Chin-Up
- Main muscles
- Lats
- Also works
- Biceps, Forearms, Middle back
- Equipment
- Bodyweight
- Level
- Beginner
- Type
- Compound · Pull
How to do it
- Grab the pull-up bar with the palms facing your torso and a grip closer than the shoulder width.
- As you have both arms extended in front of you holding the bar at the chosen grip width, keep your torso as straight as possible while creating a curvature on your lower back and sticking your chest out. This is your starting position. Tip: Keeping the torso as straight as possible maximizes biceps stimulation while minimizing back involvement.
- As you breathe out, pull your torso up until your head is around the level of the pull-up bar. Concentrate on using the biceps muscles in order to perform the movement. Keep the elbows close to your body. Tip: The upper torso should remain stationary as it moves through space and only the arms should move. The forearms should do no other work other than hold the bar.
- After a second of squeezing the biceps in the contracted position, slowly lower your torso back to the starting position; when your arms are fully extended. Breathe in as you perform this portion of the movement.
- Repeat this motion for the prescribed amount of repetitions.
Quick answers
- What muscles does the Chin-Up work?
- Mainly the lats, with help from the biceps, forearms, middle back.
- What equipment do I need?
- Nothing but your bodyweight.
- Is it good for beginners?
- Yes, it is rated beginner level.
- How do I track progress on it?
- Log each set and beat the weight or reps from last time. Liftrung shows your last set beside the next one and estimates your one-rep max from your sets.
More lats exercises
- Pullups
- V-Bar Pullup
- Wide-Grip Rear Pull-Up
- Band Assisted Pull-Up
- Bent-Arm Barbell Pullover
- Cable Incline Pushdown
Exercise descriptions: free-exercise-db, public domain.