Just about everyone agrees that the muscle up is one of the best bodyweight exercises you can do if you want to build upper body strength and mass.
Which is exactly what I want to do in view of my next climb. This exercise is a combination of a pull up and a body weight dip. Most experts say you need to be able to do 10 pull ups before even trying it. I am a LONG ways from doing that. But it's a goal worth shooting for in 2026.
The bigger picture, of course, is less about lifting and more about the personal quest -- the emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual components that factor into meeting a goal you think is impossible. The lesson is that none of us achieves goals effortlessly. Most of us have to work hard for what we have. Plus, most of us have "failed" many times before reaching our goals. Take that marriage you admire so much. Although they look so happy on the surface, it's almost guaranteed that they had to go through times that almost destroyed their marriage before they became truly one and happy. Most things in life do not come easy. That's what makes the victory so amazing.
God bless you, my friend.
From today's workout: