<p>I just wanted to know if anyone had any good suggestions on technique to help make doing a pullup easier. I feel like I am really close and should be able to do one, but I still can’t (I get stuck at about 90 and can hold it there, but go no farther). I already tried searching the forum for old posts but did not find much. Thanks for any and all suggestions</p>
<p>i know this sounds crazy, but it works at building up to do pullups, so hear me out. I don't know what you're using for practicing pullups, but get a chair or such so you can get to the bar in the "UP POSITION" of a pullup. Without the help of the chair, try holding yourself in the "UP POSITION" as long as you can. When you think it's getting to hard to hold yourself up, start letting your self down slowly. Try stopping in 3 different locations so you are at 3/4th of a pullup; 1/2; and 1/4. Basically, a REVERSE pullup. Starting UP and working down. It will build the muscles in your arms and shoulders.</p>
<p>Do this 4-5 times a day for a week. Then try doing a regular pullup. You should have no problem doing at least 1 pullup. You will probably surprise yourself by doing more than one. It might take a week or so, but you'll get it.</p>
<p>Tennis give potter an email. She can give you some help with this. Before she left she was able to do 2 or 3 at home on the bar I put up outside her room. When she got to the altitude she wasn't able to do any (they also burned her arms with push-ups). By the time the PFT was completed at the end of BCT she ended up on recondo. It wasn't a long stay though most end up on recondo for running. With a little instruction, and encouragement she was able to knock out 5 I think. She took her AFT and passed with a great score. Lesson being get some advice from someone who has been there.</p>
<p>Another suggestion is your grip. Its hard to explain but put your thumbs on top of the bar. All five fingers should be aligned. I got the suggestion from the Naval Academy's six week training book at my library.</p>
<p>Arms shoulder width(ish) apart, thumbs over the bar, lean back a little (but don't kick), then pull-up.</p>
<p>Interestingly, swimming seemed to help for general strength. I was doing swimming and water haze, and it helped with my pull-ups and push-ups. (freestyle and competative backstroke mostly).</p>
<p>That's true, my roommate is a swimmer and she never has a problem maxing pullups and could do a lot more if she wanted to. It really helps to build up your shoulders.</p>
<p>What Christcorp said is the main thing that helped me though. Start with your chin above the bar, hold it for as long as you can, and then slowly lower yourself down. The only thing is that it will probably take a lot longer than a week. ;) Just be patient.</p>
<p>Another thing... I don't know how it is for guys, but girls really have to use their abs when doing pullups. Lean back a little bit and use your abs to kind of curl up over the bar. You will notice that's how a lot of girls are able to knock them out.</p>
<p>Redhead and Christcorp gave the advice I usually give for helping. I gave it yesterday to a bud of mine I was working out with to improve his. Also, the key is using your BACK muscles. leaning back, like redhead said, allows you to use those back (and the abs I suppose) muslces to do the pull-up instead of just your arms.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone, I'll try everything. I was just doing negatives without holding it first, but I'll try adding that. Also, I never though about leaning back, thanks for that too.</p>