And by Globo Gym, I most likely am referring to 24 Hour Fitness, City Sports Club, or any other big box gym you can think of. Why the sudden outrage? Well, a few months ago, I already wrote about the sad state of calisthenics parks in our area, and likely around the country.

I was quite disappointed that my favorite calisthenics park finally succumbed to neglect by the city, but I was soon happy to find on Google Maps that there was an alternative not too far away.

Unfortunately, I'd never really had the time to check it out, but today was the fateful day I was finally able to go, only to see...

Darn Globo Gym! You can't tell from the photo, but there are still fresh holes in the ground from where the pillars used to stand.

Why direct my frustration at big box gyms, you ask? Well, the answer is simple. It is no coincidence that the time when gym chains started to proliferate exactly coincides with when these "parcourse" parks no longer became a priority. It's up to individuals like us to keep them alive before they are all gone forever!

The worst thing is that unlike the previous one, which was made out of wood, this one was entirely metal, so there was absolutely no way that it was crumbling. Oh well, fortunately, the kids area was relatively empty, and so I was able to make the most of it. Muscle ups on the swing anyone?

And by "TUT," we are not referring to good old King Tutankhaman, nor the dance moves that are named after him, but in this instance, it stands for "Time Under Tension." When it comes to calisthenics, in order to build muscle, it's not about how many reps you can bang out in a row, nor the amount of weight pushed or pressed, but rather, as the name suggests, how much time you put your muscles under pressure, or tension.

See how the gymnasts do long sets on the rings, parallel bars, and pommel horse? That is what is referred to as time under tension, and is the very thing that allows them to create such massive musculature. Doing a 100+ push ups every day, while an impressive feat in its own right, will not give you that long sought after shredded physique. As a matter of fact, despite the fact that your strength and endurance may have gone through the roof, your body may not look much different at all.

As demonstrated by the gymnasts, time under tension is accomplished by performing long, drawn out, continuous sets with multiple movements. For example, on the bars, you can start with muscle ups, then move onto front levers, back levers, ice cream makers, pull ups, etc. all back-to-back, nonstop. Basically, you just keep going until you get gassed. The same can be done on the floor, with varying positions of push ups, handstands, planche (or planche progressions), etc. Just remember to do each rep in a slow and controlled motion. The idea is not to do as many as you can, as fast as you can, but to be able to feel the tension on your muscles for the entire duration.

For an example of "TUT" in action, check out this video. It's one of our favorites.  ;-)

Happy training!

 

Not too long ago, I wrote an article about the pathetic state of calisthenics parks aka parcourse in the area. Well, no need to worry about that anymore. I was going about my morning routine the other day when I was rudely greeted by this.

The weird thing was that I was just at this park a few weeks ago filming my promotional video for MEELectronics. *Please vote for us by "Liking" the video on YouTube!*

I can't help but think that perhaps it was I who contributed to the demise of the park with my moves. Then again, I was merely doing what the equipment should have been intended for... had it actually been maintained properly. Good thing I wasn't actually working my magic when it collapsed! Then again, I could have sued the city for millions! Darn... missed opportunities are the story of my life.

To top if off, I got accosted by a homeless dude for infringing on his territory. The local parks and recreation will be receiving an e-mail shortly.

Well, as you all know, I've just returned from spending some vacation time in good old NYC, the epicentre for the calisthenics movement. The best thing about it is that despite pigging out on all the delectable foods in one of the greatest cities in the world, I came back home looking more lean than I've been in awhile, and even lost a few pounds! How did this happen? Three simple rules that can be applied whenever you are on vacation or at home: 

1. Skipping breakfast. "Breaking the Fast" of course can happen any time of the day, but in this sense, I am referring to the popular usage of eating first thing when you wake up. Seriously, if you are not hungry in the morning, there is no need to force yourself. Periods of daily fasting are known to aid in fat loss. This also limits the chance that you will overeat during the course of the day, since you will not be able to collectively stuff as much in two meals as you would in three. Ideally, you would keep the consumption window at around 8 hours or less if you can. So, if you first break the fast around 1 pm, your last intake of the day should occur no later than 9 pm. Easily attainable.

2. Calisthenics workouts indoors and at the local park right after waking up. Empty stomach workouts are another great way to stimulate that fat burning furnace. Don't worry if you aren't able to do nearly as much as you  normally would at home. When on vacation, all you can really ask for is maintenance, as opposed to actually building new muscle. All I basically did each morning was 3 to 4 total sets of 4 minute Tabata sessions or supersetting alternating upper and lower body exercises (for either 4 minutes or 10 mini-sets apiece, whichever comes first). Total elapsed time = 12 to 16 mins!

3. TONS of WALKING, here, there, and everywhere. NYC is one of the few cities where you can get away without having a car, but this can be easily emulated wherever you live as well. All you need is about 30 minutes of brisk walking per day. Anything extra... you're playing with house money!

And there you have it! This simple plan is certainly more than achievable when on vacation. In the end, you will enjoy your trip much more than you would have otherwise, with ZERO guilt! And as mentioned before, there is no reason why you can't also try this at home!

Just a tiny bit of this above, and you can have all of THIS below and even LOSE WEIGHT!

Lali's Dominicano Beef Stew with Rice and Beans

New York Pizza with the works at John's Pizzeria

Shake Shack... better than In-n-Out?

Taisho Yakitori (Japanese food that is not sushi)

Well, it's about that time of year when the kids are all back in school! What does that mean for us exercise enthusiasts? The parks and playgrounds are all free! Join me as I partake in a quick workout at the local park, one of many more to come as I kick off the new season!

Now that I've reposted all of my old blog entries, I thought I'd acquaint you (or reacquaint if you have been following me for awhile) to some of my YouTube videos over the years. As my philosophy states, there is nothing but pure calisthenics here. All you need to train your body to maximum fitness and strength... is the body itself. Check out the videos below to see how! Of course, always be safe, and don't try anything beyond your ability level.

Many more are in the pipeline, so keep posted! In the meantime, please enjoy these I have arranged for you. Also, don't forget to subscribe on YouTube if you haven't done so already! Have a nice workout!

The Local Bar is My Gym - All you need is a pull up bar for the best upper body workout you can ask for.

Office Workout - No time for the gym after work? Why... you're already there!

"Thug Workout" at the Local Park - A thug in name only! Based on the popular street style workouts, this is one of my earlier works.

"Thug Workout" Redux - At long last, an amendment to my popular first edition.

Push Up Variations - Tired of the same old, boring push up routine? Try some of these to switch things up!

Stay tuned for more on my YouTube!