Hey Reader,
This week, we’re tackling one of the most sought-after skills in CrossFit: how to get your first muscle-up.
You’ve probably seen athletes effortlessly transition from a powerful pull to a clean dip and thought...
how do I make that happen for myself?
The muscle-up is a balance of technique, mobility, and structured training.
As a CrossFit coach and physical therapist, I’ve guided dozens of athletes through this movement over the last 12 years.
I’ve seen what works—and what doesn’t—when it comes to getting your first rep.
In today’s newsletter, I’ll break down everything you need to know to finally achieve your first muscle-up, step by step.
This Week's Training
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Day 1 - 12/9/2024
A) Ring Muscle-up (or strict C2B) - Every 2:00, perform 3-5 Reps x 10 sets (add reps)
B1) Push Jerk - 3 x 3; rest 1’ and move to B2 - Progress load from wk 1
B2) Banded Face Pull - 30X1; 3 x 10; rest 1’ and move to B1
C) MAP 4 Mixed Modal Work
5 Sets @ sustained effort
2:00 min AMRAP; Rest 2:00’ btw
8 Alt Dumbbell Hang Power Snatch 50/35#
3 Burpee Box Jump 24/20”
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Be sure to snap a pic of your training and tag @WillMurtagh_DPT on social!
Deep Dive
How To Get Your First Ring or Bar Muscle-Up in CrossFit
Achieving your first muscle-up is a big fitness milestone in CrossFit.
This movement is one of the more challenging skills in CrossFit, combining power with gymnastic finesse.
Your path to mastering the muscle up (ring or bar) begins with building a strong foundation of mobility, strength, and proper technique.
In my 12-year Coaching career, I have noticed what works and what doesn’t for getting your first muscle-up.
This guide will take you through everything you need, from assessing your current capabilities to refining the nuances of muscle-up mechanics.
Let’s get started.
Muscle-Up Prerequisites
Before you attempt your first muscle-up, laying a solid foundation is essential.
You'll need adequate mobility, strength, and an understanding of technique to execute the movement.
Let’s break it down.
Shoulder and Upper Body Mobility
Your shoulders play a pivotal role in muscle-ups.
To prepare, ensure your shoulders, shoulder blades, and upper back are mobile enough to handle the dynamic nature of the movement.
A simple way to assess your mobility is to perform the scratch test..
Reach one hand behind your back and the other over your head down your back.
If your hands aren't roughly a palm length away from each other, you may need to work on mobility.
To improve your range of motion, incorporate stretches like the external or internal rotation or thoracic spine extensions on a foam roller.
These will help you open up your shoulders and improve mobility.
Here are some mobility options I frequently give to my clients.
90/90 Pec Stretch (LINK)
Banded Shoulder Distraction (LINK)
Sleeper Stretch (LINK)
Thoracic Spine Ext w/ Foam Roller (LINK)
Strength Levels
Strength is the next piece of any successful muscle-up attempt.
If you can’t perform several strict pull-ups and ring dips, your body isn’t ready yet.
Aim to achieve at least a 1.5x bodyweight pull-up and dip (bodyweight + weight).
This benchmark ensures that you have the upper body power needed to pull your hips to the rings or bar and push through the dip phase.
Your core is equally important.
A strong, stable core allows you to maintain a hollow body position throughout the movement, preventing energy leaks.
You can test this by performing hollow body holds for at least 30 seconds.
Technique Awareness
Your success in muscle-ups depends heavily on your technique.
Once you have the pre-requisite strength the movement comes down to efficiency.
To start you want to become comfortable with the false grip.
This allows you to transition smoothly from the pull-up to the dip.
Spend time practicing this grip on the rings until you can maintain it comfortably.
Next, is understanding how to generate power through a kip.
The kip allows you to use your body’s momentum to execute the movement.
Learning this dynamic pattern early will help you combine strength and speed effectively when the time comes.
Once you’ve established mobility, strength, and a grasp of basic technique, you’ll be ready to tackle more advanced progressions on your path to mastering the muscle-up.
Building Strength For The Muscle-Up
If your limiter is strength you’ll need a solid vertical pulling progression.
To achieve this, incorporate weighted pull-ups and dips into your training regularly.
Start with small increments of weight or bands and aim for sets of 3–5 reps.
Eccentric reps are powerful tools to build strength in the two patterns as well.
Slowly lower yourself from the top of a pull-up or ring or bar dip, controlling the descent for 5–7 seconds.
3-5 sets of each type of strength work should be sufficient.
Eccentrics will help you overload the involved muscles and joints to a higher degree then you could with normal reps.
Increasing the speed of strength development.
Step-by-Step Muscle-Up Technique
Mastering the muscle-up is as much about technique as it is about strength.
Breaking the movement into phases can help you refine each component and execute the skill seamlessly.
The Grip
The false grip is critical for a smooth transition from the pull to the dip phase.
Instead of gripping the rings or bar in your palm, rest the base of your wrists on the ring.
This keeps you closer to the rings, minimizing wasted movement during the transition.
To avoid wrist fatigue, practice holding the false grip for short durations, gradually increasing your time.
Ensure your wrists stay aligned, and don’t let them collapse under pressure.
For bar muscle-ups simply grab the bar in a pull-up grip.
Body Position
A strong hollow body position is your anchor throughout the movement.
Engage your core, keep your legs straight, and point your toes to maintain tension.
This position prevents energy leaks and ensures your momentum stays directed toward the rings or bar.
The Kip
The kip is the engine of your muscle-up.
Start by swinging your legs back into an arched position, then drive them forward explosively.
This motion generates the momentum needed to propel your chest toward the rings or bar.
The key is control—avoid over-swinging or bending your knees, as this can dissipate energy.
Hip Pop and Transition
At the peak of your kip, execute a powerful hip pop by driving your hips toward the rings or bar.
The most critical aspect to the movement is getting your hips to the rings or bar.
At the hip's highest point, pull your chest over the rings or bar while transitioning your hands into the dip position.
The Press Up
Once you’ve transitioned into the dip position, press your body upward to lockout.
Keep the armpits closed to maximize shoulder stability.
Avoid shrugging or flaring your elbows.
By breaking the muscle up into these distinct phases, you can systematically refine each part of the movement.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Even with the strength and mobility required for a muscle-up, common mistakes in technique can hold you back.
Hips not reaching the rings or bar
Without adequate hip elevation, transitioning into the dip phase becomes almost impossible.
Focus on drills like chest-to-bar pull-ups or hip-to-ring pulls, which emphasize pulling as high as possible.
Bending the knees on the kip
Incorrect kipping technique often shows up as bent knees or inefficient energy transfer.
This not only wastes momentum but also reduces the power of your kip.
Work on maintaining straight legs during the kip and practice controlled kipping swings on the rings or bar to perfect your rhythm.
Early arm bend
Another critical error is keeping your elbows bent during the kip swing.
This mistake leaks energy and prevents a smooth transition.
To correct this, prioritize drills that teach you to fully extend your arms, such as hollow-to-arch swings, while focusing on timing the transition correctly.
Progressive Training For a Muscle-Up
Achieving your first muscle-up requires breaking the movement into smaller, manageable parts and mastering each component individually.
Start with transition-focused drills like “ring to dip progressions.”
These teach you to move seamlessly from the pull phase to the dip phase.
Similarly, “hip-to-ring pulls” help you generate the height needed for a successful transition.
Kipping drills can help refine your swing and momentum generation, while strict pull-ups and ring dips build the foundational strength necessary for each phase of the muscle-up.
But, you want to avoid relying on band assistance.
While bands can mimic the motion, they often create incorrect patterns and fail to build the strength required for unassisted muscle-ups.
Instead, focus on mastering the parts of the movement and transition to full practice of the muscle-up when you’re ready.
Sample Weekly Progression Plan
Here’s a potential weekly training plan.
- Day 1: Emphasize strict strength work with weighted pull-ups and dips.
- Day 3: Focus on transition drills, such as ring-to-dip progressions and false grip holds.
- Day 5: Combine kipping drills with pull-up-to-ring transitions, working on fluidity and timing.
Wrapping Up on Your First Muscle-Up
Mastering your first muscle-up is a rewarding journey that requires strength, technique, and a commitment to progressive training.
Stick to the outlined steps, trust the process, and stay consistent in your efforts.
It can take time to master the fundamentals but every pull, swing, and drill is a step closer to success.
If you have questions about this week's deep dive or want a topic covered, reply to this email and let me know!
Read more about improving gymnastic skills for CrossFit (LINK)
This Week's Blog Post
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9 Bicep Barbell Workouts For Arm Strength & Size
These 9 bicep barbell workouts are designed to help you achieve the best results, no matter your fitness level or workout style.
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Talk to you soon, Reader
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Dr. Will Murtagh, PT, DPT, MS, CSCS, CISSN
Physical Therapist | Remote Fitness Coach
P.S. Want to eliminate pain while enhancing your CrossFit performance? Click (HERE) for a free consultation!
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