Towel pull ups

TheGreatSatan · 09-30-2003, 03:35 AM

One of the most difficult exercises ever. Only for the truly hardcore!

Simple yet effective, the towel pull-up is down right sadistic and brutally tough!

To utilize this exericse, simply drape a towel over the middle of the pull up bar, so that it dangles over.

Now grab both ends of the towel and pull yourself up!

Remember to squeeze your shoulder blades together and pull with your back for a maximal lat contraction!

This variation will target the middle and upper back.

For, outer lats drape two towels on the ends of the pull up bar, and perform wide grip pull ups.

These heavily tax the forearms as well as superior gripping power is a must! To make this exercise more challenging on the grip, use smaller towels and simply grab onto them hard.

If you can't perform this in this manner, use longer towels that you can wrap your hands around a few times for stronger gripping power.

Whichever method you use, this chin up varation will quickly become part of your back workout repitorie!

Tha Don · 09-30-2003, 10:37 AM

could you also use a towel over the lat-pulldown?

and do towel-pulldowns for bis and lats?

or... towel tri presses for your tris?

just a thought

drew.haynes · 10-17-2005, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by young d

could you also use a towel over the lat-pulldown?

and do towel-pulldowns for bis and lats?

or... towel tri presses for your tris?

just a thought

The only problems I would see with those is the towel would have to be short for the pulldowns or you couldn't stretch much at all before the bar was back at rest at the top.

With the pressdowns, I would also think that would work, but... how is that different than rope pressdowns?

ihateschoolmt · 10-17-2005, 04:58 PM

I've done them. The only harder bodyweight exercise is glute ham raises.

lnvanry · 10-17-2005, 05:25 PM

I do not mean to sound like an ass, but that is what the close-grip and ropes are for dude.

The towel is just harder to hold on to, which is a forearm work out not a back thing.

* Legion * · 10-17-2005, 05:54 PM

towel pull ups are rough.. I keep hitting my face on the bar at the top.

Squaggleboggin · 10-17-2005, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by * Legion *

towel pull ups are rough.. I keep hitting my face on the bar at the top.

Generally one stops short of the bar... unless, that is, you're going for the whole 'improved appearance' thing...

ihateschoolmt · 10-17-2005, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by * Legion *

I keep hitting my face on the bar at the top.

Ha.

lnvanry · 10-17-2005, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ihateschoolmt

Ha.

that pic is great...I think Bigdyl was looking for that pic.

* Legion * · 10-17-2005, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lnvanry

that pic is great...I think Bigdyl was looking for that pic.

'

Hey ivanry, where are you from in Illinois

**P-funk** · 10-17-2005, 09:13 PM

I just wrote a similiar article for the news letter this month (oct.).

**CowPimp** · 10-17-2005, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lnvanry

The towel is just harder to hold on to, which is a forearm work out not a back thing.

That's the idea. It's an awesome way to increase grip strength. It is often called "soft bar lifting." That is, using compressable force absorbing objects to sit between your hands and the bar.

lnvanry · 10-17-2005, 11:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by * Legion *

'

Hey ivanry, where are you from in Illinois

I currently live in Bloomington. I have lived in four cities in IL. Northside of Chicago (Clarkston 1/2 south of Wrigley), Peoria, Morton, and Bloomington

lnvanry · 10-17-2005, 11:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CowPimp

That's the idea. It's an awesome way to increase grip strength. It is often called "soft bar lifting." That is, using compressable force absorbing objects to sit between your hands and the bar.

Thanx for the clarification

fletcher6490 · 10-18-2005, 07:25 PM

I live in Geneva...Thats kinda close

09-30-2003, 03:35 AM	#1
TheGreatSatan Building PC's, not Muscle Elite Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Cutting after a Year! Posts: 11,841 Photos: 16	Towel pull ups One of the most difficult exercises ever. Only for the truly hardcore! Simple yet effective, the towel pull-up is down right sadistic and brutally tough! To utilize this exericse, simply drape a towel over the middle of the pull up bar, so that it dangles over. Now grab both ends of the towel and pull yourself up! Remember to squeeze your shoulder blades together and pull with your back for a maximal lat contraction! This variation will target the middle and upper back. For, outer lats drape two towels on the ends of the pull up bar, and perform wide grip pull ups. These heavily tax the forearms as well as superior gripping power is a must! To make this exercise more challenging on the grip, use smaller towels and simply grab onto them hard. If you can't perform this in this manner, use longer towels that you can wrap your hands around a few times for stronger gripping power. Whichever method you use, this chin up varation will quickly become part of your back workout repitorie!

10-17-2005, 05:54 PM	#6
* Legion * Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Suburb of Chicago, Il. USA Posts: 711 Photos: 2	towel pull ups are rough.. I keep hitting my face on the bar at the top. Do not mistake my kindness for weakness.

10-17-2005, 09:13 PM	#11
P-funk Patrick Super Moderator Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: AZ Posts: 31,693	I just wrote a similiar article for the news letter this month (oct.). E-Book: Take Charge! Everything You Need To Know To Write Your Own Training Programs Online Consulting/Program Design Reality Based Fitness Podcast Check me out on Twitter! Subscribe to our free monthly newsletter! "In the beginners mind there are many possibilities, in the experts there are few." -Buddha's Little Instruction Book

10-18-2005, 07:25 PM	#15
fletcher6490 God has graced us again Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Chicagoland Posts: 2,249 Photos: 4	I live in Geneva...Thats kinda close Can't even remember the last time I was in the gym. I suck at life.

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09-30-2003, 10:37 AM	#2
Tha Don Registered User Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Nottingham, England Posts: 3,826 Photos: 33	could you also use a towel over the lat-pulldown? and do towel-pulldowns for bis and lats? or... towel tri presses for your tris? just a thought

10-17-2005, 04:58 PM	#4
ihateschoolmt Senior Member Elite Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: North Carolina Posts: 3,796 Photos: 10	I've done them. The only harder bodyweight exercise is glute ham raises.

10-17-2005, 05:25 PM	#5
lnvanry primeau Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Tucson Posts: 3,435 Photos: 16	I do not mean to sound like an ass, but that is what the close-grip and ropes are for dude. The towel is just harder to hold on to, which is a forearm work out not a back thing.