Chin-Up Contests

Training Powerlifting
1

I posted this a couple days ago, but I guess it didn’t go through, so I’ll have to retype this :

After reading Dan John’s interview, I started wondering about chinup contests. What are they? Is it who can do the most chinups, or who can chin the most weight? How are these events organized? Do they take place in a high school gym? Does one just come in, do as many chins as he can in one go, and see how he does against others, or will one have to do more than one set of chinups throughout the day?
Also, are there divisions by age/weight? How many chinups should one be able to do to get competitive?
Has anyone ever been to chinup contests? What were your experiences? Are there any contests in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA)?

Thanks for any replies.

2

I think he meant just competing against your friends or training buddies. Any thing to compete. It doesn’t have to be some sanctioned event just something to raise the competative spirit. It could have been a farmers walk competition on a Wednesday between three guys that train together on leg day. Just something to get you used to that competative environment.

3

Actually, you will occasionally find chin-up contests, but they are not that common. If you live anywhere near a Marine base, or a base with Marine’s stationed, you could start there. A lot of times you will find Marines holding events like these. Use the internet. You just need to look.

All the contests I’ve ever heard of, the winner is the one that does the most chins. There are no weight classes because you are pulling against your own weight. If you are stronger and larger, and in turn heavier, you still have to pull up your own weight.

Another possibility is to go to your gym or college or high school and try to organize your own contest. People that are into these will usually show up just for the competition. So you can just give away t-shirts for prizes and most people will be happy with that. Plus, anywtime there’s a chin contest, Zeb will be there.

My chin is bigger than yours,
Toddy

4

Thanks guys!
I understand that Dan John may have meant contest between two people, but I think that if it was a sanctioned event, I’d be significantly more motivated.
I can already do 17-18 chins, and a contest would definitely motivate me to get into the 20’s.
Unfortunately, I don’t live near a Marine base (where would there be one in Canada?), so I haven’t heard of many of those taking place.

5

kigor:

Most contests are sponsored by either the Marines or the YMCA. At least that’s what I have found.

I think there would be more contests but for one major problem. There is no money to be made! Would anyone like to hear my own little theory? You would? Good:

Powerlifting has become “the” major sport involving the moving of heavy iron in the US. While I think this is true for many reasons (it’s a fantastic sport). One major reason is that people can make money promoting it. Bench and Squat shirts etc. You also need to purchase weight equipment and accessories such as bands and chains more recently. Relax, it’s all good.

Absolutely nothing wrong with any of it! Just as there is nothing wrong with someone promoting Kettlebell events. Why do you suppose there are such events? One major movtivator is money of course. You have to purchase the Kettlebell or you simply cannot train or enter. Again, nothing wrong with that. I am for anything that gets people into some form of physical fitness.

The Kettlebell can kick your butt and leave you crying “mommy” (I own a set and can verify this). Hold on! Lots of things can kick your butt and leave you in a sweaty heap. Where are the furniture moving contests? How about the “hay bailing” contests? Okay…one more: How many Push-up contests are there in your area in the course of one year? All of the above three can give you a great workout, but alas…no money (or not enough) to be made.

Let’s move to the lowly Chin-up. You need a Chin-up bar and a…oh wait that’s all you need. Someone could sell Chin-up bars, and they do. However, how much can you get for one Chin-up bar? And when you think about it, it’s not difficult to find a place to do Chin-ups (in most cases), so how many would you actually sell? Doesn’t sound like a promising business to me.

For those of you who dispute my little theory, please name one major “event” or sport which does not offer the promoter, or organization a chance to make some money, or at least keep somebody employed. Keep in mind I am not claiming that this is bad. In fact, this is how a free society works. It’s actually good in more ways than it is bad.

When someone sees a need and a chance to make a profit they go for it! It’s America and I love it…Oh…but that’s at least one reason why you’ll never see a major Chin-up organization, or even more contests in your area.

I thank you for your time in reading the above and only ask that you think about it.

6

I like your theory, ZEB. It’s all too true. Unfortunately, the drive of money discourages some aspect of fitness. Some people don’t like team sports, so they get into gymnastics, martial arts, etc.
Just as there is an option for people who like to train solo, there should be an option for people who prefer to train endurance (specifically, chinups) as opposed to absolute strength.
Oh well… someday, someone will find ways to make money from chinup contests.

7

ZEB,

      Potential profit seems to me to be a necessary but not sufficient condition for the establishment of a sport. More importantly, it doesn't seem to me like it's ALWAYS the cause of the sport. In the case of kettlebells, I think  the making and marketing of Kettlebells definetely allows the sport to get off the ground, but at this point only one GS competitor in all of America has corporate sponsership, and I don't think that the companies that make KBs are pushing any money towards funding the sport, at least not yet.
       I think that one reason chin-up contests aren't as popular as team sports or even Kettlebell or Olympic lifting competitions is that the latter events are more impressive and exciting to potential competitors. I think that there's some sense in this, too; O-lifting, Powerlifting, Gymnastics, etcetera, all require a broader range of fitness than chin-up competitions do.
8

ZEB,

Your theory got me thinking. Everything you said makes sense and I pretty much agree with, but I thought a little deeper into it. What if there were “chin shirts”? Much like bench shirts, they work to help add to your chinning total.

Bam! Now we have at least one money making product. I’m sure if we brainstormed we could think of other products to enhance our chinning ability. Maybe elbow sleeves that work like knee wraps, only with the opposite effect.

Anyway, I think the potential for products is out there, but I think chinning would have to grow tremendously in popularity for there to be any serious market out there for these products.

I think the lack of popularity of the chin up is the main reason for lack of contests. Let’s face it, the bench press would be popular with or without gear. And as far as spectators more people a going to be impressed by and want to watch people moving and lifting heavy things.

Basically, as far as competition, the chin up is kind of, well, boring. I mean no disrepect to the chin up. It’s a great exercise and I love it, but most people see the chin ups as the equivalent of a push up: just a calisthenic. Who wants to watch a jumping jack contest?

You would have to spice it up a little to draw a larger interest. Add the “heavy weight” element, by making them weighted chins. Or make the chins one event in some sort of meet.

Of course this “spicing” is only to draw spectators and funds to the events. Let me just clarify my position on this. I love chins and I love chin contests. I actually competed in one contest. I didn’t do too well, although I didn’t expect to win with my 19 anyway. I just love to witness and be a part of competition.

[quote]ZEB wrote:
Hold on! Lots of things can kick your butt and leave you in a sweaty heap. Where are the furniture moving contests? How about the “hay bailing” contests?[/quote]

Although those aren’t the exact events, they do have those contests. They’re called “strongman competitions”.

One last thought on kettlebells. While there is money in the selling of the actual kettlebells, I think the following they have is more cult-like. People that are into kettlebells are usually really into kettlebells. I don’t know. Maybe I would be the same way. I’ve never used or held one.

Later comrades,
Toddy

9

The tactical strength challenge involves both chins and kettlebells, and the Crossfit contest I attended once involved both chins and kettlebells.

10

I want to build an Iron Cross shirt with reinforced armpits. I will probably also want elbow wraps and three spotters;-)

Regarding “the theory”, looking back on history, you had all kinds of competitions before money was an issue. Running races are as old as time itself. I think the main reason you see fewer chinning contests is just that most people these days either can’t or don’t do chins.
With kettlebell competitions, Dragon Door doesn’t officially sponsor them and I don’t think the meet promoters make any money. If they do, it would come out to less than minimum wage due to the time involved. Most of them just like to do it. Same thing with the USAWA. I think they build most of the equipment themselves and compete mainly just to have a good time. They seem like a pretty good crowd.

11

As I stated Kettlebells are a great way to kick your own butt. However, there is no denying that the company selling Kettlebells is behind the big surge in this craze. Money! Remove the biggest seller of Kettlebells and you would have had no craze.

Again, not one thing wrong with this.

12

Actually Zeb, Dragondoor doesn’t promote or have anything to do with Girevoy Sport competition. Originally Pavel did sign on with the Governing body (the NAKF) but very quickly left, for his own reasons. Since then, there are two governing bodies in the USA and the whole purpose is to bring the USA into competition at the international level, as well as promote the sport here in the states. At the international level the Kettlebells that they use are very different than the Dragondoor variety you probably have. Pavel recently stated that Dragondoor has no intention of producing this type of competition kettlebell (and there are differences in the two). As far as getting into the KB comp scene, I can attest as I recently sponsored and directed a meet, there is no money to be made (maybe very little at best). THe American athletes participating are the ones driving the sport, and they are shelling out their own $$$ for their bells, dragondoor does not sponsor or provide bells for competition. sure, right now they are one of the few manufacturers in the US, but as the sport grows US athletes will demand bells like the ones the international federations use, and if dragondoor won’t manufacture them, how will DD be making money off the KB Sport craze? Maybe the KB Fitness craze yeah, but not those looking to compete. These competitions were created because athletes who participate want to see who is the best. Be it Oly, PL, GS, Strongman, Highland Games, Cycling, Track and Field, Football, Baseball etc. The reason that there is no major pull up contest is because noone has driven hard enough for one. There are people out there who I am sure would love to compete. I promise you though, if it got popular enough, equipment manufacturers would take over and the “money making machine” would polute the pullup contests. Competition doesn’t result as a way for someone to make money, that aspect usually enters in later. PL didn’t start out with souped up bench shirts and squat suits, it was probably a bar, bench, and squat stands and a pile of weight. All the other stuff came later, just like any other sport. However, if there is a chance for money to be made, there will always be someone to jump at the chance to make it, regardless of the sport.

-Scott

13

I see Scott, so DD does not stand to make a profit by selling more Kettlebells from all of the attention paid to Kettlebell meets?

Is that what you are stating?

14

Scott,

     Well put.

ZEB and all,

      Not to sound like a broken record, but what about the question of the range of fitness exhibited in a sport?
      Gymnastics competitions are impressive because (to set aside aesthetics) they test strength to bodyweight ratio, coordination, and body control in a way that is truly spectacular to behold. Olympic Weightlifting demonstrates fantastic power in the posterior chain.
      Chin-Ups are fun, but how many athletes would be willing to devote their entire career to training just one quality (muscular endurance) in one relatively simple motion?
15

[quote]ZEB wrote:
I see Scott, so DD does not stand to make a profit by selling more Kettlebells from all of the attention paid to Kettlebell meets?

Is that what you are stating?[/quote]

Zeb,

No doubt DD is making a profit on KB’s used for meets AS OF NOW. THere are very few competitors in this country and most already have all the bells they would need for competition, so I doubt there is a huge surge in purchases for veteran competitors (however I am willing to bet they are doing quite well on general fitness sales, good for them, we all have bills to pay and need to eat.) However, as the level of competition steps up, and our lifters get closer to being able to compete on the international level, the demand for actual model of bells used in international competition will be greater. As I stated in my previous post, there is a difference between these and DD’s bells. The competitors will want the style of bell used in international comps, and since DD has stated they have no plans to manufacture these, then of course, they will not make much $$$ off those interested in KB competition, only those who plan to use KB’s for fitness training (which, I am willing to bet is their target market, since it is a much larger market. Smart move on DD’s part.)

Even though the sport is growning here in the US, I am willing to bet it is not a significant source of revenue for DD. BTW-there is an American manufacturer in TN who is making (in the traditional sizes) and selling bells for less than DD, and from what I understand their quality is exceptional. Ahhh, I love free enterprise. Soon KB’s will not be ridiculously overpriced as the demand for them grows…

As always it’s been fun!

-Scott

16

Scott:

I agree competition is great, for the consumer!

Recreational Kettlebells may be different than competitive Kettlebells. However, as the interest through these competitive events grows the average Joe will most likely purchase the recreational Kettlebells.

And…yes it’s all good.

17

Ross:

You never sound like a broken record…now take it easy on yourself. :slight_smile:

I agree Gymnasics are sure better to watch than some guy performing Chin-ups. However, I honestly think it is more exciting to watch one man attempt one set of high rep Chins than it is to watch one man lay on a bench and bring a bar down to his chest and press it back up once (not that that is not fun to watch).

The mere fact that there is more movement with more reps seems to bring some excitement to the set. No? Maybe it’s just me…

18

[quote]ZEB wrote:
Scott:

I agree competition is great, for the consumer!

Recreational Kettlebells may be different than competitive Kettlebells. However, as the interest through these competitive events grows the average Joe will most likely purchase the recreational Kettlebells.

And…yes it’s all good.
[/quote]

Zeb,

I agree. However, the average Joe will most likely buy the least expensive bells!:wink: I’d imagine we will see a lot of manufacturers popping up with better prices as the demand grows.

-Scott