I am writing this for my elder son, Mervyn, who is now trying to do a proper pull-up as compared to “kick-propelling” chin-ups. Actually I always use the term, “overhand grasps chin-up” or simply just “underhand chin-up” for both methods.
Well, this site seemed to explain the difference. (link)
http://stronglifts.com/how-to-do-pull-ups-and-chin-ups-with-proper-technique/
However, after visiting the site, it is still quite confusing for me too.
Anyway, I told my son that doing pull-up is actually better as in the real-world, it allow us to climb over wall or hoist ourselves after pulling up a horizontal bar, or swing from bar to bar via overhand method. Even monkeys uses the pull-up method when swing from tree to tree. So pull-up is more practical than chin-up. Chin-up, however, do help to build some biceps though and useful in certain situation which I seldom encounter.
Nevertheless, more and more people and especially kids and teenagers are using the chin-up method as they can do more and that where quantity comes in, for whatever reasons whether they would be useful or not. Right?
Ok , pull-up is easy to do if you know the method. I am also new to pull-up as I have always been using chin-ups to chalk the numerical requirements. Now, I prefer to do the proper method, though. Partly to improve my overall well-being for a strong back and shoulder muscle to improve my spinal column.
So I experimented on few techniques. Increasing the distance between both hands on the bar is the first requirement as compared to chin-up when both hands should be parallel and not wider that your shoulder’s width.
Here, comes the technique. Remember when you do INCLINE chin up, you naturally use the overhand grasp like in a normal Pull-up. Well, then you should try to apply this to your normal Pull-up by looking up, tilting your head slightly back and slanting your back slightly like doing a incline chin-up and then pulling from your chest rather than your shoulder. As you find your chest heaving towards the bar, rotate your overhand grasps forward and complete the pull-up with ease. This will allow you to use your various muscles more efficiently. However, now the catch is whether the instructors or teachers would allow for a slight swing or tilt even if it is more efficient. I hope we are wise enough to discern the relevancy of the pull-up techniques and improve with time.
Confucian did not say “Better to do a few proper pull-ups than lots of lousy chin ups that serve no purpose”. I say so.
Have fun!
Mikey
