admired the rare gym-goer who can knock out a set of pull-ups with gravity-defying ease? Because, let’s face it, there’s no other exercise that says “I am a fitness god” quite like the pull-up. But if you’re like most folks, the exercise conjures up images of military-style boot camp or gym-class hardships. You might think you could never get your chin over that bar, even with a drill sergeant yelling at you. But with a gradual, progressive program, you can. Start with exercises designed to strengthen muscles through your shoulders and back, such as pushups, lat pull-downs and upright rows. These will give you a strong foundation and prepare you to take on the next steps: assisted pull-ups, resistance-band pull-ups and negative (or eccentric) pull-ups. With patience and dedication, all of this will eventually lead to the day when you do your first full-fledged pull-up, to the cheers — or envy — of those around you. Muscles in Motion The terms “chin-up” and “pull-up” are often used interchangeably, but there is a difference. You use an overhand grip (palms facing away from you) to do a pull-up and an underhand grip (palms facing toward you) to do a chin-up. With either grip, you’re using muscles in your back, lats, shoulders, chest and core, but you can alter the roles these muscles play by changing your grip from overhand to underhand or wide to narrow. With an underhand or narrow grip, for example, your biceps get more action, while a wide overhand grip will challenge your rear deltoids (shoulders) and your lats. You can also try a parallel grip (palms facing one another), a mixed under-overhand grip, or even a towel grip, with a towel thrown over the bar (this is an advanced variation). Why Pull-ups? Aside from getting sweet bragging rights at your gym, why would you want to do one of these, anyway? Pull-ups make you seriously strong. Forget the bench press — pull-ups are one of the most effective measures of your strength-to-body-weight ratio. Pull-ups are efficient fitness multitaskers. Your back and arms are prime targets, but you also get lots of core work as your midsection tries to stabilize your body swinging freely in space. Still Skeptical? Think you could never do a pull-up? Put that negative thinking aside! Instead, gather your commitment and patience, and start doing the following step-by-step exercises regularly. You’ll be looking out over that bar before you know it. The Easy Way Up Phase 1: Build base muscles.     Modify the standard lat pull-down exercise by standing instead of sitting. Stand facing the weight stack, and grab the handle with your hands about shoulder-width apart or a little wider. Standing in a very slight squat, pull the handle or bar down to your chest. Slowly return the bar to the start position. Aim for two to three sets of eight to 10 reps, two or three times a week. Once you can comfortably handle about 50 to 60 percent of your body weight, try Phase 2: assisted pull-ups. Phase 2: Ask for assistance. If your gym has an assisted pull-up machine (often called a Gravitron), take advantage of it, using the lowest weight setting you can to complete reps. If not, there are a couple of other solutions. Solution 1: You can use a low bar in a squat rack or Smith machine, with a bench or step by it. Grab the bar with your desired grip and place your heels on the bench in front of you. (Adjust the difficulty of the pull-up by resting more or less of your lower legs on the bench.) Let your body sink down until your arms are nearly straight and your body makes an “L” shape. This is your starting position. Now pull yourself up, keeping your chin and neck neutral. Try not to use your legs to help you.      Solution 2: Get assistance from a rubber exercise band or tube. This option closely mimics the biomechanics involved in a true body-weight pull-up, and offers a “training wheels” solution for building confidence during the motion. Secure a 4-foot length of tubing in a loop around the top of a pull-up bar so the band hangs down in a “U” shape. Place one knee through the band (stand on a bench or box if necessary), which will act as a counterweight and give you a boost during the exercise. Use a band for each leg at first; you can remove one of the bands as you get stronger.      For both of these exercises, start with two to three sets of five to eight reps about twice a week. Once you can do five solid assisted reps without much help from your prop of choice, you’re ready to try Phase 3: negative (or eccentric) pull-ups. Phase 3: Get negative.    A negative (or eccentric) pull-up eliminates the positive (or concentric) portion of the rep, which is the hardest part, and allows you to just focus on slowly resisting gravity on the way down. (For more information on the benefits of eccentric training, check out “Put the Weight Down! ” in the October 2006 archives.) To assume the start position, place your hands on the bar (stand on a bench or box if necessary) and hop directly to the top position of a pull-up, arms fully bent and chin over the bar. Next, lower yourself down as slowly as possible. Try for a slow three or four count per negative. Incorporate a few negatives, using sets of one to two reps, into a couple of workouts per week. While working on these, also add one or two sets of standing lat pull-downs (from Phase 1) or assisted pull-ups (from Phase 2) once or twice a week. Once you can do four or five good, slow negative reps, you’re ready for Phase 4: partner pull-ups. Phase 4: Partner up.    Start by standing on a bench or box under a pull-up bar. Grab the bar and slowly transfer your weight to your hands, straightening your arms until you’re hanging from the bar. Bend your knees to 90 degrees, and ask your workout buddy to place his hands under your shins. He can apply gentle upward assistance to help you get started and throughout the movement as needed. (Often, just a little boost at the bottom is all it takes.) You might get only one or two funky-looking reps in the beginning, so aim for three sets of one or two reps, a couple of times a week, supplemented with standing lat pull-downs (from Phase 1). You’ll likely find it’s easier to add sets than reps — in other words, it’s easier to do five sets of one rep with a bit of rest in between than to do one set of five consecutive reps. Over time, your partner will need to provide less and less assistance. When it feels like he isn’t really helping much, try Phase 5: completing one on your own. Phase 5: Your first pull-up!  As with the partner pull-up, grab the bar  and slowly transfer your weight until you’re hanging with your arms nearly straight. Keeping your muscles tight throughout your abs, back and arms, pull your body upward until your chin clears the bar. Congratulations! You just did a pull-up. Krista Scott-Dixon, PhD, runs www.stumptuous.com, a Web site devoted to women’s weight training. Mistakes You're About to Make (But Can Avoid) Swinging from the bar like a monkey. There is a style of pull-up, known as the kipping pull-up, that uses the momentum of a swing to get your body launched, but for now, start with stillness. Locking out your elbows at the bottom. Keep a very slight bend in your elbows to avoid irritating your elbow joints by hyperextending your arms. Cheating depth. On the other hand, be cautious not to cut your reps short. It’s important to develop strength through the full range of motion, and nobody is impressed by a 3-inch pull-up! Holding your breath. You’ll instinctively hold your breath for a brief moment during the hardest part of each rep. This is normal and desirable — it helps stabilize your midsection — but don’t hold your breath through the whole motion. Hanging like a wet noodle. If you pre-tense your muscles, you’ll find the movement becomes easier. Ready for another progression? Check out Krista Scott-Dixon’s other incarnation of this article, called “Mistressing the Pullup,” at her Web site, www.stumptuous.com.  For photos of different pull-up grips and a sidebar of useful tips, see the Web Extras! at the top right of this page. For additional guidance on how to achieve that first pull-up, check out "Pull-Up Series" in our video section.

Clear the Bar

The source of many a humiliating grade-school gym memory, the pull-up is actually a great whole-body workout. Here’s how to get your chin over the bar - with confidence.

Muscles in Motion
Why Pull-ups?
Still Skeptical?
The Easy Way Up
Mistakes You're About to Make (But Can Avoid)

Who hasn’t admired the rare gym-goer who can knock out a set of pull-ups with gravity-defying ease? Because, let’s face it, there’s no other exercise that says “I am a fitness god” quite like the pull-up. But if you’re like most folks, the exercise conjures up images of military-style boot camp or gym-class hardships. You might think you could never get your chin over that bar, even with a drill sergeant yelling at you. But with a gradual, progressive program, you can.

Start with exercises designed to strengthen muscles through your shoulders and back, such as pushups, lat pull-downs and upright rows. These will give you a strong foundation and prepare you to take on the next steps: assisted pull-ups, resistance-band pull-ups and negative (or eccentric) pull-ups. With patience and dedication, all of this will eventually lead to the day when you do your first full-fledged pull-up, to the cheers — or envy — of those around you.

Muscles in Motion (Back to Top)
The terms “chin-up” and “pull-up” are often used interchangeably, but there is a difference. You use an overhand grip (palms facing away from you) to do a pull-up and an underhand grip (palms facing toward you) to do a chin-up. With either grip, you’re using muscles in your back, lats, shoulders, chest and core, but you can alter the roles these muscles play by changing your grip from overhand to underhand or wide to narrow. With an underhand or narrow grip, for example, your biceps get more action, while a wide overhand grip will challenge your rear deltoids (shoulders) and your lats. You can also try a parallel grip (palms facing one another), a mixed under-overhand grip, or even a towel grip, with a towel thrown over the bar (this is an advanced variation).

Why Pull-ups? (Back to Top)
Aside from getting sweet bragging rights at your gym, why would you want to do one of these, anyway?

• Pull-ups make you seriously strong. Forget the bench press — pull-ups are one of the most effective measures of your strength-to-body-weight ratio.
• Pull-ups are efficient fitness multitaskers. Your back and arms are prime targets, but you also get lots of core work as your midsection tries to stabilize your body swinging freely in space.

Still Skeptical? (Back to Top)
Think you could never do a pull-up? Put that negative thinking aside! Instead, gather your commitment and patience, and start doing the following step-by-step exercises regularly. You’ll be looking out over that bar before you know it.

The Easy Way Up (Back to Top)
Phase 1: Build base muscles. 
  

Modify the standard lat pull-down exercise by standing instead of sitting. Stand facing the weight stack, and grab the handle with your hands about shoulder-width apart or a little wider. Standing in a very slight squat, pull the handle or bar down to your chest. Slowly return the bar to the start position. Aim for two to three sets of eight to 10 reps, two or three times a week. Once you can comfortably handle about 50 to 60 percent of your body weight, try Phase 2: assisted pull-ups.

Phase 2: Ask for assistance. If your gym has an assisted pull-up machine (often called a Gravitron), take advantage of it, using the lowest weight setting you can to complete reps. If not, there are a couple of other solutions.

• Solution 1: You can use a low bar in a squat rack or Smith machine, with a bench or step by it. Grab the bar with your desired grip and place your heels on the bench in front of you. (Adjust the difficulty of the pull-up by resting more or less of your lower legs on the bench.) Let your body sink down until your arms are nearly straight and your body makes an “L” shape. This is your starting position. Now pull yourself up, keeping your chin and neck neutral. Try not to use your legs to help you.

• Solution 2: Get assistance from a rubber exercise band or tube. This option closely mimics the biomechanics involved in a true body-weight pull-up, and offers a “training wheels” solution for building confidence during the motion. Secure a 4-foot length of tubing in a loop around the top of a pull-up bar so the band hangs down in a “U” shape. Place one knee through the band (stand on a bench or box if necessary), which will act as a counterweight and give you a boost during the exercise. Use a band for each leg at first; you can remove one of the bands as you get stronger.

For both of these exercises, start with two to three sets of five to eight reps about twice a week. Once you can do five solid assisted reps without much help from your prop of choice, you’re ready to try Phase 3: negative (or eccentric) pull-ups.


Phase 3: Get negative. 
 
A negative (or eccentric) pull-up eliminates the positive (or concentric) portion of the rep, which is the hardest part, and allows you to just focus on slowly resisting gravity on the way down. (For more information on the benefits of eccentric training, check out “Put the Weight Down! ” in the October 2006 archives.)

To assume the start position, place your hands on the bar (stand on a bench or box if necessary) and hop directly to the top position of a pull-up, arms fully bent and chin over the bar. Next, lower yourself down as slowly as possible. Try for a slow three or four count per negative. Incorporate a few negatives, using sets of one to two reps, into a couple of workouts per week. While working on these, also add one or two sets of standing lat pull-downs (from Phase 1) or assisted pull-ups (from Phase 2) once or twice a week. Once you can do four or five good, slow negative reps, you’re ready for Phase 4: partner pull-ups.

Phase 4: Partner up. 
 
Start by standing on a bench or box under a pull-up bar. Grab the bar and slowly transfer your weight to your hands, straightening your arms until you’re hanging from the bar. Bend your knees to 90 degrees, and ask your workout buddy to place his hands under your shins. He can apply gentle upward assistance to help you get started and throughout the movement as needed. (Often, just a little boost at the bottom is all it takes.) You might get only one or two funky-looking reps in the beginning, so aim for three sets of one or two reps, a couple of times a week, supplemented with standing lat pull-downs (from Phase 1). You’ll likely find it’s easier to add sets than reps — in other words, it’s easier to do five sets of one rep with a bit of rest in between than to do one set of five consecutive reps. Over time, your partner will need to provide less and less assistance. When it feels like he isn’t really helping much, try Phase 5: completing one on your own.

Phase 5: Your first pull-up! 

As with the partner pull-up, grab the bar  and slowly transfer your weight until you’re hanging with your arms nearly straight. Keeping your muscles tight throughout your abs, back and arms, pull your body upward until your chin clears the bar. Congratulations! You just did a pull-up.

Krista Scott-Dixon, PhD, runs www.stumptuous.com, a Web site devoted to women’s weight training.

Mistakes You're About to Make (But Can Avoid) (Back to Top)

• Swinging from the bar like a monkey. There is a style of pull-up, known as the kipping pull-up, that uses the momentum of a swing to get your body launched, but for now, start with stillness.
• Locking out your elbows at the bottom. Keep a very slight bend in your elbows to avoid irritating your elbow joints by hyperextending your arms.
• Cheating depth. On the other hand, be cautious not to cut your reps short. It’s important to develop strength through the full range of motion, and nobody is impressed by a 3-inch pull-up!
• Holding your breath. You’ll instinctively hold your breath for a brief moment during the hardest part of each rep. This is normal and desirable — it helps stabilize your midsection — but don’t hold your breath through the whole motion.
• Hanging like a wet noodle. If you pre-tense your muscles, you’ll find the movement becomes easier.

Ready for another progression? Check out Krista Scott-Dixon’s other incarnation of this article, called “Mistressing the Pullup,” at her Web site, www.stumptuous.com. 

For photos of different pull-up grips and a sidebar of useful tips, see the Web Extras! at the top right of this page.

For additional guidance on how to achieve that first pull-up, check out "Pull-Up Series" in our video section.

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December 18, 2008

Matt Holmes says:

Awesome article! Pull ups are like the squat or deadlift of upper body movements. I really liked your progression and how you mentioned doing it with a towel, great progression and also with a hanging rope. If you can not do this with your body weight use the same progression methods as mentioned just replace with a rope and you will be on your way to some sick upper body strength and be one of those pull up gods ;) -Matt Holmes http://www.BodySynergyTraining.