I have super strong hands from doing massage for 22 years. I challenge any of you suckers to a thumb wrestling match! But I lack upper body strength. Upper body strength is important for carrying heavy loads without throwing your back out, helping others in times of crisis, pain-free baby holding, pulling baby elephants out of the mud (you want to help baby elephants don’t you?). Upper body strength also keeps the shoulders down away from the ears, reducing neck strain and improves blood flow to the head.
Try this, rest your arms at your side, now look down. Are your elbow pits facing forward, or are they pointing inward with the knuckles facing forward? If the elbow pits are pointing inward, your upper arms are internally rotated. Your body molds to what you do most often…your habits become your posture. Unfortunately, modern life doesn’t require our shoulder joints to move through their full range of motion. Instead, we spend much of our time with our arms internally rotated, for example while driving a car (10 and 2), writing at a desk and typing on a computer.
Go out for a walk and watch how people swing their arms. Some arms look like windshield wipers swinging in front of the body. Sometimes you’ll see one arm swing behind the body like they’re fanning away a fart. …maybe they are, I keep my distance just in case.
In the picture below are two twins separated at birth, the one on the left was raised by gorillas (or raised in front of a computer, I’m not sure?) That’s me on the right. Notice my clavicles are not in the ideal neutral (horizontal) position- this is from a lifetime of elevating my shoulders. I’m working on it, so cut me a break here. Horizontal clavicles are important; if they’re in a V formation, the muscles around them are not in the correct plane making it difficult to do what they are supposed to do as a team with the rest of your muscles, like keeping the head in the correct position (ears over shoulders). You also run the risk of cervical disk problems, upper back strain and blood flow to the head.
“The shoulder girdle maintains the environment and geometry for activities in the thoracic cavity (those of the heart and lungs) and the health of the cervical and thoracic nervous system,” Katy Bowman biomechanist. Pretty important stuff aye?
Okay, Okay I know I didn’t use the best form in these videos, but I’m working on it. It’s a journey. Correction: I’m actually doing chin-ups, not pull-ups. I’m planning on working on Pull-Ups next.
This is the pull-up bar I own: ProSource Heavy-Duty Easy Gym Doorway Chin-Up/Pull-Up Bar
This will help you do an assisted chin up….if you aren’t as strong as I am.
Update: I’ve been told that this chin-up bar is easier on the door frame (make sure you check measurements before purchasing):
Love the slow mo… Nice job!
What a great idea to film your progress! Also, you are adorable. 🙂
I still have to jump up to my pull up, but I’m working on it in my apple tree.
You are so awesome! You had me laughin’ out loud! And now I’m jealous of your super awesome buffness.
Very nice of you to post your progress. A lat pull down is one thing; using your lat to lift your body weight is a very different endeavor. I salute your ongoing efforts. Great ninja moves, slo-mo and kung fu! And your sound engineer deserves an award.
I believe the correct physiologic term is flatus :o)
Ms. Butterfly is fun to watch but I don’t think I’d want to be her psoas.
Thanks Tim! Yeah, I was thinking the same thing about her psoas.
I didn’t know what you were talking about, I had to look up flatus. Thanks for teaching me a new word.
I’m really excited I can now do the pullup without pedaling in the air. …video update is in the works.
You have inspired me to hang a monkey bar outside. I want to be an aligned monkey. Whoo hoo! Your so great, keep up the good work.