Art of Manliness - Latest Comments in Do More Than One Stinking Pull-Up

Re: Do More Than One Stinking Pull-Up

Joe S — Fri, 06 Jun 2014 06:57:19 -0000

never forget the bent arm hang. WM's do them and if you can hold your body over the plain of your shoulders for 20 seconds or a count of one thousand and 20 (no cheating) your doing the same as if you wanted to run a mile but walked 4 instead.

Re: Do More Than One Stinking Pull-Up

Yarden — Mon, 26 May 2014 07:22:32 -0000

I actually improved a lot doing assisted pull ups. Gradually lowered the assisting weight until I transitioned to regular pull ups. I can do 6 pull ups for five reps and five sets.

Re: Do More Than One Stinking Pull-Up

Riz — Thu, 01 May 2014 23:03:02 -0000

The tree limb advice is great. When I am out for a run I am constantly checking the surroundings for a solid limb.

Pushups can be done at any time as well. Use the curb on the side of the road to elevate your legs a bit.

Re: Do More Than One Stinking Pull-Up

Bill — Mon, 28 Apr 2014 14:38:39 -0000

At 71 I worked my way up to ten reps (pull ups but only four with chin ups) with fairly good form, but sprained both bicep tendons when I tried to past my max. I've been wary of resuming my goal to reach 20 reps, deciding to wait until the biceps feel well enough. I wonder what I did wrong? My "parts" should have merely gotten tired -- not broken.

Re: Do More Than One Stinking Pull-Up

JTS — Fri, 07 Mar 2014 22:01:23 -0000

47, been doing pullups for years, though not to extreme. Here are some tips.

Varied grips. Try one hand pronated and other hand supinated, alternate between sets. Each set, vary grip width, even try asymmetric grip (e.g., left close to body, right hand past shoulder). Vary grip thickness.

Don't be a pussy, go all the way down. Fully extend arms.

Breathe like you would if running sprints. Don't use inhale/exhale like lifting, breathe freely and quickly as you feel the need.

Finish with some negatives. Have a handy means to cheat to the top (a nearby chair to push on with a foot), get up to the top, remove the cheat, and go down slowly.

Focus on activating more than biceps, possibly by pinching shoulder blades.

Re: Do More Than One Stinking Pull-Up

Andre — Mon, 17 Feb 2014 23:06:00 -0000

If you cannot do a single rep do the routines of the article with bodyrows. Pull ups are one my absolute favourites because you can never outgrow it. there are always more challenging variations available, such as on towels, adding weight, closegrip, with less than 10 fingers etc.
THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR NOT FINDING A PULLUPBAR. Every City has playgrounds and steps, every countrysides Barns and trees.

Re: Do More Than One Stinking Pull-Up

Hasnain — Fri, 31 Jan 2014 02:23:59 -0000

Bill M & Gato Rojo, I love you guys. I have so much respect for you. I have no excuses and your posts were a solid slap in the back I needed to move fwd. Hats off sirs!

Re: Do More Than One Stinking Pull-Up

Hasnain — Fri, 31 Jan 2014 02:15:38 -0000

I just took Seth's advice and applied it to pushups. I try to crank out a max set every time I go to the bathroom for 3-4 days every week. I've gone from 20 to 35 pushups in 3 weeks. This is a great idea.

I'm really considering getting the Iron Gym pull up bar and starting with Waykno's suggestion of reverse pull ups.

Re: Do More Than One Stinking Pull-Up

Vaughn Ripley — Wed, 29 Jan 2014 17:57:48 -0000

I enjoyed this article and dig what everyone is commenting here. I especially agree when folks are arguing the assisted pull-up part... I think assisted pull-ups can really help if you aren't able to do one (or even only a few). Also, negatives are an excellent way to help get that first pull-up.

Also, I think it's important to point out that you can sometimes get yourself to that first pull-up by simply losing weight. If you are close to getting your first one, knocking off 5% (ish) of your body weight (preferably in body fat) you will be able to muscle that first one out. I would venture a guess and say that with a 10% body fat loss, you could get an extra three pull-ups out... This is not only handy for someone trying to get only one pull-up, but also for advanced guys!

Crank 'em out!

-Vaughn

Re: Do More Than One Stinking Pull-Up

rdc — Sun, 26 Jan 2014 11:15:51 -0000

I can't look at that picture without laughing. That dog is just too much.

Re: Do More Than One Stinking Pull-Up

CPT_Dad — Wed, 15 Jan 2014 22:38:04 -0000

Pull-ups are the ultimate man exercise. In the Army, I made soldiers do pull-ups before they entered my office. (Not many people came to talk to me after I implemented that.)

My thoughts? ( I do sets of 25, then corn cobs, then one arm lockouts, variations with softballs, etc) Negatives are the best way to go for people who can't do any pushups, or for those looking to improve through a hump. Some studies show that negatives actually generate 1.3 times as much gain as the actual movement.

So jump up there, lower yourself slowly and repeat. Over and over until you drop from the top position instead of slowly descending.

Also, don't be ashamed to put down the keg you are carrying around before you can try pullups.

Need motivation? I put together a video for a Krav Maga class to help inspire some of the guys there.
http://www.km-sco.com/

Re: Do More Than One Stinking Pull-Up

Tim — Wed, 08 Jan 2014 08:13:54 -0000

I just tried to do a pullup (not a chinup but a pullup, overhand grip) and I could barely manage one. Looks like the lat pulldown machine is the best option (the only option actually) for now.

Re: Do More Than One Stinking Pull-Up

Sam — Tue, 07 Jan 2014 23:12:12 -0000

Tiana--If you can't do any full pull-ups, start with negative-rep pull-ups--jump, or use a stool, to reach the top of the repetition, then lower yourself down slowly, in a controlled movement. Keep doing these and lengthen the movement (go slower and slower) until you're strong enough to hit 1 full rep. Then you're off to the races!

Re: Do More Than One Stinking Pull-Up

Tiana — Mon, 06 Jan 2014 19:18:34 -0000

OK, so I'm not a man.... but as a woman, I am trying to build some muscle and do some bodyweight exercises, including pull-ups. I have been looking at different articles online & I enjoyed this one, & the comments also. I can't even get 1/8 of an inch off the ground at the moment; I have a doorway pull-up bar, however. What are the best ways to begin to do pullups when one cannot do any? It would be nice to try several different options if there is more than one way to build the necessary strength - even if some of the options do not actually involve the pull-up bar. Are there other body weight exercises that may help with building the muscles for pullups? Thanks in advance to you manly men who are willing to help a lady!

Re: Do More Than One Stinking Pull-Up

Brent — Fri, 03 Jan 2014 04:23:40 -0000

Nice article, pull-ups are definitely one of the best exercises. If you want another challenge/routine to try check out the Armstrong pull-up program, it goes with a 5 day a week approach. It was created by a Marine who set the pull-up world record years ago, doing 1435 in a 5 hours. Check it out if you get the time most people who stick with it can make it to 20 reps. I'm at 14 now up about 5 reps from my previous max a few weeks ago.
http://officercandidatessch...
& here's the story of the Marine(who was certainly a manly man)
http://officercandidatessch...

Re: Do More Than One Stinking Pull-Up

Leo — Fri, 13 Dec 2013 04:05:33 -0000

Respectfully disagree with some of the advice in the comments and the original post.

If you can't do at least 6 pullups with *perfect* form, you should drop back to an easier exercise, like lever pullups or jackknife pullups. "Perfect form" for a pullup motion means: slow, smooth movement -- 2 seconds ascending, 1 second pause at the top, 2 seconds descending, pause at the bottom (no "bounce".) The point here is that you are working the muscles through the entire range of motion, and not "cheating" through your weak range(s) with momentum.

For levers: put your feet up on something positioned in front of your pullup bar, so that when you are hanging from the bar with your arms fully extended you can hold your body (shoulders to heels) close to horizontal. Now do the pullups, keeping your body stiff. Once you can do more than 12 or so with perfect form (see above) try jackknifes: same idea, but now change the height/position of the support object so that you can bend at the waist; the start position should have your torso vertical but your legs horizontal. Again, work to 12+ reps with perfect form.

If you can do 12 pullups with perfect form, make the pullups harder -- put your hands together on the bar. Or hang a towel from the bar and do unevens -- one hand grips the bar, the other grabs the towel below the bar (the farther down, the harder it gets.)

Why I think I have the right to opine: was a pudgy 9th grader who couldn't do any pullups whatsoever. Went on to medal on Still Rings in statewide gymnastics competition at the age of 17. (You think pullups are tough? Try an iron cross sometime. :-)

Re: Do More Than One Stinking Pull-Up

Tom — Fri, 29 Nov 2013 16:11:05 -0000

Thanks for the tip on the "reverse pull up". I'm in that "can't do one" zone at the moment. I'm 9 weeks into a program called Power90 to try and get in good enough shape to do the P90X (which requires pull ups) and I'm a little worried about it. I'm 6'5" with long arms and am way too tall for a door hanger (which I have tried). I think I'm going to build one in my garage. Any articles on that?

Re: Do More Than One Stinking Pull-Up

Bob — Wed, 20 Nov 2013 23:50:46 -0000

Jason, finger pull ups over the door molding? We are not worthy of your presence

Re: Do More Than One Stinking Pull-Up

Bob — Wed, 20 Nov 2013 23:49:27 -0000

Yeah, I was that kid too!

I respectfully disagree about the use of a pull-up machine, it can be very usefull to baby step your way to real pull ups, especially if you are concerned about any previous wrist/elbow/shoulder issues

Re: Do More Than One Stinking Pull-Up

Jason — Mon, 30 Sep 2013 16:23:12 -0000

When I was much more fit than I am now I liked to do pull ups on the molding above a door frame. It would always impress my wife and my personal trainer. Also, it was fun!

Re: Do More Than One Stinking Pull-Up

Dougie Gray — Thu, 19 Sep 2013 23:19:15 -0000

My dad loves pull ups he would do 3 on every tree with a low branch as he walked past while walking the dog. This was when he was 65. Now he is 73 he only does 10 a day on a bar in the house. 2 sets of 5.

Re: Do More Than One Stinking Pull-Up

Brandon — Wed, 18 Sep 2013 18:02:14 -0000

@Allan - try starting with the 12 sets of 1 with intervals of 45 seconds - he suggests this first and I agree if you don't have the muscle endurance this is a good place to start. Do you have this issue with any other lifts or body weight exercises?

Re: Do More Than One Stinking Pull-Up

Allan — Wed, 04 Sep 2013 13:56:16 -0000

I am 54 and used to be able to do over 10 chin-ups. Now, 3 is a challenge. One comments on the training regime is that I cannot do consecutive chin-ups with 1 minute intervals. After doing 3 or 4 in a row, I am wiped out. Any advice?

Re: Do More Than One Stinking Pull-Up

Doug — Thu, 15 Aug 2013 19:29:08 -0000

Couldn't do them when I was a kid. When I was a teen, I had a stocking job for a big department store and that got me in real shape. I could do 60-70 at a shot. Now I'm 51 and have some nagging shoulder trouble. I can do 2 from a dead hang and am working on more by doing many reps of "walk the plank" (start from the top and let yourself down to a hang in about 5 seconds time). Boy my whole left side and shoulder are on fire about 2 days after I do that. So be it- I will not give up.

I wouldn't bother with assisted pullup machines. The author makes that point clear: only by enduring the pain that comes from doing real pullups can one make meaningful progress.

Re: Do More Than One Stinking Pull-Up

Will — Sun, 11 Aug 2013 15:54:16 -0000

I don't agree with the "Don't use assisted pullup machines" advice.

Many people will plateau at a certain point because they will be engaging their arms far more than their backs. Simply said: Their back muscles aren't strong enough to do one pull up, but the arms are, so the arms become the primary pulling force. For these people, using an assistance machine, or doing negatives, with a focus on activating the back muscles will result over time in much greater ability than doing pull ups primarily with the arms would.