Pull-ups

The hardest bodyweight exercise to fake: either your chin clears the bar, or the rep does not exist.

The movement

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How to do it

  1. Hands slightly wider than your shoulders, palms facing away, arms fully extended.
  2. Pull your elbows down and back, chest towards the bar.
  3. Chin above the bar, then lower under control to full extension.

The two mistakes that cost you reps

  • Not coming back to straight arms at the bottom, which cuts the range and the count.
  • Kipping with the legs when the last reps get hard.

How Orusta counts it

A rep counts when your chin clears the bar and your arms return to full extension underneath.

Easier, harder

Easier

Feet on a chair to take some weight off, or a resistance band under the knees.

Harder

Pause a second with your chin above the bar on every rep.

What a good set looks like

10 clean reps already puts you above most people. 20 is a serious level.

Exercises that work the same muscles

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