Breathing
Exhale as you pull down or lift your body and inhale during the controlled return. Keep breathing instead of hanging on a prolonged breath hold.
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The Close-Grip Front Lat Pulldown primarily works the lats, with the biceps, middle back and shoulders supporting the movement. It is a strength movement performed with cable.
1 / 2How to
Movement instructions
Sit down on a pull-down machine with a wide bar attached to the top pulley. Make sure that you adjust the knee pad of the machine to fit your height. These pads will prevent your body from being raised by the resistance attached to the bar.
Grab the bar with the palms facing forward using the prescribed grip. Note on grips: For a wide grip, your hands need to be spaced out at a distance wider than your shoulder width. For a medium grip, your hands need to be spaced out at a distance equal to your shoulder width and for a close grip at a distance smaller than your shoulder width.
As you have both arms extended in front of you - while holding the bar at the chosen grip width - bring your torso back around 30 degrees or so while creating a curvature on your lower back and sticking your chest out. This is your starting position.
As you breathe out, bring the bar down until it touches your upper chest by drawing the shoulders and the upper arms down and back. Tip: Concentrate on squeezing the back muscles once you reach the full contracted position. The upper torso should remain stationary (only the arms should move). The forearms should do no other work except for holding the bar; therefore do not try to pull the bar down using the forearms.
After a second in the contracted position, while squeezing your shoulder blades together, slowly raise the bar back to the starting position when your arms are fully extended and the lats are fully stretched. Inhale during this portion of the movement.
6. Repeat this motion for the prescribed amount of repetitions.
Technique guidance
Exhale as you pull down or lift your body and inhale during the controlled return. Keep breathing instead of hanging on a prolonged breath hold.
General guidance based on the exercise and equipment. It is not personal coaching or medical advice.
Your progress
Keep the same cable setup, range of motion and recording method when comparing Close-Grip Front Lat Pulldown sessions.
Weight, repetitions and completed sets.
Example: 3 sets of 8 reps at 30 kg. Next time, record the actual result, even if it is the same.
Look for more repetitions at the same weight, or a heavier weight for comparable repetitions. Total weight lifted also changes when you add sets, so it is not a strength score.
Read the tracking guideThe examples show how to keep a record. They are not workout targets or a personalised training plan.
See how Jijibisha tracks your progressMuscles
Muscle guide
Lats is the primary muscle group. The lighter highlights show the supporting muscles involved in the movement.
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Different equipment, same muscle
These movements also target the lats using something else.
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