Complete Calisthenics: The Ultimate Guide to Bodyweight Exercise Paperback – January 1, 2014

“Complete Calisthenics” is another excellent book by Ashley Kalym. And it is exactly as the expanded title states, “The Ultimate Guide to Bodyweight Exercise.” The text is well written. The pictures are large and clear. The progressions are well thought out and well explained. The book is well organized.Each section takes the athlete from very basic – horizontal rows – to very advanced- one arm pullups. There are ample warnings about the dangers and go to slow in these workouts.The section on diet and life style are simple and practical, not adhering to any specific program other than natural, simple foods with plenty of rest.The sections on developing your own program are excellent with plenty of guidance to enable the athlete to vary the program as much as he wants.The sections on workouts are well done and will take the athlete far into strength programs with specific programs for such as the basic fundamentals and the Levers.Ashley does give us a basic level from which to start. However his programs in this book can get the athlete to these levels. This level is: Pushups 20 reps, Pullups 10 reps, Tricep dips 10 reps, Hanging knee raises 10 reps, and Squats 25 reps. Needless to say, Ashley does state that the performance of these must all be of perfect form.Recently published are several books on progressive body weight exercise programs. Several of these are excellent. This is one of the best.

I've been training progressive calisthenics-style for about two years (after 23 years in traditional gym settings and competing in natural bodybuilding contests). I have to say that I quickly learned and mastered a few advanced moves, like front and back lever. However, I was stuck with not much progress in other moves, like HS for example.Ashley Kalym's book is the first one I buy on calisthenics. I thought I need guidance from someone who's already mastered the moves I was stuck on and has experience teaching them. Well, here are a couple of great things I like about the book and the author:- All exercises and advanced moves are presented as a learning path from simple novice moves to more advanced variations of these moves to finally the actual advanced moves. I personally was missing the steps in the middle that take you from not being able to do an advanced move to being able to. I was personally trying with the most difficult move from the advanced ones without knowing that I need to do some move-specific conditioning that will help me get to the advanced move.- The author comes across as a down-to-earth regular guy, who's even provided his personal email address in the book for readers to get in touch with him. I did write him an email and he very cordially replied in about 24 hours (there is 6 hours difference between where he lives and where I live).I personally wasn't impressed with the depth of the nutrition section in the book but that's not a reason for taking a star from the rating. The truth is that I am more of a functional nutrition fanatic and I'd say that my knowledge about nutrition is a bit above layman level. That said, the info in the nutrition section is just about enough for someone who's coming from the perspective of a convenience type of pseudo food into highly nutritious eating that will actually support him/her in achieving serious athletic goals like the goals that mastering advanced calisthenics requires.All in all the book is complete and you will fell like someone took you by the hand and walked you though what might seem an unachievable and superhuman world of complete calisthenics (and that's how the book is called), while in the process not talking down on you from the angle of "I know and have done it all".I look forward to reading whatever other books Ashley will come up with.

I own and have followed the Convict Conditioning series. I wish I knew about this book before I bought those. Don't get me wrong the Convict Conditioning (Con-Con) series is very good and I would still have bought them but I think Complete Calisthenics is a better book. I currently have tailored my own program from this book with some ideas from Con-Con 1 & 2.Kalym's Fundamental Five (F5), his starter program if you will, is well thought out. Any beginner should be able to achieve the F5 requirements in a reasonable number of months with the exception of the 10 pull-ups which will probably be the sticking point for some. That's not a flaw with the program but rather highlights two issues that are common with many. Too many of us are too heavy and too sedentary. Our pulling muscles are weak from disuse and it's hard to hit a decent number of pull-ups with a spare tire acting as a anchor.I believe hitting the F5 requirements is a reasonable foundation. His second and third programs are well thought out in my opinion. The second program uses some harder exercise variations to build greater strength and introduces handstands. Perhaps this is why some people are calling this book intermediate to advanced but remember you don't start here, you earn your way here by nailing the F5. The third program further develops handstands and introduces levers and this is getting into advanced territory for most.In my opinion this is a no nonsense, no hype book with a very good treatment of a large selection of body weight exercises and reasonable programming. The book lays out a plan to go as far as you want to go with calisthenics.

I love the practicality of the exercises in this book. All the pictures do a great job of relaying exactly the movement you should be achieving while performing that exercise.