Anyone know anything about callisthenics?

I really need to get my fitness levels back, having basically been a lazy, greedy slob for a while!

I know the stock answer will be get out on the bike more, but I would also like to build some strength and wider range of fitness.

probably because I’ve spent months thinking about how to do it (ie putting off actually doing anything) my social media is full of stuff telling me callisthenics will turn me into a lean fighting machine in 4 weeks!

It looks like just pretty basic home workouts? Or am I missing something? (Hopefully a fast track to fitness!)

I do a lot of calisthenics and it’s very humbling in that its really not easy and having poor mobility makes it even harder. I fitted a large pull up bar to the side of the house for use with Olympic rings as well as pull ups. I have a set of dip bars as well. Weighted sets of all if the above for progressiveness.

I just like having all my gear at home. Doing my workout then moving on with my day. I get very bored of the gym. I do go in the winter when it’s freezing but mainly calisthenics and kettlebells work very well for me.

I can handstand pretty well for 30s. That took me about 2 years to get good at. My main goals at the moment are handstand pushup along with strict muscle ups on the rings. Mind I mentioned humbling. It takes so long to progress to these but I enjoy the journey and the many small wins along the way.

I did buy a program for the muscle up. And it has been great for progressing the right way but I’m really struggling on one last part. The transition.

One advice I would go with. Don’t just randomly do stuff you se online. Lol at the guys like GMB Fitness. K Boges, bodyweight warrior and look at some of their free structured routines. Especially when beginning.

I’ve tried over the years, but usually when I get consistent it’s because I’m pushing through niggles and then end up injured and have to stop for a few months. My best handstand still only 5s! I can’t ‘skin the cat’ properly on the gymnastic rings. Can’t do ten pull ups. Given up on dips currently.

So yes 100% agree with mactheknife, you need to have basic strength from good general mobility/movement/flexibility in the first place to get the most out of it. I think dips in particular messed my shoulder up.

I’ve built up to doing pull ups again this year, but not worrying in the slightest that I still can’t do ten. It’s more important to focus on the small stuff. Build basic strength in all those other little muscles that are underused. And while it doesn’t look like much I’ve found using my gymnastic rings just by standing up and leaning this way and that with my arms in different positions has really helped improve my shoulders (along with scapular pull ups).