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Exercise guide

Rope Climb

How to do the Rope Climb with correct form, the muscles it works, and where it fits a training plan you actually stick to.

CompoundOtherIntermediatePull
Primary muscles

Lats

Secondary

Biceps, Forearms, Mid Back, Shoulders

Equipment

Other

Step by step

How to do the Rope Climb

  1. 1

    Grab the rope with both hands above your head. Pull down on the rope as you take a small jump.

  2. 2

    Wrap the rope around one leg, using your feet to pinch the rope. Reach up as high as possible with your arms, gripping the rope tightly.

  3. 3

    Release the rope from your feet as you pull yourself up with your arms, bringing your knees towards your chest.

  4. 4

    Resecure your feet on the rope, and then stand up to take another high hold on the rope. Continue until you reach the top of the rope.

  5. 5

    To lower yourself, loosen the grip of your feet on the rope as you slide down using a hand over hand motion.

In Ascend

Log it, see it on your body.

Every Rope Climb set you log feeds Ascend's anatomy heatmap — so your lats volume is visible at a glance — and counts toward your bodyweight-strength tier.

Related

More lats exercises

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