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Overcoming
Gravity
A Systematic Approach
to Gymnastics and
Bodyweight Strength
Overcoming Gravity
A Systematic Approach to Gymnastics
and Bodyweight Strength
by Steven Low
Illustrations by Valentin Uzunov
Copyright © 2011 Steven Low
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 1467933120
ISBN-13: 978-1467933124
DEDICATION
This book is dedicated to everyone who loves training bodyweight skills and to those who have
pioneered the extraordinary capacity of human movement
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Many thanks to...
Chris Salvato for the motivation to write the book, and for co-founding eatmoveimprove.com with me
to put out quality health, fitness, and injuries articles. Also, for writing most of chapter 3 and other editing.
Valentin Uzunov for the all of the illustrations for the exercise section and the cover.
KC Parsons for editing and obtaining photographs and images.
Nick Parente, Sharon, Justine and Emily for assisting with photographs and/or images.
The contributions of Christopher Sommer & Ido Portal to the gymnastics & bodyweight community.
DISCLAIMER
By using Overcoming Gravity: A Systematic Approach to Gymnastics and Bodyweight Strength
(hereafter as referred to the "Book"), you (hereafter referred to as the "User") signify your agreement to
these Terms and Conditions. If you do not agree to all of these Terms and Conditions of use, do not use
the Book!
The use of the Book and suggested workouts, exercise routines, nutritional suggestions, or other
suggestions is at your own risk. In no event shall the Book, its author, editors, illustrators, its suppliers, or
any third parties mentioned in the Book be liable for any damages in the future including, but not limited
to, heart attacks, muscle strains, pulls to tears, neck, back, shoulder, elbow, wrist, hand, finger, and/or hip
injuries, and other illness/disease, or injury/damage (mental, physical, financial), however caused,
occurring during or after altering any personal nutritional/fitness/lifestyle habits or actions. The Book and
author do not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of content
available in the Book. User understands that any and all advice/programs concerning exercise not done
under supervision of a qualified trainer and nutrition is for educational purposes only. User understands
nutritional advice is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
User has been advised to seek medical advice from a physician before altering their nutritional daily diet
or beginning an exercise program.
CONTENTS
Introduction
Part 1 - How to construct your workout routine ... ... 1
Chapter 1: Laying the foundation ... ... 3
- Decreased leverage is the key to bodyweight strength ... ... 3
- Open and closed kinetic chain exercises ... ... 5
- Chapter 1 summary ... ... 7
Chapter 2: The basics of the physiology of strength ... ... 9
- The repetition continuum ... ... 9
- Muscle fiber types ... ... 11
- Motor units and the central nervous system ... ... 11
- Neural increases in strength ... ... 12
- The role of the central nervous system ... ... 14
- Other tidbits ... ... 14
- Hypertrophy ... ... 16
- Chapter 2 summary ... ... 18
Chapter 3: Setting and achieving goals ... ... 19
- Selecting goals ... ... 19
- Commitment to achievement ... ... 21
- Chapter 3 summary ... ... 23
Chapter 4: Maintaining structural balance ... ... 25
- Looking out for our shoulder health ... ... 25
- The simple method of maintaining structural balance ... ... 26
- The complex methods of exercise selection ... ... 27
- The why of structural balance ... ... 30
- Chapter 4 summary ... ... 32
Chapter 5: Skill and strength progression charts ... ... 33
- How to use the charts ... ... 33
- Competency level in skill and strength progressions ... ... 35
- Categorizing competency into levels ... ... 36
- Recommendations for training ... ... 37
- Chapter 5 summary ... ... 40
- Charts ... ... 41
Chapter 6: The basic hierarchy of a routine ... ... 45
- Warm up and skill development ... ... 47
- The core of the workout ... ... 49
- Prehabilitation, mobility, and flexibility ... ... 50
- Chapter 6 summary ... ... 53
Chapter 7: Structuring the routine ... ... 55
- Full body routines versus splits ... ... 55
- Compounds versus isometrics ... ... 56
- Goals and exercise selection ... ... 57
- Selecting exercises ... ... 58
- Exercise order ... ... 59
- Consolidation of exercises into a routine ... ... 60
- Chapter 7 summary ... ... 62
Chapter 8: Programming ... ... 64
- Intra-workout programming and linear progression ... ... 64
- Stress, adaptation, supercompensation, fitness, and fatigue ... ... 65
- Basic periodization and inter-workout structure ... ... 67
- Types of exercises ... ... 68
- Repetitions and Sets ... ... 70
- Regular range of motion exercises ... ... 71
- Isometrics ... ... 74
- Eccentrics ... ... 75
- Repetitions conclusions ... ... 76
- Rest times per set and intra-workout structure ... ... 78
- General strength and isometrics ... ... 79
- Routines ... ... 81
- Grease the groove ... ... 82
- Core work ... ... 83
- Termination of workouts ... ... 84
- Chapter 8 summary ... ... 86
Chapter 9: Programming and advancing ... ... 87
- Intra-mesocycle factors ... ... 88
- Novice level ... ... 88
- Linear Progression and weekly scheduling ... ... 89
- Types of exercises and recommendations ... ... 90
- Ending a cycle ... ... 90
- Intermediate level ... ... 91
- Weekly scheduling ... ... 91
- Splits ... ... 92
- Types of exercises and recommendations ... ... 94
- Ending a cycle ... ... 94
- Advanced level ... ... 96
- Weekly scheduling ... ... 96
- Types of exercises and recommendations ... ... 100
- Routines ... ... 101
- Ending a cycle ... ... 102
- Inter-mesocycle factors ... ... 103
- Deloading ... ... 103
- Maximal strength testing ... ... 104
- Workout restructuring ... ... 104
- Elite strength ... ... 106
- Additional considerations regarding programming ... ... 107
- Chapter 9 summary ... ... 109
Chapter 10: A brief look at overreaching and overtraining ... ... 111
- Overreaching ... ... 111
- Overtraining ... ... 112
- Chapter 10 summary ... ... 114
Chapter 11: Cross training and cardio ... ... 115
- Cross training ... ... 115
- Parkour and other sports ... ... 116
- Cardio ... ... 118
- Chapter 11 summary ... ... 122
Part II - Management of Health and Injuries ... ... 123
Chapter 12: The facets of injuries ... ... 125
- Addressing pain and soreness ... ... 125
- Guidelines for training with soreness ... ... 126
- The etiology of injury ... ... 127
- Factors that affect propensity for injuries ... ... 130
- Neurological factors ... ... 130
- Musculoskeletal factors ... ... 131
- Acute and chronic injuries ... ... 132
- Acute injuries ... ... 132
- Chronic injuries ... ... 133
- Chapter 12 summary ... ... 135
Chapter 13: General evaluation of injuries and rehabilitation approach ... ... 137
- General evaluation of injuries ... ... 137
- General recommended approach ... ... 140
- Chapter 13 summary ... ... 142
Chapter 14: Programming around injuries and general rehabilitation ... ... 143
- Intra-limb exercise ... ... 143
- Opposite limb exercise ... ... 144
- Unaffected limbs and other areas ... ... 145
- General concepts of programming for rehabilitation ... ... 146
- Setting the exercise prescription ... ... 148
- Chapter 14 summary ... ... 150
Chapter 15: Common bodyweight training injuries ... ... 151
- Tendinitis ... ... 152
- Muscle strains ... ... 161
- Tension headaches ... ... 169
- Costochondritis / tietze syndrome ... ... 170
- Thoracic-spine / scapulae / ribs ... ... 171
- The low back ... ... 172
- Impingement ... ... 177
- AC joint issues ... ... 178
- Arm radiculopathies / Radiating pain ... ... 179
- Wrist pain ... ... 183
- Cracking, popping, clicking, crunching, snapping, etc. ... ... 184
- Cramping ... ... 189
- General imbalance ... ... 190
- Chapter 15 summary ... ... 193
Chapter 16: Prehabilitation, mobility, and flexibility ... ... 195
- Prehabilitation ... ... 195
- Mobility and flexibility with injury ... ... 196
- The physical aspect of rehabilitation ... ... 197
- Gate control theory and beyond ... ... 198
- How much is too much? ... ... 199
- The psychological aspect of rehabilitation ... ... 199
- What to do? ... ... 200
- General comments on stretching and flexibility ... ... 201
- The hips ... ... 203
- The back ... ... 206
- The shoulders ... ... 209
- The elbows ... ... 215
- The wrists ... ... 216
- Chapter 16 summary ... ... 219
Chapter 17: Summation of of health and injury management ... ... 221
- Chronological treatment of injuries ... ... 221
- Exercise and injury ... ... 222
- Pain ... ... 224
- Range of motion and strength ... ... 225
- Stretching ... ... 227
- Goals and injuries ... ... 227
- Chapter 17 summary ... ... 229
Chapter 18: Lifestyle factors ... ... 231
- Sleep ... ... 231
- Nutrition ... ... 233
- Metabolic Flexibility ... ... 236
- Workout nutrition ... ... 237
- Supplementation ... ... 237
- Working out while sick ... ... 238
- Chapter 18 summary ... ... 240
Part III - Reference materials ... ... 241
Appendix A: Sample programming ... ... 243
- Introduction ... ... 243
- Warmup ... ... 244
- Skill Work ... ... 247
- Level 1 and 2 ... ... 248
- Level 3 and 4 ... ... 249
- Level 5 and 6 ... ... 252
- Level 7 and 8 ... ... 256
- Level 9 and 10 ... ... 258
- Level 11 and 12 ... ... 263
- Routines ... ... 267
- Proposed 5/3/1 for Bodyweight Exercises ... ... 269
- Prehabilitation / Mobility / Flexibility ... ... 272
- Key Tips to Remember ... ... 273
- Hierarchy of progression ... ... 273
- Conclusion ... ... 274
Appendix B: Exercise pictorial descriptions, techniques, & tips ... ... 275
- Recommended Equipment ... ... 275
Page #1 on the skill and strength progression charts ... ... 276
- Handstands ... ... 276
- Rings Handstands ... ... 288
- Handstand Pushups ... ... 292
- Rings Handstand Pushups ... ... 300
- Press ... ... 303
- Press Handstands ... ... 304
- Rings Press Handstands ... ... 311
- Straight Arm Press Handstands ... ... 322
- L-sits, Straddle-Ls, V-sits, Manna ... ... 333
Page #2 on the skill and strength progression charts ... ... 344
- Back Lever ... ... 344
- Front Lever ... ... 354
- Front Lever Pullups ... ... 362
- Rowing ... ... 369
- Pullups ... ... 374
- Rings Pullups + One Arm Chinups ... ... 379
- Weighted Pullups ... ... 387
- Explosive Pullups ... ... 388
- Iron Cross ... ... 399
Page #3 on the skill and strength progression charts ... ... 410
- Rings Planche ... ... 424
- Planche Pushups ... ... 431
- Rings Planche Pushups ... ... 437
- Pushups ... ... 439
- One Arm Pushups ... ... 452
- Dips ... ... 457
- Ring Dips ... ... 463
- Weighted Dips ... ... 471
Page #4 on the skill and strength progression charts ... ... 472
- Muscle Ups + Inverted Muscle Ups ... ... 472
- Elbow Levers ... ... 487
- Flags ... ... 491
- Ab Wheel ... ... 493
- Rings Full Statics ... ... 496
- Rings Kipping Skills ... ... 499
- Rings Felge Skills (Forward and Backward Rolls) ... ... 509
- Miscellaneous exercises. ... ... 518
- Extra Charts ... ... 520
- Concentrics, Isometrics, Eccentrics charts ... ... 528
- How to construct a workout routine in one page ... ... 529
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