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…
For years we’ve been told to avoid behind-the-neck pulldowns and pull-ups. And for good reason — they place a tremendous amount of stress on the shoulders when you’re lifting a heavy load with the humeri abducted and in a position of maximum external rotation. It’s a problem waiting to happen. Besides, it’s not a natural…
Chin-ups are one of the most challenging yet rewarding exercises in strength training. Back in 2021, Amanda could only complete 4 chin-ups (read here). With consistent training and a focus on quality, she reached 10 reps in 2022 (read here). Now, she’s hit an impressive milestone: 12 chin-ups! Male or female, this is an exceptional…
Exciting news! Just got my hands on Swissies45, and they’ve transformed my chin-up game. No more draping an EZ-Curl bar over the power cage – now it’s all about efficiency. These handles are versatile – perfect for semi-supinated or semi-pronated chin-ups, at any grip width you desire. Christmas gift idea? Look no further! Want to…
Chin-ups and dips are two of the best strength training exercises you can do, but most people have a hard time doing them. They’re a challenge for both males and females no matter how many years of exercise experience! Remember, there’s a difference between exercising and training. Exercising to sweat and burn calories with no…
Amanda and Heather show what hard work, consistency, and proper training can do. It was once a struggle for these ladies to do just one chin-up and dip, but no more! After a bout of eccentric training that ended a few weeks ago, Amanda was able to complete 4 chin-ups and Heather 7 dips. We…
As 2019 comes to a close, let’s take a look back at our most popular and impactful articles of the year. These posts sparked conversation, challenged the norm, and offered practical strategies to help you train smarter. Here are the top 10, plus a bonus: 1. Heavy Hip Thrusts Are Dangerous One of the most…
That’s 15-year-old Joseph struggling with chin-ups in the first part of the video. The second part shows the results of just five sessions of eccentric training. So how did we improve his performance? Take a look at his program: A1. Mid-Grip Barbell Bench Press: 5 x 5 @ 5-0-X-0, 90sA2. Standing Rope Face Pull: 4…
Chin-ups are one of the toughest upper-body exercises—especially for women. In fact, the average number of chin-ups a female can perform is zero. Why is that? Sure, a lack of strength and excess body fat are common culprits, but the biggest limiting factor is often perception. Many women believe they can’t do a chin-up… and…
For several weeks now, 15-year-old Joseph has been working hard on hanging-band squats and assisted chin-ups. Friday night he was able to see what effect that type of training has had. After working up to 45 pounds per side on hanging-band squats, he was ready for conventional squats with the “big plates.” No problem! Now,…