Topic: I have a problem with Muscle Ups

[Little King]

My problem is I can't do them.

Do y'all have any suggestions on how I can fix that. I know pull ups/chin ups are the best way but I can't do those either 
What exercises should I do to build up to doing pull ups?

[David M.]

Band assisted pullups are an option. You can use a partner to help. Your back strength is probably an issue. You can do lat pulls and rows to work on that.

[~FDM~]

Negatives, jumping (minimal just so you can make it up using mostly your strength, make the bar higher as you progress if possible), and assisted if possible. You need to build a full ROM dip as well, the transfer from pull-up to dip will be worked after both a powerful pull-up and full rom dip are formed. For dips if you can't do them, do jumping, if you can do them decently, work the rom until you can go no lower. Bench dips are also effective in learning a dip decently well, go from feet on floor then elevate, once elevated is easy, you should be able to get a dip on the p-bars, not a full rom of course, but a start. Pull-ups need to be worked as a full rom as well, need to be able to pull right up to your lower chest. So work on those things and you'll have a good pull-up in no time. Muscle-ups take work though, it won't come easy, work at it and don't give up!

[Steven Low]

Use the search button.... many many many many threads on MUs...

[Little King]

Band assisted pullups are an option. You can use a partner to help. Your back strength is probably an issue. You can do lat pulls and rows to work on that.

Right now I can do about 150lbs in 3 sets of 8 on rows, I think I do around 100lbs on lat pulls. I haven't done lat pulls in a couple weeks though. I weigh 216lbs so how much should I improve for that not to be an issue?

[~FDM~]

Honestly the best way to be a good at bodyweight exercises is DO THEM. Don't substitute into machines such as lat pull-downs. If you can't do real pull-ups do negatives. The more you weigh as well will affect your pull-up, especially if you haven't trained for bodyweight exercises very much.

[Little King]

Honestly the best way to be a good at bodyweight exercises is DO THEM. Don't substitute into machines such as lat pull-downs. If you can't do real pull-ups do negatives. The more you weigh as well will affect your pull-up, especially if you haven't trained for bodyweight exercises very much.

Thanks. I know not to use machines (my dad is really big on working out and taught me a lot, but he can't lift one arm above his shoulder so I never got instruction there) but thanks for the advice on negatives.

[~FDM~]

Yea no problem, you can use them for many things from dips to headstand/handstand push-ups, don't cut them out, very beneficial and important to your routine.

[David M.]

There is absolutely nothing wrong with using machines.

[~FDM~]

For people who aren't looking to gain the most out of their efforts in their routines, then you're correct. For anyone who wants their effort to be useful, and given the most out of what they put into their routines, then you're dead wrong.

[David M.]

Not at all. Machines can effectively be utilized for isolation or for an injured person. If you have a guy with a screwed up rotator cuff are you going to have him do a barbell or dumbbell bench? No, you're going to have him bench on a machine where he doesn't need to worry about stabilization so his rotator cuff won't get more f#cked up.

[~FDM~]

Don't even bother with this man, machines will not help heal an injured rotator cuff, either re-hab exercises need to be done, or if it's bad enough then REST. If there are ways to work around your shoulder injury, machines are not in that selection. Don't bring that crap here.

[Shay]

Don't even bother with this man, machines will not help heal an injured rotator cuff, either re-hab exercises need to be done, or if it's bad enough then REST. If there are ways to work around your shoulder injury, machines are not in that selection. Don't bring that crap here.

Aren't you the guy who wouldn't listen to anyone on the Gen Fit board when we told you that we needed goals for us to help you?

[~FDM~]

I didn't have goals so I didn't care to hear it. Not to mention even when I did, I got no answers haha, useful eh? Either way, I've been researching and talking to people who actually know what they're talking about, and am now helping people figure out their problems with everything I've learned in the past year or two. My knowledge goes only towards a few supplements, routines, and the odd injury. I don't talk about things I have no ideas about, like David seems to be doing at the moment.

[Shay]

Just saying mate, Chris, Steven and FastGuppy know exactly what they're talking about, and disrespect to others won't get you anywhere.  Even if you think that David has no clue what he's talking about, being a tool about it won't help.  Try handling the situation maturely and have a little respect towards your fellow traceurs instead of insulting people wherever you go.

[David M.]

I absolutely know what I'm talking about. Machines can be very useful in routines. I don't use only machines, I also do free weight exercises. However, machines can still be utilized effectively for progress. Who are these "people that know what they are talking about?"  I have read quite a few articles and studies as well as looking at people's real world experience along with my own. Where is any evidence of machines not working?

I never said that using machines would help heal an injured rotator cuff. If you use a machine you can work around the problem and still train.

[~FDM~]

If you saw the responses I've gotten on this website, you'd feel insulted the way I did. There was a few decent people that noticed how much bull-shit was tossed at me, and actually helped me, which is why I'm still on this site. Other than that, I only got smartass remarks. I'm respectful to the people that are respectful back, maturity isn't telling someone he's wrong when you're clueless, if you don't know, don't talk and give bad advice, it doesn't help anyone. As you notice, he's still suggesting machines, if you want TOP fitness, machines WILL NOT GET YOU THERE. There are ALWAYS substitutions for machines, that will help in more than one way.

[David M.]

What if you have a guy with a big gut? Machine bench will get him more ROM than a barbell bench.

Dorian Yates uses machines. Dave Tate uses machines. Jim Wendler uses machines. Jay Cutler uses machines. Pretty much any top athlete you see will use machines.

[~FDM~]

Okay I don't know why I'm even responding to this but why not right? First of all, a bodybuilder isn't considered a TOP athlete. Anyone that uses steroids in general aren't considered top athletes. Gymnasts are considered top athletes, they reach INCREDIBLE feats in strength, that I guarantee these "athletes" of yours could not reach. If you want to be a bodybuilder, no kidding, lift weights, use machines, it's the only way you're going to get there. If you hadn't noticed, this is NOT a bodybuilder forum, the majority of people here have no interest what so ever in looking like the people you have just mentioned. Now do yourself a favor, and quit making these statements, because they go nowhere.

[Chris Salvato]