Can’t Do a Chin-Up? Neither Could Leo… But That’s About to Change.

Leo started training with me back in September. Our initial focus was body composition—shed fat, lay the foundation. Now that he’s lean enough, it’s time to build muscle, and few exercises rival the chin-up for upper-body strength and development.

This morning, we tested where he’s at. As expected, Leo couldn’t complete a single chin-up. But that’s just the beginning.

Immediately after the test, we launched into a proven progression I’ve used for years: eccentric chin-ups followed by pulldowns. It’s a simple system that works like a charm to take people from zero to hero on chin-ups—and Leo will be no exception.

The Strategy:

• If you’re carrying too much non-functional baggage, chin-ups will be difficult.
• Once you’re lean enough, it’s all about strength and technique.
• Start with the eccentric phase—control the lowering.
• Pair that with pulldowns to increase volume.
• Add a vertical press using the same grip orientation to maintain joint balance.
• Do chin-ups twice a week, and focus on gradual progressions.

Ready to Start Your Own Journey?

I’ve written more about this system at TheEliteTrainer.com. Feel free to dive deeper if you’re serious about mastering your first chin-up.

This is just Day 1 for Leo, and I’ll be sharing his journey as it unfolds. Stay tuned.