How to perform Bodyweight Muscle Up with proper form
Setup
- Equipment: Use a sturdy pull-up bar or gymnastic rings.
- Grip: Overhand grip, slightly wider than shoulder-width.
Steps
-
Start Position:
- Hang from the bar/rings with arms fully extended and feet off the ground. Engage your shoulders.
-
Pull Up:
- Initiate the movement by pulling your chest towards the bar. Focus on driving your elbows down and back.
-
Transition:
- As your chin passes the bar, lean your torso forward. Shift your wrists over the bar/rings.
-
Push Up:
- Transition into a dip by pressing down with your arms, keeping your elbows close to your body. Extend your arms fully at the top.
-
Finish:
- Lock out your arms while keeping your body straight. Hold the top position briefly before lowering yourself back down.
Key Points
- Engagement: Keep core tight throughout to maintain stability.
- Angles: Lean forward during the transition phase to enable the push-up part.
- Practice: Start with pull-ups and dips to build strength before attempting the muscle-up.
Safety Tips
- Warm Up: Ensure shoulder and wrist mobility before training.
- Progress Gradually: Use assisted variations if needed before attempting the full movement.
Always prioritize form to prevent injury.
Exercises

Hammer Curl, Cable
Type: Upper, Pull
Target: Forearms, Biceps
Synergist: Shoulders

Hammer Curl, Dumbbell
Type: Upper, Pull
Target: Forearms, Biceps
Synergist: Shoulders

Hammer Curl, Band
Type: Upper, Pull
Target: Forearms, Biceps
Synergist: Shoulders

Hang Clean, Kettlebell
Type: Upper, Lower, Pull
Target: Biceps, Forearms
Synergist: Shoulders, Chest

Muscle Up, Bodyweight
Type: Upper, Pull
Target: Biceps, Forearms, Shoulders, Back, Chest, Triceps

Reverse Curl, Barbell
Type: Upper, Pull
Target: Forearms
Synergist: Biceps

Reverse Curl, Cable
Type: Upper, Pull
Target: Forearms
Synergist: Biceps

Reverse Curl, Dumbbell
Type: Upper, Pull
Target: Forearms
Synergist: Biceps

Reverse Curl, Band
Type: Upper, Pull
Target: Forearms
Synergist: Biceps

Reverse Wrist Curl, Barbell
Type: Upper, Pull
Target: Forearms

Reverse Wrist Curl, Dumbbell
Type: Upper, Pull
Target: Forearms

Reverse Wrist Curl, EZ Bar
Type: Upper, Pull
Target: Forearms

Seated Palms Up Wrist Curl, Dumbbell
Type: Upper, Pull
Target: Forearms

Wrist Curl, Barbell
Type: Upper, Pull
Target: Forearms

Wrist Curl, Dumbbell
Type: Upper, Pull
Target: Forearms

Wrist Curl, EZ Bar
Type: Upper, Pull
Target: Forearms

Wrist Roller, Bodyweight
Type: Upper, Pull
Target: Forearms

Battle Ropes, Bodyweight
Type: Upper, Core
Target: Shoulders
Synergist: Biceps, Forearms, Back

Bent Over One Arm Row, Dumbbell
Type: Upper, Pull
Target: Back
Synergist: Shoulders, Biceps, Forearms, Chest

Bent Over Row, Barbell
Type: Upper, Pull
Target: Back
Synergist: Shoulders, Biceps, Forearms
Bent Over Row, Cable
Type: Upper, Pull
Target: Back
Synergist: Shoulders, Biceps, Forearms
Bent Over Row, Dumbbell
Type: Upper, Pull
Target: Back
Synergist: Shoulders, Biceps, Forearms
Bent Over Row, Smith Machine
Type: Upper, Pull
Target: Back
Synergist: Shoulders, Biceps, Forearms
Bent Over Row, Band
Type: Upper, Pull
Target: Back
Synergist: Shoulders, Biceps, Forearms
Bent Over Row, Leverage Machine
Type: Upper, Pull
Target: Back
Synergist: Shoulders, Biceps, Forearms
Bicep Curl, Barbell
Type: Upper, Pull
Target: Biceps
Synergist: Forearms
Bicep Curl, Cable
Type: Upper, Pull
Target: Biceps
Synergist: Forearms
Bicep Curl, Dumbbell
Type: Upper, Pull
Target: Biceps
Synergist: Forearms
Bicep Curl, Band
Type: Upper, Pull
Target: Biceps
Synergist: Forearms
Bicep Curl, Leverage Machine
Type: Upper, Pull
Target: Biceps
Synergist: Forearms
Bicep Curl, EZ Bar
Type: Upper, Pull
Target: Biceps
Synergist: Forearms
Chin Up, Bodyweight
Type: Upper, Pull
Target: Back
Synergist: Biceps, Forearms, Shoulders, Chest
Chin Up, Leverage Machine
Type: Upper, Pull
Target: Back
Synergist: Biceps, Forearms, Shoulders, Chest
Clean, Barbell
Type: Upper, Lower, Push
Target: Glutes, Hamstrings, Quadriceps, Back, Shoulders
Synergist: Calves, Biceps, Chest, Forearms
Clean and Jerk, Barbell
Type: Upper, Lower, Push
Target: Glutes, Hamstrings, Quadriceps, Back, Shoulders
Synergist: Calves, Biceps, Chest, Forearms
Concentration Curl, Barbell
Type: Upper, Pull
Target: Biceps
Synergist: Forearms
Concentration Curl, Cable
Type: Upper, Pull
Target: Biceps
Synergist: Forearms
Concentration Curl, Dumbbell
Type: Upper, Pull
Target: Biceps
Synergist: Forearms
Concentration Curl, Band
Type: Upper, Pull
Target: Biceps
Synergist: Forearms
Deadlift, Barbell
Type: Lower, Pull
Target: Glutes, Back, Hamstrings
Synergist: Quadriceps, Calves, Abs, Forearms
Deadlift, Cable
Type: Lower, Pull
Target: Glutes, Back, Hamstrings
Synergist: Quadriceps, Calves, Abs, Forearms
Deadlift, Dumbbell
Type: Lower, Pull
Target: Glutes, Back, Hamstrings
Synergist: Quadriceps, Calves, Abs, Forearms
Deadlift, Smith Machine
Type: Lower, Pull
Target: Glutes, Back, Hamstrings
Synergist: Quadriceps, Calves, Abs, Forearms
Deadlift, Band
Type: Lower, Pull
Target: Glutes, Back, Hamstrings
Synergist: Quadriceps, Calves, Abs, Forearms
Deadlift, Kettlebell
Type: Lower, Pull
Target: Glutes, Back, Hamstrings
Synergist: Quadriceps, Calves, Abs, Forearms
Deadlift, Leverage Machine
Type: Lower, Pull
Target: Glutes, Back, Hamstrings
Synergist: Quadriceps, Calves, Abs, Forearms
Deadlift High Pull, Barbell
Type: Upper, Lower, Pull
Target: Shoulders, Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Biceps, Forearms, Calves, Back
Elliptical Machine, Leverage Machine
Type: Lower, Legs
Synergist: Biceps, Forearms, Shoulders, Glutes, Hamstrings, Back, Chest, Quadriceps
Face Pull, Band
Type: Upper, Pull
Target: Shoulders
Synergist: Biceps, Forearms, Back
High Row, Cable
Type: Upper, Pull
Target: Back
Synergist: Biceps, Forearms, Shoulders
High Row, Leverage Machine
Type: Upper, Pull
Target: Back
Synergist: Biceps, Forearms, Shoulders
Incline Curl, Dumbbell
Type: Upper, Pull
Target: Biceps
Synergist: Forearms
Incline Row, Barbell
Type: Upper, Pull
Target: Back
Synergist: Shoulders, Biceps, Forearms, Chest
Incline Row, Dumbbell
Type: Upper, Pull
Target: Back
Synergist: Shoulders, Biceps, Forearms, Chest
Inverted Row, Bodyweight
Type: Upper, Pull
Target: Back
Synergist: Shoulders, Biceps, Forearms, Chest
Kneeling Pulldown, Band
Type: Upper, Pull
Target: Back
Synergist: Biceps, Forearms, Shoulders
Lat Pulldown, Cable
Type: Upper, Pull
Target: Back
Synergist: Biceps, Forearms, Shoulders, Abs, Chest
Lat Pulldown, Leverage Machine
Type: Upper, Pull
Target: Back
Synergist: Biceps, Forearms, Shoulders, Abs, Chest
Lying Bicep Curl, Cable
Type: Upper, Pull
Target: Biceps
Synergist: Forearms
Lying Bicep Curl, Dumbbell
Type: Upper, Pull
Target: Biceps
Synergist: Forearms
Pendlay Row, Barbell
Type: Upper, Pull
Target: Back
Synergist: Shoulders, Biceps, Forearms
Preacher Curl, Barbell
Type: Upper, Pull
Target: Biceps
Synergist: Forearms
Preacher Curl, Dumbbell
Type: Upper, Pull
Target: Biceps
Synergist: Forearms
Preacher Curl, Leverage Machine
Type: Upper, Pull
Target: Biceps
Synergist: Forearms
Preacher Curl, EZ Bar
Type: Upper, Pull
Target: Biceps
Synergist: Forearms
Pull Up, Band
Type: Upper, Pull
Target: Back
Synergist: Biceps, Forearms, Shoulders
Pull Up, Bodyweight
Type: Upper, Pull
Target: Back
Synergist: Biceps, Forearms, Shoulders
Pull Up, Leverage Machine
Type: Upper, Pull
Target: Back
Synergist: Biceps, Forearms, Shoulders
Seated Row, Cable
Type: Upper, Pull
Target: Back
Synergist: Shoulders, Biceps, Forearms, Chest
Seated Row, Band
Type: Upper, Pull
Target: Back
Synergist: Shoulders, Biceps, Forearms, Chest
Seated Row, Leverage Machine
Type: Upper, Pull
Target: Back
Synergist: Shoulders, Biceps, Forearms, Chest
Seated Wide Grip Row, Cable
Type: Upper, Pull
Target: Back
Synergist: Shoulders, Biceps, Forearms
Standing Row, Cable
Type: Upper, Pull
Target: Back
Synergist: Shoulders, Biceps, Forearms
Standing Row Close Grip, Cable
Type: Upper, Pull
Target: Back
Synergist: Shoulders, Biceps, Forearms
Standing Row Rear Delt With Rope, Cable
Type: Upper, Pull
Target: Shoulders
Synergist: Biceps, Forearms, Back
Standing Row V-Bar, Cable
Type: Upper, Pull
Target: Back
Synergist: Shoulders, Biceps, Forearms, Chest
Sumo Deadlift, Barbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps, Hamstrings, Back
Synergist: Abs, Biceps, Forearms
Sumo Deadlift High Pull, Barbell
Type: Upper, Lower, Pull
Target: Shoulders, Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Biceps, Forearms, Calves, Back
T Bar Row, Leverage Machine
Type: Upper, Pull
Target: Back
Synergist: Shoulders, Biceps, Forearms, Chest
Upright Row, Barbell
Type: Upper, Pull
Target: Shoulders
Synergist: Biceps, Forearms, Chest, Back
Upright Row, Cable
Type: Upper, Pull
Target: Shoulders
Synergist: Biceps, Forearms, Chest, Back
Upright Row, Dumbbell
Type: Upper, Pull
Target: Shoulders
Synergist: Biceps, Forearms, Chest, Back
Upright Row, Band
Type: Upper, Pull
Target: Shoulders
Synergist: Biceps, Forearms, Chest, Back
Wide Pull Up, Bodyweight
Type: Upper, Pull
Target: Back
Synergist: Biceps, Forearms, Shoulders