How to do Chin-up
- Main muscle
- Lats
- Equipment
- Pull-up bar
- Level
- Intermediate
- Type
- Strength
Secondary muscles
How to do it
- 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.
This page is general information. If you have an injury, pain or a health condition, check with a professional before doing this exercise.
Similar exercises

Pull-up
Lats · Pull-up bar

Lat Pulldown
Lats · Cable

Close-grip Pulldown
Lats · Cable

One-arm Dumbbell Row
Lats · Dumbbell

Straight-arm Pulldown
Lats · Cable

Underhand Cable Pulldowns
Lats · Cable

Bent-Arm Barbell Pullover
Lats · Barbell

Cable Incline Pushdown
Lats · Cable
Ready-made programs with this exercise
Gyms and trainers on GamGym can import these programs as their own templates and assign them to members.
