Craig... quick question about your evolution to BW exercises

[Q.]

I read in one of your recent newsletters that (paraphrase) you made a transformation to body weight training over the past year or so. I'm very interested in moving that way myself but I'm curious to know what prompted you to do this? I read someone's statement that, until you can manage your own body weight, you don't really need to be messin' with weights. True or not, there's just something there that sounds right to me... not to mention how much it frees you from your ties to a gym.

Would like to hear your perspective and I apologize if this has been covered already.

[Craig]

I didnt mean for it to read that I don't lift weights, I do. I use some bodyweight stuff. I mostly lift heavy (well, for me) weights. I do some bodyweight stuff as warm-up. I use a lot of bodyweight stuff for others, and I wrote a manual because people wanted it. (Mind you I did all the workouts in the manual a couple of times, made sure it was appropriate and progressive, etc).

I've read some recommendations that you should be able to do __ pushups before you bench, etc. But the actual numbers are subjective.

The bottom line is that the bodyweight stuff is great for mobility. So you can get a good idea of co-ordination and proper range of motion from someone doing bodyweight exercises...and then you have them master these exercises before you get too advanced with lifting. Especially with young kids.

I have no idea if I answered any of your questions there,

CB

[Q.]

In other discussions here, we've talked about how there is no real substitute for some things such as dead lifts. However, another person (long ago and far away) also said, "don't talk to me about curls until you can do chins!" So, I think you did answer the question but I thought you were personally a lot more hyped about them than just meeting a market demand thing. Yes, I've seen trainers who like to start with these to work up to weight training so I see the point about using these as a starting point.

Thanks!