Ladies - do you do pull-ups?

If so, how many and how often?

I started climbing about 3 years ago, and had never been able to do a legit pull-up in my entire life.  Now I can do 3, but I have no idea if that equates to better climbing at all.  Kind of just a novelty for me, a side effect of climbing regularly.  Anybody else have a pull-up story?

Yes.  I'm up to 3 on jugs or one on fingers.  Whether that equates to better climbing I find depends on the route and the route.  It took a lot of training and patience, but overall I would say it was worth it.

Not as a regular thing. Sometimes, just to see what happens. Some days almost 3, some days, zip, but usually I can crank out one and a half, on rings, or a bar. I'd rather just climb. :-)

Best, OLH

Yes as part of a body weight workout. I do 3 sets of 2 or 3. I'm working in doing them with legs out in front. Usually I can do the first 2 that way.

Alex Puccio is pretty impressive, but I don’t think there are any one-arm pull-ups in my future.  I will be happy if I can work up to 5 regular pull-ups.

Yes, I can do 3 in a row now as well. I actually worked up to them (before I really began climbing) because it was a goal of mine. Took me a long time to do my first real pull-up! They strengthen your lats and shoulders, which can definitely help improve climbing. Campusing/campus boards work similar muscles.

I don't do sets of pull-ups very often anymore because I find it can tire me out before climbing. But they still are fun and empowering. Always been envious of people who can crank out 10 without much effort. Definitely a little easier for men. Us ladies have to work hard to get there!

I don't train pull-ups, but I can do them.

When I started climbing I could do a couple, not very well. Now I can do about 12. I could probably do a few more than that if I were fresh, but the only time I've ever tried doing pull-ups to failure was usually in one of those silly contests at the end of a bouldering comp, while everyone is waiting for results, and you do pullups on a specific hangboard hold. So all I know is that after 3-4 hours of bouldering I can do about 12 of them on whatever hold was picked. I don't recall exactly, it was something good, but not a jug.

My pullups improved as a result of my climbing, not the other way around.  I have met one lady who claimed that she couldn't do pullups at all, but could climb 5.12. Her style was vertical delicate kind of climbing... And I have not seen her either climb 5.12, OR try pullups. I have met ladies who I had witnessed climbing 5.10, and also seen them fail at a single pullup, so that is certainly possible.

I think if you can't do any pullups at all, it does make certain type of climbing (overhanging stuff) harder. So most women who climb 5.12 and higher, on a variety of terrain, will be able to do some pullups. But I don't think the reverse is true, i.e. if you are climbing 5.10 and can't do pullups, you will not magically climb 5.12 if you train pullups until you can do a dozen of them. I think getting to a 3-5 pull-up mark is a good goal, and if you can do a few of them, you are likely at a point where the ability to do a pullup is no longer a limiting factor in your climbing.

Lena chita wrote: I don't train pull-ups, but I can do them.

When I started climbing I could do a couple, not very well. Now I can do about 12. I could probably do a few more than that if I were fresh, but the only time I've ever tried doing pull-ups to failure was usually in one of those silly contests at the end of a bouldering comp, while everyone is waiting for results, and you do pullups on a specific hangboard hold. So all I know is that after 3-4 hours of bouldering I can do about 12 of them on whatever hold was picked. I don't recall exactly, it was something good, but not a jug.

My pullups improved as a result of my climbing, not the other way around.  I have met one lady who claimed that she couldn't do pullups at all, but could climb 5.12. Her style was vertical delicate kind of climbing... And I have not seen her either climb 5.12, OR try pullups. I have met ladies who I had witnessed climbing 5.10, and also seen them fail at a single pullup, so that is certainly possible.

I think if you can't do any pullups at all, it does make certain type of climbing (overhanging stuff) harder. So most women who climb 5.12 and higher, on a variety of terrain, will be able to do some pullups. But I don't think the reverse is true, i.e. if you are climbing 5.10 and can't do pullups, you will not magically climb 5.12 if you train pullups until you can do a dozen of them. I think getting to a 3-5 pull-up mark is a good goal, and if you can do a few of them, you are likely at a point where the ability to do a pullup is no longer a limiting factor in your climbing.

Very impressive! I've heard the same rationale for a plank, past a certain point, it's no longer pertinent to much....except a plank.

Well, I will say, re pull-ups and climbing, a full pull up isn't always what you need. A two hand pull, however, happens all the time climbing, for me. I do try to smear a  foot somewhere also, when I can. I have no idea how many "halfish'" pullups I can do. I'll also add, it is nice to know I can outdo the female general population at something. Petty, but there it is.

Best, OLH

I remember when Timmy Fairfield came back from France with his then wife Elise. Elise claimed that she could not do a single pull-up (she was probably not exactly truthful), but she was on the French B Team & recently climbed an 8a+/13c. Now keep in mind that at that time only 3 or 4 women sent 14a, so 13c was still at the top of the standard for women. 

I have a friend at my gym who does like 50 in a typical workout sesh.  She climbs in the V7/8 range I think.  She's always doin' them so I guess it works!  

My girlfriend has been climbing for about a year and a half now. Before climbing she could not do any pull-ups. Now she can do about 8. She has never specifically trained for them, it is just a side benefit of climbing. Her arms and shoulders have developed quite a bit.

My wife trains pull-ups, or more precisely, wide grip pull-up/lat pull-down and 1 arm pull-up.

Think of pull-ups as a tool in the box: while it's probably not strictly required to a relative high level of climbing, it sure is quite useful.

Lots of good info here - thanks for the comments.  I am sufficiently inspired to keep at it.  

No, I do not do pull ups. I take simple exercises.

Im 13, and i started properly climbing just under a year ago. I can do 11 pull ups, and everyone in my year looks at me as if im some sort of freak. I dont climb as regularly as i would like to because we cant afford a weekly sesion. I find that doing pull ups helps climbing and i fit in much better with the boys at my climbing gym, which is what i want. My brother has been climbing for years, and, even though it is unhealthy, i love to do everything he does and take advice from him. I really should have learnt my lesson by now and stopped listening to him, seeing as hes sexist and has turned me into the most un feminine girl in england, but i do anyway. I have climbed random things since i was around 6 and, at around the age of 8 i would go up the hills and climb trees, regularly getting injuries and making stuff up about them so that my parents wouldnt stop me climbing.

Anyway, all of my best friends are my brothers best friends ive met climbing who are usually about 16, and i find it hilarious that i can beat them at pull ups, and, consiquently, routes. Pull ups are always useful to train with in my opinion.

I’ve been working on cumulative pull-ups and it’s really fun. I think it’s helped bring awareness to my overall poor form including hunching over and not engaging scapulas sufficiently. Currently only doing 4 pull-ups every minute for 10 minutes. Hoping to get to 5 but I’ve been too inconsistent. 

beck willwrote: If so, how many and how often?

I started climbing about 3 years ago, and had never been able to do a legit pull-up in my entire life.  Now I can do 3, but I have no idea if that equates to better climbing at all.  Kind of just a novelty for me, a side effect of climbing regularly.  Anybody else have a pull-up story?

My wife climbed a bunch of 13s in her 30s but was weak at pull ups.  For her, it was very beneficial to train them.  I could always do 20+, even 30, and multiple one arms (25 years ago) so it was never a limiting factor. If you can only do 3 then I would absolutely recommend that you train them regularly.  

I'm 60 and she's a bit younger.  She can do 5 now but it definitely helps her climbing to train them.  She has incredible finger strength/weight ratio and impeccable technique, so pullups are her weak point.  Others mileage may vary.