assisted pull ups?

the_leprechaun · 11-06-2007, 06:26 AM

i was just wondering what peoples views are on assisted pull ups, ive just started a full body routine, and for my back im doing bent over rows and pull ups (assisted at the moment). do you guys feel this is a good exercise to use?? it felt good when i was doing the exercise and i feel that in a few months ill have the strength to do normal chin ups and pull ups, just wondering what any ones thoughts are???

min0 lee · 11-06-2007, 09:20 AM

For some reason my ego won't allow me to do assisted pullups with either machine, rope or friend.

I have done something similar to what Tom Venuto wrote below with success.

Pull Ups: Strategies for getting more reps

Quote:

Dear Tom,
Can you suggest a strategy on how to build up my strength in order to do pull-ups?
Chin ups are a superior upper back exercise and it's worth the effort to get good at them. Here are six excellent ways to improve your chin ups.

1. Work on multiple sets of low reps.
Most people are really stuck "in the box" in the way they think about their training. They say, "I suck at chin ups" just because they cant pull themselves up for 3 sets of 12. This kind of thinking will get you nowhere.
Instead, think out of the box; think different: A great way to start getting good at chin ups is to do multiple sets of low reps - even sets of singles. For example:
10 sets of 1 rep
6 sets of 2 reps
5 sets of 3 reps
You don't have to do conventional sets of 10- 12 reps.

2. Set a rep goal such as 30, 40 or 50 reps and take as many sets as necessary to reach your rep goal.
As you begin to get a little stronger, an advanced variation of strategy number one is to set a rep goal. For example, if a conventional routine calls for 3 sets of 10 reps, that's 30 reps. If chin ups are a challenge for you, set a rep goal of 30 and take as many sets to hit 30 as necessary. Don't obsess over how many reps you get in one set.
For example:
5 sets of 6
6 sets of 5
8 sets of 4
10 sets of 3
15 sets of 2

3. Use negatives.
You are much stronger on the negative portion of the pull up. In other words, you can lower much more weight than you can lift. Just because you can't pull yourself up doesn't mean you can't lower yourself.
Put a bench or stool underneath you and kick yourself up with your feet and then lower yourself slowly to a count of four or five. Continue until you reach negative failure (you can no longer lower yourself under control). If you have a training partner, your partner can help you up.
Suppose all you can do is four reps. Your progress might look something like this:
Workout 1: 4 reps, 4 negatives
Workout 2: 5 reps, 4 negatives
Workout 3: 6 reps, 3-4 negatives
Workout 4: 7 reps, 2-3 negatives
Workout 5: 8 reps, 1-2 negative
Workout 6: 9 reps, 1 negative
Workout 7: 10 reps
Workout 8: 11 reps
Workout 9: 12 reps.
I've seen many people go from ZERO reps to sets of ten or twelve in a matter of weeks using this technique.

4. Practice the rule of training specificity.
The rule of training specificity says that to get good at something, the best way is to practice that thing specifically. If you want to be a better 100-meter sprinter, you have to practice 100-meter sprints. Running long distance, swimming, or cycling isn't going to help your 100 meters.

The best way to get good at pull ups is to DO pull ups. There's definitely some carry-over value in assistance exercises, of course. For example, if your biceps get stronger, you're going to get better at pull-ups. But don't kid yourself into thinking that you'll become a pro at pull-ups by doing pulldowns or the assisted chin up machine.

5. Use slow progression with patience.
The problem with most people is they do only 2, 3, or 4 reps and then say, "I can't," "these are hard," "I suck at these," etc, and other such nonsense negative self-talk. That's why they never get past a few reps - they're pessimists and quitters.
Few people have the patience to USE PROGRESSION slowly and systematically. If you can MASTER THIS ONE CONCEPT (slow, steady methodical progression,) you can get as strong and muscular as you want to be! This requires a lot of patience and a goal-oriented mind.
If you can do only one or two reps today, it's hard to think about doing 12 reps next week isn't it? So don't! Think about doing THREE reps. Then four. Then five, and so on. Doing ONE more rep is a lot easier to picture isn't it?

6. Visualize yourself being light as a feather and pulling yourself up so easily it feels like you're floating.

Let me just emphasize that mental images are so incredibly powerful, it's beyond what most people can even fathom. If you understood the true power of your mind, you would be forming positive mental pictures of everything you wanted every minute of every day. Unfortunately, most people "poo-poo" the visualization principle as corny or Pollyanna.
In Arnold Schwarzenneger's autobiography, "The Education of a Bodybuilder," Arnold explained how he would "see' his biceps as "huge mountains, much bigger than a bicep could ever really be." He did this before and during every bicep workout. You'll see similar examples cited by every champion athlete in every sport.
I've developed many "secret visualizations" I use to get the most from each exercise. Here's a few ways to use the visualization principle for chin ups:
I find it counterproductive to think about using pure strength and brute force to pull myself up. Instead, I visualize the exact opposite: I imagine myself being as light as a feather or helium balloon and I literally "float" up. Sometimes I picture an imaginary hand underneath me, giving me a lift. Or, I picture strings from above pulling me upwards. They all work.
Use visualization before your workouts too. Mentally rehearse yourself doing chin ups in your mind before you do it in the gym. Think about it every day for several days before your chin up workout. Believe you can do it and you will.
Does this stuff work? Let me put it this way and you decide: In my late teens I couldn't pull myself up even once. Today, at an off season bodyweight of 195 lbs or more, I can easily do 25-30 pullups with a palms away (pronated) grip and I've done 6 strict reps with 85 pounds strapped to my waist.

About The Author
Tom Venuto is a bodybuilder, gym owner, freelance writer, success coach and author of the #1 best-selling e-book "Burn the Fat, Feed The Muscle" (BFFM): Fat Burning Secrets of the World's Best Bodybuilders and Fitness Models. For more information please visit http://www.burnthefat.com

DOMS · 11-06-2007, 09:25 AM

That a great post, min0!

min0 lee · 11-06-2007, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DOMS

That a great post, min0!

Don't thank me, thank Tom Venuto.
I love reading his articles. He's an easy read, and he's to the point.

That's why I have kept his 2 articles in my sig below.

vortrit · 11-06-2007, 09:35 AM

I stay away from them. I think your better off doing as many regular pull ups as you can do and build up from there. Even if it's just a couple. That's the best thing I ever did with pull ups and dips and now I'm doing them weighted.

KeenanB13 · 11-06-2007, 01:43 PM

In my personal opinion I agree above with vortrit on the fact that you should do as many as you can, now if you can't do any, then assisted might be a consideration. But the only people who can't do one are usually, not trying to be rude, are decently fat, or weak for their size.

min0 lee · 11-06-2007, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KeenanB13

not trying to be rude, are decently fat, or weak for their size.

Not everyone can do them, it's easier for someone with low body weight to do them.

When I bulk up it's a lot harder to do them.

danny81 · 01-20-2008, 09:55 AM

my bro cant do any chinups but we are doing rippetoes routine. hes suposed to do as many as he can up to 15 before adding weight. what should i have him do? negetatives?

danny81 · 01-20-2008, 10:06 AM

also it says to do pullups 1 aweek should he do negatives 1 a week or no?

**Gazhole** · 01-20-2008, 10:33 AM

Great find, mino.

Im using that second technique in my current program actually, works really well. Im improving after only a workout or two.

Witchblade · 01-20-2008, 10:39 AM

Nothing wrong with assisted pull-ups. I'd use a band, not a machine or a friend.

11-06-2007, 09:35 AM	#5
vortrit Bulk. Cut. Repeat. Elite Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Missouri, USA Posts: 2,652 Blog Entries: 1 Photos: 5	I stay away from them. I think your better off doing as many regular pull ups as you can do and build up from there. Even if it's just a couple. That's the best thing I ever did with pull ups and dips and now I'm doing them weighted.
	My Journal!

11-06-2007, 01:43 PM	#6
KeenanB13 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: West Va. Posts: 125 Photos: 8	In my personal opinion I agree above with vortrit on the fact that you should do as many as you can, now if you can't do any, then assisted might be a consideration. But the only people who can't do one are usually, not trying to be rude, are decently fat, or weak for their size.
	www.myspace.com/121389j

01-20-2008, 09:55 AM	#8
danny81 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 4,764	my bro cant do any chinups but we are doing rippetoes routine. hes suposed to do as many as he can up to 15 before adding weight. what should i have him do? negetatives?
danny81 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 4,764

01-20-2008, 10:06 AM	#9
danny81 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 4,764	also it says to do pullups 1 aweek should he do negatives 1 a week or no?
danny81 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 4,764

01-20-2008, 10:39 AM	#11
Witchblade Succinct Elite Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Holland Posts: 4,217 Photos: 2	Nothing wrong with assisted pull-ups. I'd use a band, not a machine or a friend.
	My Journal My Linkdump [LSFW] IM Official FAQ [WORK IN PROGRESS]

11-06-2007, 06:26 AM	#1
the_leprechaun Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Dublin,IRELAND Posts: 93 Photos: 1	assisted pull ups? BODYBUILDING SUPPLEMENTS High Quality Supplements For Bodybuilders and Athletes. www.ironmaglabs.com i was just wondering what peoples views are on assisted pull ups, ive just started a full body routine, and for my back im doing bent over rows and pull ups (assisted at the moment). do you guys feel this is a good exercise to use?? it felt good when i was doing the exercise and i feel that in a few months ill have the strength to do normal chin ups and pull ups, just wondering what any ones thoughts are???

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