Paused reps can be a game-changer in your training. By deliberately stopping at key points during a lift, you reduce momentum, reinforce proper technique, and dramatically increase muscular tension. In the case of chin-ups, pausing at the bottom not only reduces cheating, but also provides a brief decompression for the spine and shoulders—something many lifters…
The lean-away chin-up is a great exercise not only for your lats and biceps but also for the subscapularis, serratus anterior, triceps—and believe it or not, the abdominals. Yes, a strong contribution from the abdominals is required to stabilize the core during lean-away chin-ups, especially when additional loading is used. It’s not uncommon to hear…
Thick-bar training can be useful for martial artists—just don’t overdo it. It has the potential to cause tendinitis if used too frequently. Sixteen-year-old Aiden is preparing for the Nationals next month in karate. Here he is performing weighted, semi-supinated chin-ups using a thick bar. To learn how to set this up on your power rack,…
When Jessica first came to me, she couldn’t do a single chin-up — let alone a pull-up. Fast forward to today, and that’s no longer the case! With the right progressions, smart programming, and consistent effort, Jessica went from zero to hero on the pull-up bar. Check out her impressive transformation and learn exactly how…
For years we’ve been told to avoid behind-the-neck pulldowns and pull-ups. They place tremendous stress on the shoulders when lifting a heavy load with the humeri abducted and in a position of maximum external rotation. It’s a problem waiting to happen. Furthermore, it’s not a natural movement. We’re not really meant to pull things behind…
The ability to perform a proper chin-up—grabbing an overhead bar and pulling yourself up until your chin clears it—is a struggle for many. Some see it as impossible, but with the right training approach, reaching 20 chin-ups is an attainable goal. Here’s how to do it. The Key Factors for Chin-Up Success 1. Body Weight…
You may recall from a recent post that my benchmark for complete recovery from distal biceps surgery was the ability to do chin-ups. For my first workout, I did one set of five reps. I performed chin-ups twice a week, adding one set per session. I stuck with body weight throughout and kept plenty in…
Before you read on, watch this video: Now, you may be asking yourself—what’s the big deal? A few chin-ups, so what? Well, those few chin-ups were a big deal to me. That was the first set of supinated-grip chins I performed after my distal biceps surgery. Trust me, it’s been on my mind ever since….
You know the importance of varying your grip during chin-ups—to prevent stagnation, promote balanced strength and size development, and reduce the risk of recurring injuries. But what if you only have a straight chin-up bar? Supinated, pronated, and even mixed-grip chin-ups are no problem, but how do you perform neutral-grip chin-ups? Here are three simple…