calisthenics certification

Top 5 Reasons Why an In-Person Workshop is the Best Way to Supercharge Your Training

August 29, 2022 By Danny Kavadlo Leave a Comment

It’s been ten years since the inception of the Progressive Calisthenics Certification. In that time, hundreds of trainers from all over the world have been certified in bodyweight exercise. Countless PR’s have been set and lifelong friendships have been made.

On October 1-2, Momentum Fitness in New York City will be hosting the ONLY Progressive Calisthenics Certification on the calendar. That’s right: this is the only PCC currently scheduled, so if you ever wanted to attend, now is the time.

At every PCC, amazing things happen. There is no question that this event will supercharge your calisthenics training like nothing else. Here’s why:

1. The Most Complete Programming

There are many calisthenics courses these days. PCC is the first and the best. In fact, PCC is the only certification with eleven modules, including push-ups, pull-ups, muscle-ups, human flag, inversions, floor holds and more. There has never been a more comprehensive two-day bodyweight course.

The PCC Instructor manual was written by none other than Paul “Coach” Wade, the best-selling author of the Convict Conditioning series, and contains over 500 pages of the most detailed calisthenics writings and illustrations ever compiled.

There are two additional seminars. The first seminar, Principles of Progression, details the universal truths behind all calisthenics (and strength training) advancement. The second seminar On Bodyweight Programming explains how to put all this new information together for quantifiable results.

The weekend concludes with the legendary Century test. Click here for more on that!

2. PCC Is for Everybody

Everyone is welcome here. That includes folks of all fitness levels, training backgrounds and body types. Every single attendee is encouraged in a friendly, inclusive environment. From the curious beginner to the beastliest bar athlete, calisthenics doesn’t discriminate. Progressive calisthenics accommodates everyone.

PCC also provides you with a strong connection to a supportive, global community for future training, forums and opportunities. This includes both friendships and networking. I’ve remained close both professionally and personally with so many of my PCC family over the years.

3. The Inspirational Power of the Group

I’ve seen it again and again: PCC attendees pushing themselves beyond their previously perceived limitations.

There’s a reason why more people have achieved their first muscle-up, pistol squat or human flag at PCC than anywhere else in the world. It’s the overflowing energy that comes from putting a group of calisthenics freaks in a room together. Remember what that’s like?

I’m thrilled to say that this is the first workshop taught by both myself and my brother Al Kavadlo in twelve months! We’re ready to bring the thunder!

4. No Substitute for an In-person Experience

If recent times have taught us anything, it’s that humans need real interaction with other humans. Sure, scrolling through social media and looking at fitness-related “content” is an easy way to pass the time, but it really doesn’t help your physical (or mental or emotional) health.

The experience you acquire at PCC is a stark contrast against the screens and solitude induced numbness to which so many of us have become accustomed. In a world overrun with online courses, PCC stands out. At PCC, every attendee receives personalized training geared directly to them. Corrections are physically presented in real time by experienced instructors who work directly with you. Under the scrutiny of a Master Trainer, you will achieve things you never imagined possible.

5. Continuing Education

The enhanced professional credibility you get from becoming a PCC is priceless. Dragon Door is an established leader in the fitness industry and PCC is the gold standard for calisthenics certifications. This is part of what gym owners look for when hiring trainers, as well as what potential clients need when seeking professional guidance.

Furthermore, while PCC is for everyone, not just fitness professionals, it qualifies for continuing education credits toward your personal training credentials. In fact, PCC is the only bodyweight workshop approved for CEC’s from ACE and NASM, the two largest certifying bodies.

It’s just a few more weeks before the calisthenics lightning strikes again. I can taste the electricity… Will I see you in NYC?

LET’S GOOOOO!

-DK

My Calisthenics Journey to the PCC

September 4, 2021 By Al Kavadlo Leave a Comment

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!

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!

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!

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!

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…

The SCC is Here!

November 10, 2015 By Al Kavadlo 20 Comments

First Ever SCC Workshop Group Photo
Since the launch of the Progressive Calisthenics Certification (PCC) nearly 3 years ago, my brother Danny and I have had the amazing opportunity to teach calisthenics to fitness professionals and enthusiasts all over the world.

The reaction to the PCC has been tremendously positive. Those who attend get better at moving their bodies, but many people are moved emotionally as well. Each person brings their own unique experience to the group and we all leave with new knowledge and inspiration. The only thing stronger than our attendees is the camaraderie formed during the time spent training together and learning from one another.

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Though the success of the PCC has had a powerful impact on the underground calisthenics scene as well as the mainstream fitness industry, the 3-day course can be intimidating to some. Furthermore, many people who’ve expressed a desire to attend the PCC are simply unable to make a 3-day commitment.

The brand new Strength Calisthenics Certification (SCC) is changing all of that. By providing a 1-day calisthenics experience focused solely on Coach Wade’s “Big 6″–the squat, push-up, pull-up, bridge, hanging leg raise, and handstand–the SCC offers calisthenics fans the chance to test the waters without having to dive in headfirst.

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Last Saturday the SCC made its debut in New York City. Fitness enthusiasts from all over the world came together in the Big Apple for a fun-filled day of calisthenics and strength coaching. Attendees hailed from Germany, Ireland, and Canada, as well as many of the 50 states.

In addition to Danny and myself, the entire PCC leadership team was on hand for the debut of SCC: Adrienne Harvey, Angelo Gala, Beth Andrews and Logan Christopher were all there helping to coach and inspire our SCC hopefuls.

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We spent the morning focused on floor calisthenics, including loads of push-up, squat, bridge and handstand variations, then got on the pull-up bar in the afternoon to work on hanging leg raise and pull-up progressions. Everyone was challenged to push themselves and many personal bests were set. We even had one attendee achieve her very first full pull-up!

After the training I lectured on a wide variety of topics including principles of progression, bodyweight programming and the reality of the personal training business.

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The day seemed to fly by in a New York minute and everyone had an amazing experience. When all was said and done, we had a brand new group of freshy-minted calisthenics warriors!

Though the first SCC has come to an end, this is really just the beginning. Look for more SCC workshops to be announced in the weeks and months ahead. I hope to see you at a PCC or SCC in 2016.

We’re Working Out!

-Al

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Al Kavadlo is the lead instructor for Dragon Door’s Progressive Calisthenics Certification. Recognized worldwide for his amazing bodyweight feats of strength as well as his unique coaching style, Al is the author of five books, including Raising The Bar: The Definitive Guide to Pull-up Bar Calisthenics and Pushing The Limits! Total Body Strength With No Equipment. Read more about Al on his website:www.AlKavadlo.com.

I ♥ NYC PCC

June 9, 2015 By Al Kavadlo 13 Comments

NYC PCC Workshop 2015

Last weekend, the Progressive Calisthenics Certification made its return to New York City with a sold out crowd of over 40 calisthenics enthusiasts from all over the United States as well as the rest of the world. Attendees hailed from Norway, Sweden, Spain, Guatemala, Australia, Austria, Singapore, England, Canada, and of course, my hometown, the Empire City herself. It was truly a melting pot of bodyweight strength practitioners!

Though calisthenics has existed since the days of the ancient Greeks, the modern street workout movement has its roots right here in NYC. Many of the world’s best-known calisthenics specialists hail from the Big Apple. It’s no wonder we had such a strong group of bar athletes in the house!

The city that never sleeps certainly hasn’t been sleeping on its calisthenics game. As always, new personal bests were happening left and right. From the muscle-up to the pistol squat to the human flag, attendees were constantly breaking new ground, unlocking new skills and refining existing ones.

NYC PCC Chamber Press
Besides becoming better practitioners, we also devoted a lot of our energy toward becoming better at training others. Everyone at the PCC gets to experience both ends of the personal training equation throughout the weekend.

NYC PCC Partner Cossack

It’s great to see more and more ladies taking to progressive calisthenics. This weekend’s event had the most female attendees of any PCC so far. It’s an honor to welcome 15 of the strongest ladies I’ve ever met into the PCC family!

NYC PCC Women

Time flies when you are having fun, and that would explain why the whole weekend seemed to go by in a New York minute. When the 3-day whirlwind was over, we were left with over 40 newly minted PCC instructors, a whole lot of wonderful memories and connections that will last a lifetime.

It’s been more than 2 years since the inception of the PCC, and the world’s #1 bodyweight certification continues to go strong. Next up is our long-anticipated debut in the United Kingdom and then it’s back to the US for our return to Alexandria, VA (there are still some spots left for both these events!).

A PCC certification is like a license to drive: it’s a big responsibility, but it can take you places!

2015 NYC PCC Group Photo

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About Al Kavadlo: Al Kavadlo is the lead instructor for Dragon Door’s Progressive Calisthenics Certification. Recognized worldwide for his amazing bodyweight feats of strength as well as his unique coaching style, Al is the author of five books, including Raising The Bar: The Definitive Guide to Pull-up Bar Calisthenics and Pushing The Limits! Total Body Strength With No Equipment. Read more about Al on his website:www.AlKavadlo.com.