Sternum Pull-up

How to perform it

1. 1Preparation and positioning. Use a structurally secure bar or handles with enough clearance for a controlled mount and dismount. Use a closed grip unless the node specifies another grip, and establish the rep standard before the set. Use a secure bar and a high-pull standard that does not require forced lumbar extension.
2. 2Starting position. Begin with the elbows extended within the defined pain-free range, ribs stacked over the pelvis, and the shoulder girdle controlled. Begin in a controlled hang with ribs over pelvis and the bar path defined.
3. 3Concentric phase. Pull by driving the elbows down or back while keeping the trunk quiet. Pull the chest high while extending the shoulder and bringing the torso toward a more horizontal position without a kip.
4. 4End position / lockout. Reach the defined height without jutting the head forward or losing shoulder control. Reach the declared sternum or lower-chest marker only if the shoulders and trunk remain controlled.
5. 5Eccentric phase. Lower under control through the same path and return to the stated start position. Do not drop into the bottom or let the grip open.
6. 6Breathing and bracing. Brace the trunk moderately before the pull, maintain a quiet ribcage, and exhale through the hardest portion as appropriate. Brief higher-pressure bracing is a programming choice, not a cue to ignore medical restrictions.
7. 7Valid rep. A valid repetition uses the defined grip, range, body line, and tempo without unplanned momentum. The same high endpoint is reached without hip pop, leg swing, or neck overextension.

Common mistakes

• Using momentum

  Fix: Reset the body line, lower the difficulty, and make the first pull quiet.

• Changing the range

  Fix: Define the start and endpoint before the set and use the same markers on every repetition.

• Shrugging or losing shoulder control

  Fix: Keep the neck long and let the scapulae move under control rather than collapsing.

• Turning it into a bar muscle-up

  Fix: Keep the elbows and chest path defined and stop before the hips create the transition.

Safety

• The high horizontal path and shoulder extension are technically demanding; the named variant has limited direct long-term outcome research.
• Choose a setup, load, assistance level, and exit strategy that allow the defined standard to be maintained; do not train through acute, sharp, electric, or worsening symptoms.

Progressions & alternatives

• regressionStrict Chest-to-bar Pull-up— Use a lower but still strict chest endpoint.
• progressionStrict Bar Muscle-up— Add a transition only after the high pull remains strict.
• alternativeInverted Row— Use a more horizontal pull with a lower relative load.
• prerequisiteStrict Bar Muscle-up— A high pull may prepare the transition but does not establish the complete muscle-up skill.