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Old Forum powerlifter vs calesthenic

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That was interesting. There is no way the powerlifter could do the bar stunts the calestenics guy does. I thought the calestenics guy would do better on the weighted dips and pull-ups given the way he can just launch his body on the high bar. It just goes to show that the barbell is the best way to develop all around general strength that transfers over to most things.
 
I don't think it's about the Barbell being best for general strength, but rather the programming. I'd expect a Powerlifter in good shape (as he clearly is) to do very well in any contest dealing with high strength.

I wouldn't necessarily expect that from a regular calisthenics practitioner, who might spend time developing skills, like the "pull-up, 360, catch" but might not focus on max strength specifically.

Additionally, I don't think this is a particularly fair contest. A calisthenics practitioner probably doesn't bench often, if ever. While a powerlifter commonly does work heavy pull-ups and maybe dips. I think that's why he smoked it on the bench, but can hold his ground in the rest.

At the end, I think this is purely for entertainment and hard to really conclude that the barbell is better for strength than pure bodyweight. I think it's more about the programming of those tools, rather than the tool itself.
 
At the end, I think this is purely for entertainment
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I agree with that. I couldn't even make it to the end of the video.

IMHO, bodyweight works belongs at both ends of a training continuum. We ought to learn to move our own bodies in the ways we could as children - we need to demonstrate basic coordination and enough strength to carry off walking, running, jumping, getting up off the ground, standing on one leg, etc. But then I believe the kettlebell makes the best next choice, and after that, the barbell to be able to truly load heavy, and finally bodyweight exercise. Bodyweight movements like pistols and one-arm pushups have a higher entry skill level than either kettlebells or barbells, and they're also the most difficult on which to achieve an appropriate level of difficulty for each person.

Just my opinion, of course, as there are many good roads to be taken, but that's how I see the big picture.

-S-
 
bodyweight works belongs at both ends of a training continuum. We ought to learn to move our own bodies in the ways we could as children – we need to demonstrate basic coordination and enough strength to carry off walking, running, jumping, getting up off the ground, standing on one leg, etc. But then I believe the kettlebell makes the best next choice, and after that, the barbell to be able to truly load heavy, and finally bodyweight exercise. Bodyweight movements like pistols and one-arm pushups have a higher entry skill level than either kettlebells or barbells, and they’re also the most difficult on which to achieve an appropriate level of difficulty for each person.
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Great insight, Steve! I have just enough experience with each to see what you mean, and I like the way this comes together.

A agree, not a fair contest... so many components to strength, power, endurance, conditioning. But definitely interesting and entertaining.
 
What exactly would've made this more "fair"?

Did you notice the bodyweight specialist didn't think it was unfair and actually thought he was going to win easily? Was that braggadocio or delusion?

Bonus question: why didn't the bodyweight specialist catch up during the calisthenic events?
 
I don't know if they're actually told the events before hand. And the smack talk seems just for the purpose of entertainment and making things interesting.

Bonus answer: there were no calisthenics events in this video. Idk about their actual training but weighted pullups and dips are common in weight training, but not at all in calisthenics work. Even if you took the benching and squatting out, I'd still expect the PL to win because I expect him to do dip and pullup heavy while the calisthenics practitioner most likely doesn't even do those movements anymore because they're too easy unweighted (so he could've moved into higher skill work).

It would've been more interesting to test the PL in an event he doesn't practice regularly, or at all (kind of how benching is for the other dude). Maybe muscle ups, or planche pushups. Of course, you run the risk of the PL being unable to do that at all, which would make for a very boring video indeed hehe.
 
It would’ve been more interesting to test the PL in an event he doesn’t practice regularly, or at all (kind of how benching is for the other dude). Maybe muscle ups, or planche pushups. Of course, you run the risk of the PL being unable to do that at all, which would make for a very boring video indeed hehe.
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Sure, or just make the weight on the barbell heavy enough so the calisthenics guy can't get one rep and the PLer can.

Apples and oranges is about right.
 
It's not apples and oranges. It was a "who's stronger?" test. By extension, it was a test of training effectiveness. There were two events custom made for each style of training. You might be able to argue that the weight was too high on the dips and pullups for the bodyweight specialist, but that's just conceding that being able to do a crapload of bodyweight pullups and dips does bupkiss for your ability to do a few with weight hanging off you. And it could immediately be countered by saying the weight on the bar was too light and there were too many reps and PLers don't train that way, plus I use a dip station and a bar not rings. But such special pleading was not necessary, because the PLer was stronger both in his own events and those of his competitor.

Strength is the most general of physical adaptations. Those in possession of it can apply it to any circumstance that requires the production of force against an external resistance. This test provided an opportunity for bodyweight training to demonstrate a broad applicability, and it failed to do so.
 
Relative amateur here, but I’m taking a shot at it. The calisthenics guy would have excelled and possibly beat the PLer if the events were closer to body weight and required more explosiveness/speed and endurance/reps (strength endurance). That’s still “strength.” As it was, the requirement was more towards strength and efficiency (power). I take this from cycling, where there are many ways to train and adapt to pushing the pedals on the bike. The legs, and the rest of the body, can get strong in many different ways.
 
I think they tried to make it fair but in the end it's for fun. I just wanted to see if he can squat bodyweight at all.
They have other competitions on the channel such as max rep deadlift I thibk at 180 kg (400 lbs) or bodyweight max rep squats with bodybuilders, weightlifters and power lifters. In addition there are even complete workshops with good stuff on squatting and the clean.

A side note. The powerlifter in the video, Romano, benches 192.5, squats I think 230 and lifts 250 (raw in competition). So he is pretty strong.
 
Wow, I finally watched this video.

The calestenics specialist was so cocky and the power lifter was so humble.

If this was a movie I would be cheering for the power lifter.

But in reality if he is putting up the numbers Leon said, well, this was a no brainer.
 
Lots of people have really great thoughts on this (I saw it the other day)! I can't help but consider context, though "Who's stronger, a shark or a lion?". The calisthenics guy may have been equally strong (probably not squatting but who knows?) but specificity says you get better at what you train. He got wrecked by the bench press right out of the gate because he -never- benches.

I think it would have been neat to have each attempt the other's discipline: the powerlifter does some 360 muscle-ups, the other guy deadlifts. Or, judge the competition by total tonnage moved during a period of time, each in their own specialty.
 
This was indeed entertaining! And this reminds me of those discussions we have all had more than once (with beer usually involved) that go like, "who would win, Bruce Lee or Sugar Ray Robinson?" It was also nice because the athlete who displayed humility and seemed like a nice guy also was the winner.

One anecdote I can add to the mix is about a bodybuilder in my gym, who one day started doing bar muscle-ups, with no apparent effort, while we were in the middle of a casual conversation. I asked him if he practiced them at all, and he said no (he is an honest guy and would not lie about this). Then he said, in a surprised tone of voice, "am I doing these right? I thought they were supposed to be hard." It was the first time he'd ever tried them.

Steve F. I really appreciated your comment about moving from barbell training back to bodyweight stuff over time. I'm pretty obsessed with barbells right now, but that is definitely something to file away and I may try it in a couple of years.
 
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