Pull-ups / Pullups
- Standing under a pull-up bar, reach up and hold onto the bar with an overhand grip. Make sure your hands are about twice your shoulder width apart.
- Keep your arms straight and hang from the bar so that your arms are taking all of your weight.
- Keeping your body straight and not swinging your weight, pull your body up towards the bar by pulling your elbows down towards your torso at an angle.
- Continue lifting until your chest is nearly touching the bar. You should feel a “squeeze” at the base of your lats (about midway down your back and to the side) as they contract.
- Once your lats have completely contracted at the top of the movement, slowly lower your body to the starting position.
- Repeat.
By using a wide grip, your lats are doing most of the lift, rather than your biceps. It doesn't matter if you keep your legs straight or bent at the knees with your feet crossed. The important thing is that you do not use your legs to assist in lifting your body weight. As your strength increases, you can add weight by using a weight belt.
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Related exercises to discover
Standing Resistance Band Chest Pulls / Chest Openers / Back Flyes
Seated Lean Backs / Chair Crunches
One-Arm Kettlebell Rows
Pull-ups / pullups is a gym work out exercise that targets lower back and upper back & lower traps and also involves biceps and forearms and shoulders. Refer to the illustration diagram and instructions above for how to perform this exercise correctly. Standing resistance band chest pulls / chest openers / back flyes, seated lean backs / chair crunches and one-arm kettlebell rows are related exercise that target the same muscle groups as pull-ups / pullups. Visit our free illustrated exercise directory for more exercises to try in your workouts.
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Join thousands of Fit members reaching their fitness goals with simple easy-to-follow timed workouts at the gym and at home. Get started free today!
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