Brad Posted April 4, 2003 Share Posted April 4, 2003 One of my goals has been to pinch grip two rafters, pull myself half way up and move one hand at a time down the rafters. I thought that this was going to be a very long term goal but I managed one step today. I grabbed the rafters, pulled myself up and took a step with my right hand. To my tremendous surprise, I held on with that hand. I was unable to hold on when I took another step with my left hand. On the next attempt, I stepped with my left hand first and held on but could not hold on with my right on the second step. I am very hopeful that I will be walking several steps in the near future. Thanks Swiss for the excellent advice!! Brad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
don of tha new grip Posted April 4, 2003 Share Posted April 4, 2003 Brad how do you train for all this stuff? I'm guessing you are the brad johnson who wrote that article at dragondoor right? I tried to get the article but I see that you can't click on it no more; so spill the beans bro! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the swiss Posted April 4, 2003 Share Posted April 4, 2003 very cool!! I was sure you were going to do it very soon! keep walking david Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam Black Posted April 4, 2003 Share Posted April 4, 2003 WOW! That is awesome Brad! Heck, just the rafter chin is amazing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
underdawg Posted April 4, 2003 Share Posted April 4, 2003 i'm with adam on this one. that's awesome Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ruffhans Posted April 4, 2003 Share Posted April 4, 2003 i weigh 240 lbs, do you guys think a man over 200 could ever rafter chin? im guesing it is only for the lieght guys? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad Posted April 4, 2003 Author Share Posted April 4, 2003 Thanks for the compliments. I worked up to rafter chins by using a pinch block, pinching smooth plates, and standing on a chair and isometrically pulling down on the rafters. I stood on a scale on the chair and asked my son to read how much weight that I had left to pull before I was lifting my entire bodyweight. Make sure to pull at different parts of the movement(top, middle, and bottom) to develop your strength through the entire range of the exercise. The bottom (starting) position is the most difficult. Rafter chins are definitely easier for lighter guys. There are heavier guys(over 200 pounds), however, that can and have done them. I only weigh 145 pounds but I can now pull well over 200 pounds on the rafter chin by adding extra weight to my body. BTW-I do my chins on 2 rafters 32 inches apart. These are easier than those that the Swiss does with both hands on a single rafter. Brad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul valpreda Posted April 4, 2003 Share Posted April 4, 2003 ruffhans, I have the same question regarding bodyweight. Does anyone know who the heaviest person is to have successfully performed rafter chins? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tou Posted April 4, 2003 Share Posted April 4, 2003 I think that David Horne and Nick McKinless did rafters chins at over 200 pounds. Not sure though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Horne Posted April 5, 2003 Share Posted April 5, 2003 Tou, Yes, I have. I've done 9 consecutive reps, and I think Nick has done a couple of reps more. David Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Mac Posted April 5, 2003 Share Posted April 5, 2003 Was there the story of John Davis doing rafter chins at 230lbs, or am I think of one-arm chins?? Or Indeed, am I thinking of someone else altogether??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stratavarious_connection Posted April 5, 2003 Share Posted April 5, 2003 a great feat of strength...best wishes to you and on your endeavor of rafter strolling Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldGuy Posted April 5, 2003 Share Posted April 5, 2003 How would it be possible to practise rafter chins if to start with you could not even do one? I find that the older I get the poorer I am at chins. In my twenties I could do reps to behind the neck with an extra 100 lbs. Now I can only do a few without any added weight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonathan McMillan Posted April 5, 2003 Share Posted April 5, 2003 How about starting with two pinch blocks to a pulley stack/lat pull down thingy Oldguy?? The scale idea of judging your progress is very ingeinus Brad Jon@han Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the swiss Posted April 7, 2003 Share Posted April 7, 2003 you could also use elastic bands to help you a little. a classic training device for climbers. the idea is to tie as many elastic bands to the chinning bar as you need, to step on them, and to pull. hope I'm clear Brad: rafter chins with over 200 pounds is AWESOME!! david Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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