super calisthenics

mikhemm · 02-Dec-05, 12:35 AM

I am intrigued because it doesn't require any weight equipment. I want several people's opionions before I choose to buy the product. here's the address; i was thinking about getting the flexibility manual too.
http://www.elasticsteel.com/

my question is how far can one get with this type of exercise. What is a realistic goal when using this type of workout? What should one's goals even be? Is getting bigger a good option? Or is it just a rip off?

Symzie · 03-Dec-05, 06:42 AM

Well what are your goals? Only you can decide that.

It looks interesting. If you did that kind of program you would have great flexability and strength. I looks a bit like Pavel's Naked Warrior type workout.

If you're looking to add muscle; more of a weight lifting program would suit you.

03-Dec-05, 09:59 AM

May I suggest these books, both of which I own, and both of which I follow in my bodyweight only workouts:

"Pushing Yourself to Power" by John Peterson.
www.bronzebowpublishing.com
Training consists of power calesthetics, dynamic visualized resistance (DVR) exercises, and dynamic self-resistance exercises.

"The Underground Guide to Warrior Fitness" by Ross Enamait.
www.rossboxing.com
Training consists of bodyweight only exercises with excellent plyometic and core workouts, along with many sample workouts that are very, very difficult. Better for someone who is already fit and wanting to take things to the next level.

Good luck and Merry Christmas!

**threenorns** · 03-Dec-05, 10:08 AM

it all depends on how much muscle you're talking and what your body type is.

if you want to look more like bruce lee, then yes, because bruce lee focused on bodyweight exercises. if you want to look more like a fitness model, then you'll need weights to add enough muscle mass.

that being said, if you're a mesomorph, you'll put on more muscle than if you're an ectomorph. it's a good bet that if you're ectomorph, you'll experience little actual size gain from bodyweight exercises.

mikhemm · 04-Dec-05, 08:11 PM

threenorns; whats ectomorph and mesomorph?

thanks for all help everyone. i will most likely combine the two to get optimum results. I already bought both the books- I really want to be flexible just so when I get old I don't have much physical problems and I got the other book to mix with my current weight training.

**threenorns** · 04-Dec-05, 11:57 PM

there are three basic body types: mesomorph, ectomorph, and endomorph.

mesomorph is the classic jock with thick, heavy bones - broad frame, large hands, thick wrists, wide hips; female mesomorphs have the classic hourglass figure.

mesomorphs are fastgainers - anything they do, they'll get good results. they can also easily overtrain because their minds can easily push the body past its limits. they're loud, their favourite food is generally meat, and can often be found hanging out in sports bars, pool halls, and football games. the kid who comes home, slams open the door, yells "MOOOOM!!!!!! I'M HOME!!!!!" three feet from her, throw the bookbag on the floor and dives into the fridge is probably a mesomorph. don't bother yelling at him/her to keep quiet, s/he can't. shape-wise, think of them as a block in outline.

in the primitive tribe, mesomorphs would've been the hunters - strong enough to bring down a kill and drag it back to the village. when they gain too much fat, it tends to collect on the back, the butt, the hips, and the thighs. some mesomorphs will have a high, hard fat collection on the abdomen.

the ectomorph is totally opposite - the classic "hardgainer". eats like a trooper but never gains an ounce. long, slender, delicate bones, large-ish, egg-shaped head, sensitive to high-pitched sounds. their favourite food is usually carbs, the simpler the better, and they often also like salty food. they usually have narrow shoulders and even narrower hips. when they get into bodybuilding and really bust ass, they usually look the best - Frank Zane was an ectomorph. because they have incredible endurance, it's harder for them to get bigger - they tend to prefer high-volume routines because it's just easier for them. they don't overtrain easily, but when they do, it's very very bad because it means they've driven themselves long past the point they should've quit. when they get overfat, it tends to collect square on the lower abdomen - the skinny-pregnant-man look. shape-wise, think of a triangle point-side down. the ectomorph child is the once most often heard saying "mooooom, he's LOOKING at me again!" (and yes, the Look really is upsetting the kid).

in the primitive tribe, ectomorphs were the scouts - they had the endurance to run great distances, just not the power to bring down dinner, never mind cart it back.

endomorphs gain muscle easily, but they gain fat even easier. their preferred snacks are generally fatty snacks - ice cream, chocolate, etc. they gain fat all over and tend to have doll-like appearances with high, soft voice. men are prone to boob development because oestrogen is stored in fat and the more fat one has, the more oestrogen until it has feminizing effects on men. they gain fat evenly all over, even on wrists, hands, ankles, and feet. shape-wise, think of an oval. the endomorph child is the one described as "husky", "chubby", or "plump" and usually is placid, peaceful, and slow-moving.

in the primitive tribe, endomorphs were the ones still alive in the spring after a long, hard winter.

Titus · 08-Dec-05, 06:17 PM

I just read this and its intresting. I used to think im was an ectomorph, except that now that you described it like this I don't really know what I am anymore. lol..

Because I love meat, I like eating meat, and I do eat a lot of food but I do gain weight eventually I mean slow gains but over a year I could've gained 10-15lbs. I have larger hips so they stick out..lol but my shoulders are somewhat broad.. I have large hands..skinny wrists.. so it seems I have qualities of both ectomorph and mesomorph but I do not have any endomorph... except maybe gain muslce easily.

But.. I guess I am long and slender don't know if I have a eggshapped head..lol. Skinny neck. So I am probably an ectomorph..oh well it was worth a try. But I really would like to gain weight on my hips cause I look like a girl! I have a v-shape you can tell but my hips are larger then my body untill you get to the shoulders :P

heavyliftn · 08-Dec-05, 08:29 PM

This program sounds like junk to me... any information you could want about BB'ing should come from two sources: 1) The internet 2) Arnold Schwarzenegger's Bodybuilding Encyclopedia (the BB'ing bible).

But if you do buy these books let me know if they are any good.

CF-OC_gal · 09-Dec-05, 12:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by threenorns

the ectomorph is totally opposite - the classic "hardgainer". eats like a trooper but never gains an ounce. long, slender, delicate bones, large-ish, egg-shaped head, sensitive to high-pitched sounds. their favourite food is usually carbs, the simpler the better, and they often also like salty food. they usually have narrow shoulders and even narrower hips. when they get into bodybuilding and really bust ass, they usually look the best - Frank Zane was an ectomorph. because they have incredible endurance, it's harder for them to get bigger - they tend to prefer high-volume routines because it's just easier for them. they don't overtrain easily, but when they do, it's very very bad because it means they've driven themselves long past the point they should've quit. when they get overfat, it tends to collect square on the lower abdomen - the skinny-pregnant-man look. shape-wise, think of a triangle point-side down. the ectomorph child is the once most often heard saying "mooooom, he's LOOKING at me again!" (and yes, the Look really is upsetting the kid).

Not exactly true. Ectomorphs like /Frank Zane have broad shoulders. Female ectos can be hourglass or stick figured. They can have ****ty endurance and suck at high volume training. Some can be downright unathletic and others make good athletes. They do make excellent dancers if they come with powerful legs though, but so can a mesomorph or endomorph who is disciplined.

These body type categories are not so easily pigeonholed. Most people are combinations of body types anyways.

Keep it simple.

Mesomorphic is the tendancy to gain and maintain muscle tissue easily.

Ectomorphic is a hard gainer with a naturally fast metabolism.

Endomorphs seem to have a high number of fat cells and a tendancy to gain weight easily. They do not easily maintain a cut or defined look.

I think it is going too far to say that food preferences and hearing issues define a body type.

mikhemm · 10-Dec-05, 07:03 AM

heavyliftn,
I'll definitely check out that book but I am not sure I want to get big. I don't want to add on more weight. I want to develop my muscles but I also want to focus a lot on endurance. There is always the popular question: do you want to look like arnold or bruce lee? I want to aim for BL, not AS. I might just buy that book though. sounds interesting. I'll let you know. I should receive the book in about a week or two.

**threenorns** · 10-Dec-05, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brat

Not exactly true. Ectomorphs like /Frank Zane have broad shoulders. Female ectos can be hourglass or stick figured. They can have ****ty endurance and suck at high volume training. Some can be downright unathletic and others make good athletes. They do make excellent dancers if they come with powerful legs though, but so can a mesomorph or endomorph who is disciplined.

These body type categories are not so easily pigeonholed. Most people are combinations of body types anyways.

Keep it simple.

Mesomorphic is the tendancy to gain and maintain muscle tissue easily.

Ectomorphic is a hard gainer with a naturally fast metabolism.

Endomorphs seem to have a high number of fat cells and a tendancy to gain weight easily. They do not easily maintain a cut or defined look.

I think it is going too far to say that food preferences and hearing issues define a body type.

the thing is, meso/endo/ecto are "pure" types - most ppl are blends (meso/endo, endo/ecto, meso/ecto, etc). so an ectomorph blended with mesomorph will have broader shoulders and gain muscle more easily, etc. - although, imo, zane's shoulders weren't THAT broad compared to other bodybuilders.

the food preferences and behaviour patterns are not diagnostic, they're just characteristic. "jock" kids do, indeed, tend to be loud and boisterous - "couch potato" kids do, indeed, tend to be quiet and peaceable. "geek" kids really do get irritated easily because of their highly sensitive ""twitchy" nervous systems.

the problem with going by "hard gainer" is that for a LOT of ppl, the hard gaining is the result of behaviour, not biology - they're not eating enough, they're eating wrong, they're following the wrong routine, etc. a lot of mesomorphs think they're ectomorph because no matter how many sets and reps they do, they can't get bigger - that's because the highly-responsive mesomorph physique can handle a much heavier demand and therefore needs a lot more recovery time; without it, the muscles shrink and voila - you have a "hard gainer". it will also provide what you want - if you're doing megasets of megareps, then you're requesting a skinny, lean physique and the mesomorph body will comply.

basically, you can't just pick one question and use that to define a body type - the body types really are a set of qualities and characteristics.

mikhemm · 11-Dec-05, 08:16 PM

if one were to do calisthenics rigorously, how would it change one's physique? I know it won't grow muscle mass like lifting weights does, but it has to do something to the physique.

**threenorns** · 11-Dec-05, 08:30 PM

yes - muscles themselves will become harder and firmer, more shapely; bodyfat levels will decrease, giving more definition; SOME muscles will experience a slight to moderate increase in size; energy levels will go sky-high, metabolic demand will increase, cardiovascular efficiency will improve.

**Jaster** · 12-Dec-05, 07:30 AM

It can cut a lot of fat off giving the illusion of become bigger.
That said I just have to do it.....

Super Calisthenics Expealadocius. :

mikhemm · 12-Dec-05, 07:16 PM

Threenorns, I will definitely pick this up because I am looking for the results you mentioned. i still enjoy lifting weights, although I would consider it secondary to my workout (calisthenics and jump rope coming first). having said that, would it be advisable to separate lifting weights and calisthenics of different days? Also, what is the benefit of lifting weights besides simply becoming stronger?