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Progressive Calisthenics - The Official Blog for the PCC Community

calisthenics

HYBRID STRENGTH TRAINING IS HERE!

November 30, 2021 By Danny Kavadlo Leave a Comment

Hybrid Strength Training by Danny Kavadlo Book Cover

definition of the word Hybrid

Hello I’m Danny Kavadlo. You know me. I have been one of the world’s most visible proponents of bodyweight training for over a decade. I still am. And while I’ll always express the importance of bodyweight exercise, I’ve personally trained in a hybrid style for over thirty years, lifting weights and moving bodyweight side-by-side.

For this reason, over the years, the one question I’ve received more than any other is: “Danny, how do I combine calisthenics and free weights?”

Search no more. The answer is here.

Not only have I practiced hybrid strength training for decades, I’ve spent the last three years putting this book together so I can answer this question for you as completely as possible. Finally… HYBRID STRENGTH TRAINING—How to Get Jacked & Shredded with Calisthenics & Free Weights has arrived!

Danny Kavadlo Performing a weighted Pull-up

There are almost endless variations of every exercise in existence. The exercises included in HYBRID STRENGTH TRAINING are the ones I use because they work, not because they’re trendy. In fact, quite the opposite: because they’re timeless.

All beginners need to start with the basics. Advanced practitioners continue with the basics, and add from there. Fundamental bodyweight exercises are the prerequisite. In other words, if you are unable to perform a bodyweight squat, then there is no sense in putting a barbell on your back.

Calisthenics is the greatest baseline, as well as the oldest and nobles form of strength training. It also gives the highest yield from the least gear. By manipulating the body’s leverage, range of motion and/or muscular emphasis, you can work every muscle in the body equipment free (or equipment lite). Furthermore, having less with which to work compels us to get creative with what we do have.

Employing free weights adds to your baseline, and takes you beyond. Although complete 100% isolation of any muscle is impossible, the nature of training with free weights allows us to target individual muscles and/or muscle groups with greater specificity than other modalities, while still employing our own powers of intramuscular communication. Additionally, free weight exercises are often simpler to scale. (You can adjust the load simply by adding or taking away external resistance, as opposed to calisthenics, which would require altering the exercise itself.) Finally, free weights provide the opportunity to lift a greater absolute load than the weight of an individual’s own body.

Ultimately, we gain the most when we fuse calisthenics and weight training, employing the most effectual exercises from both in order to maximize the value of every workout. Whether you overload your muscles by changing your body’s position (as with calisthenics), adding external resistance (as with weight training) or any combination of the two, you will make gains!

Hybrid Strength Training contains the most detailed programming I’ve ever committed to ink in my career. In addition to the three unique programs (Blue Flame, Red Hot & HELLYEAH!), we discuss training templates, recovery, set and rep schemes, training for max load, weighted calisthenics and much more. I want you to take my programs, exercises and guidance and make them your own, for a lifetime of progressive training.

Check out this video for more info and to get fired up!

Here is what the biggest names in strength have to say:

“I’m honored to call Danny my friend. His impact on my field of strength and conditioning continues to expand daily. This book is part of his legacy. Enjoy.”

—Dan John, Master RKC, author, Never Let Go

“Danny finally did it. I’ve been waiting years for someone to take on the behemoth task of writing a book about combining calisthenics and weight training. What better person to step up to the challenge than Danny f*#kin’ Kavadlo? Hybrid Strength Training is the perfect book for any fitness enthusiast, at any level.”

—Mike Fitch, founder & creator, Animal Flow

“I have been asked countless times over the years to recommend the finest source on combining weight training and bodyweight work… but I have always had to just shrug. Coaches and authors who really understand both disciplines at an elite level are few and far between. But the wait is over. FINALLY that book has been written!”

—Paul Wade, author, Convict Conditioning

I want to know what YOU think of HYBRID STRNGTH TRAINING! Let me know in the comments below. KEEP THE DREAM ALIVE!

-DK

Danny Kavadlo with Barbell

***

Danny Kavadlo helped pioneer the bodyweight fitness craze with Strength Rules, Diamond-Cut Abs and Get Strong, all of which went to #1 on Amazon. He has been featured in the New York Times, Huffington Post and Men’s Health, and is a contributor to TRAIN magazine and Bodybuilding.com. When he’s not traveling the world as Master Instructor for Dragon Door’s acclaimed PCC Certification, Danny works with personal training clients in New York City and virtual clients everywhere. Danny Kavadlo’s long awaited HYBRID STRENGTH TRAINING is available from Dragon Door Publications.

Filed Under: Announcement Tagged With: barbell lifting, bodyweight exercise, calisthenics, Danny Kavadlo, Hybrid Strength Training, strength training, weight training

My Calisthenics Journey to the PCC

September 4, 2021 By Al Kavadlo Leave a Comment

Al Kavadlo demonstrates an Aussie Pullup at a PCC Workshop

Hey hey hey! I’m Al Kavadlo. I’ve been doing calisthenics and nothing else for twelve years.

I remember in 2009 – a little before my 30th birthday – I decided I wanted to learn the handstand. The early days involved a lot of falling, but after a while I was able to catch myself and little by little those holds became longer and more consistent.

I’d been working out for over 15 years by that point and I was already a successful personal trainer–yet I was just starting to realize there was more to fitness than simply being able to lift something heavy. Something about the synergy of calisthenics was irresistible to me: the raw minimalism, the self-empowerment, the creative element… or maybe just that the moves looked so bad-ass!

PCC Participant performs a Human Flag at the PCC Workshop in China

Handstand push-ups replaced military presses. Pistol squats replaced leg machines and alternative push-up variations replaced traditional chest and arm exercises. Front levers, one arm chin-ups and other esoteric bodyweight exercises gradually became more interesting to me than conventional gym workouts.

I didn’t plan for it to happen, It’s not like I suddenly woke up one day and decided to be a bodyweight guy, but by the time I turned 30 my training was pretty much 100% calisthenics.

Back then there was hardly any information available about this type of training, so most of my learning came from my own trial and error. Fortunately I’d been lifting weights and doing pull-ups for a long time already, so I was able to progress fairly quickly. These days, my years of trial and error can work to your advantage!

Two participants perform partner pistol squats at the PCC while Al Kavaldo coaches them

Social media was still pretty new at the time but at a friend’s suggestion I started posting videos on YouTube and blogging about my training. I got my brother Danny involved and he and I kept challenging each other to improve and grow.

I started to gain a following online and I connected with others in the local calisthenics community. Eventually, Danny and I appeared in the Convict Conditioning series and I even landed my own book deal with Dragon Door Publications. I published Raising The Bar in 2012, which became a cult phenomenon. The book was ahead of its time, and was the first to deeply explore the possibility of training with nothing but a pull-up bar and a pair of parallel bars.

I continued publishing more books about calisthenics and in 2013, Danny and I started teaching the world’s first ever calisthenics based fitness certification, the now legendary Progressive Calisthenics Certification. It was dream come true!

Large group photo from the PCC in Sweden

The PCC has been often imitated but never duplicated. Over the years we taught and certified hundreds of trainers in over a dozen countries and scores of cities. We’ve connected with like-minded calisthenics enthusiasts all around the world. You cannot beat the energy, passion and attitude at PCC. It has to be experienced!

I kept refining my skills over the years – and through teaching them to others I further enhanced my own understanding of them. I’m 42 years old now and I’m in better shape than I was in my 20s.

I’m still teaching, still training, and still having fun. In fact, October 9-10, 2021, the Progressive Calisthenics Certification makes its return to my hometown New York City, the place where the bodyweight revolution got started all those years ago!

A large group photo at an NYC PCC Workshop

If you’ve ever wanted to train with Danny and me in person, then now is the time! If you’ve ever wanted to share in the excitement that is PCC, then your day has come! If you’ve already taken the PCC and are hungry for more, then this is your chance to re-certify. Come have a new life experience you’ll never forget. The PCC has grown and changed over the years, just as I have. Just as you have.

Check out this video and learn more about my journey:

Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed my story – if you did, then I hope to see YOU at PCC this October.

Til next time, I’m Al Kavadlo…

Filed Under: Progressive Calisthenics, Workshop Experiences Tagged With: Al Kavadlo, calisthenics, calisthenics certification, PCC, PCC Backstory, progressive calisthenics, Progressive Calisthenics Certification

Time Under Tension

November 27, 2018 By Ray Shonk Leave a Comment

Ray Shonk Pistol Squat

Progressing in your calisthenics quest doesn’t always mean that you master the next big movement or duplicate a zany stunt. Another way of scaling the difficulty of just about any particular exercise is to simply employ time. No, I don’t mean making your workouts longer—in fact this method could make your workouts shorter—what I am referring to is time under tension.

The phrase “time under tension” refers to how long a muscle (or group of muscles) is under stress for a given rep or set. This can be achieved by lengthening the concentric, eccentric or pausing phase of an exercise.

I used this technique back in my weight lifting days. In fact, most methods of progressive resistance in calisthenics can apply to the weight room as well. When I was focused on lifting (and training people to do the same), there were times I would use less weight, instead choosing to focus on a slow tempo. Oftentimes, my clients would question my method, as they were only thinking in terms of lifting as much weight as possible. But to their surprise, when I had them do a 3 second eccentric and concentric (3 seconds down and 3 seconds up) movement for each rep, they would burn out sooner and get more out of the exercise—even at less external resistance.

Of course, you are also not limited to a 3 second tempo, you can also slow it down more so, such as a 5 second tempo. You could even add pause at the bottom of your movement. All of these are effective ways of increasing your muscles’ time under tension.

The concept of time under tension is arguably even more important when applied to bodyweight training. Because of our minimalist approach (and equipment set-ups), we are constantly using methods of increasing resistance without adding external weight. In fact, calisthenics newbies often wonder how it’s done. Well, again, time under tension is one of the least complicated ways!

Slowing an exercise down—or pausing at the bottom—are both ways to employ time over tension. This is one of the least complicated methods of progressing an exercise without adding external resistance.
Slowing an exercise down—or pausing at the bottom—are both ways to employ time over tension. This is one of the least complicated methods of progressing an exercise without adding external resistance.

In fact, for me personally, when I put the weights away and became completely calisthenics focused, I was able to achieve very high rep counts in my basic 3 exercises: push-ups, pull-ups and squats. For a while, I thought progressions were the only way to go from there, so that is what I did.

Over the course of time, and after many steps, classic push-ups became feet-elevated push-ups, two-legged squats became pistol squats, and pull-ups became muscle-ups.

Eventually, my numbers started to pick up again. So I thought back and remembered the slow tempo workouts I use to do. I decided to give it a shot and they were more challenging than I expected. You see, not only does the slow tempo maintain the tension on the muscles for longer, it also requires you to be more attentive to form, thus giving a greater yield from every single repetition.

Ray Shonk Feet Raised Push-up variation
It’s true that elevating your feet or using your knuckles are ways of progressing the push-up, but did you know that simply slowing it down is a progression in it’s own right?

Feel free to experiment. I’ve found that pausing at various points throughout the range of motion (as opposed to just the top or bottom position) can help overcome sticking points. Think about a pull-up, for example, where you pause for 2 seconds at the top, then again with your elbows at 90 degrees, then 120 degrees, with a final pause at the dead hang—ouch!) Furthermore, you can even experiment with super-slow reps, such a “the one minute push-up” which is 30 seconds on the way up and 30 seconds on the way down! Just make sure to take your time on the eccentric phase for max results!

Remember, fitness isn’t just being able to knock out 100 push-ups, or bench press double bodyweight: it is more about embracing the process, living in the present, and ranking quality over quantity when it comes to movements. Take it slow, build real strength, and focus on your form: you will see quality changes!

***

Ray Shonk, PCC is a personal trainer in Grand Rapids, Michigan, an adjunct professor at GVSU and the owner of Quest Fitness. In 2017, he authored his first book, appropriately titled, The Calisthenics Quest. Ray specializes in Calisthenics, Sports Performance and Martial Arts training. When he is not training, Ray spends time brewing beer, and enjoying time with friends and family. Learn more at www.questfitnessgym.com

Filed Under: Progressive Calisthenics, Tutorial Tagged With: calisthenics, tempo, tension, time under tension, TUT

Women in PCC

October 30, 2018 By Kristy Agan Leave a Comment

Kristy Agan PCC Pistol Squat

For many years, I have wanted to attend the Progressive Calisthenics Certification, and it was a thrill to finally get to do it last month in Austin, TX. After all of the anticipation, I knew it would be an unforgettable weekend. The best part was that I was able to take my husband along with me. After all, we’re a couple of calisthenics freaks, and it was our 17th anniversary. This was the best way to celebrate!

But enough about him… he already got a little taste of the limelight in a previous blog. And while I’d love to talk about ALL of the amazing people I met there, I’m going to take a different approach: This is for all my strong girls! (It’s okay men. You can keep reading too.)

Throughout my 15-year tenure as a trainer, I have taken part in a great number of fitness related workshops. Over the years, I’ve noticed an interesting pattern. The “tougher”, for lack of a better word, the workshop is perceived to be, the fewer women are in attendance. Allow me to elaborate:

Several years ago, at my first RKC, there were approximately the same number of women and men in attendance. I was happy to see the ladies well represented! However, that was not the case at my RKC Level II, where I was very much in the minority. There were only three women (including myself) in the group. Rather intimidating! Nonetheless, we kicked ass right alongside the men. Since that RKC Level II workshop, I have recertified, and/or assisted at, several Dragon Door workshops. Sadly, this trend of fewer and fewer women in attendance has remained the same.

In fact, when I arrived at PCC, it appeared that I was the only female in a room full of 20 super strong men! Though I wasn’t completely surprised by this, I must confess that I was relieved when another female walked through the door.

This particular female, Mrs. Julia Harris, is 14 years younger than me, and a former gymnast. But I didn’t let that intimidate me either. I was stoked to have another woman there to share the experience with!  Over the course of the weekend, Julia and I shared lots of laughs, high fives, and PR’s. We encouraged each other every time we performed on the bar, pole or mat.

PCC Austin Julia Clutch Flag

Here are some of the take-aways from that weekend that I want all women considering PCC to know: 

– Both Julia and I were already well rehearsed in squats, push-ups and pull-ups. So ladies, I highly recommend that you show up with a solid foundation in the basics. Those three movements, believe it or not, are the baseline from which almost all the more advanced moves are built. Even if you cannot do a full pull-up (many women can’t… yet), I still encourage you to practice Aussie pull-ups, bar hangs, and other upper body pulling motions. There is no need to be nervous, regardless of what your fitness level is—PCC is for everybody! Be prepared and work on your version of “squat-push-pull” and you won’t find yourself struggling.

Kristy Agan Austin PCC Handstand– Amazingly, we both worked on “skinning the cat”, bar levers, floor holds and more! I might not be able to do a full bar muscle-up yet, but with the guidance of The World-Famous Kavadlo Brothers and the other amazing instructors, were able to attempt each and every movement on the schedule. We females were given the tools to either succeed in those movements that very day, or to take with us so that we can approach and conquer them in our own time.

That’s the point I’d really like to drive home: The level of instruction you will receive will enable and encourage you to do things you may not have expected. You may just surprise yourself!

– The PCC is an incredibly diverse curriculum. In a way, calisthenics is a great equalizer. Even if you reach a sticking point in one area, you will find that there is room to excel in others. In fact, in my unbiased opinion, the ladies ruled the squat and handstand portion of the weekend. Move over boys!

But this is the most important thing I observed during PCC. Pay close attention ladies….

– Throughout the weekend, Julia and I went shoulder to shoulder with the men. We attempted every exercise. Sometimes we failed. Sometimes we succeeded. And guess what? The men in the room also failed and succeeded right alongside us.

That’s right! No one got every technique. Additionally, all of the men cheered us on the entire time. I never felt that I wasn’t a part of the group, nor for one moment did it feel like I was in a “man’s world”. I honestly can’t put into words the camaraderie that I experienced. It has never been men vs. women. It is always athlete supporting athlete.

At the conclusion of this amazing weekend, after the PCC Century tests, the hugs, tears and high fives, I was approached by several of the male participants. They wanted to tell me that I “inspired” THEM! Go figure!

Many of the men wanted my husband’s and my info so they could stay in touch with us and visit our gym. Some also had training questions they wanted to follow up with me on—they were impressed with me as a trainer. Zero egos. Lots friendships were made that weekend that will not be forgotten. Words alone cannot do justice to bonds formed at a PCC certification. The weekend made such a great impression on me personally that I will be hosting a Progressive Calisthenics Certification at my gym, KA Athletics, in Rome, Georgia.

So, to all my girls out there, don’t let PCC intimidate you. Or any event for that matter! We are fully capable of standing side by side with the boys, and we should do so with our heads held high. Why?? Because strong people inspire each other, regardless of gender!

That’s right, ladies… we can swing from those bars too! We are strong. We are PCC!

Kristy Agan L-Sit Bar Hang

****

Kristy Agan is a RKC Level II and PCC Instructor. She and her husband, Joe Agan, own KA Athletics in Rome, GA where she offers Personal and Group Training. Follow her on Facebook @Kristy Agan – RKC, Instagram @kristyagan and Twitter @kristyagan. Visit her website at kristyagan.com. She can also be contacted at kristyagan@gmail.com

Filed Under: Progressive Calisthenics, Workshop Experiences Tagged With: Austin PCC, Austin Texas, calisthenics, Kristy Agan, PCC, Progressive Calisthenics Certification, women in PCC, Workshop exprience

Reaching Calisthenics Potential

September 25, 2018 By Marc Ayala Leave a Comment

Marc Ayala Pistol squats with Al and Danny Kavadlo

I love calisthenics! Give me an outdoor pull-up bar and a clear, blue sky over a crowded, stuffy gym any day. To me, there’s nothing better than getting strong and fit in the simplest, purest way I can, and I believe that bodyweight training is the most efficient and effective way to do so.

It seems like many people agree. In fact, bodyweight exercise has gotten a lot of attention lately. But, what exactly is “calisthenics”?

There are many definitions out there, but I choose to define it as a system of training that relies solely on the weight of one’s own body and the interaction with the world around them. This is inclusive not only of squats, pull-ups, and push-ups, but also running, jumping, punching, crawling and climbing. Through this system, strength, endurance, mass and mobility can all be properly achieved. Not to mention mental attitude…

It isn’t just about having big muscles (although that is nice!) I believe that to reach true calisthenics potential, one should strive for more. Specifically, we should strive for the ability to move freely and unencumbered. While there is no doubt that being strong and lean is important, it’s also important to be mobile and able-bodied. In other words, calisthenics exercises are tools to help you get stronger and fitter in the real world, not just the gym. That is the true value!

Al and Danny Kavadlo Waterfall CrawlingIn my opinion, a true student of calisthenics needs to have exposure to all pillars of the system. In addition to putting in the sets and reps, it’s helpful for overall strength and wellness to develop real world skills and coordination from activities such as hiking, swimming, throwing and sprinting. Working in scenarios where all the muscles are employed together while navigate toward a goal is the epitome of the calisthenics movement.

Does this mean that push-ups, pull-ups, and squats are a waste of time? Absolutely not! They are the true foundations of physical strength, as well as some of our best tools for building range-of-motion, endurance, and coordination. Not only do these exercises possess a wealth of value in their own right, but they serve as a means to an end. Allow me to elaborate:

Squats can build your legs to hike a mountain; push-ups can build your strength for punching harder than your opponent; the strength gains you get from pull-ups can be applied to rock climbing. These exercise tools have a wide range of applications and are adaptable toward a vast multitude of goals.

What if you what if you don’t want to take part in any of those activities and just want to be big and strong? Well, that’s fine, too! Big biceps, tree trunk legs, and bat wing lats are all excellent things to have–and are objective proof that you care about your body’s health and function. All goals are good goals!

How far you want to push your body? We have no choice but wonder what we’re capable of when we truly unlock our potential by building the strength to take on the world! Let your imagination run wild…

***

Marc Ayala, PCC, is a personal trainer located in Boston. With a love for reading and research, he is constantly on the quest for more knowledge and sharper skills. Marc is passionate about uncovering the physical potential in his clients, pushing them to levels of strength that they never thought possible.

Filed Under: Motivation and Goals, Progressive Calisthenics Tagged With: calisthenics, Marc Ayala, motivation, movement, training

Calisthenics: The Fountain Of Youth

September 11, 2018 By Dan Earthquake Leave a Comment

Dan Earthquake progress photos

I’ve always had a vivid imagination. I’ve heard that anorexics always see themselves as fat, but I saw the opposite with my physique. Like Michelangelo saw the sculpture of David he would release from a block of stone, I saw my muscles and strength beneath. I only think I look fat in old photos. For instance, I was “as fat as a fool” when I swam the English Channel. But, that kept me warm, helped me float, and fed my muscles.

I was very happy with my long term physique for long distance swimming and strength.  I saw myself as a small sumo wrestler with a considerable amount of muscle mass covered with a protective layer of fat. It worked very well for the things I wanted to achieve. I’ve swam over a mile (2000m) in 1.9° Celcius (34° F) and three miles at 40°F. Not to mention, six hour swims every two weeks or so for a year with plenty of physical work—cycling in high gears, carrying the bike whilst jogging and rowing a boat were part of my program. I felt strong and healthy for the most part and rarely cold.

Now in my 40s, it’s wiser to be lighter. The trophies of the heavy work remind me that the daily minimum is the way to go and the desire to lift heavy weights and cover very long distances has waned along with my mass. I now feel the cold more.

I celebrate improvisation: I participated in the UK Strongest Man heats by training in my garden with scrap metal and old tires and tree trunks. Recently I ran my portions of a relay triathlon between London and Paris wearing normal clothes and my usual Dr. Marten boots. I used a steel bicycle made in 1963 for the cycle stage. “Did you find that at the roadside or in a museum?” joked a team mate. In the poem “If,” Rudyard Kipling challenged the individual to see their work destroyed and to rebuild again “with worn out tools.” I realise that I’m railing against convention. To me, the veneer of professionalism which demands branding and uniformity ignores the individual art of survival and practicality. Improvisation is not fashionable, a bit like calisthenics in some quarters. The poster boys and girls of conventional fashion wear makeup, have suntans, clean clothes, and operate in perfect conditions which do not exist in reality.

At the Louvre in Paris the other week, I photographed a bearded statue with a big arm. “That’s me,” I declared to myself, that perfection visible to me beneath an imperfect form. “It’s what you are becoming,” said a voice from the future. I didn’t realize until relatively recently (the last decade or so) that I am a time traveler. I’ve often imagined my future self returning to give advice. Sometimes the advice felt unhelpful, but I took comfort that the future me cared enough to try and help. Sometimes sneering at the elder know-it-all version of myself, I resolved to do it my way. “Stick to the basics,” he said, but I clamored for the cheer of the crowd, the wow of friends and colleagues. Vanity lifting and trophy hunting were (and are) very seductive.

“Calisthenics is both the fountain of youth and the quick route to old age,” my future self advised. “I’m curious about it being the quick route to old age,” I commented. “Time flies when you have fun,” he replied, “Especially given your habit of doing things unconventionally. Don’t worry,” he regularly assures me at opportune moments: “Everything will turn out fine, but the work has to be done.”

Dan Earthquake Tree Pullup

I remember these inner conversations and revisit my younger self to reiterate the message. Sometimes I didn’t listen—I remember that too. There’s still more to do, always more to do. Each day is a new start, a bit more revealed from the block.

Winston Churchill had the right idea: “Live dangerously, take things as they come. Dread naught: all will be well.”

Dan Earthquake English Channel Swim

***

Dan Earthquake is involved in event safety and hosts winter swimming training camps for Channel Swimmers. In 2013 the Channel Swimming Association awarded him the trophy for “Greatest Feat of Endurance” for his 21hr 25 minute crossing of the English Channel. In August 2018 Dan was part of the 4 person relay team that set a new record for the Enduroman Arch to Arc triathlon between London and Paris. For more info, visit www.eqnrg.info

Filed Under: Motivation and Goals, Progressive Calisthenics Tagged With: accomplishments, calisthenics, Dan Earthquake, fat loss, goals, physique

PCC London: Rise Of The Underground

May 15, 2018 By Al Kavadlo and Danny Kavadlo Leave a Comment

Al and Danny Kavadlo at the London PCC 2018

This was one for the record books.

For our fourth foray into the UK, we revisited The Commando Temple in the Deptford section of Southeast London. In many ways, Deptford reminds us of our hometown Brooklyn, New York.

You see, like people, landscapes and neighborhoods change. The first time we visited Deptford, it was rough and sketchy, with only a few businesses and seemingly endless dirty streets. But that was a few years ago.

Now, in 2018, once-abandoned buildings have given way to specialty shops selling artisanal cheeses, craft beer or pricey handmade trinkets. People who used to be scared to visit Deptford (and Brooklyn, for that matter) now flock downtown for street fairs, festivals and fancy espressos. Things change.

That said, there is one venue in this “up-and-coming” neighborhood that kept its underground roots, remaining brutally intense and completely hardcore: The Commando Temple.

“The Temple,” as its members call it, is a sanctuary of positive energy and fearless training. It’s also the perfect home for the Progressive Calisthenics Certification!

Al Danny Teaching London PCC 2018

Yet as amazing as “The Temple” is, the group of calisthenics freaks in attendance was even more impressive! Bodyweight warriors, yoga practitioners, fitness professionals and street workout enthusiasts from a total of seven countries—even as far as India—showed up to share in the experience, train their hearts out, and learn a thing or two along the way.

Dragon Flag London PCC 2018

It is always a mind-blowing affair to behold, as we explored bodyweight progressions encompassing the most fundamentally basic, to the most extremely advanced. Human flags flew, muscle-ups soared and pistols prevailed as we all drew in from this epic training session.

It should come as no surprise that the Progressive Calisthenics Certification always attracts a group of particularly strong females. This time was no exception!

Whoever said women can’t do pull-ups has never met these ladies!

The strong ladies of PCC.
The strong ladies of PCC.

At the end of each PCC, when the Century testing is finished and the certificates have been handed out, we like to give everyone one more chance to jump on the pull-up bar if there is something they’ve been wanting to give another shot. Inevitably, someone hits a move for the first time that eluded them all weekend. Once again, the PRs continued late into the final day.

Back Lever London PCC 2018

Neighborhoods change, things come and go, but experiences like this make people stronger and provide lasting inspiration.

Speaking of changes, this was our final three-day event. The PCC will be switching to a two-day format beginning with our next workshop in Beijing this summer. Two-day events in Austin, NYC and Holland are all on the books as well in the months ahead.

We hope to see you there!

PCC London May 2018

Filed Under: Progressive Calisthenics, Workshop Experiences Tagged With: Al Kavadlo, calisthenics, Danny Kavadlo, Deptford, England, London, London PCC, PCC Workshop, The Commando Temple, UK, workshop experience

The Pursuit of the Daily Minimum

February 6, 2018 By Dan Earthquake 13 Comments

Dan Earthquake Al Danny Kavadlo
Coach Wade regularly encourages keeping a training log.

It’s not a new idea to me: I’d had several periods of doing this over the years, but stopped completely in 2008. It was due to one of his articles that I eventually restarted counting in November 2014.

I realized that I needed to establish a value system that could be comparable over several years. Subjective input such as “felt good today” is too ambiguous to be of value to me in the future. There are all sorts of systems depending on the discipline. Cyclists, swimmers and runners often use watts expended, calories burned or distance traveled. Lifters/gym rats may use weight shifted. I decided to record sets completed (my basic set being 5), with pull ups, dips and pistols recorded as 1 per repetition. Intensity of effort could also be recorded but I generally choose not to, it being subjective. For instance on 11th November 2015 I did 131 ring pull-ups, the most I’ve ever done.

Three years of statistics show progress. I’m doing more volume – over twice as much in 2017 as 2015.

Fifteen free squats in a row in January of 2015 made my knees creak. I was doing the deck of cards for sets and dreading the pictures. Two years on and I’m doing assisted pistols with the knees much better. In late 2015 I came across a concept of establishing a daily minimum to aim for. This came from an interesting study by Matt Perryman in his book Squat Everyday – Thoughts on Overtraining and Recovery in Strength Training, which is very well thought out. I’d been overdoing it – I’d thought – as lots of things were aching. What I ended up doing after considering many things and looking at my training logs was to stop doing exhaustive sessions with rest days and transitioned into a daily routine.

In the past, I have practiced a lot of failure training, believing it was doing me good to exhaust myself completely with muscle soreness common for the following days. Injuries over the years from over enthusiasm and foolishness – vanity lifting – took its toll. That sort of training really doesn’t appeal to me anymore. Daily training with basic calisthenics wasn’t too hard to transition into. I’ll admit to getting caught up in chasing the numbers – 505 free squats continuously and 550 incline push ups gave me plenty of time to reflect on my soreness the following days.

Super-high reps have a place in training though, even if it is not always the most efficient way of training; sometimes it’s just too much fun to stop. My problem tempering my enthusiasm is solved by pursuing the daily minimum concept. Last year my total set value was 25,565. Dividing this by 365 days gives a daily average of 70. I have a “bare minimum” of 27 that I do for mobility/pre-hab everyday at both ends of the day. Studying my figures seems to suggest that 47 work sets on top of this is about optimum for me at the moment. That gives me 74 which if followed consistently will top last years total. There were days last year where I felt supercharged and did a few hundred sets. The following days were back to bare minimum and recovery seemed sluggish. The trick on the days of great enthusiasm is to stay fresh enough to be able to do the daily minimum the next day. Not as easy as it sounds.

Dan Earthquake Pull-up
Pursuing the daily minimum is a long term strategy with a lot of flexibility. I embraced the Replek concept that Karl Indreeide identified on this blog on July 21, 2015 – so much so I had to look up what it was called again. At weekends I sometimes swim or row a boat doing just the bare minimum. I count these efforts separately so this brings down the daily average. I adjust daily minimum for the rest of the month accordingly.
Eg: 20th January my total for the month was 1386.
31 days in January gives a total of 2294.
2294 – 1386 = 908
908/11 days remaining = 82.5 daily minimum.
On the 21st I did just 30 sets, then 93 on 22nd. On the 23rd I had a good day and did 174 sets. This meant the average came down to 76.4. I’m trying not to chase the numbers too much – rather I’m using them to smooth out the lumps. As I improve I’ll move the daily minimum upwards – or fill them with more challenging exercises. At the end of each month I look at the numbers and review what I’m doing. Coach Wade’s programming squares are good tools – measure what was done against what was planned – often they’re quite different.

There is nothing I do that is original. I have shelves of exercise books and twice as many that I gave away that didn’t suit my practice. I’ve trained with strongmen, powerlifters, bodybuilders, runners, triathletes, swimmers, martial artists and had the benefit of many good coaches. All of us are composites of the people we admire.

I’m 44 this year. I started doing isometrics when I was 3 – before I knew what they were. Calisthenics drills came at 7 in judo class thanks to Ted Spacey – I still do his wrestlers bridges every night. Pull-ups started at 16. Last year I did my best pull-ups ever! Best of all, it’s still fun and I only do the basics. Odd sessions with Jim L. (who does some of the CC3 drills) and PCC Steve Llewelyn remind me that I’m just scratching the surface of what is possible.

Dan Earthquake And Steve Llewellyn

***

Dan Earthquake is involved in event safety and hosts winter swimming training camps for Channel Swimmers. In 2013 the Channel Swimming Association awarded him the trophy for “Greatest Feat of Endurance” for his 21hr 25 minute crossing of the English Channel. For more info, visit http://www.danearthquake.com/

Filed Under: Motivation and Goals, Progressive Calisthenics Tagged With: calisthenics, daily workout, Dan Earthquake, progress, training log, training records

Finding Strength in Strength

December 5, 2017 By Steve Llewellyn 12 Comments

Steve Llewellyn bridge

It has been well documented that exercise is good for our physical health but more recently the benefits of exercise have shown to have a great impact on our neurological and mental health.

Stress, anxiety and depression are conditions which are incredibly common in modern day western society. Our bodies and brains are susceptible to becoming overawed by the increasingly demanding pace of our lives as we attempt to manage a career, family life and eating healthily while still finding time to exercise. Add to this the fact that a rapidly increasing number of adults spend two hours commuting to their day job and then spend eight hours or more hunched over a desk–we have more than a few reasons that self-care gets neglected.

And while the general populous are well informed of the psychological effects of traditional cardiovascular pursuits (mostly running), it is less well known that strength training can have a profound effect on the human brain and a recent study made a direct link between resistance training and a decreased risk of dementia.

My own story draws lots of parallels with the points already touched upon.

I am someone who has experienced feelings of depression and generalized anxiety since my teens. I won’t delve into the reasons and just keep it relevant to the article, instead I want to share how strength and fitness has given me the tools to deal with it.

For years I masked these overwhelming thoughts and feelings through self-medication and isolation from situations which were uncomfortable, thus compounding those original triggers and behaviors.

I wanted to change my thoughts, behaviors and environment and escape the mental prison I had built for myself. Self-medicating was the only (albeit temporary) way out I knew. I had also been prescribed various medications which did not help and probably even made things worse.

It was then at the age of 25 that I decided I wanted to join a gym. I figured I could find a new outlet, a new, healthy obsession that built me up instead of dismantling my already frail body and mind.

So, with the support of an old school friend who had recently got back in touch, I took the plunge and signed a contract at a local chain gym.

It was tough going for a few months at least, out of my comfort zone and into a neon lit space full of people who very body conscious and (in my paranoid head) judgemental of skinny newbies invading their sacred space. On closer inspection however, I realized that I was not the only one who was unsure of themselves. There were lots of people pushing weights, sweating on running machines who looked like they were not necessarily enjoying what they were doing but still they were there, putting in the graft because somehow, they knew it was important. This inspired me to not quit when the going got tough, when I didn’t feel like driving to the gym to workout, when I wanted to lie in bed and eat junk food instead.

Steve Llewellyn crane hold

But gradually, things began to change. I started to notice an increase in energy levels, my physique was changing, muscles were starting to appear, and my mindset began to shift. My mood was more upbeat and my ‘stress cup’ was bigger. When the dark clouds did gather in my mind, they didn’t stay as long, and I could tell myself that they would pass instead of crumbling under the feelings. I started to give thought to how the weekend binges were having on me and I began to question whether I wanted to stifle my newly acquired gains with the habits I knew so well. The biggest shift was in starting to look forward to working out every other day rather than a thing to fear and dread like some necessary evil that must be endured to feel good about myself.

Over time, I curbed the drinking (no more binges) quit smoking and a new-found sense of belief and confidence took their place thanks to my now fully ingrained ‘gym addiction’. A few years later I discovered the magic of bodyweight calisthenics and from then I knew that I had found something that would keep giving back to me as long as I paid my dues.

As we draw towards the end of another year, men and women everywhere will begin a period of self-reflection, they will question the way they look, the way they perceive themselves and then tell themselves they really ought to start looking after themselves more in the new year. Many will join a gym (not for the first time) and will tell themselves they must go. That’s all good. However, it’s a sad fact that most gyms are full to bursting in January with eager new recruits but by March too many have lost patience or will to succeed and fall off the fitness wagon before repeating the same cycle next year.

The irony is that nobody actually needs a gym membership to improve any part of their health. Part of the beauty of bodyweight calisthenics and all the progressions taught at the PCC require nothing but something to pull on and the floor beneath you. And as Al Kavadlo says, “If you don’t have the floor beneath you then you have much bigger problems”.

Steve Llewellyn dragon flag

Even thirty minutes of brisk walking a day in the fresh air can have a hugely positive effect on both physical and mental wellbeing. These days, my training equipment checklist consists of little more than a skipping rope, a pair of gymnastic rings and a tree in the park to hang them from.

Of course, I am not suggesting that doing a bunch of push ups and pull ups will completely rewire your brain and make the pain of having a mental health difficulty go away. I still have days where I feel low for sure. No, I am saying that training my body gives me the most incredible coping mechanism imaginable, which means I can accept myself, my thoughts and feelings without drowning in them. Strength training has given me self-respect and made me a better husband and father, not to mention a pretty decent body for a guy over 40. I am truly thankful for having found strength in strength. Now, as a coach and personal trainer, my mission is to inspire other men just like me to be the best they can be.

 

****

Steve Llewellyn is a personal trainer and PCC Instructor from Birmingham, UK who specializes in helping men over 40 discover a passion for becoming stronger, healthier and changing mindset around nutrition and recovery. He runs 1:1 and small group training at The Bodyweight Basement. He can be contacted at bodyweightbasement.co.uk or email: stevellewellyn99@hotmail.co.uk Follow him on Facebook facebook.com/trainersteve99/

Filed Under: Motivation and Goals, Progressive Calisthenics Tagged With: behavior, calisthenics, mental health, mental training, PCC Instructor, progressive calisthenics, Steve Llewellyn, strength, strength training

How to Build Your Own Suspension Trainer

November 28, 2017 By Matt Schifferle 8 Comments

Matt Schifferle DIY Suspension Trainer

Suspension trainers are the multi-tool of the calisthenics world. You can do hundreds of exercises with them for almost any goal imaginable. They are ideal for mimicking classic weight machine exercises like chest flys, triceps extensions, and core work. Suspension trainers give you hundreds of exercises that can enhance and supplement your training. Suspending your feet, like in the image on the left, can make planks much more challenging. You can also simulate weight machine exercises, like the triceps extension on the right. A suspension trainer is the closest thing you can get to a truly portable gym. They really come in handy when you need to do pull-ups, rows, and dips while traveling.

Almost a decade ago, I purchased some of the easiest suspension trainers to come on the market. But, I quickly became obsessed with creating my own customized designs. I don’t even want to think about the time and money I’ve spent trying to develop a suspension trainer I was happy with. Every version I created had flaws and drawbacks, so I would scrap the design and start all over again. I quickly became obsessively picky with my designs and drew up a list of qualities I wanted. These included:

  • Dual anchor points so the straps can be set up at any width to accommodate your unique build and what’s best for each exercise.
  • Full vertical handle adjustment so the handles can go from an inch above the floor to an overhead reach.
  • Small and lightweight, so it’s ultra-portable.
  • Super easy to set up and take down within a minute.
  • Strong, safe and durable enough for weighted dips and pull ups.
  • Ergonomic without any rough edges or elements that impede movement.
  • Universal anchoring so you can hang it from points above that are within and beyond your reach.
  • Quick and easy infinite handle height adjustment so you can place the handles at any height.
  • Can easily accommodate a variety of accessories.
  • Can be made from inexpensive and readily available materials.

I lost a lot of sleep trying to figure out how to make all of these requirements work within one design but I finally got it right with what I call the prusik trainer.

Matt Schifferle DIY Suspension Trainer

The prusik trainer uses rope instead of nylon straps like most other suspension trainers. Rope is the ultimate smart device. It’s reliable, inexpensive and readily available. It allows you to easily customize every characteristic of the trainer to your specific needs, because rope gets its functionality from knots. Nylon suspension straps use metal hardware and stitching which work, but they add bulk, weight and cost. Hardware and stitching also compromise the versatility of the suspension trainer. Once you stitch a loop into a strap, you can’t make that loop bigger or smaller later. Knots give you all of the functional qualities you need without the weight, bulk, cost and lack of versatility. Metal hardware can also wear out nylon straps over time. Knots have much more longevity.

Materials You’ll Need:

  • Two lengths of 8mm climbing rope 9-12 feet long
  • Two lengths of 4mm climbing rope 3.5 feet long
  • Handle material from either PVC or a weight machine handle
  • Small razor blade and light grit sand paper if using PVC handles
  • Climbing tape

I buy my rope from outdoor supply stores like REI, where they can cut it to the length I need. If possible, have a professional cut your rope there at the shop. Most shops cut the rope with a heated tool that melts the ends and prevents fraying.

Knots You’ll Need to Know

  • Bowline knot
  • Fisherman’s knot
  • Prusik knot

Matt Schifferle DIY Suspension Trainer Knots

These knots are cinch knots, so the more weight you place on them, the tighter they hold. They are not too complicated, but I do recommend practicing how to tie them correctly before building your first suspension trainer. You can find videos and instructions on how to tie these knots at animatedknots.com.

How to Build a Prusik Trainer

Once you understand how to tie the knots, building a prusik trainer is quick and easy. First, take your 8mm anchor rope and tie a bowline knot into one end to create a two inch diameter loop. This loop will serve as the anchor point you will throw over an overhead bar and feed the handle through.

Matt Schifferle DIY Suspension Trainer Step1
Tie a bowline knot into the end of your 8mm rope ensuring the loop is large enough to fit your handle through. This will allow you to set up and take down your trainer without having to remove the handle. Be sure to leave some extra rope at each end of the knot to reduce the risk of it coming undone.
Matt Schifferle DIY Suspension Trainer Step 2
Throw the bowline knot over a sturdy overhead support that can easily support your weight. Thread the other end through the loop and pull it down to lock the rope around the support.

Next, take the 4mm handle rope and feed it through your handle and connect the two ends with a fisherman’s knot.

Matt Schifferle DIY Suspension Trainer Step 3
Run the 4mm rope through the handle you’ve selected and tie the ends together with a fisherman’s knot. Rotate the rope so the knot is inside the handle.

Next, tie the handle rope to your anchor rope using a prussic knot with 3-4 loops. I find it’s easier to tie the prussic knot around the anchor rope when it is hanging with some tension pulling down on it. You can stand on the end of the rope or ask someone else to gently pull down on the rope it to keep it tight.

Matt Schifferle DIY Suspension Trainer Step 4
Place some tension on the hanging 8mm rope. Wrap the handle around the 8mm rope 3-4 times. Do this by feeding the handle through the loop on the other side of the handle.

Finally, smooth out the overlapping handle rope so it hugs the 8mm rope. Be sure your prusik knot loops are flat to securely grip the 8mm rope.

Matt Schifferle DIY Suspension Trainer Step 5
Move the two ends of the prusik knot together and smooth out any overlapping loops so they all lay flat and hug the anchor rope securely.

Be sure the fisherman’s knot remains inside the handle rather than outside it. One reason is the knot won’t rub against your arm while doing push-ups and dips. The other is to prevent the knot from moving to the prussic knot and jamming it. Jamming will compromise the safety of the prusik knot.

Matt Schifferle DIY Suspension Trainer Handle Knot Diagram

What Kind of Handle Should You Use?

You have two options when making the handles for your suspension trainer: PVC pipe or handles from a commercial weight machine. I’ve used both and each option has its pros and cons.

Like rope, the advantage of using PVC is that you can custom build your handle in any length and diameter. People with larger hands may prefer a beefy handle about 1-1.5 inches in diameter and 5.5-6 inches long. Smaller hands tend to work best with a 3/4 -1-inch diameter pipe that’s about 5 inches long. PVC is also inexpensive and available in most hardware stores.

Matt Schifferle DIY Suspension Taped PVC Handles
PVC handles are inexpensive and highly customizable, but they do take a little more work to produce a finished handle that works properly.

The disadvantages of PVC are that it is a bit tricky to cut with smooth edges that won’t wear into the handle rope. If you use PVC, you must make sure each cut is at a 90-degree angle to avoid angled ends that can make rotating the handle feel uneven. More importantly, you’ll need to smooth out the inside and outside edges of the handles to minimize wear on your rope. I cannot stress enough how important it is to make sure the rotation of your handle is as smooth as butter under load. If not, you’ll risk wearing out your rope which can lead to it fraying and failing under load.

I’ve been able to smooth out the ends of PVC with a razor blade and a sanding block. Creating a smooth edge takes a little practice. Shave off the inside lip so that there are no nicks or bumps. Sanding down the ends of each handle takes time and patience, but it’s well worth it for a smooth finish.

Matt Schifferle DIY Suspension Trainer Handle Cuts

Once your handles are cut and smoothed, wrap them in climbing tape to give them a grip texture that won’t slip. Climbing tape has a similar feel to hockey tape but holds up better. The tacky adhesive won’t bleed through over time and it won’t get on your hands. You can also pick up a roll when buying your rope at the outdoor store.

Matt Schifferle DIY Suspension Trainer Tape and Handles
Climbing tape is a useful way to add some grip to the smooth texture of PVC. It’s also more durable and doesn’t leave a tacky residue like hockey or duct tape.

The other option for handles is to buy weight machine handles with a nylon strap. You can find these in many fitness equipment stores or online.

Matt Schifferle DIY Suspension Weight Machine Handles
Commercial grade weight machine handles are perfect for building your own suspension trainer. Just cut off the nylon strap and you’re good to go!

These handles are more expensive than PVC, but they are a commercially produced product designed for physical training. They are a good fit for most size hands, have smooth edges and provide a sure-grip texture. Most of them will come with a nylon loop attached. You can feed your handle rope through the D-ring on the loop, but I just cut it off to save bulk and weight. The D-rings can also get in the way of your arm or elbow during pushing moves.

So, that is my DIY prusik trainer. In a future post, I’ll share some of my favorite exercises along with some fun accessories you can add to the trainer. Feel free to drop any comments or questions down below.

 

****

Matt Schifferle, PCC Team Leader a.k.a. The Fit Rebel made a switch to calisthenics training 5 years ago in an effort to rehab his weight lifting injuries. Since then he’s been on a personal quest to discover and teach the immense benefits of advanced body weight training. You can find some of his unique bodyweight training methods at RedDeltaProject.com and on his YouTube channel: RedDeltaProject.

 

Filed Under: Tutorial Tagged With: calisthenics, DIY, DIY suspension trainer, Matt Schifferle, PCC team leader, suspension trainer, suspension training, The Fit Rebel, tutorial

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Dragon Door Publications / The author(s) and publisher of this material are not responsible in any manner whatsoever for any injury that may occur through following the instructions or opinions contained in this material. The activities, physical and otherwise, described herein for informational purposes only, may be too strenuous or dangerous for some people, and the reader(s) should consult a physician before engaging in them.