AboutJoe Gunn Expertise Anything related to strength training, long distance running, speed development for all sports, and weight loss issues.
Experience Over 30 years as a personal trainer of athletes as well as average individuals.
Organizations Certified strength and Conditioning Specialist with the the National Strength and Conditiong Association. Certified Club coach with the United States Weightlifting Association. Certifed Level II long distance coach with the USA Track & Field.
Education/Credentials M.S with majors in exercise science and psychology
Question QUESTION: hello Joe,
i have been practicing pullups for a while and am not getting any closer to my goal. I cant start completely hanging and then pull up i can only do 6 half pull ups!how do i get strong enough so that if i was completely hanging from the pole i could do a full pullup?
thanx rock.
ANSWER: Hey Rock, pullups are hard any way you look at it. A little easier the lighter you are...makes senses huh? I would try doing lat pulls on a machine for a while as an assistance exercise. Start with 3 sets of a weight you can do 10-12 times with 2 min rest between sets. Add weight when you can complete all sets and start again. Do it 3 days a week. After 5-6 weeks add enough weight so you can only do 5-6 reps. Now do 4-5 sets of 5-6 reps with 3-4 minutes. Do this for 4-5 weeks. Also you might try negative pull ups. Get yourself up over the bar and lower yourself as slow as you can. 2-3 sets of 5-6 reps. Hope this helps..
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QUESTION: thank you very much for your extremely quick reply! i already do the negatives and at the bottom of the pull up my deltoids feel like they're popping off yet i dont think i am using them does that mean i reached the bottom of the pull up?
thanx again Rock
Answer Rock, I really don't understand the question. During the chinup you use the lats, upper traps, biceps brachii, brachialis, and some posterior deltoid. You use more posterior deltoid in behind the neck chins. Another thing you might do is do isolation exercises for each of the muscles I mentioned above....some of the parts and so on...
