JonRhodesUK

I had this very same problem. It took me quite a bit of time and persistence to sort, as well as a lot of pain in my shoulders!

My training partner is very good as these, and is very keen to do them two times a week - with the back workout and the shoulder workout. Admitedly if I was training alone I probably would have given up on them when I realised that I couldn't do even one!

I started off not being able to do any whatsoever, so he would help lift me. This was probably as difficult for him as it was me!

However we persisted and slowly but surely the help he needed to give me became less and less. After a couple of months I started to be able to 3 or 4 reps by myself, then he would help me up to 10.

Now we do 3 sets of ten behind the neck and 3 sets of ten in front, twice a week. They are a fantastic way of building up natural size and strength, so I would urge you to be persistent like I was. I still remember how much they used to hurt me, but the pain was worth it!

So if you have a training partner, get them to help you - and persist for a couple of months - its takes time, but then all of a sudden you realise that you can do them - and its an amazing feeling! Isn't this what its all about - pushing our bodies to new places with determination and persistence?!

Savek

very well said my friend. And i will keep training hard back/shoulders till the day i can do them and im sure its a great feeling like you said

JonRhodesUK

That's the way!

Very few people I notice actually do pull ups, or they might do one set of 6 reps and that's it. This is probably because they are so damn hard for the first couple of months. I treat them more or less like any other exercise and to 3 sets of 10 behind the neck and 3 sets of 10 in front. It used to kill me and I dreaded doing them for quite a few weeks, the pain in my shoulders was intense, but I'm glad I persevered. They are now relatively easy, and I'm sure I have befitted from far greater back, traps and shoulder development because of it.

We probably all know people in the gym who have been going for several years and look pretty much the same from one year to the next. Some people are happy with this as their goal is just to maintain, and that's fair enough. Some though complain that they haven't got the genetics or can't understand why they aren't growing. If you watch their workout, they avoid all the 'difficult' exercises like pull ups and parallel bars, and don't really push themselves through any pain barriers. That is the real reason why so many people get to a certain point after 6 months to a year, and then plateau. You must be prepared to hurt - the cliche is true - no pain no gain!!

Let us know how you get on!

Big Belly

Have you tried doing Negitive Reps to build your self up to doing Full ones?

Savek

whats that?

Big Belly

This is where you stand up on something (a bench). So you start in the up position (Chin at bar), lift your feet of the bench and as slowly as you can lower yourself down, then hang for 2-3 seconds. Then instead of trying to lift yourself back up use the bench and start again do lik 6-10 reps and 3 sets.

It is emphasising the eccentric part of the movement.

Do this for a few weeks and then try do normal pull ups on your own, see the difference.