BWTB’s First Strict Pull-Up program is part of the Varied Not Random series, curated by CrossFit coaching legends Pat Sherwood and Adrian Bozman. Across 20 training sessions, this cycle will help athletes master one of the pivotal functional fitness movements, potentially opening the door to more advanced movements like the Kipping Bar Pull-Up or Kipping Bar Muscle-Up. As a prerequisite, athletes should already be able to complete 5 full range of motion ring rows with their feet under the rings, and be able to hang from a bar for 5-10 seconds.
Each session of the program involves a warm-up and 2-3 functional fitness skills and drills to develop upper body pulling strength as well as core strength, the two key components of this movement. These skills and drills will consist of a mix of pull-up bar and ring work, static and dynamic movement, plus accessory work. They’ll also highlight the importance of the hollow body position as well as lat activation and development. Because the athlete’s skill is tested at the beginning of the program, their progress will be much easier to gauge as the weeks go on.
The First Strict Pull-Up Program is self-paced, meaning it can supplement a current fitness routine or become a strict focus. BTWB recommends completing 2-3 sessions per week to complete the program within a range of 6-10 weeks.
AM I READY?
Before starting this program, BTWB recommends that you’re already able to complete 5 full range of motion ring rows with your feet under the rings. In addition, you should be able to hang from a bar for 5-10 seconds. Mastering the Ring Row and Bar Hang can be critical to your safety and success in this program.
BWTB’s First Strict Pull-Up program is part of the Varied Not Random series, curated by CrossFit coaching legends Pat Sherwood and Adrian Bozman. Across 20 training sessions, this cycle will help athletes master one of the pivotal functional fitness movements, potentially opening the door to more advanced movements like the Kipping Bar Pull-Up or Kipping Bar Muscle-Up. As a prerequisite, athletes should already be able to complete 5 full range of motion ring rows with their feet under the rings, and be able to hang from a bar for 5-10 seconds.
Each session of the program involves a warm-up and 2-3 functional fitness skills and drills to develop upper body pulling strength as well as core strength, the two key components of this movement. These skills and drills will consist of a mix of pull-up bar and ring work, static and dynamic movement, plus accessory work. They’ll also highlight the importance of the hollow body position as well as lat activation and development. Because the athlete’s skill is tested at the beginning of the program, their progress will be much easier to gauge as the weeks go on.
The First Strict Pull-Up Program is self-paced, meaning it can supplement a current fitness routine or become a strict focus. BTWB recommends completing 2-3 sessions per week to complete the program within a range of 6-10 weeks.
Before starting this program, BTWB recommends that you’re already able to complete 5 full range of motion ring rows with your feet under the rings. In addition, you should be able to hang from a bar for 5-10 seconds. Mastering the Ring Row and Bar Hang can be critical to your safety and success in this program.
A “cycle” is a program that has both a start and an end. The cycle will be made up of a fixed number of sessions that athletes can complete at their own pace and on their own schedule. Unlike a "continuous" program, which offers programming on an indefinite basis, a cycle is designed for users to achieve a specific goal within a suggested amount of time.
This program is meant for beginners and advanced lifters alike. It’s the perfect introduction to strength training for beginners, but it’s also great for the experienced lifter looking for some structure to help squeeze out those extra 1% gains. At the very least, you should be familiar with the points of performance for this movement to ensure your success and safety.
You can work through the program as quickly (or as slowly) as you’d like. Our expert staff recommends completing 3 sessions per week for a total of 6-7 weeks. This recommendation puts you right in the strength-building sweet spot, ensuring enough exposure to the stimuli each week while also providing ample time for recovery.
This program is our take on a linear strength program. It will utilize a 5-5-ME scheme. The weight used will increase by the same amount each session, and there are also rules for decreasing the load if an athlete fails to perform at least 5 reps on the ME set. ME stands for “max effort”. This is the 3rd set of each session. Athletes will perform as many reps as they can up to 10 reps. This program is very simple to follow but is also super effective.
You’ll begin the program by finding your 5RM. You’ll then use a percentage of that 5RM on Day 2. If all goes well, you’ll get back up to, and surpass, your previous 5RM through the normal course of the program. Results can and will vary based on your ability and consistency. Remember, progress takes time and varies from person to person. You might require another run through the program before meeting your goal, and that’s okay. Fitness is a journey. Enjoy and trust the process!
The E-book will be automatically sent to the email address used at the time of your purchase of this program. Download it, frame it, sleep with it under your pillow; once purchased, the E-Book is yours forever. You’ll also be able to find a version of the E-book in the “Programs” section of the btwb app. As an added bonus, btwb app users can sync the program with their btwb calendar. Choose the number of sessions that you’ll complete each week, customize which days you’ll perform those sessions, and easily view your program schedule to help you stay on track.
No, you do not need a btwb subscription to use this program. You may access the program content directly through the PDF if you prefer. 10 weeks of free btwb access is also included with the program purchase. If you currently have an active subscription to btwb, that subscription will continue as is.
10 PVC Pass Throughs
10 Scap Pull-ups
15 Beat Swings
Hollow Hold : 1 x 60 secs (accumulate)
Extra Instructions
It's important you're pulling from the proper position. That means learning and strengthening the hollow position. You'll be playing around with the hollow hold many times over the course of this program. Point your toes, squeeze your glutes and quads, and tuck your rib cage down (shoulder blades off of the ground). Scale to a tuck hold as needed.
Banded PVC Lat Press Downs 3 x 12-15 reps
Rest as needed between sets.
Extra Instructions
You'll need strong lats in order to perform a strict pull-up, so let's strengthen them! In addition to strengthening, these lat press downs will also help you understand how to activate your lats (which isn't always obvious or easy to do). Press down fast and control on the way back up. Your elbows should remain locked out the entire time. The thicker the band, the harder these will be.
Toe Spot Strict Pull-ups 5 x 5 reps Rest as needed between sets.
Extra Instructions
You'll be doing various forms of strict pull-ups throughout the program. You'll start with the toe spotted versions. The box is there to provide as much assistance as you need, but challenge yourself to use as little as possible. Initiate the pull-up with your lats. Activate them the same way you were during the lat press downs from Skill B today.
After purchasing the First Strict Pull-Up program from Rogue, customers will be able to schedule the program into their calendar on the BTWB App. If you don’t already have the app, purchasing this program will give you 10 weeks of full access. BTWB will also provide a downloadable eBook version of the program, via e-mail, which is the customer’s to keep and revisit for all time.
From the BTWB App, users can customize many aspects of the program, including the number of sessions they want to complete each week, as well as which days those sessions land on. If the entire program isn’t completed the first time through, users can jump back in at any time where they left off.
Fitness is a journey. With btwb, you can plan, log, and analyze your results all in one place. Keep track of PRs, workout history, find a program, track your macros, earn badges and more! The BTWB App is also the official training app of the Rogue Invitational and of 2x “Fittest Man on Earth” Justin Medeiros.
BTWB’s Varied Not Random (VNR) series provides a wide variety of programs designed to help all athletes of all levels, from beginner to advanced, work on and improve specific areas of their fitness. Each program is meticulously designed by an expert in their field, and can be customized and scheduled seamlessly into the BTWB App.
PLEASE NOTE: The programming will be accessible after purchase. An e-mail confirmation will also be sent (be sure to check Spam folder if it does not appear). This is a digital cycle and NOT a physical book.
Iron Game Programming is not yet available for purchase in the following countries: Albania, Andorra, Belarus, Bosnia, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, San Marino, Serbia, Switzerland, Turkey, and Ukraine.