There are countless variations to make the move harder, easier, or more interesting.

Pull yourself up until your chin is over the bar, and there you are.

A chinup is the same thing, except your palms are facing toward you.

Youll probably want a narrower grip for these.

Some pullup bars also give you an option for a neutral grip, with your palms facing each other.

you could also do pullups on gymnastics rings.

There are plenty of variations that are easier to do than a standard pullup.

To do these, either jump to the top or stand on a box or bench.

Box-assisted pullupslet you work the movement in the upward direction, while giving you a bit of a boost.

Put a box or bench in a place where you might keep a foot on it during the exercise.

Do your pullup, and push off the box only as much as necessary to keep you moving upward.

Over time, youll be able to use less and less assistance from your leg.

Scap pullupsare a good way to practice the bottom part of the pullup.

The first thing your body has to do in a pullup is engage your shoulders.

Your upper back muscles do this job before your arms can ever get involved.

Thats the whole rep; go back to a dead hang and do some more.

Flexed-arm hangshelp with the top of the pullup.

Timing yourself is a great way to monitor your progress when you dont have any reps to count yet.

The machine stabilizes your lower body, meaning that your core doesnt need to work as hard.

But once youve mastered the strict pullup, the CrossFit-curious may want to try kipping or butterfly pullups.

Theyre an essential skill to master if you want to compete in this particular sport.

Harder variations

Weighted pullupsare just like normal pullups, but heavier.

Wear a weighted vest, or hang plates from a dip belt.

Hockey or commando pullupsuse a standard pullup bar, but you stand at 90 degrees to the usual position.

On the next rep, go to the other side so the bar nearly touches your right shoulder.

Archer pullupsalso get you moving side to side, but in a different way.

As you pull yourself up, only bend one arm, while keeping the other straight.

Towel pullupshave you holding onto a towel draped over the bar instead of holding onto the bar itself.

These are very challenging on your grip.

Single-arm pullupsare the ultimate conclusion of all this pullup work.