How many pullups can you do?

[herr_oberst]

[QUOTE=ckissick;11842391I've been doing them on a hang-board, just on finger tips. I can only do about 5 to 9, depending on how I'm feeling. I've taken up rock climbing again and would like to get up to 20.[/QUOTE]

Similar but slightly different is the hang challenge! Looks easy, I've tried it and it's not! (Go to 5:30 to avoid the preliminary nonsense)

[masraum]

Originally Posted by KNS

It's just a simple telescoping bar. It's never fallen down.
I think you can find them at Dick's.

That's what she said!

[David]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

David, you've given me an idea; I'll attach a come-along right above my chin-up bar!

Better make it electric, that chain can be a b!tch

[masraum]

Originally Posted by David

Better make it electric, that chain can be a b!tch

[herr_oberst]

^

[Tim Hancock]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

Similar but slightly different is the hang challenge! Looks easy, I've tried it and it's not! (Go to 5:30 to avoid the preliminary nonsense)

I am gonna have to try that..... my fingers hurt already.

[Nordwest]

I'm 63 and just went out to the old pull-up bar in the shop. i managed 3 without hurting myself. You guys are inspiring.

[rwest]

Couple years ago they put in a multi gym contraption at the work gym and it has rock climbing nubs to do pull-ups on. I could do zero and thought that you shouldn’t even look another man in the eye if you couldn’t do at least one, but 5 seemed like a better goal.

Thing with pull-ups is you can either get stronger or lighter; I did both and can now do the 5 with good form. Yesterday at my first session with a running coach, he had me do pull-ups with a full hang and I barely did two.

I can do clapping pushups, but usually save those until women are near!

[masraum]

Alright, for you muscle dudes that can do 10 pull-ups. This guy says if you can do 10, then you should be able to do a muscle up. I'm not sure if the same counts for chin ups (underhand).

[fintstone]

Originally Posted by Nordwest

I'm 63 and just went out to the old pull-up bar in the shop. i managed 3 without hurting myself. You guys are inspiring.

I'll say! I rarely run into a man over 50 that can easily get out of his chair. Not bad for 63 and no practice!

[A930Rocket]

A couple of pull ups when young (6’-4” and 185) and zero pull ups now (6’-2 and ?) I have never had upper body strength to do them or dips.

[speeder]

I’m going to watch Masraum’s video later when I have time but I can see that he is at the bars and ropes at Santa Monica beach where I used to work out in the old days.

When you go there, you see the strongest men and women ever…it’s inspirational and humbling all at once.

[porsche930dude]

I just did 11. Heart is still pumping! Im 37 and 150lbs I havnt done that since the last thread on pullups lol probably almost 10 years ago

[Halm]

In the summer of 1972, due a number of odd circumstances, I was assigned to OCS and a platoon of Naval ROTC candidates wanting a USMC commission. I’ll never forget one moment as the candidates were doing their inventory physical fitness assessment. I was manning one of the pull-up bars, a candidate walks up to start and jumps to hang on the bar. After a few seconds, I said OKAY candidate, begin. He immediately replies “But sir, I have begun.” Never moved an inch.

[look 171]

Just tried. Only two and half way up the third time, I just can't. Have done them since college. I am 10-15 lbs over weight so there's more to drag up plus, I am weak.

[zakthor]

Just did 12 chinups off a balcony. Whew. Abs cramping. Got to rest. That was dumb.

Once when I was getting to 30 and climbing a lot I decided to focus on pullups. Got so I could do somewhere near 30 nice and slow. And the new bulk and strength led to some bad pains in my shoulders and back and core. My muscles could do more but it was making me nauseous so I stopped.

Never understood it but the pain was like a crimped posture. Maybe I needed yoga or more supermans or something.

Not that chinups would have made me a good climber, the good climbers live in another dimension and see things I just don't.

Edit: Oh! another stupidity. I was at a fancy gym when I was 20 and they had this air assisted chin up platform. I did as many as I could at 100%, then told it 95% of my weight. Did like 4 more. 90%, 85%, 80%... kept going until I wasn't able to do a pushup at 10% of my weight. Then I realized that I couldn't pull downward with 20# of force. Couldn't turn the car's steering wheel to get out of the parking lot. Did a lot of stretching but was still toasted for more than a week. Don't do that!

[Pazuzu]

Chinups (underhand) are arm strength, pullups (overhand) are back strength, and a VERY specific set of muscles that are almost never used by any other workout. Only rowing works those same back muscles. I knew people who could do 20, 30 perfect clean pullups but not 20 or 30 pushups, because they trained that one specific set of back muscles.

Pullups were a foundational part of our workouts over the past few years. I could do 2 unassisted, but I could do 10x5 sets with a band or a knee assist. We put 10 reps into a circuit and would often do 5ish rounds. Or, a reverse pyramid, start at 30 situps, 20 pushups and 10 pullups, then reduce each round by 3/2/1.

We also did the Murph one year. Mile run, then in any order or style 300 situps, 200 pushups, 100 pullups and a final mile run. Split it into circuits of 15/10/5 and do 20 rounds, and it wasn't that bad. What was bad was doing it on Memorial Day (traditional), outside at Memorial Park (Texas summer). Even in the evening it was full sun and 90+ degrees.

Mind you, I stopped working out with that group because of nagging injuries 2 years ago, and now I can't even look at a pullup bar, much less get on one!

[Bill Douglas]

Originally Posted by masraum

So...

So if you fail the last of the pullups, this is to help you up to complete the 12?

Thanks, but I think I could mange 12 pullups on my own, but again thanks.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally Posted by Pazuzu

Chinups (underhand) are arm strength, pullups (overhand) are back strength, and a VERY specific set of muscles that are almost never used by any other workout. Only rowing works those same back muscles. I knew people who could do 20, 30 perfect clean pullups but not 20 or 30 pushups, because they trained that one specific set of back muscles.

This is interesting and thanks for posting. I know why I could do 5 pull-ups now, I've been hauling around 13' steel girders, industrial rack ends and 5x16 sheets of aluminum. Have used my back a lot.

Either that or I still retain all the strength in my back from rowing 35 years ago.

Looking forward to chin-ups today. Those were always easier for me back in the '70s Presidential Fitness Tests.

[flatbutt]

0, but when I competed in the USMC fitness competition, I did 16 after doing 60 pushups. I was 16 yo.