Pull Ups

A pull up is defined as "to raise oneself while hanging by the hands until the chin is level with the support".

It is a very important, functional upper body exercise and an essential part of athletic training.

Many people avoid doing them because they are difficult or because they are not able to complete them.  However, pull ups can be scaled, modified and assisted in many ways to develop the strength to do them using:

• jumping pull ups
• band assisted pull ups
• partner assisted pull ups
• negatives and partial reps
• body rows

Everyone should be doing them ... you never know when you might need to pull yourself over a wall to escape an angry pit bull!  :)

Read this article from the Crossfit Journal.