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Exercises › Back › Chin Up

Chin Up

Chin Up is a beginner compound bodyweight exercise that mainly works your lats, with help from your biceps, forearms and upper back.

💪 Lats🏋️ Bodyweight📈 Beginner🔗 Compound🎯 3 sets of 8-15 reps
Chin Up: starting position
Starting position
Chin Up: end position
End position

How to do the chin up

  1. Grab the pull-up bar with the palms facing your torso and a grip closer than the shoulder width.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. Repeat this motion for the prescribed amount of repetitions.

Muscles worked

Primary: LatsSecondary: BicepsSecondary: ForearmsSecondary: Upper back

Sets and reps

Do 3 sets of 8-15 controlled reps, stopping 1-2 reps before failure. When you can do 15 easily, slow the tempo or add weight.

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Chin Up alternatives

Exercises that train the same main muscle, including options with other equipment.

Pull UpBodyweight · BeginnerLat PulldownCable · BeginnerLeverage Iso RowMachine · BeginnerBent-Arm Barbell PulloverBarbell · IntermediateLondon BridgesOther · IntermediateShotgun RowCable · Beginner

FAQ

What muscles does the chin up work?

It mainly works your lats; your biceps, forearms and upper back assist.

How many sets and reps of chin up should I do?

Do 3 sets of 8-15 controlled reps, stopping 1-2 reps before failure. When you can do 15 easily, slow the tempo or add weight.

Is the chin up good for beginners?

Yes. It is a beginner-friendly movement: start light and focus on the form steps above.

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