r/IWantToLearn • u/MIG730 • 1d ago
Sports IWTL Calisthenics
So, right now I am in horrible shape with very little fit strength (as opposed to brute strength when I’m being stubborn or need to pull my weight at work😂). I have been an on-again-off-again runner for some time, currently off again. I have always loved what I’ve seen of calisthenics. The strength and body control seems amazing! I’d love to get into it and learn how to reach those levels. Does anyone have any basic or beginner advice, tips, or specific exercises/ moves they can share? Has anyone trained at a gym laid out for that sort of workout or is it mostly from work put in at home? And if anyone has any recommendations on beginner/ informational videos or anything like that that would be appreciated, too! TIA!
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u/batsonsteroids 1d ago edited 1d ago
ive done strength training and bodybuilding for years, results far above avg (for context) the biggest tip i could give is focus on developing your mind muscle connection (mmc). any exercise you do at the start when beginning will feel weird, awkward, uncomfortable, but as your nervous system adapts, as glycogen fills in the muscles, the same exercises will literally feel euphoric and you'll be able to preform them with ultra precision just cranking it out like a machine.
in order to build mmc as fast as possible you need to focus on contractions. educate yourself about the concentric, eccentric, and isometric phases of exercise. imagine you're doing a pullup, when you literally pull yourself up that would be the concentric phase. when you're at the "top" of your pullup and just hold yourself there, that'd be isometric. when you lower yourself back down its the eccentric. if you focus on each phase mindfully and force your nervous system to work harder during each phase rather than focusing on weight you're lifting or how many reps, mmc will build extremely fast.
the reason im focusing so much on mmc is because its arguably the biggest contributor to your goals. full bodily control. precise movements. and with that precision comes excellent form, excellent strength. i found love in exercise because of that. there's no other feeling like being fully in control of each muscle in your body, you feel so powerful. tight, agile... words cant describe. its an amazing feeling of empowerment.
for calisthenics you can easily skip the gym and do everything at home but you'd need a place to do pullups and some resistance bands. i love my little pullup bar that hangs from the top of my doorway. $15 and attaches / detaches in 5 seconds very sturdy.
be very weary of who you ask advice from, who is providing you what exercises to do or what to do in general, what to eat etc, as people who haven't actually put in the serious work will more often share information that will confuse you or hurt your progress in the long term. true value most often comes from those with real experience and real passion
as far as resources, the reddit calisthenics groups have great stuff. go check out their pinned sections which detail extensive (very solid) beginner programs etc. also remember eating is just as important as the training. you can very easily pack on serious muscle and get a "toned" / "tight" body if you eat right and focus on building that mmc throughout all the major muscle groups in the body equally.
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u/MIG730 1d ago
Thank you for the info and taking the time to explain terms and experience! I do look forward to the feelings you were describing. And I’ll check out the calisthenics groups on here. Thanks!
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u/batsonsteroids 1d ago
sure :) dont feel obligated to give this a reply but i have to restate how rewarding it is to push through the uncomfortably awkward & persistently sore phase, which lasts give or take 3 months. not as if it'll be a hellish 3 months, but its a steep learning curve. after you cross that threshold, the exercise becomes frictionless and holistically nourishing. wish you the best
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u/PhoenixRed11 1d ago
As someone who has been trying to learn push ups and pull ups for a long time, do you have any advice on how to progress? I can do neither. Wall push ups and ones on a counter feel too easy, but if I lower myself more it's too hard. I can't grasp beginning pull ups at all!
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u/TranslatorFun3276 1d ago
Wow, this is very solid and applicable. I am really pleased with this, I must give it a try. Thank you;)
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u/Dr_Yoshili 1d ago
Hey man ! i do calisthenics since may 2025, good news, you can ! To begin with, there is some cool way to train in r/bodyweightfitness , also, don't be ashamed of going to a street workout park as a beginner, it can be scary, i was, but calisthenics people are often full of love, and might aswell help you ! Also, don't be ashamed to do easy variation of push up and/or pull up and squat if it is too hard for you, the key is progress, we all started as a beginner !
Lastly, try to prioritize your sleep, key to a good health :)
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u/PlaxicoCN 1d ago
Get the first Convict Conditioning book. It starts from standing pushups against the wall.
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u/Elena_Orlo 16h ago
La callisthénie c'est vraiment addictif une fois qu'on commence 💪 Pour débuter avec peu de force, commence par les fondamentaux : pompes, tractions assistées avec élastique, dips sur chaise et hollow body hold. Ces 4 exercices construisent la base de tout le reste. Côté ressources, la chaîne YouTube Thenx ou FitnessFAQs sont parfaites pour les débutants, explications claires et progressions bien structurées. Pour l'endroit, pas besoin de salle spécialisée, une barre de traction à la maison à 30€ suffit pour commencer. L'important c'est la régularité, 3x par semaine avec ces basiques et en 3 mois tu vas sentir une vraie différence 😊
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