How many pull ups is a decent target?
Discussion
yes, i'd say 15 to 20 in one set with good form is a reasonable target.
whilst there is an argument that a bigger person will have bigger legs and they are, proportionally, the biggest muscles in the body i am always astounded by the 'weightlifters' who quote their bodyweight when talking about numbers.
to me, and i stand to be corrected, the whole point of 'bodyweight' exercises is that they are a reasonably level playing field for all size types...having said that i guess popeye types with huge arms and skinny legs would be better equipped for a pull up type exercise..
whilst there is an argument that a bigger person will have bigger legs and they are, proportionally, the biggest muscles in the body i am always astounded by the 'weightlifters' who quote their bodyweight when talking about numbers.
to me, and i stand to be corrected, the whole point of 'bodyweight' exercises is that they are a reasonably level playing field for all size types...having said that i guess popeye types with huge arms and skinny legs would be better equipped for a pull up type exercise..
Animal said:
100 against the clock. My current target is to beat 12 min 30 sec.
100! Your username is very apt! (That's supposed to be a compliment). I can manage 17 on the first set if I really try. This was done when competing with someone who had set a target of 14 reps. But normally I get to about 12 - 14 and stop. The effect of training with someone to push is amazing.
3 x 10 reps would put you ahead of most normal people I'd say, but it does depend on build. I spent five years climbing quite hard and with my scrawny little chicken legs and climbers arms, would happily notch up 30. Not so today...
I'd also say, once you can do 3 x 10, start playing about. Jumps from close to wide to close grip, fast up and slow lower, two arms up and one down and so on.
I'd also say, once you can do 3 x 10, start playing about. Jumps from close to wide to close grip, fast up and slow lower, two arms up and one down and so on.
jaedba2604 said:
yes, i'd say 15 to 20 in one set with good form is a reasonable target.
whilst there is an argument that a bigger person will have bigger legs and they are, proportionally, the biggest muscles in the body i am always astounded by the 'weightlifters' who quote their bodyweight when talking about numbers.
to me, and i stand to be corrected, the whole point of 'bodyweight' exercises is that they are a reasonably level playing field for all size types...having said that i guess popeye types with huge arms and skinny legs would be better equipped for a pull up type exercise..
More about lever length - someone with long arms is not going to do the reps of someone with short arms - given same (pro rata) body size.whilst there is an argument that a bigger person will have bigger legs and they are, proportionally, the biggest muscles in the body i am always astounded by the 'weightlifters' who quote their bodyweight when talking about numbers.
to me, and i stand to be corrected, the whole point of 'bodyweight' exercises is that they are a reasonably level playing field for all size types...having said that i guess popeye types with huge arms and skinny legs would be better equipped for a pull up type exercise..
As others have said 20 is definitely a good target. Body type deffo comes into it...at least for me it does.....my legs are proportionately bigger than my arms....just the way I am built. I've got normal arms but big legs basically! Great for riding a bike or even rowing....less so for pull up's!
jaedba2604 said:
to me, and i stand to be corrected, the whole point of 'bodyweight' exercises is that they are a reasonably level playing field for all size types...having said that i guess popeye types with huge arms and skinny legs would be better equipped for a pull up type exercise..
How many pull ups do you think WSM winner Brian Shaw can do? Not a lot I'd guess because he weighs over 200kg. Lighter people are almost always at an advantage with regard to BW type exercises. 
[quote=didelydoo
How many pull ups do you think WSM winner Brian Shaw can do? Not a lot I'd guess because he weighs over 200kg. Lighter people are almost always at an advantage with regard to BW type exercises.
[/quote]
Why though? I see what you mean, but assuming you have not distributed your strength training disproportionately your arms should have strength relative to your body weight, exceptions to this would be chris hoy types.
if he's 3 times heavier than me he should be 3 times stronger than me. in fact there's an argument to suggest that given the 'dead weight' of bones/organs/brains carried by every person the additional weight should be mostly muscle.
I'm not arguing as such, i just don't get the logic behind this way of thinking...
How many pull ups do you think WSM winner Brian Shaw can do? Not a lot I'd guess because he weighs over 200kg. Lighter people are almost always at an advantage with regard to BW type exercises.
[/quote]
Why though? I see what you mean, but assuming you have not distributed your strength training disproportionately your arms should have strength relative to your body weight, exceptions to this would be chris hoy types.
if he's 3 times heavier than me he should be 3 times stronger than me. in fact there's an argument to suggest that given the 'dead weight' of bones/organs/brains carried by every person the additional weight should be mostly muscle.
I'm not arguing as such, i just don't get the logic behind this way of thinking...
didelydoo said:
jaedba2604 said:
to me, and i stand to be corrected, the whole point of 'bodyweight' exercises is that they are a reasonably level playing field for all size types...having said that i guess popeye types with huge arms and skinny legs would be better equipped for a pull up type exercise..
How many pull ups do you think WSM winner Brian Shaw can do? Not a lot I'd guess because he weighs over 200kg. Lighter people are almost always at an advantage with regard to BW type exercises. Gymnast - lots of pull ups. Dwight Howard, less so.
996 sps said:
Animal said:
100 against the clock. My current target is to beat 12 min 30 sec.
That's brilliant took me an hour to do 250. If I was to be very harsh I'd say that I could discount 8-10 reps as being a short ROM or being generally poor form, but I'm happy with anything under 15 minutes. Maybe I'll try 10x10 next time!
I can't imagine doing 250 in an hour, that's as mental as Mikko Salo doing 1,000 burpees in one go (took him 82 minutes)...
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