Gymnastics / bodyweight strength training

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Are any of you into gymnastics and/or bodyweight strength training?

I got into working out a bit over a year ago, and very quickly I realized that I want to focus solely on bodyweight training. Partly because I love the minimalism (you only really need a little floor space and access to a pull-up bar of some kind), partly because I didn't/don't want to invest into a gym membership or a bunch of weights, and partly because I love the idea of being able to master, control and balance your own body. I also like the fact that bodyweight exercises are compound exercises. They work multiple muscle groups at the same time, so they are very functional.

My goal is to one day be able to do a full planche, front and back levers, one arm chinups, one arm pushups, freestanding handstand work and things like that. There's really no limit. I want to keep practicing and challenging myself for the rest of my life.

Here's where I am at the moment. I can do tuck planches. I'm can do advanced tuck front lever and I'm getting pretty close to a straddle front lever. My back lever is very lacking for now, because I have mostly been focusing on FL. I can do maybe 10 pistol squats (one-legged squats). I can do a slow and controlled muscle-up on rings and a kipping muscle-up on the bar. I can do a few handstand push-ups against the wall but I don't have the balance yet to do a free-standing handstand. I'm working on various assisted one arm chinups.

Bodyweight training is really fantastic. I would recommend it to anyone and everyone interested in exercising. There may be better ways of strictly building muscle, but when it comes to gaining strength, I'm not sure if anything can beat bodyweight training.

There are a lot of great tutorials on youtube. Here are some great channels:
https://www.youtube.com/user/strengthproject
https://www.youtube.com/user/gbodyweighttraining
https://www.youtube.com/user/slizzardman
https://www.youtube.com/user/closetoimpossible
https://www.youtube.com/user/scooby1961

The last one isn't really focused on bodyweight training, but I included it because he's the guy who really first got me into working out.

Seems very interesting, Sadly however I could never work out at home. I lose motivation rather quickly, While when I pay a gym fee and go to the gym I've the constant nagging motivation to keep up my routine and get my moneys worth. I always enjoy working out in hindsight.

Example I've a pull up bar in my door way yet I never use it. I can do pull ups not alot, but I can do them. The only reason I don't do them at home is because I can do them any time to it's meh. While when am at the gym It's like. . "Right, let's get this done and dusted."

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Still was a good read for me at least.

I do it when I can't go out.

It's effective, but not really "focused". Better than playing sports, though.

I've always had the belief that slow and controlled exercises are the best for true strength (but obviously most people just want to be blown up like a balloon). I still always find it funny watching people in the gym doing weights and push ups as fast as you can.

I got into pilates a few years back, but about 9 months ago (after a big weight loss drive) got into body resistance work as well. I was closing to be able to do pistols and just about got to the point where I could do flat one handed push-ups (I was working my way down from elevated one handed push-ups) when I managed to pull my abs.

Finally started a more sensible rest and recovery program, so hopefully will be able to get back to it in a couple months time. I'm back to fit enough to run so using that time to lose a few more excess pounds.

I saw a few vids on planche push ups just before I injured myself and decided that would be my long term aim as they just look awesome

Good luck with your exercises. I've learnt from such exercise vids that the body is capable of so much. With focus and good technique the boundary of what is superhuman can be redefined.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFK2XWd6cV4&feature=related[/youtube]

I used only bodyweight movements for years, particularly when I was broke and following the whole Crossfit movement. Some workouts I would do up to 200 pullups, or 100 burpees for time; some consisted of just 1000 squats, or as much pushups I could do before getting up. There was a time when I concentrated on gymnastic holds, and I was able to hold full front and back levers. I was working on my straddle planche.

If you're into gymnastic movements, look into "Building The Gymnastic Body" by Christopher Sommer. Also some good bodyweight/minimalist books are "The Naked Warrior" by Pavel Tsatsouline and "Never Gymless" by Ross Enamait.