Complete Calisthenics: The Ultimate Guide to Bodyweight Exercise

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It is very well written, the instructions are clear and precise and the pictures give a good representation of the exercise being discussed. The aspect of the narrative that I liked the most was the emphasis that the author Mr. Kalym places on building up strength and how to adapt each exercise for beginners (where applicable since not all exercises are meant for beginners). I think that the emphasis that the author places on building up strength is essential in an exercise book to appeal to wider audience and it shows a sensitivity to and understanding of the difficulties inherent to strength training. Mr. Kalym is obviously in peak condition and, as he explains, it did not come over overnight, his abilities grew over a course of years of training and dedication and his narration seems to come from that perspective. Each exercise is given a thorough description of the muscles used, how it taxes one's body, how it will build strength, proper technique, and repetitions and sets guide. Again, the emphasis on building up one's strength is key in this respect. Many of the exercises can be adapted to fit one's particular strength level and the author does a superb job of discussing this. Personally, I am not a beginner to these types of exercises; I was looking for a book that would help explain the exercises I've done all my life and to learn a couple of new ones - this book definitely delivered! I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking into calisthenics for the first time, looking to enhance his/her exercise regimen, or for the hardcore athlete looking for new and creative ways to challenge their body.

“Complete Calisthenics” is another excellent book by Ashley Kalym. And it is exactly as the expanded title states, “The Ultimate Guide to Bodyweight Exercise.” The text is well written. The pictures are large and clear. The progressions are well thought out and well explained. The book is well organized. Each section takes the athlete from very basic – horizontal rows – to very advanced- one arm pullups. There are ample warnings about the dangers and go to slow in these workouts. The section on diet and life style are simple and practical, not adhering to any specific program other than natural, simple foods with plenty of rest. The sections on developing your own program are excellent with plenty of guidance to enable the athlete to vary the program as much as he wants. The sections on workouts are well done and will take the athlete far into strength programs with specific programs for such as the basic fundamentals and the Levers. Ashley does give us a basic level from which to start. However his programs in this book can get the athlete to these levels. This level is: Pushups 20 reps, Pullups 10 reps, Tricep dips 10 reps, Hanging knee raises 10 reps, and Squats 25 reps. Needless to say, Ashley does state that the performance of these must all be of perfect form. Recently published are several books on progressive body weight exercise programs. Several of these are excellent. This is one of the best.

I own and have followed the Convict Conditioning series. I wish I knew about this book before I bought those. Don't get me wrong the Convict Conditioning (Con-Con) series is very good and I would still have bought them but I think Complete Calisthenics is a better book. I currently have tailored my own program from this book with some ideas from Con-Con 1 & 2. Kalym's Fundamental Five (F5), his starter program if you will, is well thought out. Any beginner should be able to achieve the F5 requirements in a reasonable number of months with the exception of the 10 pull-ups which will probably be the sticking point for some. That's not a flaw with the program but rather highlights two issues that are common with many. Too many of us are too heavy and too sedentary. Our pulling muscles are weak from disuse and it's hard to hit a decent number of pull-ups with a spare tire acting as a anchor. I believe hitting the F5 requirements is a reasonable foundation. His second and third programs are well thought out in my opinion. The second program uses some harder exercise variations to build greater strength and introduces handstands. Perhaps this is why some people are calling this book intermediate to advanced but remember you don't start here, you earn your way here by nailing the F5. The third program further develops handstands and introduces levers and this is getting into advanced territory for most. In my opinion this is a no nonsense, no hype book with a very good treatment of a large selection of body weight exercises and reasonable programming. The book lays out a plan to go as far as you want to go with calisthenics.

I've been training progressive calisthenics-style for about two years (after 23 years in traditional gym settings and competing in natural bodybuilding contests). I have to say that I quickly learned and mastered a few advanced moves, like front and back lever. However, I was stuck with not much progress in other moves, like HS for example. Ashley Kalym's book is the first one I buy on calisthenics. I thought I need guidance from someone who's already mastered the moves I was stuck on and has experience teaching them. Well, here are a couple of great things I like about the book and the author: - All exercises and advanced moves are presented as a learning path from simple novice moves to more advanced variations of these moves to finally the actual advanced moves. I personally was missing the steps in the middle that take you from not being able to do an advanced move to being able to. I was personally trying with the most difficult move from the advanced ones without knowing that I need to do some move-specific conditioning that will help me get to the advanced move. - The author comes across as a down-to-earth regular guy, who's even provided his personal email address in the book for readers to get in touch with him. I did write him an email and he very cordially replied in about 24 hours (there is 6 hours difference between where he lives and where I live). I personally wasn't impressed with the depth of the nutrition section in the book but that's not a reason for taking a star from the rating. The truth is that I am more of a functional nutrition fanatic and I'd say that my knowledge about nutrition is a bit above layman level. That said, the info in the nutrition section is just about enough for someone who's coming from the perspective of a convenience type of pseudo food into highly nutritious eating that will actually support him/her in achieving serious athletic goals like the goals that mastering advanced calisthenics requires. All in all the book is complete and you will fell like someone took you by the hand and walked you though what might seem an unachievable and superhuman world of complete calisthenics (and that's how the book is called), while in the process not talking down on you from the angle of "I know and have done it all". I look forward to reading whatever other books Ashley will come up with.

I bought this book primarly for the planche progressions and was pleasantly surprised with excellent progressions for many of the advanced calisthenic/gymnastic standards such as the levers and flags as well. Anyone serious about bodyweight training should be familiar with the individual exercises, but the real guts of this work is in the progressions and the omission of exercises which have no bearing on the goals. The attention to detail stands out. The organization is the best I've seen. Every author lays out the progressions that have worked well for them, but this one is exceptional in the consistency of its theme between the levers, the planches, the flags, etc. The end result is a great deal of carryover in strength gains from one set of moves to another. Very well done. Another strength is Kalym's youtube site which complements the information greatly. The Convict Conditioning series which I've used extensively has a better section on bridging and is more conversational in nature, but they complement each other well. There are excellent tips and tricks in all of these books.

I very rarely find a book that I feel was worth the price I paid for it. And I was very reluctant to buy this book due to the price and my low expectations of the book being very informative. However this is one of the BEST books on bodyweight training/calisthenics that I have ever read. I'm very happy with the content of the book and the detail the author goes into on the exercises and explanations of things. He breaks his "Fundamental Five" exercises down to very simple steps in order to help beginners build up the strength to complete them. He then gives more advanced variations of the "Fundamental Five" to ensure that the reader can continue to progress to very high levels of strength and skill. Overall this was a great book and I would very highly recommend it to anyone considering trying calisthenics. In my opinion, this book is a "MUST HAVE" if you're serious about bodyweight training/calisthenics.

I do not consider only 8 months with the Royal Marines before dropping out as "serving." The kid is entirely enthusiastic about body weight training and presents it well; I read the whole book in one sitting. Most fitness books bore me after a chapter or two of, "I'm so awesome buy my other products." He does plug a few books, but only as additional knowledge, not needed to start with this book.. This book alone is a great foundation from beginner-to-advance. Exercises come with very detailed descriptions and pictures. They come with progressions and ways to measure when to progress based on your specific goal(s). Don't expect a diet book. Don't expect a stretching book. They're mentioned but, as he states, your better served by researching those topics based on your goals, health , physical condition, age, etc.

A decent Calisthenics exercise library for beginners. It is straight forward and easy to understand. But, the tutorials on the more advanced movements could contain more in-depth explanation and prerequisite strength requirements.

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....

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.