Resistance Bands for Pull-ups

DamienH

Hey,
I'm keeping a crossfit log and the moment and I need to get a set of resistance bands to help me with my pullups ( can't even do 1!!!! ) I've been looking on the net and I'm thinking of getting these The only problem is I don't know what strength I should be going for. ATM I weight 265 lbs. The only guage I have for pull-ups is lat pulldowns ( not the same I know ) and I can pull about 85kg for 5 in them. would the 80lb band be enough to start off on or do I need to go heavier?

rubadub

Might be cheaper straight from them, http://www.ironwoodyfitness.com/ even if you did get stung for customs.

265lb is a lot to be expecting to do pullups with. I am ~170lb and can do 20chins, but with and extra 110lb on a dip belt I can only manage 1. Problem is you are starting out at a high weight from the get go so it will be very hard.

I was going to suggest negatives, this is when you stand on a box/chair in the highest position and slowly lower yourself down, but I think at 265lb this might be a lot to be trying. What are your other strength levels like? I have never done a lat pulldown.

I would highly recommend getting gymnastic rings, which crossfitters use, you can make these too. With these you can build your way up to chins/pulls by doing body rows.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iidgi91mFWE

DamienH

thanks for the reply, I've been doing those body rows and I can get about 10 without taking a break. I've been doing them with my legs supported so it's a bit harder. 1 rep maxes are, deadlift 145 squat 105 bench 110 push press 80 all kilos.

davyjose

You're mixing lbs and kilos here which is a little confusing, however if you are hitting 85kilo's at 5 reps then you should be well able for negatives, and stick with the lat pulldown's too.

DamienH

ya sry I noticed that, the bands are rated in lbs so it's doubly confusing for me

colmconn

you can find them at http://www.hardcoresportstraining.co.uk/shop.html

rubadub

Here is the same guy showing negatives

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Opr72q6NKTc

Negatives helped me a huge amount. When you can get to 1-2 chins keep doing the negatives. I would do a few straight after my 1-2 chins.

I still do lots of weighted negatives and get a really good feel from them.

DamienH

Hmm I'll try those tmrw then, I've heard of them but never attempted any. Thanks for all the help, I'll let you know how I got on

Covenline

So how are the pull ups coming along?

rubadub

Covenline wrote: »

So how are the pull ups coming along?

This is a recent video of him

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wK4R5rXXrA

:eek:

Edwardius

Christ. It's amazing how easy he makes the front lever look.

rubadub

Dead Ed wrote: »

Christ. It's amazing how easy he makes the front lever look.

Ehh did you miss the 1 arm 1 finger chinups!!, I can do a semi reasonable front lever, but only for ~2 seconds, I cant go perfectly horizontal like him. A one arm chinup is extremely difficult to do, but a 1 finger one! My next goal is a chinup with 60kg on a dip belt, end goal a 2xbodyweight chinup. I was thinking of training for a one arm chinup but it is quite easy to injure your elbow with them.

BrianD3

rubadub wrote:

A one arm chinup is extremely difficult to do, but a 1 finger one!

Brad Johnson who posts on the dragondoor forum can do a one arm, one finger chinup with any one of his ten fingers :eek: Including each thumb and each pinky finger :eek: :eek:

Unbelievable strength, he's surely one of the strongest men to ever live.

re: training for a OAC if you are doing a two arm chinup with +50 kg @ 170 lbs bodyweight you are probably ready to try some negative OACs. In my experience, it is this negatives stage where elbow problems and other injuries are most likely to occur. But if you keep the volume very low and keep a close eye on your elbows you should be alright. I'd be of the view that negatives and some elbow tendonitis are "necessary evils" on the path to the OAC.

rubadub

BrianD3 wrote: »

re: training for a OAC if you are doing a two arm chinup with +50 kg @ 170 lbs bodyweight you are probably ready to try some negative OACs.

Yeah, so I heard, I think the guy from beastskills was saying it would be around +2/3BW chinup when you should be able for it.

BrianD3 wrote: »

I'd be of the view that negatives and some elbow tendonitis are "necessary evils" on the path to the OAC.

Thats the thing, I would rather not have to face those "evils" so! I would like to be able to do one, but not go through that.

I read that you did a OAC, do you still practise them?

BrianD3

rubadub wrote: »

I read that you did a OAC, do you still practise them?

All the time! Although I generally do one arm pullups not chinups - have always been more comfortable with pullups.

At my best I could do 4 OAPs with my right hand or 1 with 12.5 kg strapped on. Nowadays my BW is around 13 kg heavier and I am worse at pullups which is not surprising. Can do 2 BW ones with my right hand and 1 with 5 kg added. Left hand has always been worse but I can still do 1 rep with just BW.

Patto

Will Heffernan had a piece on this a while back on his blog:

http://willheffernan.blogspot.com/2008/09/more-on-testing.html

"I’ve more fat guys doing band pull ups than anyone....hopefully someone might buy the bands via the link on my blog and I’ll get $2.37...only need a million people to buy bands and I can retire."