The Only 4 Calisthenics Exercises You Need for Life

If I could only pick 4 calisthenics exercises for the rest of my life, what would it be?

I had this question circle back around many times and that's a tough one!

But these would be my picks:

1. Wide Pull-Ups – The king of pulling exercise.

2. Pike Push-Ups – The go-to for overhead pressing strength.

3. Bulgarian Split Squats – The best single-leg lower-body builder.

4. Hanging Leg Raises – The king of core exercises.

These four movements cover every major muscle group, maximizing strength and control with just your bodyweight.

Whether you’re building muscle, improving mobility, or mastering body control, these exercises form a rock-solid foundation for your calisthenics workout.

Let’s break down why they should be staples in your training routine.

1. Wide Pull-Ups

Why They Work

Wide pull-ups are the gold standard for upper-body pulling strength.

By using a grip wider than shoulder-width, you put greater em...

How Push Ups Transform Your Body: Why Speed Changes the Game

Push-ups are a classic for a reason: they’re simple, effective, and versatile.

But if you’ve been performing them at the same steady pace without much thought, it’s time to make a change.

By focusing on speed during the concentric phase (the upward push), you can take your training to the next level in a way that’s controlled, purposeful, and impactful.

This isn’t about rushing or losing form, it’s about tapping into explosive strength while staying precise.

Let’s break down why speed matters and how it can be a game-changer in your fitness routine.

Why Speed in Push-Ups Works

Think about a sprinter versus a marathon runner. Both are impressive, but they train differently, and their muscles look very different too.

By focusing on speed, you’re tapping into your fast-twitch muscle fibers (those sprinter muscles).

These fibers are responsible for quick, powerful movements and are essential for building strength and explo...

How To Get Rid Of Your Weak Shoulders With Calisthenics

Push-ups are a staple exercise for building upper body strength.

But did you know that limited shoulder mobility can hinder your progress?

This blog post dives into three calisthenics exercises designed to target your shoulders and chest, while simultaneously improving your shoulder mobility.

By incorporating these drills into your calisthenics workout plan, you'll unlock a new level of push-up performance and overall upper body power.

Why Shoulder Mobility Matters for Push-Ups

The shoulder joint is one of the most complex joints in the body. It enjoys a wide range of motion, allowing for movements like reaching overhead, pushing away from your body, and rotating your arms. However, tight shoulders can restrict this range of motion, making push-ups more challenging and potentially leading to injuries.

These three exercises address different aspects of shoulder mobility and stability: scapular control, overhead mobility, and...

The Magic of Flow: Finding Your Rhythm with Calisthenics Workouts 

Sometimes it's good to not have a plan, to improvise, to go with the flow!

Birthdays can often be a time for reflection. This year, on my 44th, I found myself off the grid, immersed in the vastness of the California desert. While the scenery was a departure from the usual routine, my commitment to staying active remained as usual!

Enter calisthenics, my trusty bodyweight training companion, which once again proved its adaptability and effectiveness.

Beyond the Gym: Calisthenics Takes Center Stage

One of the many beauties of calisthenics is its lack of dependence on fancy equipment. It empowers you to maintain your fitness routine anywhere, anytime. In this case, my desert retreat became my personal gym, and push-ups took center stage.
Push-ups are a remarkably versatile exercise, engaging multiple muscle groups in the upper body and core.

But for me, their true appeal lies in the freedom they offer.

The Flow State...

Calisthenics Home Push Day!

The rain is a good excuse to do push ups at home!

Since calisthenics training is the most accessible and versatile form of training, it's a great way to get your workout at home when it's raining heavy outside.

Mix these 5 push ups to target different chest and core angles through your workout!

-Wall pike
-Reverse grip chest to floor
-Classic chest to floor
-Shoulder & Knee taps
-Pike shrugs

Aim for explosive reps and clean form!

Get my full calisthenics training course and programs + personal coaching here!

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Calisthenics Training FAQ’s

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What is Calisthenics Training?
Calisthenics, rooted in the ancient Greek ideals of "Kalos" (beauty) and "Sthenos" (strength), emphasizes both physical and mental fitness. The modern practice integrates elements of classic calisthenics, acrobatics, gymnastics, yoga, and disciplines like breakdancing and parkour. This versatile, bodyweight training method allows yo...

How to Start Calisthenics!

5 Steps to Push Ups.

The humble push up is one of the foundation of calisthenics.

It is the most universal training movement around the world.

However, a LOT of people do them wrong or can't do them at all!

Just like for any other calisthenics training movements, there is a good progression to work towards good technique and full range of motion.

Follow these 5 steps to achieve your first push up:

1. Standing Push ups (use a wall if you don't have a low bar)
2. Elevated Knee Push ups
3. Elevated Push ups
4. Knee Push ups
5. Full Push ups

Training Tips:

• You can add planks and shrug push ups to the mix as well!
• Use the variation you can do.
• Do 5-10 repetitions x 3-5 sets.
• Once you master a variation, move on to the next one.
• The key is CONSISTENCY.
• To insure constant progress, focus on incorporating the calisthenics "Big 5" in your overall calisthenics training routine: pull, push, dips, squats, hinges

Start at the level that works for you with my f...

Best Push Ups For Chest!

Here is the first pro-tip...

...Use a wall for your push up training!

By forcing your heels to stay up against the wall while doing your push ups, you restrict your movement and put more “weight” on your chest and triceps.

Here are 4 of my favorite push ups to build a solid chest!

1. Pike push ups: 5 x 5

The pike push ups are a staple move to target your upper-chest. Make sure to  bring your head in front of your hands at the bottom of the move!

2. Chest to floor wide push ups: 10 x 10

This is one of the best push ups for chest too. Stretching your chest a the bottom of the move causes the pec muscles to reach their maximum length, generating a full contraction. Pause a split second at the bottom to stretch your chest as much as possible.

3. Plyo-hollow body push ups: 10 x 10

The dynamic plyo- hollow push ups are great push ups for chest and triceps and core. Keep a solid hollow body form during the full movement.

4. Plank push ups attempts: 3 x Max

Muscle Growth with Push-Ups

Today, let's dive into one of the most underrated exercises.

Many mistakenly see push-ups as beginner's exercises, since anyone can do a push up.

Or sort of!

But I'm here to challenge that!

Push-ups are not just for beginners; they are, in fact, one of the most frequently butchered exercises out there (with pull ups).

It's time to rethink your approach and discover the muscle-building magic hidden within this seemingly simple movement.

Here the 3 most important types of push ups!

Mindset Shift:
First things first – let's reshape our mindset around push-ups.

Instead of fixating on rep counts, shift your focus to extracting the most from each repetition. Think of it as a full body workout, where your body tenses from head to toe.

Push-ups, when executed with precision, are far from easy. They are an amazing tool for enhancing overall fitness and sculpting the upper body. It's not only about how many you can do; it's about how much you can get from each rep.

Go...

Best Push Ups For Chest and Triceps

Are you looking to hit your chest and triceps with calisthenics?

Look no further!

These are by far the best push ups you can do to get a great chest and triceps pump.

If you haven't guessed yet, I am talking about the narrow grip push ups.

Here I am doing them on a narrow wall, which also increases core engagement and balance work.

These push ups require good shoulder mobility!

Focus on form and tempo when doing them, as it's easy to lose form and the benefits that go with it!

Go for 5-10 reps x 5-10 sets. 

I recommend to hold the last rep down for 5-10 seconds on each set, to maximize your overall time under tension.

Adapt the volume and intensity as needed.

Here is how to get started with push ups if you can't do the narrow grip ones yet!

If you need more guidance overall, get all my calisthenics programs and personal coaching here!

Try This Quick Calisthenics Pull Ups and Push Ups Challenge!

I wanted to try a quick calisthenics challenge: do 50 pull ups and 100 push ups, as fast as possible.

It's way more challenging than it sounds.

The hard variable is time. Trying to complete all the repetitions in a short time is where it gets tricky.

Your rest time is minimum and each repetition gets harder as you go.

1- For the pull ups, I split the sets as follow: 10-10-10-5-5-5-5

My time for the pull ups was: 6min 40 sec.

I started pretty good on the first 3 sets of 10, with about 20-30 sec rest in between. Things started getting tough around the last 2 sets of pull ups where I had to struggle my way up.

Here is how to get better at pull ups if you are getting started!

I took about a minute to reset the tripod between pull ups and push ups.

2- For the push ups, I did: 30-25-20-15-10

My total time after the push ups was: 9 min 50 sec.

While the goal was to rest as little as possible, my form started to suffer af...