Where does your opinion hang in the “chin up vs pull up” debate?

If you look at either one: both exercises seems to give major output for strength and volume training. Even with a few differences that set the two apart people are bound to favor one over the other.

(Photo: BombDog)

One of the things I really enjoy about working these two upper body exercises in my routines is how well they work the forearms and grip strength. This is a nice bonus for someone who doesn’t always tack on extra exercises aimed at bettering the grip.

What Else To Expect From Either Of These Exercise?

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What happens when you’ve plateaued in your push up workouts?

Well, if you’re cranking out the same number of repetitions for each go at your routine, and with the same trusty exercises, you’ll eventually hit a wall in your progress. This is actually a common frustration in all workout plans, and not just specific to bodyweight routines. In this post I want to discuss a few tactics to help keep your upper body strength goals on the positive end, and out of a training rut.

Repeating the same set of movements continuously will simply force the muscles to adapt instead of strengthening. As a result, the muscles will get comfortable. The triceps will get comfortable just as the pecs will get comfortable.

Let’s Look At Our Push Up Choices…

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If you’ve never heard of Pull up bands before, they’re essentially really thick, over-sized rubber bands. For anyone having difficulty conquering the pull up bar then they’re a nifty little tool for strengthening your back muscles, and aiding in your quest to master those pull ups. And since I think pull ups are one of the best exercises you should have in your program, I wanted to share a few of the methods that helped me increase my pull up stats over the years.

When I first started getting serious into exercising I could only muster a few pull ups at a time before I’d fall off the bar. It was a shame because the workout program I was following at the time had me seeing some significant gains to other muscle areas. But when it came to pull ups I just couldn’t increase my numbers.

The one thing about strength training you need to remember is nothing is over night. It’s all about time and practice. That means patience as well. Getting frustrated won’t make the muscles respond any faster. Only being relentless in your training will get you moving forward.

“You’ve Got to Work The System”

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Target the Upper Body With Handstand Pushups to Build Muscle Without Weights

How many handstand pushups can you do?

I have to admit it took me a while to build up the courage to attempt these. The last time I remember doing any kind of handstand was when I was grade school, probably around the age of eight. As an adult, I was sure they’d be way out of my ability. So, I decided to avoid them until someday when I was sure I’d be strong enough and wouldn’t fall flat on my face. Most beginners probably use the same excuse.

If, however, you’re looking to build muscle without weights then this one exercise will surely help to improve upper body strength.

(Photo: Amber Karnes)

Below we’ll discuss how to build your upper body abilities for tackling this advanced pushup. Although it takes skill to accomplish this move, novice practitioners of bodyweight training can start working toward this ability with wrist and shoulder strengthening routines. Soon, you’ll be mustering out two or three reps at a time, and then stride through a dozen as if they’ve always been second nature to you.

Five Tips to Grow into The Exercise

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Whenever I meet someone showing interest in working out, whether they’ll train at home or in the gym, I always recommend starting a pullup program early on. Pullups are the “one” compound exercise to target your upper body like no other. You can directly impact the look and performance of your back and core muscles with this simple movement. A good way to start is to hook up a doorway pull up bar and take it one rep at a time.

But getting the right results means you’ll need the right progression to expand on your initial stats. It’s a shame that most people don’t include the pullup into their routines. But I always think back to my gym class days when I would spot the pullup bars in horror. I didn’t want to embarrass myself in front of everyone. But making gains is about taking yourself out of your comfort zones. You can’t allow fear to turn you into a prisoner in your own body.

Do You Want the Manly “V-Shaped” Tapered Look?

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