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August 9, 2007
Consequences
As part of the adaptation to CrossFit I have found there is an inverse relationship to the number of pull-ups you can do and the amount of skin on your hands. This relationship is unpleasant reward for learning the “kipping” pull-up particularly when ballistic horizontal energy is transferred into sufficient vertical energy to get your chin over the bar. Some would say you need not explore skin loss if you stick with the strict pull-up however not many people can accomplish greater than 15 strict pull-ups without significant training. In fact I have noticed that most who have mastered the kipping pull-up actually lose their ability to perform strict pull-ups over time due to the difference in muscle recruitment patterns.
Post your experiences with skin loss to comments.
Posted by Franklin Okumu at August 9, 2007 9:41 PM
Comments
Good thing you're not a hand model, Franklin.
I think it's directly related to increasing your pullup max: the more you do, the better it gets.
I've bad, multiple rips twice. Both times, I was doing regular pull ups but had passed a normal max number for a single work out. Cranking out the last couple of sets and POP, instant bleeders. Only time and New Skin can heal those.
Interestingly enough, I had yet to reach complete muscle failure when the rips arrived, so I think having good, tough hands can lead to higher totals
Posted by: Tim at August 10, 2007 12:01 PM
i've ripped my hands open on workouts containing +/- 75 kipping pullups or more. once I ripped the pads below every finger on both hands, then had to fly to Michigan a few hours later. no fun.
however, my max rep strict pullups have definitely improved since doing high rep kipping pullups.
Posted by: Jonathan at August 10, 2007 6:45 PM
It may be frowned upon by CrossFitters, but I keep a pair of gloves with me whenever I work out. I do all my pullups (or other lifts) with bare hands until I feel them coming apart. After that point, it's time to break out the gloves.
Posted by: Tom at August 11, 2007 9:13 AM
"I had to fly to Michigan right after, and BOY ARE MY ARMS TIRED!"
Posted by: Jeralee at August 11, 2007 10:08 AM