Another Path: Calisthenics Could Pave The Way To A Better Physique and Strength
Depending on where the fitness bros are in terms of their obsequiousness to the altar of the Barbell and Dumbbell, this may get me chased down and excommunicated from the gym. Still worth the risk.
Calisthenics training and workouts have been setting the world ablaze as of late and for good reason. While traditional weightlifting is often associated with building size and strength, calisthenics can be equally effective, if not more so. In this article, we will explore the superiority of calisthenics training and workouts over traditional weightlifting for size and strength and trust me, you're not going to want to click off of this.
Calisthenics training is a form of exercise that involves using your body weight to perform various movements and exercises which are known within the circles of those who seek to pose atop the functional Hall of Fame as "Skills". These exercises can include push-ups, pull-ups, squats, lunges, and many others that branch off of these simple bodyweight movements. Calisthenics training is often performed in a circuit-style format, where you perform a series of exercises back-to-back with little to no rest in between so as to make sure to keep your body within an optimal state of muscle fatigue. Remember, there must be a level of fatigue in order to illicit muscle growth as that leads to muscle fiber recruitment and gives way to neuromuscular adaptations and hypertrophy.
While traditional weightlifting involves using external weights such as dumbbells, barbells, and machines, calisthenics training relies solely on your body weight. The obvious advantage here is that you're able to perform almost any calisthenics exercise anywhere, anytime, without the need for expensive equipment or a gym membership full of Sarms Goblins, TikTok Harpies, and Mirin Brahs.
But what about the effectiveness of calisthenics training compared to traditional weightlifting? While weightlifting can certainly build muscle and strength, calisthenics training has several advantages over the hallowed dumbbells, sacred cables, and revered barbells.
Calisthenics training is a full-body workout that engages multiple muscle groups at once. By default, most of the exercises are already compound movements and heavily involve the core. This means that you can get a complete workout in a shorter amount of time compared to traditional weight training where isolation training usually is required to clean up some of the areas neglected by whatever selected modalities were hit on that day of your given split.
Calisthenics training focuses on building functional strength, which means strength that can be applied to real-life situations. For example, being able to perform a pull-up or push-up requires a combination of upper body strength, core stability, and coordination. These are all skills that are useful in everyday life, whether you're carrying groceries or playing sports.
Traditional weightlifting can also put a lot of stress on your joints, especially if you're lifting heavy weights with improper form. (And I know most of you reading this are guilty. Don't hide now.) Calisthenics training, on the other hand, is low-impact and can actually improve joint health by strengthening the muscles and connective tissues that support your joints. This is similar to how after doing deadlifts long enough, eventually your tendons and ligaments within your hands and fingers get strong enough to hold the weight. Hook grip is necessary for this though. I'm sorry catch grip purists...
Calisthenics training is incredibly versatile and can be adapted to any fitness level. Whether you're a beginner or an advanced athlete, there are calisthenics exercises that can challenge you and help you progress. Additionally, calisthenics training can be modified to target specific muscle groups or to focus on cardio and endurance.
While traditional weightlifting can certainly build muscle and strength, calisthenics training offers several advantages that make it a superior choice for many people. With its focus on full-body workouts, functional strength, joint health, and versatility, calisthenics training can help you achieve your fitness goals without the need for expensive equipment or a gym membership. So why not give it a try and see the results for yourself?
I appreciate this article immensely. I work an extremely physical job so using calisthenics to break up my heavy traditional lifts has paid dividends in my recovery and over all physical health.