Pull-up Challenge, 2012

[Jungledoc]

I can currently do 1-2 body weight chin-ups. My goal is 5.

I picked up a band from elitefts.com, and started a 5x5 for chins. Did 3x3x3x4x3 with the LIGHT band doubled around one knee. Felt really good and different from the assisted machine. Helped at the bottom, the part that's not the problem, and doesn't at the top. So I still really have to work. My plan is to hit 5x5x5x5x5 with the band doubled, then single it up and by then probably have to stand on it since it will be stretched out. Do that till I can hit 5x5x5x5x5 and then try without. Do as many as I can do bw, then add the band to complete the 5x5x5x5x5 until I can do it all without. That's my goal for this year.

btw, I'm at a bw of 325lbs.

Shawn, that's really good at a bw of 325.

Another strategy might be to have a day for BW chins only. Either do singles or do doubles with a decent rest between. Then on the other day go for volume using a band.

The band-assisted chinups can turn into a totally different exercise. I find that a heavier band really shoots me up, and I get into a bouncing rhythm and it's more cardio than strength. That assists the top of the ROM, but probably more than you really want! Try it if you want a fun cardio exercise, but for strangth keep it slow and steady.

[commodiusvicus]

Count me in. Wide grip pull-ups. I've been doing my chins/pulls second in my upper workout, following inverted rows, for prioritization reasons. I'll continue to do so for the challenge. To make things more difficult for myself, i did only a couple of light sets of inverted rows prior to the initial test. I'll be rowing more intensely during the month and for the final challenge at the end.

So, my starting point for consecutive post-rowing wide grip pull-ups is: 10
Target by the end of February: 12

[leanmuscle13]

Ok my goal is 13 solid pullups. I use a P90x bar and do 4 sets of pullups. Wide grip, medium grip, neutral grip, and close grip. Shoot for the moon, that way if you miss you will land amongst the stars!

[robt-aus]

did max test today 31/1/12: 8 pullups
goal: 10 pullups

[Rik-Blades]

Last weeks ladders 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,7,5,3 (51 total)

This weeks ladders 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,6,6,4 (44 total)

Thats a decrease! however...I weighed myself and my weight is up 5lbs, which might explain it...

Perhaps bulking is not the best idea when entering a challenge

[IceDane]

I'll do a max test tomorrow. I'm not sure if it will be representative of my real max since I'm probably still recovering from doing rack pulls, rows and pullups yesterday(monday), so I'll probably try again next monday, before doing rack pulls. I'm thinking my max is about 8-10 at BW 205.

[Jungledoc]

1

[Jungledoc]

Name                   Style                       Goal
Stuward                Wide-grip pull-down         3x180
xshawnxearthx          chin                        5
Dub                    chin                        10
Rik-Blades             shoulder-width chins        12
Oscar_Actuary          pullups                     1
robertscott            ???                         44reps/5sets
Proper Knob            wide neutral                13
Travis                 ???                         ???
nice_guy80             chin                        10or11
leanmuscle13           pullup                      13
josh60                 chins/pulls                 11/10
Bacchus1979            chins                       12
RobertB                ???                         15
commodiusvicus         wg pullups                  12
robt-aus               pullup                      10
IceDane                shoulder-width pulls        12
jungledoc              chin                        12

[Jungledoc]

First, does anyone know if there is a way to post a proper table?

If there are ??? by your name it means that you didn't specify, or I didn't understand, or I just plain missed either your type of pullup, or your goal. I'm following the convention of chin=supinated, pullup=pronated. I also use "pullup" as a generic term for all forms of the exercise. Anyway, if I have missed something, or you wish to change it, let me know.

"Chin-up Challenge" would have been better alliteration. Oh, well. "Pullup" is more generic.

It's not too late to jump in.

Post when you reach your goal!

[Proper Knob]

Managed 10 today with a wide neutral grip, 2 short of my all time PR for that grip. I'm happy with that seeing as how i've had no serious pullup training for about 6 months due to some injuries. My goal is 13.

[Oscar_Actuary]

My style will be "steeped in prayer"

aka, overhand, normal width

[Rik-Blades]

Put me down for shoulder width chins. Thanks.

[IceDane]

You can put me down for roughly shoulder-width pullups.. Max was 8 reps today, so let's go for 12.

[Jungledoc]

My style will be "steeped in prayer"

aka, overhand, normal width

Haha. I do not believe that God is unconcerned with such things!

Underhand are a little easier, if you care.

[Jungledoc]

OK. See edited post above.