Body building vs calisthenics

[Vickeree]

What do you think about those videos in YouTube pitting a bodybuilder against a calisthenic guy? Who is the better athlete?

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[KaiGold]

What do you think about those videos in YouTube pitting a bodybuilder against a calisthenic guy? Who is the better athlete?

What is your definition of better? In terms of business overall health I would give it to the calisthenics guy.

[coolyfrost]

I think that both calisthenics and body building are legitimate ways to gain muscle. Calisthenics will only get you so far without the added weight however, whilst with body building you can build your body to much higher levels than your body can supposedly use by just training with your body mass. I think just the fact that someone is training with weights is good enough.

[Lewriter]

What do you think about those videos in YouTube pitting a bodybuilder against a calisthenic guy? Who is the better athlete?

Well dear Vickeree, I'll say it would be the bodybuilder, but -obviously- I have a big bias because this is what I practice. Maybe if I were to practice calisthenics with a passion for some years my perception could change.

Right now I can tell you that this is one of the most complete sports in my opinion. While there are real disasters in terms of disproportion with practitioners of some sports because of their inherent repetitive use of the arms, back and generally the upper body (or conversely, the lower body is disproportionately used instead), in bodybuilding all the muscles get to be used in the natural course of your training, something which on itself is already very advantageous from my point of view.

The results from moderate bodybuilding being a more harmonious body than in a plethora of other more-specialized sports.

[Fortachon]

Well, I really felt attracted to this thread so here's my opinion.


I used to be a skinny guy one year and a half ago, I was really depressed because I somehow wanted to get buffed, but I did not really want to go to a GYM, I basically was afraid of doing so, however, one day I just decided to go to a local GYM that is close to my residence, the point is that I paid the subscription and everything was fine, eventually, I spent six months working out really hard and I basically looked the same as before I started the GYM, it definitely did not help me at all, some months later a friend of mine invited me to a park where some guys attended to for practicing calisthenics and stuff, I was kinda interested because the sport is absolutely attracting, so I started working out with the bars, then after four months my whole body had completely changed, I was somebody different, I will not say that I became super muscular, but it was a really big change for me, there's where I realized that Calisthenics is way better than the GYM, it might depend on the person, but I think it was better for me.

[Hades_leae]

I have seen so many of those competitions. I can't say that I think they are relevant at all, but just for entertainment. Every time I watch one, it's always the body builder who does better.

There was this one calisthenics guy who had the biggest ego, well all of those guys for that matter, and the body builder always won at every weigh lifting challenge because they use weights, and not just their bodies. There was one man who was all about the upper body, and he was able to do lots of muscle ups, and swore he could be the body builder who was able to dead lift more than 600 pounds, do pull ups with 3 - 45 pounds plates, bench more than 500 pounds, and much more.

They were trying to see who had the most stamina while repping certain weights or doing things like who can hold 400 pounds the longest "strongest grip", it was always the body builder. Entertaining though.

[Fortachon]

Calisthenics could not be compared to bodybuilding, we do not use any kind of weight when training, not either special equipment, we only use gloves to prevent the damage in our hands, other than that, it's a full body work, therefore, the bodybuilders are partially stronger when it comes to weight lifting, but most of them can't lift their own weight.

[Clair02]

I have to give it to the calisthenics guy, too. I think it all depends on your main goals in the end, and that will determine whether calisthenics or body building is best for you. They both have their advantages and it all comes down to a matter of personal preference in my opinion.