How common are single arm chins?

[Goatamon]

I seem to remember my dad being able to do 2 at his peak when he was a drill seargeant. Seems insane.

[Mark Rippetoe]

One arm chins can be trained like anything else. York lifters like Grimek, Stanko and Davis could do one arm chin for reps and they all weighed over 200-lbs.

Trainees do more rowing nowadays than heavy pull up work.

How many people do you know that can do one?

[idlehands]

How many people do you know that can do one?

This was a month ago. Not sure how close he is now.
http://youtu.be/5kcA7yWKPQU

[Smyth]

I'd have to see a video to believe anyone can do it. Rip, have your ever witnessed a legitimate one?

I should add, I'm not sure of the value, other than just being able to accomplish a weird-ass physical feat. And that's something, I suppose.

[Smyth]

Okay, I see some tutorials on Youtube for the one arm chin-up. Not too much in the way of anyone banging them out, but getting one or two clean? Sure. Looks like too much work to learn it.

[Stephen Wokanick]

How many people do you know that can do one?

About as many people as I know who can squat 500. I wouldn't tell anyone that a 500-lb squat is impossible though.

[Mark Rippetoe]

This was a month ago. Not sure how close he is now.
http://youtu.be/5kcA7yWKPQU

So, you've seen one video of a guy almost do it.

About as many people as I know who can squat 500. I wouldn't tell anyone that a 500-lb squat is impossible though.

I know hundreds of people squatting 500 now, and I've never seen a clean one-arm pullup. So, there you go. Are these circus tricks somehow important?

[Stephen Wokanick]

I know hundreds of people squatting 500 now, and I've never seen a clean one-arm pullup. So, there you go. Are these circus tricks somehow important?

500-lb squats aren't as common in my neck of the woods. Important? I guess if being brutally strong is something you think is important then yes. Just because most people are too weak to do something doesn't mean it isn't valuable.

[Mark Rippetoe]

I assure you that 500-pound squats are FAR more common than one-arm chins. Are you suggesting that one-arm chins are as important as 500-pound squats? You think 500-pound squats are a remarkable achievement, and that one-arm chins can contribute as much to athletic performance as heavy squats?

[Smyth]

When it comes down to it, I'd much rather be able to do a 500 lb. squat. But I have to admit, as a parlor trick, I wouldn't mind being able to knock out a couple one arm chins. Unfortunately, the likelihood of me doing either any time soon is pretty slim.