I'm a big fan of body-weight training for a lot of reasons. For one thing, it's convenient, it's 'natural,' in the sense that you're not jamming your body into a strength-training or cardio machine, and it's challenging as hell. Fact is that a lot of the time, as I've suggested before, equipment makes things easier, not harder. Sure, you can "target problem areas" with machines and dumbbells, but frankly I think the best way to "target problem areas" is with the shotgun effect: just work the whole system hard and EVERYTHING will get a workout.

When clients and gym-rubberneckers approach me and ask what "muscle I'm working" with this or that bizarre exercise I'm doing, I'm having a harder and harder time answering them. Most movements I do myself--and have others do--work everything. Even an isolation exercise like a curl can be performed with full-body awareness, making it an exercise that heightens core strength and proprioception as well as building Big Guns. Similarly, when a client doesn't "feel" a movement in a particular area, I'm never concerned. Are the mechanics right? Did they work hard during the set? Then I'm happy.

Here's a guy who's come up with some very creative body-weight exercises. If you can't do most of these movements and are messing around with dumbbells and barbells, well...cut it out.

And have a great weekend.

Andrew