{"id":1642832,"date":"2022-09-16T13:07:27","date_gmt":"2022-09-16T17:07:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1642832"},"modified":"2022-09-16T13:08:43","modified_gmt":"2022-09-16T17:08:43","slug":"the-truth-about-pull-ups","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/the-truth-about-pull-ups\/","title":{"rendered":"The Truth About Pull-Ups"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">8<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fthe-truth-about-pull-ups%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1642832&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><div class=\"post\" itemprop=\"articleBody\">\n<div class=\"lightbox-wrapper\"><a class=\"lightbox\" href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/9a78d422d91292df4040ef2066e0785248312d0d.jpeg\" data-download-href=\"\/uploads\/short-url\/m2wp5tYkAsi6shzr5NmgAW3YHKJ.jpeg?dl=1\" title=\"Pull-Ups\"><\/a><\/div>\n<h3>\nThe Pull-Up is Overrated. Get Stronger Anyway<\/h3>\n<blockquote>\n<p>Pull-ups actually aren\u2019t a great measure of strength. But if you want to get better at them anyway, try these proven strategies.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<h3>\nStrong People Can Still Suck At Pull-Ups<\/h3>\n<p>Many believe that if you\u2019re strong, you should be able to do a ton of pull-ups with added weight. But that\u2019s not quite accurate. In a recent video, pro strongman Brian Shaw struggles to get four bodyweight pull-ups, and he only gets his chin over the bar in the first two.<\/p>\n<p>This should tell you that pull-up performance isn\u2019t a realistic measure of strength for everyone because it involves other variables, like body weight and body type. If you think you \u201cought\u201d to be awesome at pull-ups, then you\u2019ve got a false perception of your progress and current strength level.<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s why, plus how to get stronger on pull-ups anyway if that\u2019s your goal.<\/p>\n<details>\n<summary>\nIs Doing More Pull-Ups Even a Good Goal?<\/summary>\n<h3>\nIs Doing More Pull-Ups Even a Good Goal?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"lightbox-wrapper\"><a class=\"lightbox\" href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/691ab29b8672516d4e473475868a48faf24d1d98.jpeg\" data-download-href=\"\/uploads\/short-url\/eZNkHBD5deb098SRMv7wNHh4kyY.jpeg?dl=1\" title=\"Pull-Up Workout\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/691ab29b8672516d4e473475868a48faf24d1d98_2_689x388.jpeg\" alt=\"Pull-Up Workout\" data-base62-sha1=\"eZNkHBD5deb098SRMv7wNHh4kyY\" width=\"689\" height=\"388\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/691ab29b8672516d4e473475868a48faf24d1d98_2_689x388.jpeg, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/691ab29b8672516d4e473475868a48faf24d1d98_2_1033x582.jpeg 1.5x, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/691ab29b8672516d4e473475868a48faf24d1d98.jpeg 2x\" data-small-upload=\"https:\/\/aws1.discourse-cdn.com\/tnation\/optimized\/4X\/6\/9\/1\/691ab29b8672516d4e473475868a48faf24d1d98_2_10x10.png\" \/><\/a><\/div>\n<p>For some, sure. But one of my male clients, who\u2019s making tremendous progress in all areas of strength and fitness, still can\u2019t do a pull-up. And it\u2019s not just him. This is something I\u2019ve heard from figure girls, too. These are often people I train who, despite their amazing gains in just about every other metric of fitness, are frustrated with their pull-up numbers.<\/p>\n<p>Sure, improving pull-up performance is a respectable goal, but it\u2019s not a realistic one for many. And if you\u2019re in the same boat, fixating on this single exercise will set you up for failure.<\/p>\n<p>First, having long arms is less conducive to being good at pull-ups. You not only have to cover more distance (than someone with shorter arms) to get your chin above the bar, but you\u2019ve also got less of a mechanical advantage over your bodyweight.<\/p>\n<p>Second, research shows that the ability to perform <a href=\"https:\/\/www.t-nation.com\/training\/the-4-levels-of-pull-up-power\/\">pull-ups<\/a> is heavily influenced by body composition (1,2) and may not be a good indicator of absolute vertical pulling strength (3). This explains why people with a thicker and stronger lower body often struggle with pull-ups.<\/p>\n<p>Just look at some heavyweight powerlifters who have impressive lifting numbers but couldn\u2019t do a chin-up if they got free PEDs for life. Yet you can find rock climbers who can bang out real one-arm pull-ups for reps because they\u2019re lean and don\u2019t have thick, muscular lower bodies. They\u2019re all upper body and core.<\/p>\n<p>Additionally, a larger body mass \u2013 even if it\u2019s mostly lean body mass \u2013 may invoke a certain penalty when performing pull-ups (2), but could aid in performing lat pulldowns.<\/p>\n<p>You see, when you gain muscle, you\u2019re gaining overall body weight (lean mass). So, getting bigger and stronger legs, glutes, chest, arms, etc. works against your pull-up ability. This explains why some people make great gains in muscle and strength on just about every exercise but struggle with pull-ups.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m not saying pull-ups don\u2019t demonstrate strength. They obviously do. Pull-ups are a \u201crelative strength\u201d exercise \u2013 your performance in relation to body weight.<\/p>\n<p>So, if your current max level of strength is 100 pounds and you weigh 150 pounds, you\u2019ve got to gain 50 pounds of strength to do a single pull-up. To put that into perspective, most elite lifters are stoked when they\u2019re able to add 10-pounds to a lift. And that may take a year to achieve.<\/p>\n<p>This highlights why it\u2019s unrealistic to use pull-ups to gauge progress. It often requires a major improvement in strength that even elite lifters can\u2019t get after years of training hard and taking Mexican supplements.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<details>\n<summary>\nWhat About Band-Assisted Pull-Ups?<\/summary>\n<h3>\nWhat About Band-Assisted Pull-Ups?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"lightbox-wrapper\"><a class=\"lightbox\" href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/497d2745dd8e957900c7720966686625c5bc66e5.jpeg\" data-download-href=\"\/uploads\/short-url\/au6ZHSG2lPOjPUr8RrgLpBhX1eB.jpeg?dl=1\" title=\"Banded Pull-Ups\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/497d2745dd8e957900c7720966686625c5bc66e5_2_689x388.jpeg\" alt=\"Banded Pull-Ups\" data-base62-sha1=\"au6ZHSG2lPOjPUr8RrgLpBhX1eB\" width=\"689\" height=\"388\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/497d2745dd8e957900c7720966686625c5bc66e5_2_689x388.jpeg, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/497d2745dd8e957900c7720966686625c5bc66e5_2_1033x582.jpeg 1.5x, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/497d2745dd8e957900c7720966686625c5bc66e5.jpeg 2x\" data-small-upload=\"https:\/\/aws1.discourse-cdn.com\/tnation\/optimized\/4X\/4\/9\/7\/497d2745dd8e957900c7720966686625c5bc66e5_2_10x10.png\" \/><\/a><\/div>\n<p>You can\u2019t micro-progress pull-ups or chin-ups like you can with most other exercises. You can\u2019t gradually add the small amounts of load needed to create enough overload to stimulate strength adaptations without being too heavy for you to move through a full, controlled range of motion.<\/p>\n<p>Band assistance is one way to train pull-ups, but it\u2019s still difficult to make small enough progressions for consistent strength gains. Why? Two reasons: First, a band will help you a ton at the bottom when it\u2019s stretched, but it\u2019ll help you less and less as you pull yourself up.<\/p>\n<p>Second, one band may offer too much help, but switching to the next closest level won\u2019t give you enough of a boost. There\u2019s too big a gap to make small loading increments.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<h3>\nDo Lat Pulldowns Improve Pull-Up Strength?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"onebox lazyYT lazyYT-container\" data-youtube-id=\"Go0jUGgbFIA\" data-youtube-title=\"Kneeling Pulldown\" data-parameters=\"feature=oembed&amp;wmode=opaque\">\n  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Go0jUGgbFIA\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\n    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"ytp-thumbnail-image\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/97ae04f23cfade53301d7612df1e9366291eb9ea.jpeg\" title=\"Kneeling Pulldown\" width=\"480\" height=\"360\" alt=\"image\" \/><br \/>\n  <\/a>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"onebox lazyYT lazyYT-container\" data-youtube-id=\"gzuyxorS09c\" data-youtube-title=\"Assisted Pull Up Machine\" data-parameters=\"feature=oembed&amp;wmode=opaque\">\n  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=gzuyxorS09c\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\n    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"ytp-thumbnail-image\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/766faf72f0e9873487fbc0fbbb930d215268bb57.jpeg\" title=\"Assisted Pull Up Machine\" width=\"480\" height=\"360\" alt=\"image\" \/><br \/>\n  <\/a>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"onebox lazyYT lazyYT-container\" data-youtube-id=\"X28MsGQ5FxE\" data-youtube-title=\"One Arm Kneeling Pulldown\" data-parameters=\"feature=oembed&amp;wmode=opaque\">\n  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=X28MsGQ5FxE\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\n    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"ytp-thumbnail-image\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/7b1b04482bb628a34112cb102fc95ff5eb523b92.jpeg\" title=\"One Arm Kneeling Pulldown\" width=\"480\" height=\"360\" alt=\"image\" \/><br \/>\n  <\/a>\n<\/div>\n<details>\n<summary>\nDetails<\/summary>\n<p>Yes! The lat pulldown improves pull-up performance for those working on their first pull-up or who can\u2019t get past one or two reps.<\/p>\n<p>In several studies, pulldown repetitions appear to have the capability of predicting 1RM pull-up strength with reasonable accuracy in college men, male athletes, and adult women. (4-8)<\/p>\n<p>Interestingly, another study found that based on muscle activation patterns, the kneeling lat pulldown is the most similar to the pull-up for near maximal efforts (9).<\/p>\n<p>This also means the Gravitron (assisted pull-up) machine found at many gyms is also likely to elicit similar muscle firing patterns because it\u2019s also performed from a kneeling position.<\/p>\n<p>The researchers noted: \u201cWhen performing the kneeling lat pulldown, participants were pulling a load that was equal to 80% of their body weight. As a result, they were lifted off the ground for a portion of the pulling (concentric) phase of the movement, similar to the suspension aspect of the pull-up.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Also, \u201cThe rectus abdominus (abs) should be emphasized in training programs, as it was the most active muscle group assessed for both the pull-up and kneeling lat-pulldown for all participants.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re dead-set on mastering the pull-up, then do lat pulldowns and kneeling lat pulldowns two to three times per week. Do them early in your workout when you have the most mental and physical energy.<\/p>\n<p>Each workout, alternate between underhand grip, neutral grip, and the traditional overhand grip to ensure you\u2019re not only stronger from all angles but also not overusing one specific angle that could lead to an overuse issue.<\/p>\n<p>Do 4-6 sets of 1-5 reps. Rest 3-5 minutes between sets.<\/p>\n<p>You can apply these same programming guidelines to the Gravitron machine. Alternate between using the Gravitron and using the lat pulldown while still mixing up grips on each.<\/p>\n<p>For kneeling lat pulldowns, a great way to avoid being lifted off the ground while still going heavy enough to maximize strength gains is to do them one arm at a time.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<h3>\nTwo More Ways To Boost Pull-Up Strength<\/h3>\n<div class=\"onebox lazyYT lazyYT-container\" data-youtube-id=\"hfUuzdE5AYo\" data-youtube-title=\"Negative Pull Ups\" data-parameters=\"feature=oembed&amp;wmode=opaque\">\n  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=hfUuzdE5AYo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\n    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"ytp-thumbnail-image\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/8e64d6b3432f7e0719dc0b89b34b25776134fb2f.jpeg\" title=\"Negative Pull Ups\" width=\"480\" height=\"360\" alt=\"image\" \/><br \/>\n  <\/a>\n<\/div>\n<details>\n<summary>\nDetails<\/summary>\n<p>There\u2019s no need to crap on anyone who has a goal of doing their first pull-up or wants to do more. But set yourself up for success by having realistic goals, then try one of these proven strategies:<\/p>\n<h4>\nSTRATEGY 1 \u2013 LOSE SOME FAT<\/h4>\n<p>The more unnecessary weight (fat) you\u2019re carrying, the weaker you\u2019ll feel and the less work you\u2019ll be able to complete.<\/p>\n<p>Pull-up performance isn\u2019t a great tool to gauge your progress (yet) because there\u2019s too much of a difference between your current bodyweight and strength levels.<\/p>\n<p>So, make <a href=\"https:\/\/www.t-nation.com\/lean-built-eating\/smoothie-diet-weight-loss-healthy-protein\/\">fat loss<\/a> (while minimizing muscle loss) your main goal. Once you achieve it, your pull-up performance will improve automatically, and taking your pull-up game to the next level will be more realistic.<\/p>\n<h4>\nSTRATEGY 2 \u2013 FOCUS ON THE NEGATIVE<\/h4>\n<p>The reason why it\u2019s so hard to do your first pull-up or to go from two reps to three, is because you\u2019ve got to be able to pull your entire bodyweight. To make the breakthrough you\u2019re after, focus on gradual and consistent progress on lat pulldowns by following the programming guidelines above.<\/p>\n<p>In addition, do some eccentric overload pull-ups and chin-ups before you do your lat pulldown sets.<\/p>\n<p>Let\u2019s say you can barely do three pull-ups.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Find your 1RM pull-up weight by gradually adding small weight plates to your dip belt.<\/li>\n<li>Once you\u2019ve found your 1RM, add 5%. Researchers found that a 1RM can be increased by applying a supramaximal load (105 percent of 1RM) only on the eccentric\/negative phase of the lift. This increase in eccentric loading improved 1RM concentric performance by 5-15 pounds. (10)<\/li>\n<li>With this extra load on a dip belt, do eccentric-only sets. Step up on a bench or box that allows you to start with your chin above the bar. Now do only the lowering portion of the pull-up. Go slow. Take 6 to 8 seconds from top to bottom.<\/li>\n<li>Once you\u2019ve lowered yourself all the way down, remove your hands from the bar and step back up to the top of the bench or box.<\/li>\n<li>Do 2-3 reps for 3-4 sets. Rest 3 minutes between sets.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/details>\n<details>\n<summary>\nReferences<\/summary>\n<h3>\nReferences<\/h3>\n<ol>\n<li>Johnson D et al. <strong>Relationship of one repetition maximum lat-pull and pull-up performances to relative muscular endurance and body composition.<\/strong> J Strength Cond Res. 2009 May;23(3):1022-8. <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/19387371\/\">PubMed<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Vanderburgh PM et al. <strong>The effect of experimental alterations in excess mass on pull-up performance in fit young men.<\/strong> J Strength Cond Res. 1997 Nov;11(4):230-233.<\/li>\n<li>Ricci B et al. <strong>Comparison of male and female functional capacity in pull-ups.<\/strong> J Sports Med Phys Fitness. 1988 Jun;28(2):168-75. <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/3184917\/\">PubMed<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Ball TE. <strong>The predictability of muscular strength and endurance from calisthenics.<\/strong> Res Q Exerc Sport 1993;64:A-39.<\/li>\n<li>Chandler T et al. <strong>Relationship of lat-pull repetitions and pull-ups to 1-RM lat-pull strength in male athletes.<\/strong> J Human Mov Studies 2001;41(1):25-37.<\/li>\n<li>Ball TE et al. <strong>The relationship of relative muscular endurance to maximal lifting capacity in college men and women.<\/strong> J Strength Cond Res 1995;9:277.<\/li>\n<li>Kuramoto A et al. <strong>Predicting muscular strength in women: A preliminary study.<\/strong> Res Q Exerc Sport. 1995 Jun;66(2):168-72. <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/7644837\/\">PubMed<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Halet KA et al. <strong>Relationship of 1 repetition maximum lat-pull to pull-up and lat-pull repetitions in elite collegiate women swimmers.<\/strong> J Strength Cond Res. 2009 Aug;23(5):1496-502. <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/19620915\/\">PubMed<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Hewit JK et al. <strong>A Comparison of Muscle Activation during the Pull-up and Three Alternative Pulling Exercises.<\/strong> Journal of Physical Fitness, Medicine &#038; Treatment in Sports. 2018 Nov;5(4).<\/li>\n<li>Doan BK et al. <strong>Effects of increased eccentric loading on bench press 1RM.<\/strong> J Strength Cond Res. 2002 Feb;16(1):9-13. <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/11834100\/\">PubMed<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/details><\/div>\n<div class=\"post\" itemprop=\"articleBody\">\n<p>Good article. A few years ago I once read Jim Wendler mention there are 3 reasons people don\u2019t do pull ups. 1. Your fat 2. Your weak 3. Your injured. I was all 3 and like most people I never trained them because I sucked at them. No exercise has done more for my shoulder pain, pressing strength, posture  or filling out a T-shirt than the pull\/chin up.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"post\" itemprop=\"articleBody\">\n<p>Pull-ups and Chin-ups have always been funny for me. I like doing them but have never been good at the \u201cbig numbers\u201d in terms of reps. I have never been able to get over 15 (strict reps).<br \/>Even when doing them with 35lbs or even 50 lbs of added weight ( for lower rep work), I could never get over the 15 rep mark with only BW.<br \/>Meh.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"post\" itemprop=\"articleBody\">\n<p>Is it fair to say that everything is relative then? My bench press lags, but is it just because my body comp is longer\/leaner than ideal? Am I still relatively \u201cstrong\u201d if I cant bench much more than bw but can easily rep out 25 good form pullups?<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"post\" itemprop=\"articleBody\">\n<p>Sensing a little bias in the article, but if pullup strength is relative &#8211; and I do not disagree &#8211; so is every other lift.  Ecto-lifters do not squat well, endo-lifters bench great, etc.  Ed Coan used to do wide grip pullups for reps with 75 pounds hanging from his waist.  As 200-pounder, I did 20 pullups twice a year for 30 years as a Marine and 7 years later dropped to only 15 at 60 years old.  Maybe Brian Shaw just doesn\u2019t work HARD at pullups.  If he did, how would he not get better.  This theory is how he got good at strongman.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"post\" itemprop=\"articleBody\">\n<p>Brian Shaw weight is 440 lbs. I am not sure if he is a good example. Also I am pretty sure, that it was never his goal to do a lot of pull-ups. Everybody can improve pull-ups, but obviously not to the same degree. Anyway being able to do them can be life saving in some situations, so I think it is still very beneficial exercise.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"post\" itemprop=\"articleBody\">\n<p>Weighted pullups are certainly a decent measure of strength. If 400lbs+ brian shaw can even do one pullup he\u2019s VERY strong.<\/p>\n<p>Pullups are a decent measure of relative strength. Guys who can do a lot of pullups are generally quite strong relative to their BW.<\/p>\n<p>The heavier you are, the harder pullups are so the barrier for someone to say \u201cwow that guy is strong\u201d is lower<\/p>\n<p>Say I weigh 160lbs and can do 50 pullups consecutively and 5 with 135lbs attached to my waist, I\u2019m strong. This isn\u2019t me, though when I weighed 170 I was capable of something like this.<\/p>\n<p>But someone who weighs over 400lbs and can do 4 pullups is arguably \u2018stronger\u2019.<\/p>\n<p>There are also different facets of strength. Some movements require extensive refining of fine motor skills, agility and explosive power. A muscle up is a good example<\/p>\n<p>Heavy guys like Brian Shaw are very strong, but it\u2019s a different type of strength relative to what a good boxer might have.<\/p>\n<p>The boxer is agile, explosive and powerful. He knows how to move his body in a manner that can generate maximum torque. The boxer can likely perform endless pullups, weighted pullups, weighted dips, weighted situps\u2026 but can\u2019t bench 225lbs<\/p>\n<p>Doesn\u2019t mean he isn\u2019t strong. We need to stop thinking of strong as only meaning \u201csquat, bench and deadlift\u201d<\/p>\n<p>If a guy can easily knock out a gym bro who is 30lbs+ heavier than he is with a few quick hits in rapid succession how could we not say \u201cwow, that\u2019s a powerful guy!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>With a judoka\u2026 if a judoka can throw someone onto concrete who weighs 30lbs+ more than they do. How can we not say that guy is strong?<\/p>\n<p>If a greco roman wrestler can lift up and throw or take down a heavier guy with relative ease, ONLY using his upper body in the process<\/p>\n<p>How can we not consider this guy strong? There\u2019s a video on youtube of a 135lb greco roman wrestler throwing someone who weighs almost 2x what he weighs.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"post\" itemprop=\"articleBody\">\n<div class=\"onebox lazyYT lazyYT-container\" data-youtube-id=\"xRYuVukE7b0\" data-youtube-title=\"BRIAN SHAW VS THOR ON PULL UPS ????\" data-parameters=\"feature=oembed&amp;wmode=opaque\">\n  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=xRYuVukE7b0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow ugc\"><br \/>\n    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"ytp-thumbnail-image\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/b275a75613ce593bfa0cb0f32fa5297753717947.jpeg\" title=\"BRIAN SHAW VS THOR ON PULL UPS ????\" width=\"480\" height=\"360\" alt=\"image\" \/><br \/>\n  <\/a>\n<\/div>\n<p>Props to Brian\u2026he got approx. one pull up in there.  Thor\u20260.<\/p>\n<p>Being tall and heavy aint fun for pull ups.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"post\" itemprop=\"articleBody\">\n<p>I think the blanket statement \u2018pull ups are overrated\u2019, in general, is a pretty silly statement.  I agree with much of what was said after that in terms of using it as a way to measure absolute strength.  Of course it\u2019s not good for that, no bodyweight exercise would be.  I also don\u2019t see any real value in chasing an arbitrary number with pull ups as a measure of success.  BUT, pull ups are an excellent TOOL for building a big, strong back.  I\u2019ve said this in many places, pull ups have been an absolute staple for back development for me for my entire lifting career.  I\u2019ve never relied on rows to build my back.  Before I began my strongman career and was only invested in powerlifting, pull ups and deadlifts were really all I did for back.  With strongman, I added in a variety of heavy carries.  But make no mistake, I owe 90% of my back development to pull ups, and my back is quite strong.  There is absolutely nothing \u2018overrated\u2019 about the exercise for building strength and size, as long as you can actually do them.  Is it the ONLY thing that works? Of course not.  There are substitutions and options for any lift.  I personally feel the bench press is waaaaaay more overrated for overall strength development. But it\u2019s a better measure of absolute strength.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"post\" itemprop=\"articleBody\">\n<p>I saw Wesley Clayborn knocking out strict pull ups on his Instagram recently.  He\u2019s not as big as shaw or hafthor, but at just shy of 400 lbs, he\u2019s still a very large human.  Very impressive.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"post\" itemprop=\"articleBody\">\n<p>Weighted chins for biceps too!<\/p>\n<p>But yes, I felt exactly the same way as you reading it.<\/p>\n<p>I also hate the term \u201cfunctional strength\u201d for the most part, but I feel like being able to pull your bodyweight up is pretty useful.  I don\u2019t think anybody who\u2019s not an enormous competitive strongman should be happy with their level of fitness if they can\u2019t do one pullup.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"post\" itemprop=\"articleBody\">\n<p>Feel like this post is fitting to the discussion:<\/p>\n<aside class=\"quote quote-modified\" data-post=\"3\" data-topic=\"279277\">\n<blockquote><p>\n    Some of my favorite footage on this <\/p>\n<p>  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=8874JYBIODQ\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow ugc\"><br \/>\n    [30 rep chins]\n  <\/a><\/p>\n<p>I remember the drama that video started when it was originally posted here.<br \/>\nSome other classics <\/p>\n<p>  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=HPAtisk9hFA\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow ugc\"><br \/>\n    [Marunde 404&#215;20 Squat]\n  <\/a><\/p>\n<p>  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=boLl8rGhJvE\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow ugc\"><br \/>\n    [55 pullups]\n  <\/a><\/p>\n<p>  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=eChs8UsxrQU\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow ugc\"><br \/>\n    [MASSIVE BACK!]\n  <\/a><\/p>\n<p>  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=bb5JrdSlc2E\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow ugc\"><br \/>\n    [Derek Poundstone 340lb Pull Up | Maxiraw Training Day]\n  <\/a>\n  <\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/aside><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Pull-Up is Overrated. Get Stronger Anyway Pull-ups actually aren\u2019t a great measure of strength. But if you want to get better at them anyway, try<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1642834,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1642832","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1642832","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1642832"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1642832\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1642834"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1642832"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1642832"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1642832"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}