I usually do pull-ups/chin-ups with weight aid (where you step on something to that helps you elevate during the "pulling" movement), but today I decided to try and do regular pull ups; problem is, my body got "stuck". When I tried to pull up, it was like my body was wondering where the aid was and wouldn't go up.

And it's not like I struggled going up, I literally COULD NOT GO UP. It's like my upper body stops itself from creating the movement.

Help? Please?

All I can think of is that the movement pattern from doing an aided pull up to a normal pull up changed slightly which therefore stressed the muscles in a way in which they could not handle.

My advise to try and get over this would be to just try and do normal pull ups. If you think your body is strong enough to do pull ups there should be no reason for you to not do them.

I cant really understand that too. You do pullups at the assisted pullups machine. How much do you reduce your weight? If you reduce it by 40-50lbs and you can do 6-10 reps, you should be able to do at least 1 clean rep with your entire bodyweight.


The problem here clearly is your weight. You are 86 kilograms. And about 1.70m tall. Thats a lot of weight to be pulling.

- Lose some weight.
- Start doing negatives only. Jump up and then let yourself down slowly by resisting gravity.
- Put a bench underneath the pullup bar and help yourself up with your leg as much as needed. It will look like half pullups half lunges if you know what I mean.
- I wouldnt advise doing lat pulldowns because they dont really carry over to the pullups.
- Get your shoulders and biceps stronger as they assist your back to a large degree when doing pullups/chinups.
- I dont usually recommend this but try some partial range of motion pullups. I imagine the hardest part for you is the start of the movement so skip that for now. Go all the way up and then only halfway down and see if you can do some pullups this way. Switch to full range of motion as soon as you get strong enough to even do one full rep.

I would recommend using those resistance bands, the ones that look like a huge rubber band. Loop it around the bar, put one foot in and place the second foot on top of it. Also, just hang there. Let your body get used to a dead hang. Hang as long as you can, it will help grip strength. Another thing to do is inverted rows. Find a low bar (Smith machine) or TRX n do body weight rows. It will help build the back muscle. And YES like Whisper suggested, negatives! Hold urself up as long as u can n slowly lower urself.

Good luck!

Great response brotha!

But I think the problem is he just isn't strong enough to do it on his own yet.

Kyde, you should try doing "Jumping Negatives" I talk about them in this video, check it out. I know it will help you out a lot!

In this video I use my weighted vest... just do the jumping negatives with bodyweight. #HTH

I can recommend from experience with resistance bands, I started with two, one for each leg, then just one and now I can do them unassisted.

That is great! The next step is... MUSCLE-UPS!! Can you do them yet?

ha ha, nooo! My first goal is 10 pull-ups in a row ( I only manage up to 5) and then weighted pull-ups...Muscle-ups look so scary!!!! :D

Well keep at it and you will do it!

Try doing heavy slow negatives, those could help you get the 10 pull-ups in a row in no time!

I have never been a fan of these assisted pull-up machines for this very reason - they become a "crutch" both mentally and physically. They are only good if you have an injury and are working thru it. I would recommend stop using it altogether and do body weight pull-ups only - even if you can only do 1 rep or can only pull-up half way. Keep at it regularly to build up your strength and before you know it you will be doing 8-12 reps in no time :-)

John