^ that's the hammer hitting the nail perfectly on the head. I train my body for sex. Medium cardio for 45+ minutes of extreme pussy pounding, calisthenics for holding strong positions for long periods of times, and bodybuilding with med-high reps and muscle isolation for physical attractiveness. I fuck 3-14 times a week and I fight once every 10 years (if even that); you do the math...
I am realizing that being too competitive with oneself to try to be elite in fitness can lead to burnout, injuries, and a shorter interest for longterm fitness. Mixing it up is great. Set a time, decide what you want to tackle that day and go for it. No need to be ultramarathoner, be able to knock out 50 pull-ups, or be good at everything. Meeting a goal is great. Run some days, bodyweight somedays, yoga some other days, cross-train other days, swim or whatever you enjoy. Just get out an move and feel great! I think we get too caught up in being elite in fitness that we forget that fitness is really for longterm health and enjoyment. If being competitive is what drives you great, I use to be that way but starting to realize I just don't care to be number one, just enjoying the journey. Trying to be a badass leads right to the ego and your ego will get hurt eventually make you get down when you are no longer hitting those peak workouts. So stay humble, do what you love and keep moving. Love fitness for everything that it gives you.
Thats such a weird statment since when i was in the military it doesn't equal freedom in my opinion freedom is doing what yoy want discipline is being in a routine
@@sadsad7184 It's a flashy slogan mostly because it's an oxymoron, but it's not what it really means. Jocko did explain that total discipline is obviously total absence of freedom. But there's a certain balance of freedom and discipline where certain amount of discipline will yield more freedom than was sacrificed in the first place. Say, I like music. I have freedom to fuck around and not practice. Or I can sacrifice some of that freedom and practice my instrument. After certain amount of discipline applied I'll be able to play songs that I like when I want, which is a new kind of freedom. I guess it's just a new way of saying "No pain, no gain."
@@sadsad7184 I get it, when you train to be uncomfortable you are able to handle life struggles alot better and able to take on the world better...through functional training. I train in this fashion by doing burpees almost every workout. Burpees are the most functional cuz of the whole getting down and getting back up kind of deal...not to say expect the worse but to prepare so when it comes you're already over it, true story.
Calisthenics. Ancient Greek word...Cali- =kallos=beauty and -sthenics= sthenos= strength. According to a story Spartans use to perform bodyweight strength exercises before the battle of Thermopyles. Persian spies thought that this was a kind of dance and they thought that they were weak...until the next day when the battle began. The name Calisthenics comes from a Greek guy , named Calisthenis who was the first person who wrote about this kind of workout among Greeks.
I do both calisthenics and weight training. There are some exercises (e.g one legged squats) that most bodybuilders cannot do because of its concentric, focused nature. There are benefits for doing both, but if I had to pick one: calisthenics
as somone who use to box a lot Calistinics where the bread and butter, but once i started doing barbell training I started growing actual strengg and mass, Im not a very big guys so ill never get "jacked" but i look better than I did when I only did the pull ups dips, pushups ect, But I like both.
@@davidjd123 I think nailing calisthenics with some weight training for legs for awhile is great and then after some years depending how fast you progress you can do more weight training or weighted calisthenics to keep that natural look but gain the mass you want
@@davidjd123 You can gain mass doing calisthenics but you have to go slow on you’re reps instead of doing as much raps as you can you need to pressure you’re muscles
@@Student0Toucher we'll you won't gain mass as quickly either, weighted calisthenics is the way to go as it promotes the need to grow, that is when you of course exceed your bodies limitations at that time.
It almost makes me feel good to know that Jocko's been injured too. Not good. Just glad to know he's human and that I'm not alone in things like shoulder injuries or leg injuries
Been more of a bodybuilder/weight lifter for about 7 years now. Since quarantine ive been limited to 95% calisthenics. Never felt so bouncy and quick in my life. I’m leaning out but I’m not as large. Honestly feels great. Love both though!
That's interesting to hear, I rarely met anyone who's lifted consistently for such a long time. Would you mind elaborating on what you meant by feeling bouncy and quick?
@@rampagesmackssons508 I suppose, you'd assume wouldn't you. Just felt it'd be nice to hear from his perspective since he's a veteran in the iron works so he'd be able to present the differences in benefits from two different training principles
@@lembartjellico5926 I lifted weights/bodybuilding for about 15 years before switching fully to calisthenics... I can relate to the post here about feeling "bouncy and quick" after training only calisthenics for a time... is because you essentially drop "excess" bodyweight once you dedicate yourself to moving your body through space, so you naturally feel lighter in everyday situations outside of training. What most people who lift weights/bodybuild don't acknowledge often enough is how much of a factor diet and calories are to increasing your "size" and that *much* of that size requires one to put on excess body fat... It's because of Instagram that people naturally assume lifting weights to get huge = all that extra muscle mass will be fat-free lean tissue and you'll end up looking fantastic... sure, there are some genetic superior individuals who can indeed put on much size and have it be mostly lean muscle and they'll look amazing - but the majority of people will simply end up looking "softer" the more "mass" they put on and the heavier weight loads they push or pull. Calisthenics is the opposite of this... a lean state is a *requirement* to increased performance progress, there is no such thing and gaining body fat while increasing body movement efficiency through space.
@@oliverallen5324 For muscle building it is. Intensity is the difference. Calisthenics gets easier, so you need to do harder exercises. With weights you can add weight.
I heard Jocko say that he does not enjoy swimming anymore, and I've never heard heard him discuss swimming other than the fact that he surfs. I assume he means his time in the water with the Navy was more than enough swimming for a lifetime. However, I'd love to hear him talk about swimming skills he learned in the SEAL's. For instance, long distance ocean swimming requires excellent form to conserve energy, and swimming laps in a pool can be almost like meditation (or very boring, depends upon your mental state). The U.S. Water Polo Team worked out with the SEAL's, and the BUD's style swimming was incredibly difficult even for these Olympic athletes. Well Jocko and Echo, if by chance you read this, it almost seems ironic that swimming is a taboo subject. Bite the bullet once for us Jocko and dig up some of those memories of endless swimming and insane underwater drills that SEAL's are famous for. And how about that Coast Guard movie Kevin Costner made; any thoughts on that? If you did cover this subject already, somewhere in the large and growing Podcast Library, I guess I'll find it sooner or later. Thanks guys for your excellent work! {From Tampa, FL} 4/12/17
The thing is, the kind of swimming the Seals do is not enjoyable or pleasant at all. They try to "drown proof" the soldiers by binding up their legs and arms and tossing them in a pool. Sometimes, they even hold their heads down underwater just to add more stress. Some soldiers have died in training because of this. That's why I couldn't go through with Seal training. I could do the running, lifting, shooting and what not. But if an instructor tried to keep my head underwater, I would probably bite his finger off just as a survival reflex. I can definitely understand why he wouldn't want to talk about swimming.
@@TheDocbach I've seen that kind of comment before. It's kind of funny that someone who didn't even go through the hardest/longest training course in the military thinks they can bite the finger off of an experienced operator (because BUD/S instructors are SEALs who've rotated to that duty station) and not immediately get destroyed for it. If you didn't go to BUD/S because you knew you weren't strong enough to make it through the 6 month course, that's one thing, but don't go around saying that you didn't bother going because of some obscure reason. At least own up to it.
@@Daynknight1001 Not wanting to be drown like a rat in a pool is an obscure reason? I think I already admitted that I couldn't handle Seal training. Not sure why you are trying to misinterpret my comment, but I have 100% respect for the Seals. And I never said that I would be able to bite a finger, I said I would attempt it as a survival reflex if I was in that position. The point of my comment was to inform spiritual astronomy about some of the training the Seals do, and why swimming may not be as enjoyable as it may seem. It wasn't aimed to make myself sound like a hard ass. I can do certain things well but I am in no way claiming to be a Seal at all. So please stop trying to bend my message here. Thanks.
As someone of 40 years of age and someone that has lifted heavy for 20 years. I feel like calisthenics and kettlebell movement’s are the way forward for me. Less stress on joints, anaerobic activity and can rip you up. I feel great after doing these. Wished I mixed up both a long time.
As I've gotten older I simplify my fitness regiment more and more. I used to be really into full body lifting and a variety of conditioning. But lately I've been doing 50 strict pullups and 100 pushup burpees 3x per week, hill sprints 2-3x per week, and lots of daily walking. Honestly don't give AF about lifting anymore. 💯
In calisthenics you're stretching while exerting force, much more natural.. Weights are important, but for longevity, and a healthy life, calisthenics, cardio and stretching are all you need
I lifted for years.... got stronger definitely! But switched to calisthenics recently, and feel better than ever. Not against either or. Whatever works for you. 💯
@@getstrongby4038 explosive leg movements can make your legs ridiculously powerful and strong. Jump squats, explosive lunges ect. Even routines such as 50x bodyweight squats and doing uphill sprinting immediately after can really strengthen the legs.
@@getstrongby4038 strong legs without weights? Try walking..... people squat more than their body can actually handle moving around with. Squating more than what your body can physically handle with movement is useless compared to being able to have the muscular and cardiovascular endurance to go 30 miles. It's all relative to what the goals are of the person in question.
Calisthenics vs. weights. Why "versus"? Are those two opposed to each other in some way? Do they exclude each other out? Why do people keep asking these silly questions? Stop asking "Is X better than Y" questions. The world is not black and white. Both calisthenics and weight training are toolboxes for getting stronger. Pick the best tools from both boxes.
A good workout program will include both free weights and calisthenic movements. If you only do calisthenics you develop upper body strength- and especially core strength, but your legs WILL be seriously lacking. If you only do free weights, you don't have a good understanding of how to move your body through space efficiently. I tinker around a lot with how to do different kinds of big sets, and yesterday did 400lb deadlifts for reps> pull ups to failure> archer pushups to failure (w/ no rest between exercises). I'm including more bodyweight movements like archer pushups because my dumbbell pressing has gotten stronger, but it has not translated well into my ability to do a simple calisthenics movement like the pushup. Be a chick- mix and match!
I always relied on doing bodyweight pushups pullups bridges squats and dips along with swimming and cycling for my workouts. At around 30 I damaged my right shoulder from doing poor form dips, never really recovered from it- every time I do them now I get the same injury. Still, I'd say if you do good form Calisthenics- its all you need. Just look at gymnasts and swimmers.
As a calisthenics enthusiast, I have nothing but respect for weightlifters. Sure they might look like they lack a neck but the fact they’re even doing what they do, I give them nothing but thumbs up.
completely agree. Different tools, both useful. Depends on where you are and where you need to be and whats best for getting you there. Might be handstands, might be overhead press or both. Instead of picking oneverf the other learn about both. If you want specific results you need specific training, and if you want to be specific you need to be educated in what youre doing.
Pick the one you enjoy, work hard at it, and no matter what the benefits or drawbacks of either, YOU WILL BE BETTER THAN 99% OF OTHER PEOPLE. Only like doing calisthenics? Cool. Only like weights? THat's cool, too. Like to mix them up? Awesome. No matter what you pick, if you stick with it, you will be stronger than most other people. More important, you will be 10x better than you were when you started.
Resistance is resistance. Now on which one is more difficult.... try doing a one arm pushup for a set vs bench press or try to do hand stand pushups instead of sh press
I like doing both, for merits of each. Weights for building maximal strength & hypertrophy using squats, deadlifts, overhead pressing, etc. Basic calisthenics for improving relative strength, endurance, body composition etc. using chin ups, pull ups, push ups, dips, all using added weights, and HSPU with bodyweight only. I also do some basic mobility & stretches every day.
anthony ruzic I’ve tried both and they are both respectable, but swimming is super hard, especially since you can’t breath. Wrestling however is harder on your body physically ie mat burns etc
I'm the same way. I think both are great and they both have positives and negatives. I mean, it's all down to the person. It depends on what results and/or physicality the person wants out of their own body.
So accurate, it all depends on what your goal is. More muscle means more energy expenditure, which leads to fatigue faster. Inversely, you wont be able to do that heavy lifting. I would argue that in general for most people that are not good a working out, starting with calisthenics are the better solution. Then transitioning into using weights when they starting to feel the need that extra umpf, or they just want to build some mass. Just remember that rest and sleep is just as important as training and nutrition is. All things in moderation :)
Weighted Calisthenics (Relative strength and natural more functional movements) and Weight Lifting (Absolute strength and to train certain specific muscles and find overload easier in both primary and secondary exercises) Both will make you more explosive, muscular, stronger with your weight and with extra weight and at the same time develop smaller muscles to improve balance coordination and make you a highly functional athlete.
My personal opinion on calisthenics vs weights is that neither are better because they both have their own benefits. Calisthenics improve functional strength and body control. Weights just improve strength overall especially for lifting and power but they both are good for flexibility. I’d recommend both with some cardio in your workout too!
Calisthenics is great for body control and functional strength in the sense that you're doing more natural movements that also have a great carryover to almost any kind of strength demanding sport or activity Weights on the other hand are better for muscle growth as they are more specific movements easier to overload and you can train certain specific muscles that are very hard to target with Calisthenics. It'll also give you more absolute strength which can also be very functional (the ability to lift external weight) I find Weighted Calisthenics and Weight Lifting combo the best. Basic to intermediate Calisthenics exercises with weight (Pull Ups, Dips, Push Ups, Squats, L Bar Rows, Pike/Hanstand Wall Push Ups, Lunges, etc)
Cardio, calestinics, and weights are all great. Whichever one is better for you depends on what you're trying to accomplish. An example would be that if you're planning to run a marathon, you'll obviously work on your cardio and not the others or at least not work on the others as much.
I'm a beginner-intermediate and calisthenics are working really well for me.saving me money and extra time for a gym membership.i can do pushups, burpees mountain climbers etc.anywhere!! Also I just like to climb,jump and work extra on my walks around my town.I'm more of a runner and calisthenics is a 'free" way to build and maintain some strength while maintaining my mobility and flexibility without the feeling of liability to a gym or expensive weight sets.Of course I've purchased dumbbell and weight plates and I'll stick thosein my backpack for extra weight on my walks to work.
I haven't thought about calisthenics in 2 years, now my country decides to do corona pasports for gyms (been working out for a solid 2,5 years) so now I'm considering to do calisthenics again. Gotta bring out the weight vest again... AND THIS VIDEO POPS UP IN MY RECOMMENDED.
Did weights for 4 years, and only ran when it was time for the next PT test. After a long stint of just lifting weights I tried to run and it was harder than it used to be. I then decided to forego weights and just focus on my run year round. I have a hard time balancing weights/cardio, but like the other Navy Seal said, gotta train for what you want your body to do (pass PT tests ha).
The crossfit games ignore form. Crossfit itself is fine but the people that practice it by and large dont know how to do the exercises correctly and thats why you get poeple thinking they’ve beaten the pullup world record because they discovered kipping.
No one that does crossfit will say kipping pull ups are the same as normal pull ups. I believe David Goggins is still the record holder for most pull ups in a day, and he did it strict. Kipping pull ups are gymnastic/crossfit specific so you're never gonna see out outside of it. I honestly would rather people stick to strict pullups.
"Crossfit" absolutely encourages, teaches, and promotes using good form. I see you're actually not talking about proper form for legitimate concerns like snatch, C&J, etc... you're just harping on the tired arugment of "pullups aren't correct" Strict pull-ups are taught, and practiced. in the sport of Crossfit, they allow specifc variations of pullups like Kipping or "butterfly". They are sport-specific exercises.
This comment is so wrong lmao. Go look at the top level Crossfit guys/girls and tell me they have bad form. Tell me Mat Fraser has bad form, please try. Yes there are people who do crossfit who have bad form, as there are people who do powerlifting who have bad form. You walk into any gym in the world and you will see people lifting weights with bad form.
Theodore Smith You are wrong, it’s not 2009 anymore. Nowadays high level CrossFit athletes have excellent form and even in gyms you see good form. First rule is “leave your ego at the door”. The sport has evolved. Coaches have evolved. The training methodology has evolved. Skiing in 1910 was poor form, gymnastics 70 years ago was nothing special, running was so slow. CrossFit is here since 2000 and everything has improved so much.
played football and gymnastics and track in the military karate and weight training bicycle also was a farm kid in logging country so yes I agree on endurance weights and flexibility found out from the rock soldiers what real endurance was when I was in Korea in the '80s
He doesn't exactly say "this is what I do on this day" but in one of his books, I can't remember which one, but it has a subtitle of "the field manual" and he maps out different workouts in that.
Train to crush skulls. Lift heavy things lots of times. The Roman's trained with swords heavier than their own. The also grappled and lifted rocks. Kill!
I guess what it comes down to with this question, which unfortunately Jocko doesn’t really talk about here is what your own personal fitness goals are. Depending on what your own personal fitness goals are, calisthenics OR weights can be better OR worse if it is compatible (or not compatible) to your personal fitness goals. Based on Jocko’s sharing of his experience here, it seems like Jocko’s goals is to be more well rounded (i.e: being above average in both weights and calisthenics), hence as he says, he’s not going to be winning weightlifting meets, and he’s not going to be winning gymnastics competitions. But not everyone is going to have the same goals as him. For martial arts though such as BJJ, it would seem to be that calisthenics; or more specifically, the type of strength you gain from bodyweight exercises has more transferability than weights. Not to say that weights cannot help you in your martial arts (if anything it helps alot with explosiveness), but there is a limit to how much weights can help you in your martial arts. For example, you do not need to win weightlifting meets to have sufficient explosiveness when you do bjj; being intermediate level in your barbell strength would be more than enough for bjj. Once you’ve past a certain level of excellence with weights if you want to continue to progress you will have to choose between the two (i.e: weights vs martial arts/bjj) the one you want to focus on excelling at and be content about the other one being secondary. Contrast that with bodyweight exercises, if you have the muscular strength to do a clean one arm pullup or a clean one legged pistol squat, everything else equal you’ll have an edge over your opponents who are unable to do that. But if you want to be efficient and comfortable in walking around carrying or wearing heavy stuff (e.g: heavy equipment) like what alot of military guys do in their line of work, weights (particularly the barbell) would seem to have more transferability. So again, comes down to what you want out of your training.
I have herniated disc too.. Im 25y old.. You can do alot of other exercises that dont damage your back like walking lunges.. It is better than squats in my opinion
People who say you can't build much strength with calisthenics probably can't do many proper, controlled, regular pushups. I am trying to mix both into my routines. Still need to figure out how
@@lelieutenant7386 Incorrect, training for aesthetics is only one of the many reasons people lift. Weightlifting, powerlifting, strongman, crossfitt, calisthentics ect.. is all about performance in various aspects and *not* trying to make your body beautiful as opposed to bodybuilding for example which is.
"useful" strength lmao. What's usefull is being able to lift heavy things off the ground and over your head = weight lifting. Calisthenics gives you more useless* strength
I'm not nearly as badass as I wish I could be. When can drive hope from what I'm doing by listening to, as jocko describes it, "what my body prescribes" than I'm dignified. I personally have to start with calisthenics, from there I'll add weight. Or I will weight train to work up to a calisthenics exercise. I value the explosiveness that derives from proper weight training and calisthenics combined.
I was fortunate running into a former SEAL in my gym. He saw I was putting in the time but not getting anywhere. So he corrected my bad habits. I now correct assumptions that I look like a SEAL after a few have seen my workouts. Im now under 60, but weight 270 with perfect strength balance. Periodically, other gym members see me go through 1000 burpees, or treadmill a half marathon. I learned all the components as a personal trainer, much like going through "medical school". Now, I totally understand the science and the art of fitness but with a much higher bar of standards.
There are levels to calisthenics, there are levels to weight lifting, there is overlap at the start but they diverge the more you go up through levels. A power lifter won't be able to do plank pushups on the rings, and a gymnast won't be able to lift 500 lbs, but they're both crazy strong. I prefer the aesthetics and full body engagement of calisthenics but that won't get you 'big' just crazy strong for your size.
If something causes injury and slows greater progression then he would stop. Why do something that can slow down gains vs something that gives same benefits but less injury and faster results?
He's rationalizing. It's quite difficult to injure yourself in calisthenics (pushups, pullups and so forth.) It's easier with weights. It can be MUCH easier, especially if you don't properly balance out your muscle development. I would advise anyone to first build a calisthenics base for muscular development, then add weights in a very carefully studied and balanced fashion, emphasizing reps over weight.
Before highschool i would do lots and lots of push ups and pull ups. Soon as I benched my freshmen year I was ahead of everyone in my class by a fair amount
That advice only works for people who are thin enough to be able to productively train calisthenics. For plenty of people, it takes years to be able to reach such a lean body fat percentage, and research shows resistance training is useful for dieting down and staying there. Meaning that for large segments of the population, your advice is simply not feasible. 90-95% of diets fail (as in people bounce back), and building lean body mass with weights to begin with is an excellent way to make diets stick. For the fatty who's just starting out, I'd prescribe compound weightlifting movements in addition to some cardio. Calisthenics would just be an excellent way to destroy compliance in a setting where compliance is the most important thing they need.
It depends how overweight someone is... the obese can get a hard enough workout simply by walking around more often. I don't think "diets" are the answer so much as learning about better eating habits in general, which is why most diets fail. Where I disagree is that somehow *only* thin people can do calisthenics... Every single calisthenics exercise can be regressed to become very easy... it's not as if there is only one standard version of a calisthenics exercise that is valid and productive. That would be like saying weight training only works for strong people, because a weak person can't bench press 400 lbs. That idea would be nonsense, since a weak person would of course start off with bench pressing a lighter weight then build up from there over time... It's the exact same with calisthenics.... you start with a simpler version of an exercise where you are only lifting a small percentage of your bodyweight, then progress to lifting more of your weight (by modifying the exercise) over time. While you could theoretically lose body fat with diet and stay in great shape by building muscle through weight training and cardio, I tend to favor calisthenics as a better choice for long-term weight maintenance. The reason is that becoming better in calisthenics and increasing your performance over time *requires* one to maintain a very lean shape... you simply cannot get better at moving yourself through space without likewise keeping your body fat level in tight check. In contrast to lifting weights, where you could get really strong and increase your performance to no end while *increasing* your body fat percentage.. meaning that one does not impede the other from happening. Of course if you lift weights, you could do cardio work and reduce your calories... but understand these things are not related to the goal of lifting heavier weights and becoming stronger. But with calisthenics, getting stronger and more efficient at moving your own body directly relies on maintaining a certain lean shape... otherwise, no progress can even take place at all.
@@davepazz580 All of this sounds good, but in my experience fatties actually enjoy lifting weights much more in practice than callisthenics because they're actually pretty good at it. A normal fat person will for instance often destroy callisthenics people at back squats without much effort. Which is awesome for them, while it might take years to even do simple things like a single dip or chin-up. I like using both like Jocko says, but for some reason callisthenics people, who are already typically naturally skinny to begin with, are dogmatic about getting other people to exclusively do an exercise form which will suit their naturally chubby body less without caring about what other people actually enjoy.
Don't misunderstand... I'm definitely not saying everyone should do the same form of exercise out of some dogmatic obligation. I'm one that believes the best exercise is the one you personally enjoy doing the most, the one which gives you so much pleasure to do that you actually look forward to training. As long as you have achieved that, it really doesn't matter if you are doing only calisthenics or only weight training exclusively... people tend to make too much of the "doing both" concept (which I don't believe to be fully possible anyway, but I digress), it's all just training in the end and in the long run, it's not going to make much difference anyway. Though I'm not sure I can go along with the idea that people who do/enjoy calisthenics were "naturally skinny" to start with and somehow that's why they gravitated towards it. That would be like saying that accomplished weight trainers who can bench press 400 lbs. were naturally big to begin with and that's why they started lifting weights in the first place... Ignoring all the underweight, skinny guys who eventually increased their calories and got strong enough to push the same weight loads over time. But I agree that an overweight person could back squat a much heavier load right away over someone who does calisthenics only... because all that excess weight serves to better leverage heavier loads. Which goes back to my previous point... if your primary goal is losing body fat and keeping your weight in check, there is nothing inherent in the act of lifting heavier and heavier weights in and of itself that will move you in a leaner direction. But in calisthenics, it's really mandatory...
Interesting. I've lifted weights for 15 years and mixed in calisthenics for two. I've had more minor injuries with weight training, but injuries from calisthenics were way more serious and took longer to recover from. Edit: both are fantastic though. Don't let that scare anyone off considering doing either. Better to live with a few injuries and be a freaking ninja than a lazy ass.
Calisthenics could be better, but it seems alot harder man. The only calisthenic related workout I always like to do are push ups with different variations or weighted push ups, and I dont do any bench presses. The weight training I enjoy alot are deadlifts
Both absolutely, but if we had to press the issue: calisthenics are critical while weights are just very good. In other words, I would say weights can be suspended in favor of just pull ups and push ups if necessary for the sake of slightly easier workouts (rest), lack of equipment, etc.
Relying on calisthenics alone is extremely self-limiting. Body weight stuff helps complete workouts but it should not be the main dish but rather the dessert.
I see where you’re coming from but you can definitely get a hard workout in with just high repetition with only body weight and their tons of variety to it as long as your pushing over ur limits you can see good gains 4 sure
@@basicchriss6974 I don't disagree with you. I'm just saying that if you want to have the best possible body that's genetically available to you you are selling yourself short if you avoid weights. Most guys want to look like natural bodybuilders and it's extremely frustrating to grind for years only to have the same nagging gaps in your physique keep you from reaching your best look and doing simplified powerlifting workouts or religiously sticking to calisthenics can help waste years of your life in that sense. You also have to consider that as we get older we accumulate wear, tear and injuries and some body weight exercises are just too intense relative to the gain to do anymore like pull-ups for example. When you use free weights and machines you can pinpoint the needed resistance down to half a pound and go straight to the muscle instead of putting useless and distracting burden on your joints as is required in some bodyweight exercises. If you are naturally lean and masculine looking you might luck out and have a nice body with body weight only but you'll never reach your peak that way. Any guy that starts out with average genetics or worse is simply doing himself a disservice by avoiding weights because he might never look even 'nice' by doing that. Body weight stuff is most useful for young, short guys with zero injuries.
@@miesvaillanykyisyytta3252 well tbh if your goal isn’t aesthetics and more strength and stamina focus the only weights you should really do are deadlifts, farmers walks, and maybe split squats. Everything else can be body weight for high reps(push ups, pull ups, air squats, sprints).
I'm not ashamed to say that I have a pretty bad genetics but my goal is having a bigger body and I only do calisthenics. Is it because of my choice? No, I don't have the money to get a gym membership nor do I can afford a heavy weights. It's is out of my control and I can't do nothing about it until I have enough money. I do and improve what I can by buying some extra equipment and hopefully, gets a better financial life. Btw, from my experience, high volume calisthenics is very effective for hypertrophy. Try it.
Basic calisthenics are natural movements. Like push/pull ups, dips and squats. However the advanced stuff like levers and planches are not natural at all and they put your body at a very high risk of injury cause they induce lots of longer strain for your tendons. Biceps tendon is a very good example for that.
weighted calisthenics
sounds like a bad idea
@Eli D
I heard that starpping weights to yourself is bad for your joints.
joako p weighted pull-ups ftw
jotap customs as soon as you add weights to your body or lift weights, it’s no more calisthenics. It becomes weightlifting. I am sorry.
Dharma73 incorrect. Weighted calisthenics is weight lifting.
Advice from another navy seal(not me) "train and work out for what you need your body to do."
That's some sweet advice .....
^ that's the hammer hitting the nail perfectly on the head.
I train my body for sex. Medium cardio for 45+ minutes of extreme pussy pounding, calisthenics for holding strong positions for long periods of times, and bodybuilding with med-high reps and muscle isolation for physical attractiveness.
I fuck 3-14 times a week and I fight once every 10 years (if even that); you do the math...
Cmd Ctrl sounds like you should make a fitness DVD I'd be first in line..no homo..
it's on the horizon
Cmd Ctrl lmao 3-14 had me rolling
"which means you are pushing up 230 pounds"
*cries in *155*
Me: *cries in 135*
me: cries in 240 and weak af
lol
@@FirstLast-gk6lg time to start bustin ass then
I am 5.9 and 175lbs. I wish I was 155
@@ninetymilesaway 5'8.5 155 wish i was 175
Bottom line: You should train.
get some... Love Patty Mac on this issue
I am realizing that being too competitive with oneself to try to be elite in fitness can lead to burnout, injuries, and a shorter interest for longterm fitness. Mixing it up is great. Set a time, decide what you want to tackle that day and go for it. No need to be ultramarathoner, be able to knock out 50 pull-ups, or be good at everything. Meeting a goal is great. Run some days, bodyweight somedays, yoga some other days, cross-train other days, swim or whatever you enjoy. Just get out an move and feel great! I think we get too caught up in being elite in fitness that we forget that fitness is really for longterm health and enjoyment. If being competitive is what drives you great, I use to be that way but starting to realize I just don't care to be number one, just enjoying the journey. Trying to be a badass leads right to the ego and your ego will get hurt eventually make you get down when you are no longer hitting those peak workouts. So stay humble, do what you love and keep moving. Love fitness for everything that it gives you.
Agreed :) lovely comment 🔥😍🤗 too right 🔥😌
Wow.Really awesome advice bro.
Couldn’t have said it better.👍
I agree sir. Good comment!
This comment should be at the top. Well said!👌🏾
savage. every time I want to stop working out every day and just chill after work, I think about discipline equals freedom
Thats such a weird statment since when i was in the military it doesn't equal freedom in my opinion freedom is doing what yoy want discipline is being in a routine
@@sadsad7184 It's a flashy slogan mostly because it's an oxymoron, but it's not what it really means. Jocko did explain that total discipline is obviously total absence of freedom. But there's a certain balance of freedom and discipline where certain amount of discipline will yield more freedom than was sacrificed in the first place.
Say, I like music. I have freedom to fuck around and not practice. Or I can sacrifice some of that freedom and practice my instrument. After certain amount of discipline applied I'll be able to play songs that I like when I want, which is a new kind of freedom. I guess it's just a new way of saying "No pain, no gain."
@@sadsad7184 I get it, when you train to be uncomfortable you are able to handle life
struggles alot better and able to take on the world better...through functional training.
I train in this fashion by doing burpees almost every workout. Burpees are the most
functional cuz of the whole getting down and getting back up kind of deal...not to say
expect the worse but to prepare so when it comes you're already over it, true story.
@@arlenparker5138 interesting comment. I just started doing burpees and they indeed are alot harder than i thought. Great metaphorical workout though.
It depends on your goals. Being overtrained is not a good thing either.
Calisthenics.
Ancient Greek word...Cali- =kallos=beauty and -sthenics= sthenos= strength. According to a story Spartans use to perform bodyweight strength exercises before the battle of Thermopyles. Persian spies thought that this was a kind of dance and they thought that they were weak...until the next day when the battle began. The name Calisthenics comes from a Greek guy , named Calisthenis who was the first person who wrote about this kind of workout among Greeks.
Wow that's badass, thanks for sharing
You idiots it’s Kali
I do both calisthenics and weight training. There are some exercises (e.g one legged squats) that most bodybuilders cannot do because of its concentric, focused nature. There are benefits for doing both, but if I had to pick one: calisthenics
Yeah i feel like calisthenics is better than weights as you get functional strength as oppose to brute strength.
as somone who use to box a lot Calistinics where the bread and butter, but once i started doing barbell training I started growing actual strengg and mass, Im not a very big guys so ill never get "jacked" but i look better than I did when I only did the pull ups dips, pushups ect, But I like both.
@@davidjd123 I think nailing calisthenics with some weight training for legs for awhile is great and then after some years depending how fast you progress you can do more weight training or weighted calisthenics to keep that natural look but gain the mass you want
@@davidjd123 You can gain mass doing calisthenics but you have to go slow on you’re reps instead of doing as much raps as you can you need to pressure you’re muscles
@@Student0Toucher we'll you won't gain mass as quickly either, weighted calisthenics is the way to go as it promotes the need to grow, that is when you of course exceed your bodies limitations at that time.
"Things don't have to be so black and white", people say listening to Jocko's Podcast
Lol
I like this guy's philosophy..things don't have to be so black and white, but do what works best AND gives results. Respect to you, Jocko and Echo.
mmafan3 if things don’t have to be so black and white, why is the video?!
@soldierside365 A E S T H E T I C
@@soldierside365 I haha'd
It almost makes me feel good to know that Jocko's been injured too. Not good. Just glad to know he's human and that I'm not alone in things like shoulder injuries or leg injuries
basically everyone that ever got serious into fitness have had some sort of injury, its part of the learning process, it humbles you.
Been more of a bodybuilder/weight lifter for about 7 years now. Since quarantine ive been limited to 95% calisthenics. Never felt so bouncy and quick in my life. I’m leaning out but I’m not as large. Honestly feels great. Love both though!
That's interesting to hear, I rarely met anyone who's lifted consistently for such a long time. Would you mind elaborating on what you meant by feeling bouncy and quick?
@@lembartjellico5926 probably more agile and light on his feet
@@rampagesmackssons508 I suppose, you'd assume wouldn't you. Just felt it'd be nice to hear from his perspective since he's a veteran in the iron works so he'd be able to present the differences in benefits from two different training principles
@@lembartjellico5926 I lifted weights/bodybuilding for about 15 years before switching fully to calisthenics...
I can relate to the post here about feeling "bouncy and quick" after training only calisthenics for a time... is because you essentially drop "excess" bodyweight once you dedicate yourself to moving your body through space, so you naturally feel lighter in everyday situations outside of training.
What most people who lift weights/bodybuild don't acknowledge often enough is how much of a factor diet and calories are to increasing your "size" and that *much* of that size requires one to put on excess body fat...
It's because of Instagram that people naturally assume lifting weights to get huge = all that extra muscle mass will be fat-free lean tissue and you'll end up looking fantastic... sure, there are some genetic superior individuals who can indeed put on much size and have it be mostly lean muscle and they'll look amazing - but the majority of people will simply end up looking "softer" the more "mass" they put on and the heavier weight loads they push or pull.
Calisthenics is the opposite of this... a lean state is a *requirement* to increased performance progress, there is no such thing and gaining body fat while increasing body movement efficiency through space.
@@davepazz580 Very elaborate, thank you very much good sir
Resistance is Resistance.
resistance 4 ps5
Literally no.
@@oliverallen5324 For muscle building it is. Intensity is the difference. Calisthenics gets easier, so you need to do harder exercises. With weights you can add weight.
This is a stupid comment lmao
@@rodrigolinscaldas3305 I know them. I meant that basic exercises like pull ups and push ups get so easy that you need another challenge
Weight Lifters: Fucking gains
Calisthenics guys: Fucking push ups
Runners: Fucking no
CircaSriYak SEALs: All before chow...
I heard Jocko say that he does not enjoy swimming anymore, and I've never heard heard him discuss swimming other than the fact that he surfs. I assume he means his time in the water with the Navy was more than enough swimming for a lifetime. However, I'd love to hear him talk about swimming skills he learned in the SEAL's. For instance, long distance ocean swimming requires excellent form to conserve energy, and swimming laps in a pool can be almost like meditation (or very boring, depends upon your mental state). The U.S. Water Polo Team worked out with the SEAL's, and the BUD's style swimming was incredibly difficult even for these Olympic athletes.
Well Jocko and Echo, if by chance you read this, it almost seems ironic that swimming is a taboo subject. Bite the bullet once for us Jocko and dig up some of those memories of endless swimming and insane underwater drills that SEAL's are famous for. And how about that Coast Guard movie Kevin Costner made; any thoughts on that? If you did cover this subject already, somewhere in the large and growing Podcast Library, I guess I'll find it sooner or later.
Thanks guys for your excellent work!
{From Tampa, FL}
4/12/17
I agree. It would be very interesting to hear philosophy and ideas on the ins and outs of swimming...
The thing is, the kind of swimming the Seals do is not enjoyable or pleasant at all. They try to "drown proof" the soldiers by binding up their legs and arms and tossing them in a pool. Sometimes, they even hold their heads down underwater just to add more stress. Some soldiers have died in training because of this. That's why I couldn't go through with Seal training. I could do the running, lifting, shooting and what not. But if an instructor tried to keep my head underwater, I would probably bite his finger off just as a survival reflex. I can definitely understand why he wouldn't want to talk about swimming.
Look up the combat side stroke , it's dope , it's a way to swim with out leaving any wake or sign that youre there
@@TheDocbach I've seen that kind of comment before. It's kind of funny that someone who didn't even go through the hardest/longest training course in the military thinks they can bite the finger off of an experienced operator (because BUD/S instructors are SEALs who've rotated to that duty station) and not immediately get destroyed for it. If you didn't go to BUD/S because you knew you weren't strong enough to make it through the 6 month course, that's one thing, but don't go around saying that you didn't bother going because of some obscure reason. At least own up to it.
@@Daynknight1001 Not wanting to be drown like a rat in a pool is an obscure reason? I think I already admitted that I couldn't handle Seal training. Not sure why you are trying to misinterpret my comment, but I have 100% respect for the Seals. And I never said that I would be able to bite a finger, I said I would attempt it as a survival reflex if I was in that position. The point of my comment was to inform spiritual astronomy about some of the training the Seals do, and why swimming may not be as enjoyable as it may seem. It wasn't aimed to make myself sound like a hard ass. I can do certain things well but I am in no way claiming to be a Seal at all. So please stop trying to bend my message here. Thanks.
keep the podcast coming its extra fuel for the fire
This man drops pure gems of knowledge and wisdom. Always good for getting me grounded and fortified.
As someone of 40 years of age and someone that has lifted heavy for 20 years. I feel like calisthenics and kettlebell movement’s are the way forward for me. Less stress on joints, anaerobic activity and can rip you up. I feel great after doing these. Wished I mixed up both a long time.
the guys in the crossfit games are doing all three. the callisthenics, the weightlifting.. and the PEDs.
god bless the crossfitters
What are peds?
The holy trinity
@@eliascontreras1951 perf. Enhancing drugs
*What are peds?*
They are like these little socks you wear when you don't want people to see you are actually wearing socks...
This is literally the BEST comparison of the pros and construction of weight lifting and calisthenics that I've watched so far!
As I've gotten older I simplify my fitness regiment more and more. I used to be really into full body lifting and a variety of conditioning.
But lately I've been doing 50 strict pullups and 100 pushup burpees 3x per week, hill sprints 2-3x per week, and lots of daily walking. Honestly don't give AF about lifting anymore. 💯
So? That does not take anything away from weights
Honestly, I just want to be functional, quick and with a lot of endurance. calisthenics some weight work and cardio boxing is it for me
Love Jocko. Excellent speaker, communicator and storyteller. Among many other high quality traits.
Advanced/Weighted Calisthenics and simple compound barbell movements with a little sport specific sprinkled in.
Do both.
In calisthenics you're stretching while exerting force, much more natural.. Weights are important, but for longevity, and a healthy life, calisthenics, cardio and stretching are all you need
Big facts
With weights you're doing that too if you pick the right exercises and do them with the right range of motion
I agree with you sir it’s good to have a well balanced training of both.
Love these podcasts
I lifted for years.... got stronger definitely! But switched to calisthenics recently, and feel better than ever. Not against either or. Whatever works for you. 💯
Same here man been powerlifting for years started calisthenics 2 months ago and I feel stronger than ever 🙌🏼
@@MOOFAZAA your power lifting programming can't have been great. No hate but how are you supposed to get strong legs without weights? It's IMPOSSIBLE
@@getstrongby4038 I use weights when I do legs and I got an 1100 total at 160 pounds. It ain’t great by any means but I’m definitely not weak
@@getstrongby4038 explosive leg movements can make your legs ridiculously powerful and strong.
Jump squats, explosive lunges ect. Even routines such as 50x bodyweight squats and doing uphill sprinting immediately after can really strengthen the legs.
@@getstrongby4038 strong legs without weights? Try walking..... people squat more than their body can actually handle moving around with. Squating more than what your body can physically handle with movement is useless compared to being able to have the muscular and cardiovascular endurance to go 30 miles. It's all relative to what the goals are of the person in question.
Calisthenics vs. weights. Why "versus"? Are those two opposed to each other in some way? Do they exclude each other out? Why do people keep asking these silly questions?
Stop asking "Is X better than Y" questions. The world is not black and white. Both calisthenics and weight training are toolboxes for getting stronger. Pick the best tools from both boxes.
zorkan111 I think it's a great question, don't see the need for criticism
wah wah wah woe is me
because to a lot of people, who seem to spend a lot of time online, everything is a competition.
zorkan111 agree
A good workout program will include both free weights and calisthenic movements. If you only do calisthenics
you develop upper body strength- and especially core strength, but your legs WILL be seriously lacking. If you only do free weights, you don't have a good understanding of how to move your body through space efficiently. I tinker around a lot with how to do different kinds of big sets, and yesterday did 400lb deadlifts for reps> pull ups to failure> archer pushups to failure (w/ no rest between exercises). I'm including more bodyweight movements like archer pushups because my dumbbell pressing has gotten stronger, but it has not translated well into my ability to do a simple calisthenics movement like the pushup. Be a chick- mix and match!
Very good points. Provided me more insight and perspective.
I highly admire Mr. Willink's Positivity.
Weight is weight, your body won't know the difference for at least the basic movements. The only point where they diverge is in terms of your goals
Nice prototype guts
My goal is to swing the DragonSlayer
I always relied on doing bodyweight pushups pullups bridges squats and dips along with swimming and cycling for my workouts. At around 30 I damaged my right shoulder from doing poor form dips, never really recovered from it- every time I do them now I get the same injury. Still, I'd say if you do good form Calisthenics- its all you need. Just look at gymnasts and swimmers.
Great tips man, I don't like lifting weights, but I'll try it now. 1st calisthenics then I'll start lifting. Then both.
Needed to hear this.
I brought my boys up showing them, you can use your own body weight to get super strong.
What workouts did you do?
As a calisthenics enthusiast, I have nothing but respect for weightlifters. Sure they might look like they lack a neck but the fact they’re even doing what they do, I give them nothing but thumbs up.
Yup. Both serves their purpose. As long as one do work.. one will get the reward
As a powerlifting enthusiast, I respect calisthenics. Sure they are weak with chicken legs but they are still training.
@@im_reyz8780 yikes
@@im_reyz8780 ..Lol
@@im_reyz8780 Is it chicken legs if it's proportional to the rest of the body?
Great points I've never heard much respect for the information
completely agree. Different tools, both useful.
Depends on where you are and where you need to be and whats best for getting you there.
Might be handstands, might be overhead press or both.
Instead of picking oneverf the other learn about both.
If you want specific results you need specific training, and if you want to be specific you need to be educated in what youre doing.
Pick the one you enjoy, work hard at it, and no matter what the benefits or drawbacks of either, YOU WILL BE BETTER THAN 99% OF OTHER PEOPLE. Only like doing calisthenics? Cool. Only like weights? THat's cool, too. Like to mix them up? Awesome. No matter what you pick, if you stick with it, you will be stronger than most other people. More important, you will be 10x better than you were when you started.
💯
Facts
"Keep the system moving" - Jocko
This is what I tell all MSK patients that come to my clinics.
Resistance is resistance. Now on which one is more difficult.... try doing a one arm pushup for a set vs bench press or try to do hand stand pushups instead of sh press
I like doing both, for merits of each.
Weights for building maximal strength & hypertrophy using squats, deadlifts, overhead pressing, etc.
Basic calisthenics for improving relative strength, endurance, body composition etc. using chin ups, pull ups, push ups, dips, all using added weights, and HSPU with bodyweight only.
I also do some basic mobility & stretches every day.
I like the end phrase what my body prescribes me it sum up the video perfectly
me too
Swimming is great for fitness. I find it the most challenging.
Try bjj if you never did
Yawn
lol u haven’t tried wrestling
anthony ruzic I’ve tried both and they are both respectable, but swimming is super hard, especially since you can’t breath. Wrestling however is harder on your body physically ie mat burns etc
I know my friends in high school that wrestled were super fit.
I'm the same way. I think both are great and they both have positives and negatives. I mean, it's all down to the person. It depends on what results and/or physicality the person wants out of their own body.
Weighted Calisthenics for the upper body and squat, deads, lunges, and nordic curls for lower
So accurate, it all depends on what your goal is.
More muscle means more energy expenditure, which leads to fatigue faster.
Inversely, you wont be able to do that heavy lifting.
I would argue that in general for most people that are not good a working out, starting with calisthenics are the better solution.
Then transitioning into using weights when they starting to feel the need that extra umpf, or they just want to build some mass.
Just remember that rest and sleep is just as important as training and nutrition is.
All things in moderation :)
Weighted Calisthenics (Relative strength and natural more functional movements) and Weight Lifting (Absolute strength and to train certain specific muscles and find overload easier in both primary and secondary exercises)
Both will make you more explosive, muscular, stronger with your weight and with extra weight and at the same time develop smaller muscles to improve balance coordination and make you a highly functional athlete.
My personal opinion on calisthenics vs weights is that neither are better because they both have their own benefits. Calisthenics improve functional strength and body control. Weights just improve strength overall especially for lifting and power but they both are good for flexibility. I’d recommend both with some cardio in your workout too!
No such thing as "functional" strength. You are enough strong enough to complete the task or you are too weak for the task.
Calisthenics is great for body control and functional strength in the sense that you're doing more natural movements that also have a great carryover to almost any kind of strength demanding sport or activity
Weights on the other hand are better for muscle growth as they are more specific movements easier to overload and you can train certain specific muscles that are very hard to target with Calisthenics. It'll also give you more absolute strength which can also be very functional (the ability to lift external weight)
I find Weighted Calisthenics and Weight Lifting combo the best. Basic to intermediate Calisthenics exercises with weight (Pull Ups, Dips, Push Ups, Squats, L Bar Rows, Pike/Hanstand Wall Push Ups, Lunges, etc)
Cardio, calestinics, and weights are all great. Whichever one is better for you depends on what you're trying to accomplish. An example would be that if you're planning to run a marathon, you'll obviously work on your cardio and not the others or at least not work on the others as much.
You both did pretty good job t looking at the script on looking up at the camera. Almost seemed authentic.
”Do both.” were my thoughts before watching.
I'm transitioning from weights to calisthenics and it's been really hard. But honestly i have never felt better.
I'm a beginner-intermediate and calisthenics are working really well for me.saving me money and extra time for a gym membership.i can do pushups, burpees mountain climbers etc.anywhere!! Also I just like to climb,jump and work extra on my walks around my town.I'm more of a runner and calisthenics is a 'free" way to build and maintain some strength while maintaining my mobility and flexibility without the feeling of liability to a gym or expensive weight sets.Of course I've purchased dumbbell and weight plates and I'll stick thosein my backpack for extra weight on my walks to work.
I haven't thought about calisthenics in 2 years, now my country decides to do corona pasports for gyms (been working out for a solid 2,5 years) so now I'm considering to do calisthenics again. Gotta bring out the weight vest again...
AND THIS VIDEO POPS UP IN MY RECOMMENDED.
Both, Train the body in every functional way.
I like Jocko.
Did weights for 4 years, and only ran when it was time for the next PT test. After a long stint of just lifting weights I tried to run and it was harder than it used to be. I then decided to forego weights and just focus on my run year round. I have a hard time balancing weights/cardio, but like the other Navy Seal said, gotta train for what you want your body to do (pass PT tests ha).
Only feasible after getting out of your contract.
Thanks for this!
Yeah I always do my handstand pushups in the morning lol
The crossfit games ignore form. Crossfit itself is fine but the people that practice it by and large dont know how to do the exercises correctly and thats why you get poeple thinking they’ve beaten the pullup world record because they discovered kipping.
No one that does crossfit will say kipping pull ups are the same as normal pull ups. I believe David Goggins is still the record holder for most pull ups in a day, and he did it strict. Kipping pull ups are gymnastic/crossfit specific so you're never gonna see out outside of it. I honestly would rather people stick to strict pullups.
Theodore Smith they are timed which leads to bad form
"Crossfit" absolutely encourages, teaches, and promotes using good form. I see you're actually not talking about proper form for legitimate concerns like snatch, C&J, etc... you're just harping on the tired arugment of "pullups aren't correct" Strict pull-ups are taught, and practiced. in the sport of Crossfit, they allow specifc variations of pullups like Kipping or "butterfly". They are sport-specific exercises.
This comment is so wrong lmao. Go look at the top level Crossfit guys/girls and tell me they have bad form. Tell me Mat Fraser has bad form, please try.
Yes there are people who do crossfit who have bad form, as there are people who do powerlifting who have bad form. You walk into any gym in the world and you will see people lifting weights with bad form.
Theodore Smith You are wrong, it’s not 2009 anymore. Nowadays high level CrossFit athletes have excellent form and even in gyms you see good form. First rule is “leave your ego at the door”. The sport has evolved. Coaches have evolved. The training methodology has evolved. Skiing in 1910 was poor form, gymnastics 70 years ago was nothing special, running was so slow. CrossFit is here since 2000 and everything has improved so much.
played football and gymnastics and track in the military karate and weight training bicycle also was a farm kid in logging country so yes I agree on endurance weights and flexibility found out from the rock soldiers what real endurance was when I was in Korea in the '80s
Bench, overhead press, squat, deadlift, dips, chin ups, rows. Add a little accessory stuff
Cody R
Pull ups
J K I like both
Do both so you’d be just as strong in the gym as you are on the bars🤷♂️
Is eating better than sleeping? Which one would you choose?
carlotapuig eating
Do both. Rings are a sick workout for upper body. And that parkour shit is insane.
Exactly I do both and it’s perfect
This guy reminds me of my wrestling coach and it’s kinda freaking me out
i want a book that is jockos weekly workout plan. i pay good money for that.
He doesn't exactly say "this is what I do on this day" but in one of his books, I can't remember which one, but it has a subtitle of "the field manual" and he maps out different workouts in that.
Train to crush skulls. Lift heavy things lots of times. The Roman's trained with swords heavier than their own. The also grappled and lifted rocks. Kill!
Did they do calisthenics?
he hit the nail on the head in the first minute
I guess what it comes down to with this question, which unfortunately Jocko doesn’t really talk about here is what your own personal fitness goals are. Depending on what your own personal fitness goals are, calisthenics OR weights can be better OR worse if it is compatible (or not compatible) to your personal fitness goals.
Based on Jocko’s sharing of his experience here, it seems like Jocko’s goals is to be more well rounded (i.e: being above average in both weights and calisthenics), hence as he says, he’s not going to be winning weightlifting meets, and he’s not going to be winning gymnastics competitions. But not everyone is going to have the same goals as him.
For martial arts though such as BJJ, it would seem to be that calisthenics; or more specifically, the type of strength you gain from bodyweight exercises has more transferability than weights. Not to say that weights cannot help you in your martial arts (if anything it helps alot with explosiveness), but there is a limit to how much weights can help you in your martial arts. For example, you do not need to win weightlifting meets to have sufficient explosiveness when you do bjj; being intermediate level in your barbell strength would be more than enough for bjj. Once you’ve past a certain level of excellence with weights if you want to continue to progress you will have to choose between the two (i.e: weights vs martial arts/bjj) the one you want to focus on excelling at and be content about the other one being secondary.
Contrast that with bodyweight exercises, if you have the muscular strength to do a clean one arm pullup or a clean one legged pistol squat, everything else equal you’ll have an edge over your opponents who are unable to do that.
But if you want to be efficient and comfortable in walking around carrying or wearing heavy stuff (e.g: heavy equipment) like what alot of military guys do in their line of work, weights (particularly the barbell) would seem to have more transferability.
So again, comes down to what you want out of your training.
Brother I have herniated disc I’m done with squats and deadlifts 😓.
But that's exactly what he's saying. Your body's telling you "no more" to those but that means there's other things you can do instead
I have herniated disc too.. Im 25y old.. You can do alot of other exercises that dont damage your back like walking lunges.. It is better than squats in my opinion
@@Spladoinkal many excerises are injury inducing look at the weoghted dips one of the best excerises but many people experience pain from it
@@unnaturalatrophy8073 Agreed
I’m 15 and it seems like you need to wait a few hours after eating and use a balance of both
Niceeee!! Figuring out what works best for you is key!
I’m 17. Idgaf
People who say you can't build much strength with calisthenics probably can't do many proper, controlled, regular pushups. I am trying to mix both into my routines. Still need to figure out how
Who would you rather go into battle with? A jacked bodybuilder or a calisthenics/ cardio guy?
Wats ur opinion on dogs? Are their mood enhancing abilities worth the everyday maintenance and resources?
What
John Sharkey Psychopath.
BIG COUNTRY209 he’s asking whether having a dog is worth it.
Calisthenics gives you more useful strength overall I think. Also good mobility. I was a gymnast so that’s just what I thought.
yes but in calisthenics by definition tou seek to make your body beautiful, that's the same in weight lifting. the separation is stupid for sure.
@@lelieutenant7386 Incorrect, training for aesthetics is only one of the many reasons people lift. Weightlifting, powerlifting, strongman, crossfitt, calisthentics ect.. is all about performance in various aspects and *not* trying to make your body beautiful as opposed to bodybuilding for example which is.
"useful" strength lmao. What's usefull is being able to lift heavy things off the ground and over your head = weight lifting. Calisthenics gives you more useless* strength
I'm not nearly as badass as I wish I could be. When can drive hope from what I'm doing by listening to, as jocko describes it, "what my body prescribes" than I'm dignified. I personally have to start with calisthenics, from there I'll add weight. Or I will weight train to work up to a calisthenics exercise.
I value the explosiveness that derives from proper weight training and calisthenics combined.
I was fortunate running into a former SEAL in my gym. He saw I was putting in the time but not getting anywhere. So he corrected my bad habits. I now correct assumptions that I look like a SEAL after a few have seen my workouts. Im now under 60, but weight 270 with perfect strength balance. Periodically, other gym members see me go through 1000 burpees, or treadmill a half marathon. I learned all the components as a personal trainer, much like going through "medical school". Now, I totally understand the science and the art of fitness but with a much higher bar of standards.
Mixing both is the way to go. You don't even have to lift really heavy, just do high reps and keep consistent
save you some time: Both
Outstanding
There are levels to calisthenics, there are levels to weight lifting, there is overlap at the start but they diverge the more you go up through levels. A power lifter won't be able to do plank pushups on the rings, and a gymnast won't be able to lift 500 lbs, but they're both crazy strong. I prefer the aesthetics and full body engagement of calisthenics but that won't get you 'big' just crazy strong for your size.
YOUR MUSCLE CAN'T SEE WHAT YOU ARE LIFTING
Your core, CNS, ligaments and joints can.
my snatch is pretty heavy. a little dirty though
Patrick Wedow hehe
Hehe
What's the difference between having strength and being strong
Jocko heals how most people go balls out.
Since when does Jocko quit doing something just because it hurts
If something causes injury and slows greater progression then he would stop. Why do something that can slow down gains vs something that gives same benefits but less injury and faster results?
Calisthenics all the way.
Right. Real calisthenics is weight training.
@@kylehuggins179 yes off course. Body weight training
Id like to hear some diet advice from him
If ur hurt do regresseions. If u cant do handsdtands then do pike or cobra push ups
He's rationalizing.
It's quite difficult to injure yourself in calisthenics (pushups, pullups and so forth.) It's easier with weights. It can be MUCH easier, especially if you don't properly balance out your muscle development.
I would advise anyone to first build a calisthenics base for muscular development, then add weights in a very carefully studied and balanced fashion, emphasizing reps over weight.
Before highschool i would do lots and lots of push ups and pull ups. Soon as I benched my freshmen year I was ahead of everyone in my class by a fair amount
That advice only works for people who are thin enough to be able to productively train calisthenics. For plenty of people, it takes years to be able to reach such a lean body fat percentage, and research shows resistance training is useful for dieting down and staying there. Meaning that for large segments of the population, your advice is simply not feasible. 90-95% of diets fail (as in people bounce back), and building lean body mass with weights to begin with is an excellent way to make diets stick.
For the fatty who's just starting out, I'd prescribe compound weightlifting movements in addition to some cardio. Calisthenics would just be an excellent way to destroy compliance in a setting where compliance is the most important thing they need.
It depends how overweight someone is... the obese can get a hard enough workout simply by walking around more often.
I don't think "diets" are the answer so much as learning about better eating habits in general, which is why most diets fail.
Where I disagree is that somehow *only* thin people can do calisthenics...
Every single calisthenics exercise can be regressed to become very easy... it's not as if there is only one standard version of a calisthenics exercise that is valid and productive.
That would be like saying weight training only works for strong people, because a weak person can't bench press 400 lbs.
That idea would be nonsense, since a weak person would of course start off with bench pressing a lighter weight then build up from there over time...
It's the exact same with calisthenics.... you start with a simpler version of an exercise where you are only lifting a small percentage of your bodyweight, then progress to lifting more of your weight (by modifying the exercise) over time.
While you could theoretically lose body fat with diet and stay in great shape by building muscle through weight training and cardio, I tend to favor calisthenics as a better choice for long-term weight maintenance.
The reason is that becoming better in calisthenics and increasing your performance over time *requires* one to maintain a very lean shape... you simply cannot get better at moving yourself through space without likewise keeping your body fat level in tight check.
In contrast to lifting weights, where you could get really strong and increase your performance to no end while *increasing* your body fat percentage.. meaning that one does not impede the other from happening.
Of course if you lift weights, you could do cardio work and reduce your calories... but understand these things are not related to the goal of lifting heavier weights and becoming stronger.
But with calisthenics, getting stronger and more efficient at moving your own body directly relies on maintaining a certain lean shape... otherwise, no progress can even take place at all.
@@davepazz580 All of this sounds good, but in my experience fatties actually enjoy lifting weights much more in practice than callisthenics because they're actually pretty good at it.
A normal fat person will for instance often destroy callisthenics people at back squats without much effort. Which is awesome for them, while it might take years to even do simple things like a single dip or chin-up.
I like using both like Jocko says, but for some reason callisthenics people, who are already typically naturally skinny to begin with, are dogmatic about getting other people to exclusively do an exercise form which will suit their naturally chubby body less without caring about what other people actually enjoy.
Don't misunderstand... I'm definitely not saying everyone should do the same form of exercise out of some dogmatic obligation.
I'm one that believes the best exercise is the one you personally enjoy doing the most, the one which gives you so much pleasure to do that you actually look forward to training.
As long as you have achieved that, it really doesn't matter if you are doing only calisthenics or only weight training exclusively... people tend to make too much of the "doing both" concept (which I don't believe to be fully possible anyway, but I digress), it's all just training in the end and in the long run, it's not going to make much difference anyway.
Though I'm not sure I can go along with the idea that people who do/enjoy calisthenics were "naturally skinny" to start with and somehow that's why they gravitated towards it.
That would be like saying that accomplished weight trainers who can bench press 400 lbs. were naturally big to begin with and that's why they started lifting weights in the first place...
Ignoring all the underweight, skinny guys who eventually increased their calories and got strong enough to push the same weight loads over time.
But I agree that an overweight person could back squat a much heavier load right away over someone who does calisthenics only... because all that excess weight serves to better leverage heavier loads.
Which goes back to my previous point... if your primary goal is losing body fat and keeping your weight in check, there is nothing inherent in the act of lifting heavier and heavier weights in and of itself that will move you in a leaner direction.
But in calisthenics, it's really mandatory...
Interesting. I've lifted weights for 15 years and mixed in calisthenics for two. I've had more minor injuries with weight training, but injuries from calisthenics were way more serious and took longer to recover from.
Edit: both are fantastic though. Don't let that scare anyone off considering doing either. Better to live with a few injuries and be a freaking ninja than a lazy ass.
Calisthenics could be better, but it seems alot harder man. The only calisthenic related workout I always like to do are push ups with different variations or weighted push ups, and I dont do any bench presses. The weight training I enjoy alot are deadlifts
Both absolutely, but if we had to press the issue: calisthenics are critical while weights are just very good. In other words, I would say weights can be suspended in favor of just pull ups and push ups if necessary for the sake of slightly easier workouts (rest), lack of equipment, etc.
He likes em ”boff”
Pretty sure his muscles said that lol
Relying on calisthenics alone is extremely self-limiting. Body weight stuff helps complete workouts but it should not be the main dish but rather the dessert.
I see where you’re coming from but you can definitely get a hard workout in with just high repetition with only body weight and their tons of variety to it as long as your pushing over ur limits you can see good gains 4 sure
@@basicchriss6974 I don't disagree with you. I'm just saying that if you want to have the best possible body that's genetically available to you you are selling yourself short if you avoid weights. Most guys want to look like natural bodybuilders and it's extremely frustrating to grind for years only to have the same nagging gaps in your physique keep you from reaching your best look and doing simplified powerlifting workouts or religiously sticking to calisthenics can help waste years of your life in that sense. You also have to consider that as we get older we accumulate wear, tear and injuries and some body weight exercises are just too intense relative to the gain to do anymore like pull-ups for example. When you use free weights and machines you can pinpoint the needed resistance down to half a pound and go straight to the muscle instead of putting useless and distracting burden on your joints as is required in some bodyweight exercises. If you are naturally lean and masculine looking you might luck out and have a nice body with body weight only but you'll never reach your peak that way. Any guy that starts out with average genetics or worse is simply doing himself a disservice by avoiding weights because he might never look even 'nice' by doing that. Body weight stuff is most useful for young, short guys with zero injuries.
@@miesvaillanykyisyytta3252 well tbh if your goal isn’t aesthetics and more strength and stamina focus the only weights you should really do are deadlifts, farmers walks, and maybe split squats. Everything else can be body weight for high reps(push ups, pull ups, air squats, sprints).
I'm not ashamed to say that I have a pretty bad genetics but my goal is having a bigger body and I only do calisthenics. Is it because of my choice? No, I don't have the money to get a gym membership nor do I can afford a heavy weights. It's is out of my control and I can't do nothing about it until I have enough money. I do and improve what I can by buying some extra equipment and hopefully, gets a better financial life. Btw, from my experience, high volume calisthenics is very effective for hypertrophy. Try it.
@@miesvaillanykyisyytta3252 I use resistance bands and weights (on my back etc using a backpack) and I'm great with just using calisthenics
Jocko tones it down to the point you struggle
Basic calisthenics are natural movements. Like push/pull ups, dips and squats. However the advanced stuff like levers and planches are not natural at all and they put your body at a very high risk of injury cause they induce lots of longer strain for your tendons. Biceps tendon is a very good example for that.