Age is simply a number. At 57, Hugh Jackman is proving that with his intense pull-up variation, showcasing his strength and mental resilience. 

On March 13, the Australian actor posted a video on his Instagram captioned “Another @bethlewisfit challenge!!! (And it was super tough.)” In the video, he was seen performing an advanced pull-up variation called the Staricase pull-up. Jackman performed a total of three rounds of the exercise. 

It was a challenge issued by her trainer, Beth Lewis. Jackman has been actively sharing exercise videos on social media to raise awareness among his fans about fitness and health. On March 9, he posted another video captioned “Sometimes a workout is just that. A workout!” In the video, he is performing the SkiErg pull. 

Coming back to the challenge video, her trainer Lewis commented on the video, “Just too good!!! ❤️🔥💪” 

Now the question is: how can one perform a staircase pull-up?

How to perform the staircase pull-up variation

To perform this exercise correctly and without any injury, one must follow these steps.

• Start simply by hanging on the bar
• Then lift one leg to mimic stepping onto a staircase.
• Pulling the upper body a few inches up, while pressing the leg down to mimic the one step ahead.
• Repeat this motion until the chin goes above the bar.
• Now, after reaching the top, reverse the movement in the same pattern with control motion. 

Advantages of the staircase pull-up variation

• This pull-up variation took longer to perform than regular pull-ups, increasing time under tension.
• It also helps in building better core control
• It also improves grip strength.
• It improves upper-body strength.
• It strengthens shoulder muscles.
• These movements also build the control, which is required for more advanced movements like caterpillar pull-ups and muscle-ups. 

How to master the staircase pull-up variation

The staircase pull-up variation is quite a technical exercise that requires better control and strength. That's why it is not recommended to jump straight into them.

To master this exercise, one must first master the art of doing simple pull-ups, as they require less momentum. Once someone proves proficient with them, they should begin adding pauses of 5-10 seconds at different stages of the exercise. 

When one is used to prolonged time under tension, then aim for this staircase variation. Initially, start at a slow pace and try to reach the top. Once you get there, practice the reverse movements as shown by Jackman. 

So, would you like to add this staircase pull-up variation to your training routine?

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Written by

Supradeep Dutta

Edited by

Joyita Das