Complete Calisthenics: The Ultimate Guide to Bodyweight Exercises

I think, along with Arnold Schwarzenegger's 'Body Building Encyclopaedia', this gives you COMPLETE information on practically every exercise you need or indeed want to do! Both books are exhaustive; Arnold's, obviously, with weights, Ashley's for bodyweight exercises.... Which is the purpose of this review.... First off, it's well written and a damn big/thick book! Secondly, there's simply tonnes of pictures showing you, step by step, each and every exercise. So, if you can't grasp what's being stated in the comprehensive text on each exercise, then at least you have the pictures to reference. The book covers everyone, from beginners to experts. So one and all can get something out of this book. Not only exercises, or how to make some of the equipment - which is way beyond cool - but also of dietary needs, macronutrient breakdown and building an exercise programme of your own. Naturally, Ashley has put up some 'templates' on what you can use yourself. But the best thing, for me, are the progressions; just exactly how do you get from a wall assisted handstand to be able to do straddles into handstands anywhere! That too is detailed well.... For me, coming from 4 years of working out with messers Shaun T and Tony Horton, of 'Insanity' and 'P90X' fame respectively, it's all added to the wealth of information that I now have at hand and how to push on to the next level of fitness and difficulty. Buy it! Read it! Use it! I think it'll change your perceptions of what you can do with your bodyweight....

Seriously, this book is very complete, in my opinion anyway. It has more than enough information for basically every single calisthenics move you could think of, yes even the planche and dreaded things like that. While some say it's lacking in the nutrition department, I think the information provided is fine. I didn't buy it for nutritional information... The book is hefty, I thought it'd be smaller, but no, it's a good, A4 sized, over 300 pages thick volume. It has very clear progressions for each exercise. There are a few programs to follow located at the back of the book. Equipment needed: -Sturdy chin-up bar (I have one of those cheap 'Iron Gym' things, and have done for years, it suffices) -Large, stable push-up stands or parallettes (Parallettes can be made cheaply from wood, like seen on the cover or made from pipe, for large push-up stands, if you have Beachbody's old PowerStands, those metal ones? Those are very sturdy and large enough) -Dip bar (Most designs will be good enough but a parallel bar set-up in your garden is preferred, they're relativity cheap to make) -Space to move, about 2 x 2 meters with a wall to lean on should be about OK. (It all depends on your height) -Chalk, powdered, solid, liquid, it all works fine (I have liquid chalk which I also use for rock climbing. If you're looking to gain strength this is a good book for you, it has helped me progress in bodyweight training, like, a lot. I can't see any faults with this book at all. There are progressions for exercises and even programs for beginners to advance at the back of the book. Also, thought I should mention, this book DOESN'T cover usage of gymnastic rings, if you want a book more gymnastics based then try: Overcoming Gravity: A Systematic Approach to Gymnastics and Bodyweight Strength Try and get a used copy if you can, it is pretty expensive. Thanks for reading.

I really enjoyed Ashley's previous 'The Bible' series, and began to check out some of the videos on YouTube and read his blog (that might come across as a bit creepy, erm). There's a succinct style to his writing, terse and straight to the point, that I enjoy, so had to check out the book. There's a lot of information here on everything an athlete needs to know about body-weight training. From the simplest of exercises to full-blown routines; using the principles described in the book will provide anyone with the means to become truly powerful and challenge the gym-mythos. Even if the reader has some calisthenics experience, I found there are some elements and new perspectives to be taken from the book that can aid in one's training. The book features images that are large and clear, a no-nonsense attitude to training and exceptional food advice. It is large too, great for just throwing down on the floor and using as a reference. The book could have done with some better proof reading and there are a few editing mistakes. I also think that some of the most simplest exercises can be too much for some as body-weight can be an immense shock to the system, so perhaps a foundation level of training was needed? It's something that is rectified later in the book's training plans, even if the initial information can be overwhelming. It's an exceptional book for newcomers and experienced calisthenics practitioners alike.

I bought this book whilst recovering from rotor cuff (infraspinatus & supraspinatus tare) surgery with the aim of utilising it to assist in building my shoulder strength again. Don't expect this book to teach you to suck eggs of all basic physical fitness (such as nutrition). He touches on these subjects and points you to where you can find this info. This book is about the detailed explanations of the vast range of exercises, how to do them and how to progress from the simple ones to the more difficult exercises. You are expected to have some common sense on when you're ready to move onto more difficult exercises when you are capable. It's laid out logically: Introduction, Physical Preparation, Exercises (broken down to areas) and training plans. This book is over 330 pages with over 220 dedicated to 'The Exercises' chapter which is broken down into more subchapters for different type of exercises (pushups, pull-ups, dips, levers legs etc) with detailed narrative and pictures on how to do each one. The 4 progressive training plans are simple to follow and will progress you from being being able to carry out the BEGINNERS fundamentals (push ups, squats, pull-ups, dips, knee raises) to the complete calisthenics for the EXPERTS.

I have currently in my library "Convict Conditioning", "You Are Your Own Gym" and "Overcoming Gravity" all of which have their merits. Overcoming Gravity is geared more towards gymnasts with an excellent level of information and good progressions although it is a little dry. Convict Conditioning is an exciting read and introduced me to the harder levels of bodyweight strength but I found fault with some progressions not leading well to the next. You Are Your Own Gym is aimed at everyone but does not have a linear progression system, it does have a good fitness regime and exercises for everything. Where Complete Calisthenics scores above all these is with a greater emphasise on progressing strength, its layout is such that each exercise listed contributes to getting to the next. Also the introduction pointing out the strengths/ weaknesses and unique aspects of calisthenics is very good and marks it above Convict Conditioning and You Are Your Own Gym which though inspiring do make out that calisthenics is the answer to everything. The only minuses I found were the nutrition section which is back to basics - no bad thing but some readers may expect more detail. The other minus is in the push up section which is not organised as logically in terms of progressions as the rest of the book. This book is also superior to the others in that the explanations are better and photography much clearer. All in all for a serious guide to all things bodyweight this is the best of the best. (in my humble opinion).

I was really disappointed in this book. I have done a fair bit of bodyweight training and this book didn't add any value to my basic knowledge and information on the internet/youtube. The book has a lot of variations of exercises, however doesn't get you through progressions of exercises well (for example handstands, handstand press ups, handstand walks). Nor does it give you a good structure or formula to create your own programme. Instead of educating you on how to build up to exercises or create a programme it is almost an encyclopaedia of exercises. Try seeing a copy before purchasing, I didn't use it as it wasn't terribly helpful or insightful.

Was a but hesitant to buy this book, thinking what can it teach me that I can't learn off youtube? But I ordered it anyway thinking maybe I can learn a few Calisthenics exercises for my core, after all I've seen that guys that do a lot of calisthenics have really strong cores than the bodybuilders eg; Dragon fly's and the Human Flag WTF?!!# I only ordered this yesterday and got it today, had a quick skim, thought I'd try the first exercise called the scapula push ups, its under the warm up stretching part of the book, but after doing the recommended 10 I felt muscles groups and mobility in my upper back that I have probably never used in the gym, like ever even with all the fancy equipment. I'm so pleased with the purchase the exercises are broken down and explained in 1,2,3 picture illustrations, and am really looking forward to some of the other exercises that I never even thought of, like having your feet planted mid wall and doing pressups using your feet digged in mid air against the wall and using your core muscles, brilliant. My Parallel bars arrive tomorrow and I'm really looking forward to these challenging exercises, I really recommend this book you won't find most of these exercises on youtube and even if you do they are not broken down in so much simple details so anyone can do them

A really good book for an introduction into the art of calisthenics, The book is clearly made with a great amount of care and a thorough understanding of the discipline it is sharing with the reader. It give the exercises in a clear and defined way that makes it easy to follow and perform in the correct manner, and provides details of many aspects of health in general. What I like most about this book it the fact that the writer actually includes a pros and cons page on calisthenics, which is pretty refreshing in the fitness industry where the health guru is usually of the belief that their way is always the right way. It's a really decent book which I feel can be used as part of a real lifestyle change towards better health and fitness.

Es la mejor guía para la práctica de calistenia. Los ejercicios estan perfectamente detallados y de manera que puedes ir progresando en dificultad la práctica hasta el perfeccionamiento del movimiento. Tiene un par de capítulos interesantes sobre nutrición y descripción de los principales grupos musculares que se ejercitan con la calistenia.

Li uns 4 antes de chegar nesse. Faltava informação em todos, mas nesse tem dicas completas do iniciante ao avançado, com dicas detalhadas da execução de cada movimento. É o melhor livro que vc pode ler de calistenia. Infelizmente não há material de qualidade em português.

Habe mir dieses Buch zuerst mit Kindle Unlimited ausgeliehen und als ich es dann durch hatte, war ich so begeistert, dass ich es mir noch gekauft habe. Und das war es echt wert. Für mich jetzt schon das Beste Buch zu Calisthenics. Der Autor schreibt präzise und legt viel wert auf die Individualität des Lesers. Jeder kann die Übungen, die im Buch gezeigt werden, seinem individuellen Leistungsstandard anpassen und jede einzelne Übung ist in Schwierigkeitsgrade gegliedert, sodass man sich immer verbessern kann. Man kommt in dem Programm sogar an Übungen wie -"Muscle-Ups, Levers aber auch Human Flags"- ran, was ich vorher nie für möglich gehalten habe. Fazit: Sehr sehr hilfreiches Buch und bei dem Preis-Leistungs-Verhältnis ein Muss!! Edit: Trotz der englischen Sprache, super verständlich :)

One of the best books I've ever purchased. Gave my Cali Game a JumpStart from where I left off years ago. Definitely recommend fror those who buy and execute the workouts and yes warm up before you do . ALWAYS. Injury prevention is key.

I have read some calisthenics books and this one is one of the best. Ashley teaches you many movements and exercises for beginners and advanced people. I liked that he shows pictures for each exercise and gives recommendations about how to do them properly. This book is helping me out with some movements I couldn't do in a correct manner, and his tips are very useful. I recommend this book for every person who is involved with these type of workouts, no matter if you are beginner or advanced there is always new to learn.