Pull Up Progression

11 levels · Pulling · skill 4/10

Progress from basic hanging to a full one-arm pull-up. Build pulling strength through increasing leverage demands.

1

Dead Hang

Level 1

Hang from a bar with straight arms. Build grip strength and shoulder stability.

2

Scapular Pull-up

Level 2

From a dead hang, pull your shoulder blades down and back without bending your arms.

3

Australian Row

Level 2

Lie under a bar and pull your chest to it. Builds rowing strength as a foundation.

4

Negative Pull-up

Level 3

Jump to the top position, then lower as slowly as possible.

5

Band Assisted Pull-up

Level 4

Use a resistance band to reduce your bodyweight load.

6

Pull-up

Level 5

Full pull-up from a dead hang to chin-over-bar.

7

Chest-to-Bar Pull-up

Level 6

Pull your chest all the way to the bar for a deeper range of motion.

8

L-Sit Pull-up

Level 7

Hold an L-sit while performing a pull-up. Adds a core and compression demand.

9

Archer Pull-up

Level 8

Shift weight to one side, straightening the other arm. Builds unilateral strength.

10

One-Arm Assisted Pull-up

Level 9

Use one arm with minimal assistance from the other hand.

11

One-Arm Pull-up

Level 10

Pull-up using a single arm. The pinnacle of pulling strength.

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