Firstly it is difficult to spell. Roughly translated from the original Greek it means, good movement.

It’s a broad term that covers a variety of ways of training – it used to be used to describe compound aerobics exercises like Star Jumps but is now something very different. Today its more common to think Street workout or Prison workout. Usually this would be compound body-weight exercises although sometimes there are isolation moves and external resistances can be incorporated. At it’s most basic, it is exercises like Press-ups, chin ups, squats etc. but is more likely to include some gymnastic moves with minimal equipment. 

Hybrid training is simply incorporating weighted or weight based exercises into a workout, usually to help develop a skill perhaps by bringing a lagging muscle group up to strength or to add supplemental work to improve tendon strength more quickly – for example perhaps high rep bicep curls to help with ring Flyes.

Fundamental to all Calisthenics is a strong core which allows advanced skills like Muscle-ups, Human Flag, Front and reverse Levers, Planche, L or V sits etc. It can be used for developing skills, conditioning, mobility, strength or bodybuilding (or a mixture of these) depending on how it’s done.

What it isn’t

Callisthenics is not an easier option to a gym workout! Before you can start practicing for any of the advanced skills you will need a good foundation and some time improving joint stability and tendon strength (paying your dues!). You might even need to work on your mobility first, especially if you are not used to moving your shoulders through different planes.

As mentioned, whilst Callisthenics is a great approach for building on many different goals such as building strength, developing muscles, strengthening joints and improving mobility, you will still need to train for specificity if you want to progress a particular aspect of fitness or sport – for example if you want to improve your weights in a bench press, yes dips and push ups can help, but no where near as much as practicing weighted presses. If you want to improve your martial arts, guess what.. you need to practice that!

Want to start?

Of course you do!! It’s super fun, really cool and very rewarding mentally and physically. Once you start on this skill based movement system, every time you practice you will become a little stronger, a little more refined; but you do need to be patient, and to be successful, consistency of practice is key.’