Conditioning: weights vs callisthenics

[hermanchauw]

If u haven’t been training with weights, don’t start. If u have been training with weights, it’s time to stop.

 

Here’s some relevant links about this topic. All explanations on how it works are searchable on the net.

 

http://www.realfighting.com/1001/mattfurey.htm

 

http://users.erols.com/physical/index.html

 

Let me share my experience after stopping weights for conditioning:

 

I feel lighter, I feel more energetic when doing movement specific conditioning, esp the straight-arm-straight-leg-handstand-press-up, I don’t feel that my biceps are restricting my elbow movements…I also look and feel more pumped-up during training, without doing isolation exercises, meaning that callisthenics induces better blood flow to the working muscles than weight training.

 

And the best thing is, I don’t have to rely on expensive equipment for my conditioning. I can train anytime anywhere using simple and inexpensive furniture.

 

[KickChick]

Well that happens to work best for you but you cannot possibly say that weightlifting has no benefits whatsoever because in effest calisthenics is a form of weight lifting (bodyweight) .....

 

And let me just tell you that we all all aware of Mr Furey and his combat conditioning exercises.. (do a search for topics)... I myself "change up" my weightlifting routine and "mix" a little of both to obtain the optimal in results! I lift primarily to burn fat and increase metabolism and it relaxes me (really!)

 

You'll find more threads on pros and cons of weigtlifting and bodyweight exercise/calisthenics here in the Health & Fitness forum.

 

But glad you love the results that you achieved!

[ZR440]

I tend to disagree. Weightlifting is one of the best ways to prevent injuries and rehab existing injuries. Just ask any pro sports doctor or athlete. (Especially Steve Yzerman of the Detroit Red Wings. After an almost career ending knee surgery, the first of it's kind on a professional athlete, he hit the weights along with other conditioning exercises and just played his first hockey game since last June.)

[Neil]

Actually one of the many reasons people stop weight lifting is due to injury, nad people who are in their late fories all seem to be having problems and injuries with their kness and backs. Body Weight Calisthnics are exercises you can do all your life. None are really better although for more and more people these body weight calisthnics seem to be used more and more. My moms Physiotherapist has given a Matt Furey book to my mom which I already own so you can see how this is catching like wild fire. Also my body looks 10 times better than on the weights and although I'm lighter I look larger, stronger, and well fantastic. Using your own body is the natural way to exercise and everyone is seeing the enourmous benefit of these exercises I don't even have to argue anymore about it.

[crash]

I agree with kickchick, I use a combo of both weight training and conditioning, there are results that can be obtained from one that cant be gotten from the other and so forth. all in all I think that things like this depend entirely on the individual, what his/her preferences are and what their individual goals are. to each his own so to speak, but not something to tell others they deffinately should not be doing.

[ZR440]

http://www.realfighting.com/1001/mattfurey.htm

 

Matt has found a good workout for his combat training. Good for him. But it's nothing new or unique. Maybe he should join the Army. They do the same thing for the most part.

[BKJ1216]

Are calastenics like just lisfting your body weight? Like pushups, sit ups ect.? If they are I think that's a better way to do it. Because when you do it you get stronger, and you build mucle. When you build muscle you add more weight to the body weight your lifting, so there is always a challenge there. You can only become stronger doing this. Weight lifting you can only lift so much to gain so much muscle before you have to start taking different things, protein drinks ect. I think it's a lot more important to be able to support your own body weight. Myself I'm going to do a little bit of both, but mostly calstenics.