Fastest way to improve Pullup and Dip?

Erik Davis · 07-29-2005, 10:56 PM

As it is right now, my number one goal is to be able to do both of these exercises unassisted. Currently, I can do neither. I have access to a gravitron and currently can pull -40lb for a single and dip -20lb for a single. I weigh 205 and am 15-17% bodyfat, so there is certainly some room for improvement in body composition, though even getting single digits (which I am trying to work on as well) wouldnt be enough weight decrement to be able to do a pull up. So far my only ideas are "umm, do pull ups and dips", but I would appreciate it if anyone else had any specific details in mind. At first I thought a powerlifting style routine would be a good idea to get the strength up (but my variant of the big 3 is pull up, dip, and squat) but I haven't done anything with this. A few days ago I did a 21-15-9 alternating pull ups and dips with -70 lbs on the gravitron, finished in 17 minutes and it turned out to be more like "12 sets of 3-5" for pull ups.

Logistically I have trouble doing the WOD as planned, and in a month it is going to get alot tougher as I will be back at school, and the gym there is absolutely packed so I wont have the luxury of switching stations for WOD's very often. So really I am hoping to get my strength up so that I can do kipping pull ups on a large enough scale to at least get some crossfit going on.

Kalen Meine · 07-30-2005, 12:38 AM

First off- search the boards. Ths one crops up pretty often. But to reitterate, you basically need to do more pullup-ish activities. Is there a bar handy? Do hangs/supports and lockoffs (top of PU/bottom of dip for time- anything with strict rest periods is good- Tabatas may not be best for this type of work, but it's popular. Jumping pullups and foot-aided dips. And the assisted WODs. It'll happen. Patience.

Paul Symes · 07-30-2005, 05:11 AM

You could try doing negatives - push yourself up with your legs and then just do the negative part of the pull up in a controlled way. You could try the same with dips.

I was going to suggest pulldowns untill you can do say 110% of your body weight but assisted or negatives only would probably be better

07-30-2005, 07:24 AM

Erik,

As someone who went from 0 to 5 pull-ups in the last 6 weeks. All I will say is do pull-ups and dips (assisted, negatives, whatever).

I saw a big improvement when I just started doing them. For pull-ups that meant kipping, swinging, jumping, negatives, just getting my a$$ up there.

Ryan Abbott · 07-30-2005, 10:43 AM

You might want to check out this link too.

http://www.tacticalathlete.com/conqueringarticle.htm

Michael Hill · 07-30-2005, 05:26 PM

Two things to consider here:

1. Do NOT go to failure on the gravitron, or any pull-up practice like jumping pull-ups. Remember that practice doesn't make perfect; it makes permanent.

2. Try a static hold in the top position. You need to hold it as high as possible, at the sternum is preferable. I found this to be more effective than negatives when I first struggled with pull-ups. Also, this can be done as added practice after the WOD because static exercises can be done after you are fatigued and have stressed the nervous system without the any deleterious effects on traing the nervous system in that movement. Oh, and hold on/ squeeze the bar as hard as you can and don't be afraid of variations like chin-ups and varying your grip.

James R. Climer · 07-30-2005, 09:25 PM

May I suggest losing body fat if possible?

08-02-2005, 03:43 PM

Michael,

Why do you advise against training to failure on the Gravitron?

On the subject of the Gravitron and newbies.

Unassisted I could do one whole pull-up. With a workout like Angie or Jackie where you are asked to do volumes greater than 1...

I have been setting the Gravitron to a weight where I can do some reasonable subset to failure. Resting and going again.

Is there a better way to do a pull-up like activity in lieu of Gravitron pull-ups to failure?

Larry Lindenman · 08-04-2005, 08:13 AM

Do 50 pull ups a day. Do sets in warm ups and crank out 1 or 2 whenever you can. Practice makes perfect, really. Same with dips. Even if yo uhave to pull off 50 singles. Use a jump if you have to. Get off assistance as soon as you can.

Allen Yeh · 08-04-2005, 08:49 AM

This program was used by Major Charles Lewis Armstrong, USMC to prepare himself to attempt to set a world record in number of pull-ups completed in a single exercise session.

http://www.4mcd.usmc.mil/AOP/OSOHyat...%20Program.htm

07-30-2005, 07:24 AM	#4
Scott Duff **** Profile:** Posts: n/a	Erik, As someone who went from 0 to 5 pull-ups in the last 6 weeks. All I will say is do pull-ups and dips (assisted, negatives, whatever). I saw a big improvement when I just started doing them. For pull-ups that meant kipping, swinging, jumping, negatives, just getting my a$$ up there.
Scott Duff **** Profile:** Posts: n/a

08-02-2005, 03:43 PM	#8
Tanner Boyle **** Profile:** Posts: n/a	Michael, Why do you advise against training to failure on the Gravitron? On the subject of the Gravitron and newbies. Unassisted I could do one whole pull-up. With a workout like Angie or Jackie where you are asked to do volumes greater than 1... I have been setting the Gravitron to a weight where I can do some reasonable subset to failure. Resting and going again. Is there a better way to do a pull-up like activity in lieu of Gravitron pull-ups to failure?
Tanner Boyle **** Profile:** Posts: n/a

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Fastest/best jump rope??	Janine Daigle	Equipment	14	12-14-2006 06:58 PM
My fastest sprint ever	Laura Rucker	Testimonials	2	03-24-2006 08:51 AM
What's the fastest growing high school sport?	Matt Gagliardi	Community	12	01-10-2006 03:26 PM
Improve Tabata Pullup Score	Tom Schneitter	Fitness	3	10-26-2004 03:14 PM
Making the worlds fastest jumprope also heavy ropes	Aptdwler	Equipment	0	05-01-2004 01:10 PM

07-29-2005, 10:56 PM	#1
Erik Davis Member Profile: Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Dallas TX Posts: 35	As it is right now, my number one goal is to be able to do both of these exercises unassisted. Currently, I can do neither. I have access to a gravitron and currently can pull -40lb for a single and dip -20lb for a single. I weigh 205 and am 15-17% bodyfat, so there is certainly some room for improvement in body composition, though even getting single digits (which I am trying to work on as well) wouldnt be enough weight decrement to be able to do a pull up. So far my only ideas are "umm, do pull ups and dips", but I would appreciate it if anyone else had any specific details in mind. At first I thought a powerlifting style routine would be a good idea to get the strength up (but my variant of the big 3 is pull up, dip, and squat) but I haven't done anything with this. A few days ago I did a 21-15-9 alternating pull ups and dips with -70 lbs on the gravitron, finished in 17 minutes and it turned out to be more like "12 sets of 3-5" for pull ups. Logistically I have trouble doing the WOD as planned, and in a month it is going to get alot tougher as I will be back at school, and the gym there is absolutely packed so I wont have the luxury of switching stations for WOD's very often. So really I am hoping to get my strength up so that I can do kipping pull ups on a large enough scale to at least get some crossfit going on.

07-30-2005, 12:38 AM	#2
Kalen Meine Member Profile: Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Denver CO Posts: 329	First off- search the boards. Ths one crops up pretty often. But to reitterate, you basically need to do more pullup-ish activities. Is there a bar handy? Do hangs/supports and lockoffs (top of PU/bottom of dip for time- anything with strict rest periods is good- Tabatas may not be best for this type of work, but it's popular. Jumping pullups and foot-aided dips. And the assisted WODs. It'll happen. Patience.

07-30-2005, 05:11 AM	#3
Paul Symes Member Profile: Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: London Croydon Posts: 299	You could try doing negatives - push yourself up with your legs and then just do the negative part of the pull up in a controlled way. You could try the same with dips. I was going to suggest pulldowns untill you can do say 110% of your body weight but assisted or negatives only would probably be better

07-30-2005, 10:43 AM	#5
Ryan Abbott Member Profile: Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Dover NH Posts: 105	You might want to check out this link too. http://www.tacticalathlete.com/conqueringarticle.htm

07-30-2005, 05:26 PM	#6
Michael Hill Member Profile: Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 76	Two things to consider here: 1. Do NOT go to failure on the gravitron, or any pull-up practice like jumping pull-ups. Remember that practice doesn't make perfect; it makes permanent. 2. Try a static hold in the top position. You need to hold it as high as possible, at the sternum is preferable. I found this to be more effective than negatives when I first struggled with pull-ups. Also, this can be done as added practice after the WOD because static exercises can be done after you are fatigued and have stressed the nervous system without the any deleterious effects on traing the nervous system in that movement. Oh, and hold on/ squeeze the bar as hard as you can and don't be afraid of variations like chin-ups and varying your grip.

07-30-2005, 09:25 PM	#7
James R. Climer Member Profile: Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Paso Robles California Posts: 1,148	May I suggest losing body fat if possible?

08-04-2005, 08:13 AM	#9
Larry Lindenman Affiliate Profile: Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Chicago Illinois Posts: 2,769	Do 50 pull ups a day. Do sets in warm ups and crank out 1 or 2 whenever you can. Practice makes perfect, really. Same with dips. Even if yo uhave to pull off 50 singles. Use a jump if you have to. Get off assistance as soon as you can.

08-04-2005, 08:49 AM	#10
Allen Yeh Member Profile: Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: reston va Posts: 768	This program was used by Major Charles Lewis Armstrong, USMC to prepare himself to attempt to set a world record in number of pull-ups completed in a single exercise session. http://www.4mcd.usmc.mil/AOP/OSOHyat...%20Program.htm