Chin/Pull/Muscle ups?
Discussion
I have recently started doing chin ups at the gym, never really done any as the bars are always in use or on "The rig" which always seemed a bit intimidating/busy.
But, am done being reticent/meek, if I want to use something I will "muscle" my way in, plus there was an element of tending to do the same thing and am trying to try new stuff every time I go.
I can manage 3 or 4 chin ups, not sure if they are perfect but I get my chin (the top one....) so its up to the bar, or a bit higher.
I am 52, currently 216 pounds so quite heavy but reasonably strong, but that is hard !
There are also some "Monkey bars" and even as a moderately chubby kid at school I could hang off them and swing between the bars quite easily, forty years later, its not as easy as I remember and I managed three rungs
To be fair its a bit harder as the rungs step up by 20 cm instead of gradually.
Makes you wonder how many people can manage even one chin up, either from being too heavy, or like my wife who is super fit, trains and is only light, just doesn't have the upper body strength. Its like a lot of the public couldn't run a mile if they had to, most of us couldnt pull ourselves up if we had to either.
You see stuff in films and stuff like "Ninja Warrior" and though you perhaps dont think you can do all that, you don't realise how far off you have got.
Do tend to find my elbows feel it afterwards, but not particularly in a bad, best not do that again way.
Dont think a Muscle up is ever going to happen but want to get to doing three sets of ten decent chin/pull ups. Can anyone on here do a muscle up ?
But, am done being reticent/meek, if I want to use something I will "muscle" my way in, plus there was an element of tending to do the same thing and am trying to try new stuff every time I go.
I can manage 3 or 4 chin ups, not sure if they are perfect but I get my chin (the top one....) so its up to the bar, or a bit higher.
I am 52, currently 216 pounds so quite heavy but reasonably strong, but that is hard !
There are also some "Monkey bars" and even as a moderately chubby kid at school I could hang off them and swing between the bars quite easily, forty years later, its not as easy as I remember and I managed three rungs
To be fair its a bit harder as the rungs step up by 20 cm instead of gradually.Makes you wonder how many people can manage even one chin up, either from being too heavy, or like my wife who is super fit, trains and is only light, just doesn't have the upper body strength. Its like a lot of the public couldn't run a mile if they had to, most of us couldnt pull ourselves up if we had to either.
You see stuff in films and stuff like "Ninja Warrior" and though you perhaps dont think you can do all that, you don't realise how far off you have got.
Do tend to find my elbows feel it afterwards, but not particularly in a bad, best not do that again way.
Dont think a Muscle up is ever going to happen but want to get to doing three sets of ten decent chin/pull ups. Can anyone on here do a muscle up ?
Without trying to turn this into a willy waving contest, I can do plenty of chin ups and pull ups, I train them every week, sets of 10-15, sometimes weighted. I've never really tried a muscle up, as I would hit my head in the garage ceiling (where I train) if I tried! I'll have a go next time I'm out and about and see a bar in a park or something. Don't fancy my chances.
But you're right, I reckon 80% of the public wouldn't be able to do a chin up if you had a bar in the street and asked them.
But you're right, I reckon 80% of the public wouldn't be able to do a chin up if you had a bar in the street and asked them.
If you can’t lift your own weight then you are no use to anyone, is how the saying used to go.
Have a look at the parks near you most councils Ive visited of late have now fitted a pull up bar and dips area, it’s nicer doing it outside and the one I used to go to in London usually had a friendly mix of people.
Don’t concentrate on numbers but technique I see too many people swinging and kipping they ain’t proper pull ups.
Have a watch of Michael Eckert on instagram has some good videos.
Have a look at the parks near you most councils Ive visited of late have now fitted a pull up bar and dips area, it’s nicer doing it outside and the one I used to go to in London usually had a friendly mix of people.
Don’t concentrate on numbers but technique I see too many people swinging and kipping they ain’t proper pull ups.
Have a watch of Michael Eckert on instagram has some good videos.
Edited by LaterLosers on Monday 17th July 09:56
I’m into ring calisthenics and muscle ups are kind of the starting point for the advanced exercises. On the rings getting the correct grip is the key and not an exercise to rush, got to get your ligaments and tendons used to the movement. Think the general rule is if you can do around 15 strict pull-ups you should have the strength to do a muscle up,
Although I train at a predominately CrossFit gym and they use a huge explosive movement to do muscles up but probably not conducive to long term injury prevention.
Although I train at a predominately CrossFit gym and they use a huge explosive movement to do muscles up but probably not conducive to long term injury prevention.
mikiec said:
I’m into ring calisthenics and muscle ups are kind of the starting point for the advanced exercises. On the rings getting the correct grip is the key and not an exercise to rush, got to get your ligaments and tendons used to the movement. Think the general rule is if you can do around 15 strict pull-ups you should have the strength to do a muscle up,
Although I train at a predominately CrossFit gym and they use a huge explosive movement to do muscles up but probably not conducive to long term injury prevention.
Crossfit muscle ups are relatively technical, but look great when executed well. Super strict is always very impressive. Mine are very much Although I train at a predominately CrossFit gym and they use a huge explosive movement to do muscles up but probably not conducive to long term injury prevention.
ed up with strength over tech 
Funnily enough, on Saturday I tried for the first time in years. I managed just two decent chin-ups and struggled and squirmed into a third. I'll add them to my training routine and expect to increase volume over the next few months.
I only rejoined a gym and started training in April so quite pleased with that. Pretty certain that March and prior I'd've not been able to get one.
I'll be sixty one in a week or so and weigh 85 kgs (up 10kgs since April).
I only rejoined a gym and started training in April so quite pleased with that. Pretty certain that March and prior I'd've not been able to get one.
I'll be sixty one in a week or so and weigh 85 kgs (up 10kgs since April).
Louis Balfour said:
didelydoo said:
Pull ups/chins are a great strength standard - I love them, and I’m good at them. Every male should really be able to knock out a few, no excuse not to. (I know most probably can’t though)
I mean this in a good way: you do spout some st at times.We, and I include myself in this, tend to have lost these abilities. I dont think that in the past everyone could do all this kind of stuff but more manual jobs, less overweight people and whatever would mean it would have been more achievable for more people.
I think every man should be able to do at least a few but most probably can’t.
3x10 isn’t easy although it’s a good goal. I found doing pull-ups aggravated my shoulder but palms facing each other is fine. You might be fine but you do need to be careful. I do a lot of pull-ups and chins though as I have a bar at home.
3x10 isn’t easy although it’s a good goal. I found doing pull-ups aggravated my shoulder but palms facing each other is fine. You might be fine but you do need to be careful. I do a lot of pull-ups and chins though as I have a bar at home.
LordGrover said:
Funnily enough, on Saturday I tried for the first time in years. I managed just two decent chin-ups and struggled and squirmed into a third. I'll add them to my training routine and expect to increase volume over the next few months.
I only rejoined a gym and started training in April so quite pleased with that. Pretty certain that March and prior I'd've not been able to get one.
I'll be sixty one in a week or so and weigh 85 kgs (up 10kgs since April).
Good stuff, I am a firm believe that a lot of folk cite age as the barrier to being able to do things, and really its a mental block, laziness and it just being hard, coupled with excess weight.I only rejoined a gym and started training in April so quite pleased with that. Pretty certain that March and prior I'd've not been able to get one.
I'll be sixty one in a week or so and weigh 85 kgs (up 10kgs since April).
I have lost a few pounds, gained a little and have noticed the effect on aches and pains and the ability to do stuff, been doing lots of diy work at the moment and just kneeling down and getting back up is easier.
Its like we go too far down one avenue and its easy to go down, but takes a huge effort to reverse back out of, and if you go too far down, back is not possible for medical reasons, and not just being older.
Age is part of it but weight, diet and lack of activity are much bigger factors in many cases.
Armitage.Shanks said:
Are these under or over arm.
I’m ok at underarm and reckon I can do 10. Over arm I’m struggling to do more than one. That said I’m mainly cardio some HIIT but don’t use weights or visit the gym.
My understanding is that chin ups are underarm and pull ups are overarm, been doing a few of each, both are equally pathetic I’m ok at underarm and reckon I can do 10. Over arm I’m struggling to do more than one. That said I’m mainly cardio some HIIT but don’t use weights or visit the gym.
Douglas Quaid said:
You might be fine but you do need to be careful. I do a lot of pull-ups and chins though as I have a bar at home.
Another word of caution here, particularly with home bars. Make sure they are 100% secure. 100%. Mine came off when I was chin over the bar a little over 2 years ago. That meant a broken neck. A double (inside and outside of the vertebra) C7 unstable fracture and I’m very lucky I’m not quadriplegic.Edited by Google [bot] on Monday 17th July 10:41
popeyewhite said:
didelydoo said:
Crossfit muscle ups are relatively technical, but look great when executed well.
Controversial.Academic really if there are ten as don't think will ever be able to do one.
Shouldn't really limit myself like that though, if someone said "Here's a million quid", you can have it in a years time if you can do a Muscle Up, I bet I would find a way. Get a trainer, bar at home, get down to the lowest body fat I can, train everyday etc.
Its amazing what you can achieve in a year if you put your mind to it.
J4CKO said:
Is there more than one type of muscle up ?
I don't think so. It's just that muscle ups are a bit of a gimmick IMO. I've never done them - can't be bothered. See also 'kipping' (Xfit) pullups and hand stand pushups (Xfit). I'm a pedant for technique over momentum though!J4CKO said:
Its amazing what you can achieve in a year if you put your mind to it.
Very true, consistency and discipline are very important. As you say, low bf makes things easier.Regarding pullups - work on a dead hang for a few weeks, then negatives, then work twos doing a grease the groove type protocol (do 2 pull ups on the hour every hour, or every time you walk past the room, or before every cup of coffee etc etc), the try something like Pavel's pullup program.
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