Today you are going to learn EXACTLY how you can start your calisthenics training as a beginner.
This calisthenics workout plan has been used successfully by 1000+ people from around the world.
Here is what you will get:
- Effective routines to build muscle and burn fat.
- Life lessons to become the best version of yourself.
- And the best possible start as a calisthenics beginner.
This workout plan will give you a complete breakdown.
You can begin your calisthenics training TODAY!
Contents
Chapter 1:
What Is Calisthenics Workout?
If you want to know what calisthenics is about, you need to know what it means first.
When you do know, you will say: "That sounds obvious!".
The question is:
Where do you start?
Use the definition, history and link in this chapter to get a better idea.
Calisthenics Definition
According to Wikipedia, Calisthenics (also known as 'street workout') is a form of bodyweight training.
Or more precise, it is the art of using your body weight as resistance to develop your physique.
Here is a snippet of the exact definition:
Calisthenics training uses minimal equipment and is intended to increase strength, fitness and flexibility through different exercises.
Common exercises are:
- chin ups,
- push ups,
- squats,
- dips;
- and leg raises.
The beautiful thing about calisthenics?
You can do it anywhere. Anytime.
The entire world becomes your gym. How exciting is that?
And you aren't the first one.
For example, a quick Google search shows that calisthenics has gotten quite popular:
Just look at the sharp increase from 2013 to 2014 of more than 109%:
But before you become one of those people, you need to be prepared.
Why?
Because although you only use your own body weight.
It does not mean that you cannot get injured.
In the ultimate calisthenics guide for beginners, you will find an entire chapter dedicated to:
- injuries;
- recovery from injuries;
- and prevention of injuries.
The good news?
With the tips and workout plans in this post, you should be up and running in no time.
Ready for an adventure?
The Best Calisthenics Goals
You will NEVER arrive anywhere if you don't know where you are going.
So the first question you need to ask yourself is:
"Where do I want to go?"
A quick Reddit search for example shows that a lot of beginners struggle with that question:
In fact, there are tons and tons of topics on goal setting:
So, it's clearly something you will struggle with as a beginner.
And here is the key to crush your goals THIS year:
An implementation intention.
According to the British Journal of Health and Psychology, people who use implementation intentions increase their chances of following up on a new habit by 200%.
What is it?
A simple 1 sentence statement:
I want to (WHAT), at (WHEN) in the (WHERE).
For example:
"I want to do 3 full body circuits (what), at 11:30 on Wednesdays and Fridays (when) in the garage (where)."
It's clear, either you do 3 circuits or not.
And because it's clear you are more likely to ACTUALLY do it.
Write Down 1-3 Implementation Intentions
Grab a notebook or a piece of paper and write down 1-3 implementation intentions.
Even if you change them after reading this post, you'll be practicing the skill of setting goals.
So what is the best goal for calisthenics beginners?
"A goal that states, what, where and when you are going to do what you intend to do."
That wasn't hard, right?
And take some time to notice what setting goals does to your emotions.
You feel excitement, because it SUPERCHARGES your brain.
That is...
...if it's clearly defined.
Now, it's time for the fun part.
Chapter 2:
The Requirements For Your Calisthenics Workout Plan
In this chapter you will get a list of the most common injuries...
...a link to 7 effective warming up routines that you can use to prevent those injuries.
And a basic workout plan to make sure you are ready for the coming 6 months.
So if you want to avoid getting hurt and make sure you make it to the end, this chapter is for you.
Warming Up
In the coming months, you will make some amazing progress.
Especially if you are consistent.
But what you need first, is a basic level of strength.
Warm up and use rest intelligently
To start safely, you need to be prepared and use these 7 effective routines to warm up before your training.
What do you want to focus on during your warm up?
- your wrists (18,6% of injuries);
- and shoulders (41,9% of injuries).
Both will need some extra attention.
Especially if you completely new to this.
Here is a list of the 5 most common injuries:
Injury prevention = is making sure you warm up AND use the right amount of rest between cycles and exercises:
- 30-60 seconds of rest between your exercises.
- more important: 60-180 seconds of rest between cycles.
Why use these numbers?
According to the European Journal of Physiology, your body needs about 180 seconds to fully recover.
For example:
- 30 seconds means ≈ 50% of your energy is restored
- 60-90 seconds means ≈ 75-90% of your energy is restored
- 180 seconds means ≈ 98% of your energy is restored
The amount of rest you need depends on your goal and your level of development, but here are the general rules of thumb:
- strength: rest 3-5 min
- muscle growth: 60-90 sec
- endurance: minimum rest
As you become stronger you can minimise the rest between exercises.
So what are the strength requirements?
To get the best possible start for the six month workout schedule, you need to be able to complete the 'get ready' routine:
Workout Explainer
Follow the workout diagram from left to right.
Like reading:
Next to the arrows you see the name of the exercise, the number of reps and an illustration:
Above you see the number of cycles:
And the rest time after 1 full cycle:
One cycle means doing all the exercises for the given amount of reps.
Lacking the strength for these exercises?
Need to start from scratch?
Don't worry about it.
If you don't have the basics down yet, you can use regressions to work on those first.
What are regressions?
"Regressions are easier versions of the same exercise."
You can use the 'almost there! routine' below for 4-6 weeks until you can move on to the get ready routine:
- Your pulling strength/back: chin ups.
- Your pushing strength/chest: dips and push ups.
- Lower body/legs: squats.
- Or your core/abs: leg raises.
Finally, make sure you get the FREE starter guide for beginners.
(You will get 1 extremely powerful tip to stay motivated.)
I will send you links to multiple posts that will BOOST your motivation and results in ways you cannot imagine yet.
Can you do the requirements for the given amount of cycles?
You are ready to start your six months of bodyweight training.
Is this plan perfect for everyone?
NO.
It's a foundation that you can use for a new body.
But you can always customise it to your needs.
That's your responsibility.
The Harsh Truth About Your Calisthenics Progress
How fast do you think you will see progress?
One day?
One week?
One month?
Here is the harsh truth:
Progress does not work the way you think it does.
And you will see progress depends on a million different factors.
But if you stick to this plan, your training routine will not be holding you back.
There will be periods however, where you expect to improve exponentially.
Unfortunately, there will be a lot of days where you feel like you are going nowhere.
But if you are patient and consistent.
Your progress will look like this:
Knowing what you can expect will keep you motivated.
Hit a flatline or a small dip?
Keep working.
You are about to reach a new peak.
Do NOT forget this.
Focus on the long-term progress. The red dotted line.
Why?
It will set you apart from 99% of beginners who quit after their first month.
Let's move on to the first month!
Chapter 3:
Month 1 - Essential Full Body Workout Plan
Is calisthenics really "the best way to train for me"?
Yup!
(of course that's my answer.)
In fact, as you've already read more and more people are getting into it.
And most of your progress comes from being a beginner.
So if you are serious about starting - or want to double down on your health and results - this chapter is for you.
In fact, this chapter could be the start of a life-changing journey.
The Workout Plan
Important: Make sure you complete the number of reps.
Too easy?
Complete 5 cycles before moving on to the next month.
Here is your weekly workout schedule:
Month 1 - Training Schedule
If you start on a Monday, aim to have 1 day of rest in between your workout days.
Each day of rest will give you enough time to recover.
Remember:
This is the bare minimum amount of calisthenics training to get results as a beginner.
Training Tip - Focus On Making Calisthenics Part Of Your Life
Don't expect too many visible changes.
Focus on making training part of your life.
Go from doing calisthenics.
To being someone who does calisthenics.
It becomes part of your identity.
When that happens, it does not matter how long it takes.
You will get those results.
Because you become someone who has those results.
It took you many years to develop the body you have right now.
It will take more than a few weeks to transform it.
But, you are on your way.
Reading this is the first result on the road to making calisthenics part of your life.
And you are just getting started...
Training Tip - Use The Power Of Variety
Quickly bored?
I know.
I'm not expecting you to change into a military-style elite level athlete.
Especially not overnight.
But the routine you have, if done consistently will give you HUGE improvements.
The challenge?
Your brain is wired to get a small jump of reward every time you do something new, while keeping things challenging enough.
That's why some people spend more time on playing video games than would be good for them.
Game developers are extremely good at getting you into the flow zone.
In other words:
You can use the flow principle to your advantage by switching your training when you start losing motivation as a result of boredom.
Increase the difficulty once things become too easy.
And find the sweet spot for yourself.
How?
- Be patient;
- make progress;
- and have fun.
So, when you feel unmotivated add more variety during these 6 months.
For example:
Workout Plans for variety
You can find 14 fast bar brother beginner routines or plans.
And make sure you hit those legs hard and squat deep.
Training both your legs and upper body seems to be better for overall muscle growth.
Now that's more than enough variety to keep you going, right?
Let's see where month 2 will take you.
The Nutrition System
Whether it's your priority or not, if you want results you want to make sure your nutrition the BEST it can be.
(The best moment to start was yesterday.)
Remember:
"Abs are made in the kitchen."
This is covered in the Nutrition System by the official Bar Brothers.
Chapter 4:
Month 2 - Ultimate Full Body Workout Plan
Training with PRECISION is a KEY to getting old with calisthenics.
And it's important whether you are 20 or 50 right now.
(In fact, your age is irrelevant.)
And in this chapter, I'll show you a powerful mindset tip and how you can take the next step in your training.
The Workout Plan
Month 2 - Training Schedule
Training Tip - Perform Your Exercises Like A Surgeon
When I first started with calisthenics, I didn't care about how well I was doing the repetitions
All I cared about was how much repetitions I was doing.
But there is a VERY big difference between doing a push up correctly 5 times.
And doing a push up incorrectly 10 times.
You will be way stronger and injury free down the road if you do it the right way.
It's about having the right mindset.
Just like making a pie.
The point I'm trying to make is:
That the way you do something can lead to very different results.
Even if the ingredients are the same.
Fun fact: do you know the world record for most push ups in 1 hour?
Don't get me wrong, it's very impressive.
But how good are those push ups?
If you want to prevent injuries and to get maximum results don't go for world records and focus on the details.
Start doing your workouts with the precision of a brain surgeon.
And ask yourself:
- What do I need to focus on?
- What are the details?
- How can I get maximum results?
Chapter 5:
Month 3 - Level Up Intermediate Workout Plan
In 2021 this Bar Brother post kept showing up in the top results of Google.
With more than 1000+ comments from interested beginners.
Wow...
That's a lot!
How come so many people were excited about this calisthenic workout plan?
Let's jump into the exact strategy and the next workout plan they used in this chapter.
The Workout Plan
Good work!
You have reached the intermediate workout plan.
Time to level up.
Make sure you mark down this peak.
For example, you can start using an achievement book.
Why?
You need to celebrate your victories.
No matter how small.
Here is your weekly workout schedule:
Month 3 - Training Schedule
Month 3 - Higher Intensity Schedule
As with the previous months, you can always add variety with beginner or intermediate routines.
Just make sure you stick to doing the next level routine for 3 days at least.
You are getting prepared for your first muscle up.
It's usually one of the biggest goals for beginners.
And a great starting point.
So, when will you do your first one?
That's up to you.
Training Tip - Plan Your Rest Between Workout Periods
Rest?
I know it sounds weird.
Like the WRONG thing to do.
That is, if you want to make progress, right?
Actually, the opposite is true.
I've written about the 3 fundamental rules of muscle growth before.
The funny part?
Most of your recovery issues will solve themselves if you stick to a good sleep cycle.
How much sleep do you need?
You can discover more about the importance of sleep.
And if you do, you will be stronger than ever.
Why?
Because your rest is the building block that can either make the body you've constructed stand firm.
And get you the results at the top.
Or when neglected.
Make your body collapse.
And crash your results into the ground.
I know it sounds unimportant to you right now.
But if you keep neglecting it.
You will need to return to the drawing board sooner or later.
And start from scratch.
The good news?
With what you know now, you won't need to.
Month 4 is going to be interesting!
Chapter 6:
Month 4 - The Muscle Up Hunt Routine
I’m a BIG fan of muscle ups.
Why?
Because they combine dips with pull ups.
Think about it:
When you do a muscle up you are doing multiple exercises at once, you do double the amount of work in 1 rep.
You aren't there yet, but you are getting pretty close.
In this chapter you will learn EVERY component you need to develop your first muscle up.
Workout Plan
Month 4 - Training Schedule
First, focus on going really low with the straight bar dips.
Second, reduce the amount of jumping with the jump muscle ups.
You need to find a lower bar, that allows you to jump up.
This is going to be the most challenging period yet.
Keep reminding yourself of the tips in month 1 about progress.
Why?
Training Tip - Connect The Dots And Experiment With Progressions And Cycles
Are you seeing how you can progress to something amazing?
Just by taking it one step at a time.
First, you start month 1 with placing dots with the basics:
Then in month 4 you discover how to connect some dots:
And in month 5 you are going to connect all the dots.
See how the arrow of progress shows up if you keep drawing lines?
Didn't expect that...
And you can use this lesson as a reminder:
"Progress is not giving up."
Good luck with this month.
Workout Explainer
You can always increase or decrease the difficulty by going back to the previous month or by maxing out on cycles.
Doing 4-5 instead of 3.
The end is in sight.
Or rather...
...the beginning of something even better.
Chapter 7:
Month 5 - Muscle Up King Plan
Ready to step up your training in 2021?
If you have prepared yourself in the previous months, warmed up properly, rested sufficiently then you might be ready to give this month a go!
And In this chapter, you'll learn a simple rule to keep going when things get tough.
Let's dive right in.
The Workout Plan
Finally.
It took a while, but you've connected all the dots now.
Time to crown yourself a muscle up king!
Here is your workout schedule:
Month 5 - Training Schedule
Workout Explainer
You alternate between the routine you did in month 3 and this routine.
Because month 3 will help you deal with weak spots.
Yes, the basics are priceless for everything that you do and want to maintain.
Use the strength you have now to make your repetitions even better.
Surgical precision...
And depending on how your body responds, you can increase the duration of these six months:
Spend more time on month 3 or any of the months you struggle with.
(2-4 weeks should be reasonable.)
And get more ripped:
For example, by giving yourself more time to change your calisthenics diet routines.
In other words:
Use this plan to fit your unique and individual needs.
After all, NOBODY knows you better than you.
That's where the final tip comes into play.
You can find it in the next chapter...
Training Tip - Complete Big Workout Goals By Working On Smaller Ones
Have you ever tried building a wall?
Like the great wall of China?
Sounds like an insane goal to have, doesn't it?
Now what if I told you to lay down 1 brick consistently, every single day?
That sounds easy, right?
Guess what?
That same brick will turn into a HUGE wall if you just keep laying down one at a time.
Over a longer period of time.
Now I'm not telling you that transforming your body is as hard as building the Great Wall of China.
Because it would take you about 100 lives.
But what you need to understand is that the people who build that wall, placed 1 brick at a time.
That's something you can do when building the body you want.
One day at a time.
Imagine what you could become.
If you stick to this simple rule:
"Show up consistently."
It's frightening if you think about it.
And encouraging if you know how to get there.
Which brings us to the final month.
Chapter 8:
Month 6 - The Bar Brother Beginner Challenge
Challenges are a way for you to STAND OUT.
Here is another one:
"the obstacle is the way."
Question is:
What have you been preparing for these past 6 months?
And what is the end goal?
Well, that’s exactly what I plan to cover in this chapter.
The Workout Plan
To end your 6 month journey, you will have to finish your final task.
How?
By completing this challenge:
The Bar Brother Beginner Challenge
Now it's time to finish your journey.
It's a good moment to look back and reflect on all the connections you've made.
All the bricks you have laid.
All the pies, all the patience, all the dots and all the expectations.
Good luck!
Although, I'm sure you won't need it.
Because luck favours the prepared.
Here is your final workout schedule:
Month 6 - Training Schedule
The #1 goal in this month is to test yourself.
Or as the legendary Michael Jordan once said:
"If you do the work, you get rewarded. There are no shortcuts in life."
In other words, use all the tips and trust yourself.
You'll find a summary of all the tips in the last chapter.
Chapter 9:
A Summary - 7 Tips For Calisthenics Beginners in 2021
So: What did you remember?
Calisthenics ROCKS!
It's so powerful, liberating and eye-catching, that it can't help but get attention.
And in this chapter I'll just quickly remind you of all the powerful lessons life-lessons I got from calisthenics...
...that you can use beyond your training.
A Quick Summary Of Calisthenics Tips
What's After The Beginner Challenge?
You are ready to conquer the world...
...well, almost.
You are not the beginner you were before you started.
And perhaps you are looking for a next challenge.
Try the 12-week workout system by the professional Bar Brothers.
It's not free. But it's well worth the small price of two good meals.
I can tell you from personal experience.
Anyways, it was a fun journey, wasn't it?
Your imagination has brought you here.
Now it's time to take your imagination elsewhere!
And here is why:
I believe you can do better.
*Fist Bump*
I hope you enjoyed the essential workout plan.
Now I'd like to hear from you: what did you learn from this guide?
Did you progress as much as you hoped to?
Or maybe you were surprised by all the tips.
Either way, let me know by leaving a quick comment below now!
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Hey! This looks like a nice progression.
One question.
Do you think I could replace dips, australian pull-ups and rope jumping with other exercises?
I don’t have parallel bars, a low bar nor a rope. I do have a regular height pull-up bar, so pull-ups are fine.
Thanks!
Hey Carlos,
Thanks for your question!
Definitely, use a chair/chairs for dips and you can buy a cheap rope for 10 bucks, it’s more than worth the investment.
Keep up the good work!
*Fist bump*
Hello Bar Brothers,
I started working out with the classic 6 month routine, and I have progressed to month 2 (that took me more than the 2 months, especially my pulling strength was lacking)
Can you explain what are the gaps between this and the classic programme and give me some advice about sticking to the old or moving to the new plan?
Thanks in advance and thank you very much for all the information and motivation!!
Hey Dominic,
Great stuff man!
The classic program has some bigger jumps from month to month. It’s more geared towards people who have a background and are fast adapters. It really depends on what you want and what your physical background is.
If you are making consistent progress, both plans will work. If you are looking for a more step-by-step plan, the new plan will be better. If you want to make jumps and have some background, the old plan can be an interesting challenge.
Hope this helps you, keep up the good work!
*Fist bump*
BBG
Hey BBG,
Thanks for the reply! i will start using this new programme, i think that that fits me better for now!
In the programme i see two progression options during the months. The first is add more rounds 4-5 instead of 3, and the second is add another day.
But i also see that rest is essential.
In your opinion, which of the two progressions is better for a starting intermediate?
At this moment i am doing 4 rounds of full body lvl 2 for 3 days a week. would you then advice me to add a fifth round, add another day orr progress to the next month?
Thanks again for all this great help, inspiration and information!
Cheers!
Hey Dominic,
No problem! Keep up the good work.
Add an additional round. See what it does to your recovery. If it’s still easy, you can start exploring the next month.
Have a good day.
*Fist bump*
BBG
Hi! My name is Ivy and I have really been wanting to get into calisthenics for quite a while now. However, I do NOT want to bulk up. I know that it is naturally difficult for women to bulk up like men, but karate and shotput have bulked my arms a bit rather than slimming them. And now, not having exercised in a while, they have become huge and flabby. Can you please help out with this issue? What do you think I should do?
Regards, Ivy
Hey Ivy,
Great question!
Don’t worry about bulking up, muscular tone will change as a part of an adaptive response. It’s always a combination of factors and the major areas you want to focus on are: nutrition, exercise and sleep. The low-hanging fruit being sleep.
You will find lots of information on this website for free, I suggest you start here and find what is interesting:
http://www.barbrothersgroningen.com/calisthenics-basics/
*Fist bump*
Hello! Hey, I love calisthenics. I did the previous plan a few years ago and now I have some more experience. I tried to recommend it to a few friends, but I see it’s changed and some things seem a little weird. Is this site related to the previous one from MADBARZ?
I understand the previous plan had a few big leaps. But this one doesn’t include basic pull ups at any point, not even in the final challenge. Why?
You only get to do australian pull ups in month 4. And on month 3 you’re supposed to do explosive high pull ups? How? With a lot of kipping? Also, full muscle up on month 5? I cannot say wether or not this plan works, but i believe pull ups are definitely one of the most important basic excersises (probabley THE MOST imporant) and no plan could be complete without them
Cheers. Keep strong
Hey Victor,
And I love people who love calisthenics ;). Yes, this page has been updated to cover some gaps that were present in the previous programming.
Solid observations, the chin up is a progression for the pull up (and since beginners often make the error of flaring out the elbows too much, because of a lack of connection to the shoulder, this plan focuses on chin ups more heavily first), try the l-sit chin ups, chest to bar, notice how they will improve your pull ups ;).
Keep up the good work and keep inspiring the people around you!
*Fist bump*
Thanks so much for putting this guide together!
I really want to keep up with my interests in running and cycling on rest days. Do you think that’s wise, or will it hinder any progress with this programme?
Thanks!
Hey Kieran,
You are more than welcome!
It’s definitely something you can do, but make sure you manage the dosage and keep an eye on your recovery. Slow and consistent, go for the long-term results instead of the quick fixes.
Keep up the good work!
*Fist bump*
Brief question. I’ve previously messed up my shoulder pretty bad and let’s say it’s never getting back to its glory days. I can move it, do pull ups, dips etc. but stability is a concern. Is this program something I could take up or should I focus on increasing shoulder stability some how/way?
Hey Rashid,
Great question!
Definitely, besides doing ‘strength’ work I would also recommend doing rehab/prehab work.
One of the best tools is ‘stationary’ hanging, doing 3 sets of 60 seconds daily or accumulate 3 min throughout the day to start.
If you are interested, check out the book by Dr Kirsch, shoulder pain: the solution and prevention.
Goodluck!
Really thankful for this program you’ve put together.
Do you think if i did some light running on some of the rest days. Distance or intensity doesnt really matter, im thinking like a 20-30 minute run.
Hey Felix,
You are more than welcome!
Definitely, I would recommend doing walking, running on off days 20-30 min is great. Work with 3-5 drop sets in your runs, sprinting full 100% and then dropping into a jog and finally into a walk, it will give your body a higher adaptive stimulus. Over time, as your body develops you can increase the intensity throughout the week, but it’s a long-term process.
Keep up the good work!
*Fist bump*
BBG
Hi all
Last year in December I decided to start training by this plan, at first I was really excited about it but after 1 month I started to think that no matter how much I train, I will never be able to muscle up…but I continued anyway, I didn’t miss a single training, I was there on rain and snow, it was pretty fun tho 🙂
Today was last day of 2nd month as I follow this program and before I started with scheduled exercises I tried to muscle up, as I always do, just to see how close I am…but unlike always, today I actually did it with almost completely right form ^ ^ I couldn’t believe it…finally!
I know its just 1 but it brought me enthusiasm back
I have to mention that even before starting with this plan I used to go on bars/year ago and before starting with this plan I was already able to do chin ups/pull ups, dips and etc (but nothing special- about 10 reps)
I followed plan exactly as it goes, I often did bit more reps, and I often did some random exercises just to try it out and see if I can do it. I hope this will encourage others to continue and not give up.
I have 4 months to finish and than to continue with 12 weeks program that you prepared.
Thank you very much for your efforts and for sharing it with others!
Hey Silvio,
Love your story! These are the powerful moments, when you realise that what was ‘impossible’ initially can become possible through consistent effort. It’s a memory you can take with you into whatever challenge you may face.
Keep up the good work my friend! You are at the beginning of a wonderful journey.
BBG
Hi,
I am really interested in starting this plan. I am a beginner to fitness, so I believe I can’t complete the 3 cycles in “The Requirements To Start With The 6 Month Calisthenics Workout Plan”.
My question is: before starting the “Month 1: The Full Body Workout Plan” should I focus on be able to complete the 3 cycles?
Hey Jose,
Great stuff!
Definitely recommend building a good base to prevent injuries.
Let me know if you have any other questions.
Keep up the good work!
*Fist bump*
BBG
Holy crap this is a scam, you tell me to download the “free” ebook by signing up for the newsletter, so I sign up and download the book and I find absolutely nothing of value. All I find is a rehashed version of this article and the advertisement to go buy your actual plan. So what was the point of me signing up for the newsletter. None. This is a scam, stay away everyone.
Hey Ryan,
Thanks for the comment! And our apologies for your negative experience, the free ebook contains very valuable information in our opinion and is followed up with tons of tips and tricks on how to improve your calisthenics.
But if it’s something you do not consider of value, that’s cool too! Thanks once again and hope you can take something from the free information your find elswhere!
Have a good day.
*Fist bump*
BBG