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Muscle Ups (*update 3 added*)

HN

Diamond Member
I consider myself pretty fit. I do both cardio and weights and not looking to get big. What I've always focused on was strength. For not being formally trained i.e. no coaches or personal trainers, I think my bench is pretty good and my deadlifts/squats are getting better (only recently have i started focusing on them because someone drove the point home about how good they are).

I like working out with people bigger than me (not hard since i'm only 5'5" 140lbs 😛) so i have something to shoot for and it gives me motivation. Other things that keep me going are music (Rocky soundtrack, of course) and finding new exercises to see if i can do what others feel are "accomplishments" in their routines.

Lately I've been reading all about crossfit routines and exercises. One thing i saw brought up a lot was the muscle up -- going from a pull-up and immediately transitioning to and doing a dip. I mostly saw them doing it on rings and thought "hmmm, i can do that". So I went out, tried, and failed miserably 😱. I only have access to a pull-up bar but i saw videos of people doing them on high bars and felt i should be able to do them. On the one hand, it shattered all my thoughts about being pretty fit for my size; but on the other, I now have something new to work towards.

If you are able to do them, how long did it take to get your first one? Any tips on getting over that transition point from the pullup to the dip (that's my sticking point currently)?

I'm so gonna get this, I promise! Let's say before the Summer starts.

CLIFFS:

1. I thought i was fit
2. Read about muscle-ups
3. Tried to do one (April 15, 2007)
4. .....
5. No profit
6. Can you do one? Tips?
7. I will get one before the Summer.

Sample videos:
On pull-up bar, Another on bar (thanks crt1530)
On rings
Part of routine

Update 1 (04/16/07):
At the gym today, I set the cable machine (the one that can be adjusted in a sideways pendulum motion) to the highest so the cables hung straight down. It's not exactly the rings but it gives a good feel for the movement of doing a pullup and transition to dip. Wasn't my normal day to do pull-ups so wednesday i'll see what it can do.

Update 2 (04/17/07):
There's a PDF link on this page that breaks down the different stages of the muscle-up if anyone needs more pointers.

Update 3 (05/14/07):

Well, I did some over the weekend. They were slow and not very smooth and none were consecutive (had to drop down and gather myself before doing the next one) so I'll call'em Ugly-ups for now 😱. But the main thing is I can now get up and above the bar in one motion.

I focused on making my shoulders more flexible and also practiced on a really really low bar, so low that I can sit and reach up for the bar. That way, I could practice how the transition felt with much less bodyweight to muscle up.

Now it's just a matter of doing them smooth and with several in a row.


ATOT Muscle-up club:
50cent1228
b0mbrman (and the Army 4th Infantry Division)
crt1530
edprush
mobobuff
RagingBITCH
RelaxTheMind
SociallyChallenged


 
Originally posted by: Xyclone
I'm pretty sure I can do them. I can do pullups and dips easily.
That's what i thought, too. it's that transition from the pull-up to dip that's stopping me.
It could be that my mechanics are all wrong but i think my shoulders may be a part of the problem, too.

If you could try one on the pull-up bar (or rings if you have access), and report back that'd be great! :thumbsup:
 
Originally posted by: b0mbrman
Yeah, I can.

We've been doing Cross-Fit for PT since January...
On rings or pull-up bar (or both)?

I'm gonna keep track of a list up top as well. Congrats!
 
It'd be nice to see a direct link to a properly done muscle up, not search results with a 90% failure rate.
 
Originally posted by: StevenYoo
Originally posted by: edprush
I wish I had access to rings!

yeah man, ditto!
Ditto again. Having a pullup bar in my house would be a nice start though.

I would want rings though because it would be so much harder, all those extra stabilizer muscles being worked.
 
😵 We did those for water polo in the pool and then we did them outside the pool on bars. The transition is the hardest part, but once you get your two arms braced underneath you, you're usually okay.
 
Originally posted by: HN

ATOT Muscle-up club:

50cent1228
b0mbrman

Heh...you might as well add anyone in the 4th Infantry Division. The Army is making a huge switch toward that style of strength
 
Originally posted by: sygyzy
It'd be nice to see a direct link to a properly done muscle up, not search results with a 90% failure rate.

You don't seriously think finding a video of a muscle-up is so hard that you need to complain about it?

Oh, it's a joke, ha ha, you almost had me.
 
I got my first muscle up the first time I used my rings. You should start doing all your pullups and chins through a full range of motion. Your chest should touch the bar (or your hands) at the top of each rep and you should lower to a complete dead hang. Doing reps where your chin barely stretches over the bar will not help you nearly as much with the muscle up.

As far as the transition goes, the movement is different depending on whether you're on the bar or a set of rings. You can do a slow and controlled muscle up on rings, but you will always have to do it in an explosive/ballistic manner on the bar.
 
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