{"id":7595,"date":"2020-11-17T17:18:35","date_gmt":"2020-11-17T17:18:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/calisthenicsnerd.osmiumweb.com\/what-is-calisthenics\/"},"modified":"2026-03-12T08:08:37","modified_gmt":"2026-03-12T08:08:37","slug":"what-is-calisthenics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/athenscalisthenicscenter.gr\/en\/what-is-calisthenics\/","title":{"rendered":"What is Calisthenics"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n

Calisthenics<\/a><\/strong> (or callisthenics) is a form of exercise consisting of a variety of movements such as the planche<\/a>, front lever<\/a> and back lever<\/a>, that are often performed rhythmically with minimal equipment, as bodyweight exercises<\/strong>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

They are intended to increase strength, fitness, and flexibility using one’s body weight for resistance.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Calisthenics<\/strong> can provide the benefits of muscular and aerobic conditioning, in addition to improving psychomotor skills such as balance, agility, and coordination.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

There is no age, gendre, weight or height limit for this practise. It can take place anywhere, by anyone and it is completely free!!<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Calisthenics<\/strong> is a way to discover and manifest the true potential and beauty of the human body.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

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“It is a shame for a man to grow old without seeing the beauty and strength of which his body is capable<\/strong>.”<\/p>\r\n–Socrates<\/em><\/strong><\/cite><\/blockquote>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Ancient Greece<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Greeks were using Calisthenics <\/strong>in order to prepare their body and mind for battle and athletic competitions .<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\"spartan<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

If you were a soldier in training during the reign of the Spartans<\/strong> between 600 and 400 B.C., Calisthenics<\/strong> would have been a regular part of your workout regimen.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Young men being groomed for this elite army mastered the discus, javelin, wrestling, boxing, and other combat sports. And that\u2019s where the history of Calisthenics<\/strong> began.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n


In Herodotus, we read that Xerxes’ spies saw this sort of flow movement<\/strong> that Spartans were doing with their bodies and mistook it for dancing; seeing this as a weakness, they attacked assuming the Spartans were weak.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n


We all know how that went…<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

(QUIZ: Can you already guess where I am from?)<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n


Xerxes missed this key ingredient of Greek philosophy :<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

“The body and soul are tied together.”<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n


These hardened warriors had been spending a great part of their lives practicing the blending of \u201cbeauty\u201d and \u201cstrength\u201d – Calisthenics<\/strong>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

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The name Calisthenics comes from the ancient Greek\u00a0words\u00a0“\u03ba\u1fb0\u0301\u03bb\u03bb\u03bf\u03c2\u00a0\u2022\u00a0(k\u00e1llos)<\/a>” which means beauty and “\u03c3\u03b8\u03ad\u03bd\u03bf\u03c2\u00a0\u2022\u00a0(sth\u00e9nos)<\/a>” which means strength (physical and mental).<\/p>\r\n<\/blockquote>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n


K\u00e1llos and sth\u00e9nos by beautiful and strong people.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The two were not disconnected but instead, \u00a0were understood to go hand-in-hand.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Even amongst some of the fiercest warriors in history, we meet a consistency of respect for the balance, control and softer aspect of movement<\/strong>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

China<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

In 527 B.C., Shaolin Monks<\/strong> in China were dedicated to protect their monasteries from robbers and looters.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Instead of searching for a peaceful solution, these monks used Calisthenics<\/strong> to develop their ability to ward intruders.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

They used bodyweight exercises<\/strong> to develop remarkable strength and speed.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

This allowed them to deliver punishing blows to the enemy, move with lightning speed and elude any aggressor trying to capture them.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\"shaolin<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Modern days<\/span><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Today bodyweight workout<\/strong> is still an integral part of modern sports training, armed forces and martial arts.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Also, as a result of the ongoing health issues that the world is facing, more and more people are turning to Calisthenics as an alternative way of training which is safer, cheeper <\/strong>and much more flexible<\/strong>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Calisthenics is free and can be done anywhere by anyone.<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n
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