There seems to be a lot of controversy between the camps that advocate the strict pull-up and the kipping pull-up. Solution: do both!

Here we see several variations

• L Pull-Up, er, still working on this looks more like an “N” Pull-Up. This one is hard!
• Dead-Hang Pull-Up, this is the classic pull-up. Don’t use any body motion; this is a great strength and mass builder.
• Kipping Pull-Up, the “CrossFit Pull-Up”. This movement allows significant volume to be done by the upper body by assisting the pull with a powerful wave of contraction that starts at the core and radiates to the extremities. In other words it allows one to do more pull-ups. It is without peer for athletes, however it is true that it allows pull-ups to be done by those with limited upper body strength. To which I would reply “so what”? That means it is a true functional exercise!