body weight

[matt daly]

Just wondering if many guys do body weight exercises, I find doing pull/chin ups and handstand lifts work the body well and feel like Ive had a hard workout, not so much in push ups though. I have heard that when gymnasts have a go at deadlifting, they can lift pretty heavy and they never touch weights. Also I have started lifting rocks and odd shaped things, they give such a different way in terms of body workout than regular weights, just wondering is there any difference between objects and regular weights when it comes to gaining strenght and muscle? Sorry for the double questions guys, I'm really just trying to find a good balance for building max strength and fitness.

[Billy Wolt]

Just wondering if many guys do body weight exercises, I find doing pull/chin ups and handstand lifts work the body well and feel like Ive had a hard workout, not so much in push ups though. I have heard that when gymnasts have a go at deadlifting, they can lift pretty heavy and they never touch weights. Also I have started lifting rocks and odd shaped things, they give such a different way in terms of body workout than regular weights, just wondering is there any difference between objects and regular weights when it comes to gaining strenght and muscle? Sorry for the double questions guys, I'm really just trying to find a good balance for building max strength and fitness.

max strength is relative to your goals. While I don't doubt that gymnasts are strong, I doubt they would be breaking records without some weight training.

If you want a big deadlift, bodyweight squats will not get you there.

There was a video of a well known trainer who did various workouts, but weight training was not a staple. Anyway, he deadlifted in the 500 range on a challenge. While that pull is great for someone who doesn't train at his size, he would lag behind in a powerlifting meet.

Figure out your goals and let that dictate how you must train

[Brian_Worden]

Also I have started lifting rocks and odd shaped things, they give such a different way in terms of body workout than regular weights,

Think you're preaching to the choir in this Forum.

Implement training is pretty much synonomous with odd object training (non conventional gym training).

I don't think I have come across a definite ratio of odd object to conventional training

For instance ... i do about 13 different excersizes during the course of a week. 30% of them "odd object/implements" and 70% gym excersizes.

I know other guys who train more on the traditional side... and other who train more on the implement side of things.

Either way... as long as you do it safely, I don't think anyone on this forum who object to trying new exercises or objects.

[Alex Apostol]

There was a video of a well known trainer who did various workouts, but weight training was not a staple. Anyway, he deadlifted in the 500 range on a challenge. While that pull is great for someone who doesn't train at his size, he would lag behind in a powerlifting meet.


You mean Ross Enamait the boxing guy? He did a lot of lifting and other crazy stuff though like weighted natural glute ham raises, squatting, dumbbell snatches, and all sorts of stuff.

[Steve Trippe]

Gymnasts are doing challenging bodyweight exercises, exercises that are close to max for the types of leverages they are using, not high rep bodyweight stuff. Planches, iron crosses, ring exercises, etc are all very challenging. As for exercises like dips and chin ups, most of the guys in this forum do some kind of variation of each of them.

As far as the gymnast training thing, people always see the things they do and think it's the best way to accomplish their goals. What people don't realize, is that even though most gymnasts can bench or pull heavy their first time doing an exercise, they spend several hours a day training to get to that point. For most people, training with weights and maybe some implements for an hour a day 3-4 days a week will be more effective than gymnast training 2 to 3 times a day.

[Alex Klotz]

I do chinups, and I used to do a lot of dips but my gym got rid of the dip stand so now it's a bit of a hassle to do them. Dips are like my favourite chest exercise. I've also been trying to do some pistols, because I need unilateral work.

Bodyweight, barbells, kettlebells, odd objects, etc are all tools you can use for training. You should know how to use as many tools as you can. If you decide to permanently cut a certain tool out, you're limiting yourself.

[Anthony Esquerdo]

Pull ups,chin ups, weighed Dips, weighted and cross fingered push ups,finger tip push ups, one arm push ups, planks,etc just a few of the ones I do all have there place.

[JimmyHerbst]

You mean Ross Enamait the boxing guy? He did a lot of lifting and other crazy stuff though like weighted natural glute ham raises, squatting, dumbbell snatches, and all sorts of stuff.

I have all of his books, they are fantastic. I put them right up there with Super Squats and Dinosaur training.

[Chris Daviez]

I walk around :LOL:

[Dan Eberhardt]

Dips and chinups are great, I'd be wary of the handstand pushups though, unless you are doing them off blocks. I used to do them a fair bit, less now that I weigh more.

Now that I think about it I realise why I have an easier time with a log press than a barbell press. The movement mimics a handstand pushup from a headstand. The biggest problem you'll find is starting a barbell press. Once it goes past your head the weight will fly up but that first bit will be a sticking point.
If you use blocks on either side of your head you can get far greater range of motion and will overcome this weakness.

If anyone else who doesn't do these is looking to start, grab a chair, get into a pushup position with your feet on the chair, now walk your hands towards your feet until your back is vertical, or as close as you can get. Once you get the hang of it, find a wall and do a handstand up against it. After that, do them without any support. One thing I could never master :)