5 Ways to Build Gorilla Strength with the Pull-up

If I was stranded on a desert island and could only have one piece of equipment to train a fighter at any level (who would apparently only be fighting me) it would have to be a good ‘ol fashioned pull up bar and a kettlebell. Yes, that’s two pieces. I also break the rules.

The ground can give you a fantastic strength and conditioning session with calisthenics, plyometrics, body flows, and more, but the pull up bar will help you build a powerful upper body, grip and core..all crucial for the strength to survive in your deserted predicament.

There are many reasons you should be doing (a lot) of pull ups and variations and I don’t just mean throwing in a couple of half-assed sets towards the end of your workout. 

3 Reasons to do Pull Ups 

Reason #1 - It hits a lot of muscles at once

Let’s get the obvious reason out of the way that the pull up and it’s friends are compound movements that will give you the most bang for your buck. With each pull you hit many of the muscles in your back, biceps, shoulders, forearms, grip, and core. Time efficiency win.

Reason #2 - There are always ways to progress 

No matter what level you’re at there are a multitude of movements and combinations that will turn you into a freaky strong gorilla. In this article I’ll show you my 5 favorite ways to make the pull up harder.

Reason #3 - You will build incredible grip strength

Most people are walking around in life with a weak barely stronger than a 6 year old. Pull-up and kettlebell flowing will change that.

Alright so let’s get into it.

Here are 5 of my favorite ways to make the standard pull up harder…

#1: Change the Grip

This is one of the easiest ways to make your pull ups more effective if you’re a fighter. By adding a pair of Fat Gripz (if you don’t have access to those a simple towel will do just as well) will be wildly beneficial. 

This is going to help build finger and grip strength to help you pick up more weight for longer thus making you even stronger. The more open the hand is or the softer the handle is the harder you have to squeeze to keep yourself from plummeting to the ground.

You won’t be able to go heavier on this at first, but when you can build to a heavy weighted thick grip/towel pull up you’re going to have bone-crushing grip strength in your corner. 

#2: Change the Tempo

Two ways that I make pull ups more difficult is by changing the tempo forcing myself to go excessively slow as well as incorporating static holds at different points in the movement. 

The next time you try a pull up try breaking it down into five points.

1. Starting position is a dead hang
2. 1/4 up (elbows slightly bent)
3. 1/2 way up (elbows at 90 degrees)
4. 3/4 up (chin almost at bar)
5. Finish position is chin above bar 

Hold each section for 15 seconds on the way up and on the way down. Aim for three reps. You will be unpleasantly surprised at how terrible this it, but it will help build strength in various arm positions which will carry over into your grappling sessions.

 #3: Partner Pulls

This one is more of a core workout and incorporates a static hold, but the difference here is you’re going to need a partner for it. The downside of having a partner pull you is that you can’t exactly gauge how much pressure is being applied. The plus side, however, of having someone to motivate and push you (literally, as well) makes this extremely beneficial. 

Try this: 

Partner A, you’re going to get into a 1/2 pull up position with your elbows at 90 degrees. At this point you’re going to bring your legs up bending your knees.  

• Partner B, here’s where you come in. You’re going to (gently, at first) push down on Partner A’s knees trying to bring them straight to the ground. 
• Partner A, mind your back on this to make sure you don’t excessively strain to keep your legs up. Be prepared to suffer (in a good way) and if Partner B is pushing hard just politely remind them that payback’s a sonuvagun.

Hold for rounds of 20-30 seconds.

#4: Use Your Bottom Half

Combining knee raises with pull ups/chin ups is a surefire way to activate the core at a greater level and make the pull that much harder. 

Try performing a series of pull ups with your legs at different heights and positions (straight in front, slightly out to the side, knees bent, etc). 

Only one word comes to mind when you bust out sets of 5-10 reps like this: brutal. 

#5: Use Uneven Grips

This is probably my favorite because it’s the one I do the most often and see the highest return. By incorporating uneven grips/levels/movements you build strength from different angles. 

Your first assignment is to find as many different places to do a pull up (in other words wherever there’s something high enough and strong enough to hold your weight). Any park, trees, low overhangs; pretty much anything will do.

Because I don’t expect most of you to run out and start testing the strength of every tree branch in your neighborhood an easier way to incorporate this is to use different grips on the squat rack at your local gym.

Try using the sides, the upper cage, one hand on the bar and one hand on the cage, etc. This is going to build your grip, too, but it will do wonders for building your overall pulling strength from different angles which will definitely carry over into just about every area of life that requires an uneven grip and strength.

One of my favorites is the Lateral Pull up. I like to grab the handle of a power rack and put my other hand on the rack. If you don’t have access to a rack then a typical pull up bar will do. As you pull up pull yourself one side only (transfer all your weight to your right side as you pull up and then come back down). Repeat on the other side with the same amount of reps. 

Just like strength, pull ups are a skill which means you need to practice them constantly. Try incorporating one of the above methods on three separate training sessions. 

I don’t like to go to failure with my pull up training, but I like to combine high volume and high intensity. 

• Monday: Thick grip weighted pullups (1-5 rep range)
• Wednesday: Static Holds (15-30 seconds per hold)
• Friday: Multiple Angle Pull ups (5-12 rep range)

There are literally hundreds of different ways to do a pull up, but try focusing on these five variations (even within these there are multiple variations). I’m not even including, muscle ups, one arm pull ups, climbing, swinging, shimmying from bar to bar, etc. We’ll save those for another article.

Workout Routines for Gorilla like Strength

When aiming to unleash your inner gorilla and build formidable strength and a robust physique, incorporating gorilla muscle building workouts is essential. Emulating the training methods of gorillas can help you sculpt your body into a powerhouse of muscle and strength, akin to these mighty primates.

Gorilla Muscle Building Workouts

One of the key aspects of gorilla muscle building workouts is to focus on compound exercises that engage multiple muscle groups simultaneously. Exercises like squats, bench presses, and deadlifts are crucial for enhancing muscle mass and building gorilla-like strength.

Mastering Grip Strength Exercises

A vital component of achieving ape-like strength is mastering grip strength exercises. Developing a powerful grip is essential for various lifting techniques and overall strength training. Exercises such as farmer's walks, wrist curls, and grip strengtheners can help you enhance your grip strength and develop forearm muscles akin to a gorilla.

Hypertrophy Training Methods for Gorilla-like Physique

For those aspiring to attain a gorilla-like physique, hypertrophy training methods are crucial. These training techniques focus on muscle size and strength gains, resulting in a robust and muscular body similar to that of a gorilla. By incorporating hypertrophy training into your workout routine, you can sculpt your physique to mirror the impressive muscularity of these great apes.

My goal with this article is to inspire you to get creative and think outside the box when it comes to your pull up training. Do the same as everyone else to look and perform the same as everyone else. Challenge yourself in all areas of your training and watch your strength take off!