How to Do an Underhand Chin Up

Many fitness conscious people join fitness centers or attend community gyms to keep in shape or to get into shape. An exercise that builds the arms, shoulders and chest is the underhand chin up. All you need is a well stabilized horizontal bar that will hold your weight. The best placement for the bar is above your head. Many exercises don't require any expensive equipment or memberships.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Position yourself under the center of the bar and extend your arms above your head. If you can't find a bar that is above the reach of your arms so that your body can hang, then bend your knees so that your lower legs are parallel to the ground. The rest of your body will hang down vertically.
2. Grasp the bar with your hands with your palms facing towards your face. With your full body weight hanging from your hands, pull your body up by your arms. Bring yourself up to the point where your chin is just above the height of the bar. Then, return to the starting position.
3. Make sure your movement is smooth and controlled both in the upward and downward direction. Once you reach the uppermost part of the movement, pause for one second and then complete the movement. Continue to repeat the movement until you can no longer complete the movement with control. Don't jerk your body up or swing to complete the movement. Although swinging may seem to make the movement easier, you do not receive the full benefit of the exercise by allowing it.

Tips & Warnings

• Swinging and jerking while doing this movement can lead to injury of your muscles and tendons.