What is a gorilla pull-up?
Mia Kelly
Published Jan 25, 2026
Grip the bar with one hand in front and the other right behind it, like you're gripping the handle of a baseball bat. Now pull yourself up until your right shoulder touches the bar. Slowly lower yourself. Repeat, this time touching your left shoulder to the bar.
What is a Tarzan pull-up?
Start with an overhand grip on the middle of the bar with both hands almost touching. Pull yourself up to the right, lower yourself, and then repeat to the left side. The Tarzan pull-up is an excellent option for someone looking to emphasize the muscles in their arms.
What do Commando pull ups do?
Commando pull-ups are an advanced bodyweight exercise for building upper-body strength. This workout uses a unique hand position to target your triceps, latissimus dorsi, and core muscles.
What's the hardest pull-up?
An overhand grip pull-up is the hardest to do, because it places more of the workload on your lats. The wider your grip, the less help your lats get from other muscles, making a rep harder.
What are the different types of pull-ups called?
The Best Pullup and Chinup Variations
- Hockey Grip Pullup.
- Wide-Grip Pullup.
- Lateral Slide Pullup.
- Plyo Pullup.
- Towel Pullup.
- Mixed-Grip Pullup.
- Close Grip Chinup.
- L-Pull.
What's the easiest pull-up?
The chin up is the easiest variation of the pull up and is performed with your palms facing towards you, in an underhand (supinated) grip, this exercise allows use of the biceps a little more and is definitely the first type of pull up you should strive to master.
Are pull-ups or chin-ups harder?
Generally, chinups are a little bit easier than pullups, meaning that you can probably do more repetitions using a chinup grip than a pullup grip.
Is 22 pull-ups good?
Men should be able to perform at least 8 pull-ups, and 13-17 reps is considered fit and strong. And women should be able to perform between 1-3 pull-ups, and 5-9 reps is considered fit and strong.
Are clap pull-ups hard?
This variation is extremely difficult, but will work your explosive muscles to the max. Start by doing a regular pull-up; when you reach the top, let go of the bar and clap your hands once and catch the bar on your way down, then lower yourself to a fully extended position.
How hard are typewriter pull-ups?
Typewriter pull-ups will be very tough if you aren't already good at regular pull-ups. It's best to build your strength with normal pull-ups first so typewriters are a lot easier.
Why are commando pull ups so hard?
Commando Pull Ups
Due to the smaller space between your hands, you'll have to fight rotational forces in order to stop your body twisting around. These are actually pretty tough and can be a lot more challenging than your standard pull or chin up.
Are mixed grip pull-ups good?
The pullup is the ultimate two-in-one muscle builder for bulging biceps and a V-shaped back. This variation, called the mixed-grip pullup, also helps define your midsection.
What is the best pull-up variation?
Pull up variations
- 1) Chin up. Targets: Biceps and back. ...
- 2) Hanging knee raises. Targets: Core, shoulders and grip strength. ...
- 3) Around the world. Targets: Biceps and back, one arm at a time. ...
- 4) Clapping pull ups. Targets: Explosivity and grip. ...
- 5) Negative pull ups. Targets: Biceps and back. ...
- 6) Towel pull ups. ...
- 7) L-sits.
What are explosive pull ups?
Begin in the same hanging position, but once you accelerate to the top of the pull-up, relax your grip on the bar with both hands (but keep your hands in-line and palms on the bar in the release). Wrap your fingers back around the bar on your descent and return to the hang.
How do you do negative pull ups?
In a negative pullup, you use support to raise yourself to the midway point of a pullup, with your chin over the bar. Then, resisting gravity, you slowly lower yourself into a dead hang, keeping control of your back and arm muscles as you release down.
How do you do clapping pull ups?
Make sure that your arms are fully extended. 2 Squeeze your shoulder blades together and pull yourself up until your chin is over the bar. You can use a little body English to increase your power. 3 Let go of the bar, clap your hands together, and then catch yourself on the bar, ideally in the same hand position.
How many pullups can average man do?
How many reps of Pull Ups can the average lifter do? The average male lifter can do 13 reps of Pull Ups. This makes you Intermediate on Strength Level and is a very impressive achievement.
How many pull-ups can the average Marine do?
Enlistees into the United States Marine Corp must be able to perform at least three pull-ups; however, a score of 50 percent is met with a total of 10 pull-ups completed. Unlike other military athletic tests such as crunches and the 3-mile run, pull-up tests have no set time limit.
Is 10 chin-ups good?
To build prowess in your biceps and back muscles, use chin-ups as part of a workout progression. Once you can pretty readily do 12 to 15 chin-ups, move to multiple sets with 10 reps in each set. For a few weeks, do two sets of 10 chin-up reps.
Is wide grip pull up harder?
The wide-grip pull up is harder to perform than a standard pull up because your hands will be further apart from the centre of your body which makes the exercise the more difficult. The wide grip pull-up increases strength, mobility, and muscle mass. Particularly in your lats and traps.
Why are pullups harder than pushups?
According to Torre Washington, trainer and expert at Centr (Chris Hemsworth's fitness platform), the reason pull-ups are harder than push-ups “boils down to distribution of weight.” In a push-up, four different points maintain contact with the ground.
Why are pull-ups hard for females?
According to research described in The New York Times, a combination of women's low levels of testosterone, higher body fat percentage and less ease at building muscle means that women fare worse than men at performing pull-ups.
Are pull-ups enough for back?
Pull ups are a great back exercise, and by varying how you execute them they can target most of your mid and upper back. However, they leave your low back neglected and rows are better for targeting the rhomboids and trapezius.