Al has been featured in The New York Times and is a regular contributor to Bodybuilding.com and TRAIN magazine.

The author of four books, including Stretching Your Boundaries and Pushing The Limits!, Kavadlo is also known for his appearance in the popular Convict Conditioning book series.

I am a huge fan of Al, because he simplifies the art and science of calisthenics so that people from all walks of life can enjoy the fun in exercising using one’s own bodyweight.

I have personally learned so much from his videos, blog, and I am currently reading Raising The Bar, which is a book I recommend for anyone wanting to learn about Calisthenics.

When I emailed Al for this interview, he responded almost immediately.

Considering he is such huge demand from his media interviews, books and as lead instructor for the Progressive Calisthenics Certification (PCC), I was incredibly honored that he agreed to take time from his busy schedule to do this interview.

I wanted his take on questions outside of the normal sphere of diet and exercise that I am sure he asked on a daily and weekly basis.

I wanted to know what makes him tick. What he considers “success” and what were some of the more challenging decisions in his life.

Here is my interview with Al Kavadlo.

Hi Al, thanks for your time…

What’s the most important life lesson you have learned thus far?

To take accountability and not blame others when things go awry. Every individual is personally responsible for their own success or failure; you reap what you sow.

What’s the most important habit that you think has contributed to your success?

Consistency. I work hard every single day.

In one sentence or phrase how would you define success?

Success is being able to live the life you want without harming others or compromising your integrity.

Who are your mentors and why?

I’ve had many mentors over the years but most of them are people you’ve never heard of. My parents were both tremendous influences on me, for example. Why? Because I was around them all the time growing up!

What was the most difficult decision you had to make and why?

Putting aside my childhood dream of being a musician in order to pursue a career in the fitness industry was tough, but it wound up being a good move!

What was the best decision you made and why?

See previous question.

Could you tell us about some of the more important projects you have going on or coming up in the future?

I just released a new book, called Zen Mind, Strong Body. You can find out more about the book and/or get a copy here: http://www.dragondoor.com/eb81/?apid=4e8cb1ea167b0

I also teach a course called the Progressive Calisthenics Certification that is all about bodyweight strength training. More info is here: http://www.dragondoor.com/workshops/pccworkshop/?apid=4e8cb1ea167b0

Wow, thank you very much Al,

That was huge…..you are such an inspiration….thank you.

To learn more about Al Kavadlo go to his website www.alkavadlo.com

Check out this epic video of Al performing some pretty freaking incredible feats:

(Time: 1.55 minutes)

Let’s look at the definitions of each of these and compare (Note:Source Wikipedia):

Calisthenics are a form of exercise consisting of a variety of exercises, often rhythmical movements, generally without using equipment or apparatus…, using only one’s body weight for resistance

Bodyweight exercises are strength training exercises that do not require free weights; the practitioner’s own weight provides the resistance for the movement.

Street workout is a physical activity performed mostly in outdoor parks or public facilities. It is the combination of  athletics, calisthenics, and sports. Street Workout is a modern name for bodyweight workout in outdoor parks.

Six Ws

Often called the Six Ws questions, in fact its Five W’s (Who,What,Where, When, & Why)  and One H (How), “are questions whose answers are the basics in information-gathering.”

If we apply each of these to the comparisons between:

• Bodyweight Exercises
• Calisthenics
• Street Workout

We get the following:

The above table is an oversimplification but I believe you get the general idea. If three (Bodyweight Exercises, Calisthenics, & Street Workout) were in the same family they’d be fraternal triplets.

With the exception of Street Workouts which are primarily done in outdoor parks and/or on a bar.

All three are the same, just different names, for pretty much the same thing.

Of course, those that are strict practitioners will argue against my logic and reasoning.

The purpose of this post is not to spark a debate. It’s too simply shed some light on the subject. We oftentimes make thing far more complicated.

In my humble opinion all three are varying degrees of the same thing:

A form of strength training, no gym required where the athlete uses his/her own bodyweight as resistance.

I think you will find that all three genres fall under the above definition.

In conclusion, aside from the difference in what each is actually called all three are actually quite similar. If you really wanted to get technical, you could say that each is a different style or type of using one’s own body-weight to strength train. Think of the three as variants on the same philosophy.

So there you have it folks, a rinsed down or watered down explanation regarding the differences or more so likenesses between bodyweight training, calisthenics. and street workout.