Pull-Up

What it is

This is a challenging compound movement that significantly builds upper body strength. You pull your entire body upwards against gravity, primarily engaging your latissimus dorsi, or lats. It also strongly works your biceps and the muscles of your middle back.

Technique tips

• Maintain a slight arch in your lower back to engage the lats.
• Drive your elbows down and back to initiate the upward pull.
• Exhale as you pull up, and inhale slowly on the controlled descent.
• Focus on squeezing your back muscles as the bar nears your chest.
• Fully extend your arms at the bottom to achieve a complete stretch.

How to track your progress

Log reps, and add the extra load if you wear a belt or a vest. Straddly counts your bodyweight in the estimated max, so added weight and extra reps both show up as progress, and new records are flagged during the session.