BWTB’s First Strict Ring Muscle-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 guide athletes through each component of the transition from a pull-up into a ring dip, focusing on the necessary technique and strength development along the way. When combined with what you’ve already learned from a strict pull-up and a strict ring dip, the transition can help turn a long awaited muscle-up dream into a reality. As a prerequisite, athletes should already be able to perform 7-10 Strict Pull-ups and 3-5 Strict Ring Dips.
Each individualized session of the program involves a warm-up and 2-3 functional fitness skills and drills to develop core strength, shoulder stability, and lat activation. The critical transition from the strict pull-up into the strict ring dip will be strengthened through strict pulling and pressing work, active holds, tempo gymnastics drills, and transition technique drills. Kipping will be avoided! By developing the strength needed to perform a strict ring muscle-up, the kipping muscle-up, when ready, will feel like a piece of cake.
The First Strict Ring Dip 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 7-10 strict pull-ups. This skill can be critical to your safety and success in the program.
BWTB’s First Strict Ring Muscle-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 guide athletes through each component of the transition from a pull-up into a ring dip, focusing on the necessary technique and strength development along the way. When combined with what you’ve already learned from a strict pull-up and a strict ring dip, the transition can help turn a long awaited muscle-up dream into a reality. As a prerequisite, athletes should already be able to perform 7-10 Strict Pull-ups and 3-5 Strict Ring Dips.
Each individualized session of the program involves a warm-up and 2-3 functional fitness skills and drills to develop core strength, shoulder stability, and lat activation. The critical transition from the strict pull-up into the strict ring dip will be strengthened through strict pulling and pressing work, active holds, tempo gymnastics drills, and transition technique drills. Kipping will be avoided! By developing the strength needed to perform a strict ring muscle-up, the kipping muscle-up, when ready, will feel like a piece of cake.
The First Strict Ring Dip 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 7-10 strict pull-ups. This skill can be critical to your safety and success in the 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 PVC Lifts
Forward Crab Walk, 15 ft
Backward Crab Walk, 15 ft
10 Scap Push-ups
-- then –
Stretch your wrists on the ground with hands facing forwards, backwards and sideways. Stretch your biceps by laying on your stomach with arms out to your sides and rotating your body.
Strict Chest-to-Ring Pull-ups, 3 x 5
Extra Instructions
Make sure that you are keeping the hollow position throughout each rep. There should not be an arch in the back. Think about pressing down on the rings to get your chest to make contact rather than pulling up to accomplish that. We want the lats to be working in this drill.
Banded Seated Ring Muscle-ups, 3x Max Reps
Extra Instructions
No more than 20 reps each set.
This drill is working on muscle memory and also training the ring muscle-up transition. Try and find a band resistance that you can get more than 10 reps but less than 20. These sets should be challenging.
Hollow Hold, 3 x 20sec, Rest 40sec
Extra Instructions
Working on the hollow hold will transfer to all other gymnastics movements. Tension = power. Breathe through any time spent holding. Do not hold your breath. Scale to a tuck hold if needed.
After purchasing the First Strict Ring Muscle-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.