Our Muscle-Up Program is designed specifically to help you master this advanced skill while building incredible upper body strength.
Muscle-ups demand dedication and effort, and this program will guide you step-by-step to achieve your first muscle-up. With consistent practice, you’ll unlock a challenging movement that showcases your hard work and progress.
The muscle-up is more than just a flashy move—it’s a testament to your strength, skill, and dedication.
The muscle-up is not just about strength; it’s about combining technique, power, and control. That’s why our program takes a holistic approach, focusing on both the strength and skills needed for success. Each week, you’ll follow guided routines that include clear instructions, workout plans, and expert tips to avoid common mistakes.
While learning the muscle-up, you’ll also develop pulling power, explosive strength, and stability that will benefit other calisthenics movements in the future.
Our Muscle-Up Training Program is a 6-week journey designed for people who already meet the strength baseline of 10 pull-ups and 10 dips.
Whether you’ve tried and failed before or are starting fresh, this program is designed to help you finally achieve your first muscle-up.
This program is perfect for individuals who:
This program requires minimal but essential equipment to ensure you can complete the exercises safely and effectively.
A high pull-up bar for explosive pulling movements.
A straight low bar for dips and transitions.
A resistance band to assist with progressions.
A dip belt to add weight and build strength as you progress.
Our Muscle-Up Training Program is your ultimate guide to mastering this iconic calisthenics skill. With expert guidance, detailed workouts, and a supportive community, you’ll finally break through your limits and achieve something truly amazing.
Yes, you need to be able to do 10 pull-ups and 10 dips before starting the program. These exercises build the strength needed to progress safely.
Most people can achieve their first muscle-up in a few weeks to a few months, depending on how often they practice and their current strength level.
You’ll need:
This equipment is essential for completing the workouts in the program.
The program focuses on strict muscle-ups, which build strength and control.
Yes! The program is designed to address common mistakes and build the strength and technique you need to succeed.
Absolutely. The program has clear steps to help beginners and those close to achieving a muscle-up improve steadily.
You’ll train 3 times per week. The program is push-and-pull dominated, meaning it heavily focuses on upper body pushing and pulling movements. Adding too much additional training, especially for the same muscle groups, might interrupt your progress. Stick to the plan for the best results.
The program builds explosive pulling strength, core stability, and grip strength. These are key for achieving a muscle-up and improving overall fitness.
The program is focused on bar muscle-ups. However, the strength and skills you gain can also help with ring muscle-ups. If you're specifically interested in ring muscle-ups, we offer a separate program designed to help you master them.
If you meet the baseline strength requirements (10 pull-ups and 10 dips), the program is perfect for beginners aiming for their first muscle-up. It provides step-by-step guidance to make progress manageable and rewarding.
A muscle-up is a combination of two movements: a pull-up and a dip. It starts with a pull-up, where you lift your body until your chest is above the bar or rings. From there, you transition your chest forward and push into a dip to fully extend your arms at the top. This skill requires a mix of strength, explosiveness, and coordination. It’s often seen as a milestone in calisthenics because it shows you can handle your body weight with power and control.
To have a solid foundation for muscle-ups, you should aim for:
These benchmarks ensure your pulling and pushing muscles are strong enough to handle the demands of the muscle-up. If you’re not there yet, focus on improving these two movements before jumping into muscle-up practice. Building this strength base helps prevent injury and frustration during training.
The muscle-up is a compound exercise, meaning it engages several muscle groups at once. Here’s a breakdown:
This exercise is great for building upper body strength and coordination, making it a favorite for calisthenics athletes.
For beginners, the bar muscle-up is usually the better starting point. A fixed bar provides stability, so you can focus on building strength and perfecting your pulling and transition phases without worrying about balance.
Ring muscle-ups are more advanced because the rings move, requiring extra stability from your shoulders and core. Once you’ve mastered the bar muscle-up, transitioning to rings becomes easier because you’ll already have the strength and technique.
If your goal is to build strength, focus on the strict version. If you’re aiming for a dynamic, functional skill or training for CrossFit, the kipping muscle-up may be more practical.
This happens because the transition phase is the most challenging part of the muscle-up. Many people can pull to their chest but struggle to move their elbows over the bar. To fix this:
Improving your pulling height and practicing the transition directly will help you bridge this gap.
Explosiveness is key to muscle-ups, especially in the pulling phase. To develop it:some text
The time it takes varies depending on your starting strength and consistency.some text
Yes, but you’ll need to focus on progressions that build your strength and skill step by step. For example:
Even if you’re new to fitness, consistent practice with progressions will help you build the necessary strength and coordination over time.