Complete Calisthenics: The Ultimate Guide to Bodyweight Exercises

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

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....

Good and thorough on most technical stuff.There are loads of exercises. Basic anatomy and physiology as well in order to fully understand the muscles involved in each exercise. Most of the Calisthenics books out there use pictures as page fillers with minimal technical details. This one has everything you need to know whether you are a novice, or more experienced trainee. I consider myself being somewhere in the middle and knowing most of the stuff explained in this book feels like taking a short cut in the learning curve. You don't have to be a book worm before you start Calisthenics, bodyweight or any training for the matter. You just go out and start practising. But if you have to own one book in your library for bodyweight and street workout, should be this one.I'm rating with 4 stars instead of 5 for two reasons. First and foremost the nutritional chapter is really outdated. Either skip this subject entirely or do your own research elsewhere.Another minor issue I've had with the paperback version was the size of the book. Pages are in A4 which isn't practical to say the least to carry the book around, read on the go, on the tube etc. For a busy person with little to no spare time this can be a slight annoyance.Other than that this would be a solid choice, in a decent price.

The "Complete Calisthenics" is an excellent resource on bodyweight training and a great book in general. I only wish I have found it earlier!I am not new to the bodyweight exercises, but I am complete novice in regards to the calisthenics, and this book provides me with more than enough information to get me started."Complete Calisthenics" actually reminds me a first book about training with your bodyweight, that my father gave it to me ages ago. The straight to the point writing style, supported with excellent photographs is far more superior to any other authors/books I looked before.I also appreciate the fact that author doesn't try to sell you anything else like extra nutrition supplements or fancy equipment. I love the DIY parallettes idea and going to make one set for myself.I can see myself using the "Complete Calisthenics" for many years to come, and I am very excited about that.I am also using this book to introduce my ten years old son to calisthenics, as schools these days are totally lacking in teaching kids basic gymnastics skills.Highly recommended!

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.

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.

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.

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

I think this book has given me an advantage towards learning how to do calisthenic workouts and learning more about my body. Whomever decides to pick this book for the right information they need toward calisthenics then this is your right decision to make.