Bodyweight Training has and, in my opinion, will be all the rage.
Why & What is it?
Bodyweight exercises are good old fashioned Calisthenics.
Essentially, bodyweight exercises is using your own body weight to do strength training without the use of any equipment.
Many ask, so what is the difference between Calisthenics and bodyweight training?
The answer, there is none.
They are one in the same.
It’s like asking what is the difference between H2O and water?
The names may be different but they are synonymous.
Just in case you don’t trust me, let’s do a quick search and see what we find and compare the two.
Source: Wikipedia
Bodyweight exercises are strength training exercises that do not require free weights; the practitioner’s own weight provides the resistance for the movement. Movements such as the push-up, the pull-up, and the sit-up are some of the most common body weight exercises.
Calisthenics are a form of exercise consisting of a variety of exercises, often rhythmical movements, generally without using equipment or apparatus. They are intended to increase body strength and flexibility with movements such as bending, jumping, swinging, twisting or kicking, using only one’s body weight for resistance.
Sounds relatively similar.
But let’s take a look at the list of common exercises. I want to preface first by saying that in Wikipedia, its lists 22 exercises for body weight training and 11 for Calisthenics. The difference in quantity exercises listed on their website is not a reflection that certain movements only exist in one and not the other. That is a logical fallacy.
| Bodyweight Exercises | Calisthenics |
|---|---|
| Back extension | |
| Bridge | |
| Burpee | |
| Calf raises | Calf raises |
| Crunch | Crunch |
| Dip | Dip |
| Flutter kick | |
| Handstand push-up | |
| Human flag | |
| Hyperextension | |
| Jumping jacks (Star Jumps/Stride Jumps) | |
| L-sit | |
| Leg raises | |
| Lunge | Lunge |
| Muscle up | |
| Planche | |
| Plank | Plank |
| Push-up | Push-up |
| Pull up | Pull-up |
| Russian twist | |
| Sit-up | Sit-up |
| Squat | Squat |
What can we determine from this comparison matrix?
That, for the most part, the same freaking movements exist in both, notwithstanding the quantity, which could have more to do, with someone was just dang lazy when it came to listing common exercises as it pertains to those in Calisthenics.
In conclusion, body weight exercises/training and Calisthenics are virtually the same thing, they are synonyms for strength training using your own body weight and no or very little equipment.
