Topic: Sub for Pull-ups

[Bertetta]

Unfortunately, I can't do a pull up (I can almost do one). Are there any substitutions I can do in place of them for the W.O.D.? Maybe something that would just help me build strength for them.

[Nicolas Finn]

for a while I was resting me feet on something, and hanging from a bar (like on a swing-set). doing pull-ups are simpler like that because you lifting a lot less of your weight. they're good for getting the upper body strength better!

[Jereme Sanders]

Negatives...get your chin up over the bar...where you end a chin or pull up and then lower yourself as slow as you can back down, it should help

[whiteninja]

Can you do a chin-up? (Palms facing inward toward you.) I found those easier to do at first.

- assisted with a band. (I actually don't know what this looks like. Sorry.)
- jumping pull-ups.
- bend your knees while hanging from the bar, and have someone hold onto your feet. This will take the weight of your lower legs off of you.

[Nicolas Finn]

that's pretty much the same thing that I was talking about, except you don't need another person. If you rest your feet on something and then do a pull up, you won't have the weight of your lower body to account for. it's a good way to build up your arms without having to do certain specific machines/exercises.

[Bertetta]

All of those sound perfect. I'll do some jumping and chair ones tomorrow, as well as lowering myself slowly on the way down.

I'm going Bouldering and Rock Climbing this weekend. I figure that may help a bit too.

Band? Like a stretchy band? I don't see how those would help. Or maybe you mean music...

[Steven Low]

You can loop a band over the bar and put it around your feet. It will give you some assitance at the bottom.

Jumping pullups, negatives, other similar exercises like rows, etc. are your best bet.

[Zeus]

The way I got started were negatives but I would hold my chin above the bar as long as I could before lowering myself.

[bobbshields]

Band? Like a stretchy band? I don't see how those would help. Or maybe you mean music...

You ought to hire a band to play for you- inspiration to pull yourself up.  That would be awesome.

[Bertetta]

Haha, that would be pretty awesome.

The music from 2001: A Space Odyssey.

[bobbshields]

Haha, that would be pretty awesome.

The music from 2001: A Space Odyssey.

Most definately.  I'll probably end up humming that next time I do pull ups...

[Bertetta]

I can do two free-hanging ones in a row now, after about a week or so of lowering myself slowly, and putting part of my weight on something.

thanks guys!

[Canavi]

That is good progress. Keep up the work.

[Jim "Monkey" Parker]

Once you have gotten one or two pulups under your belt, try to increase the number of pulls you can do..
One thing that helps is to practise the kipping pullup.

Umm...I can't for the life of me come up with a decent explanation..
Oh good, APKs got a good tutorial here: http://www.americanparkour.com/content/view/17/223/