Street workout

Street workout is a physical activity performed mostly in outdoor parks or public facilities. It originated in Ancient Greece, but became a popular movement in Russia, Eastern Europe,^[1] and the United States, especially in New York City's urban neighborhoods.^[2] It has now spread all over the world. It is a combination of athletics, calisthenics, and sports.^[3] Street workout is a modern name for bodyweight workouts in outdoor parks. Street workout teams and organized competitions exist.

A typical street workout routine often consists of physical exercises such as pull-ups, chin-ups, push-ups, dips, muscle-ups, sit-ups and squats. Street workout also involves some static (isometric) holds such as the human flag, front lever, back lever and planche.^[4]

Street workout can be divided in two branches, one being strength training and the other dynamics. Strength training includes the isometric holds like: planche, front lever, back lever, etc. Also, strength training includes single arm pull ups, hefestos, muscle-ups and many others. Dynamics includes movements like 360's and its variations, switchblades, and an incredible variety of tricks developed by the athletes which are connected with other moves in order to create routines or sets.

Some of the main benefits of street workout activities are:

• It is completely free;^[2][5]
• It can be performed anywhere outdoor or indoor;^[2]
• No training or gym equipment is required;^[6]
• It promotes a healthy living and a desirable physique can be attained with it;^[7]
• It is a social event.^[2]

Street workout for Spartans Tarraco in Calafell, Spain.

Basics of street workout

A typical street workout routine^[8] consists of:

• Athletics exercising - a system of exercises with various levels of exertion provided for health strengthening, development of strength and stamina, as well as, for shaping an athletic constitution. Athletics exercising is used to increase strength level, develop physical shape and for rehabilitation.
• Isometric exercises - a type of strength training whereby you hold a static position.
• Calisthenics (Kalestenos) – is a complex of many simple exercises which are performed using purely body weight. The aim of these exercises is to train muscularity strength and to evolve comprehensive fitness.
• Urban Calisthenics - a form of body weight exercise performed with no or little apparatus. Individuals and/or groups train and exercise in urban areas and spaces. Advanced Urban Calisthenics skills include Muscle Up's, Typewriter pull ups and both Front and Back Levers.

Street workouts are usually performed outdoor or in specifically designed street workout parks. A typical street workout park looks like a play ground with a soft underground and consists of several bars, poles and other objects used for body weight exercises.^[9]

Teams

Street workout in Slovenia

In street workout, people often create teams.

World championships

2011

The first World Championship took place in Riga, Latvia, August 27–28, 2011.^[10]

Winners of Street Workout World Championship 2011 Freestyle category:

1st place: Evgeny Kozyr (Ukraine)

2nd place: Andrey Tamans (Latvia)

3rd place: Dosel Komana Gombe (Spain)

Winners of Street Workout World Championship 2011 Power category:

1st place: Artjom Shipilo (Latvia)

2nd place: Janis Losevs (Latvia)

3rd place: Deividas Smylias (Lithuania)

2012

In 2012 the World Championship took place in Riga, Latvia, August 4, 2012.^[11]

1st place - Yevgeny Kocherha (Ukraine)

2nd place - Yevgeny Kozyr (Ukraine)

3rd place - Nikolay Labanov (Russia)

2013

The third World Champion ship was held in Riga, Latvia, August 3, 2013.^[12]

1st place: Andzej Zilo (Lithuania)

2nd place: Vadym Oleynik (Ukraine)

3rd place: Akos Szarka (Hungary)

2014

The fourth World Championship took place in Moscow, Russia, July 26, 2014.^[13]

1st place: Eryc Ortiz

World champions

2011:

2012:

2013:

2014: Eryc Ortiz

2015: Daniel Laizans

2016:

World Street Workout and Calisthenics Federation

The World Street Workout and Calisthenics Federation (WSWCF) is a non-governmental and non-profit organisation operating worldwide. It was founded April 8, 2011. WSWCF's main office is located in Riga, Latvia.^[14] The current president of the WSWCF is Maris Slezins^[15]

The objectives of the WSWCF are^[14] :

1. worldwide development of street workout sport as a social movement and as a professional sport;

2. ensuring that street workout is officially recognized worldwide as a type of sport;

3. worldwide attraction of new members to the street workout;

4. creation of new street workout training places worldwide.

5. worldwide promotion of street workout sport, including distribution of information about street workout on international level, organization of international educational and qualification-raising events, cooperation with national and international governmental and non-governmental entities and organizations;

6. aligning and coordinating the activity of national and regional street workout unions and organizations;

7. organization of international street workout contests, including regional and world street workout championships, development and approval of rules of such contests;

8. development and implementation of internationally recognized procedures for obtaining and maintaining of qualification of street workout instructors, including procedures for training and certification of instructors;

9. by means of its activity to facilitate the improvement of the society members' overall health condition and quality of life, to facilitate the social integration among different society layers and hence to contribute to development of a better civic society in national and international level.

References

1. "Why is street workout so popular in East Europe? - Quora". www.quora.com. Retrieved 2016-01-15.
2. "On Street Workout". PCC Blog. Retrieved 2016-01-15.
3. "CALISTHENICS - Street Workout Academy". Street Workout Academy. Retrieved 2016-01-15.
4. "Isometric exercises - Street Workouts". Street Workouts. Retrieved 2016-01-15.
5. "Which is better – street workout or gym?". Madbarz. Retrieved 2016-01-15.
6. "Fitness goes gymless with street workout | The Manila Times Online". www.manilatimes.net. Retrieved 2016-01-15.
7. "The Effect of Calisthenics Exercises at Various Intensity on Girl Students' Figure and Cardiorespiratory Functions--《Journal of Guangzhou Physical Education Institute》2003年06期". en.cnki.com.cn. Retrieved 2016-01-15.
8. "Street Workout Programs". Street Workouts. Retrieved 2016-01-16.
9. "IMG Arcade - Street Workout Parks". IMG Arcade. Retrieved 2015-01-15.
10. "World Championship 2011". wswcf.org. Retrieved 2016-01-04.
11. "World Championship 2012". wswcf.org. Retrieved 2016-01-04.
12. "World Championship 2013". wswcf.org. Retrieved 2016-01-04.
13. "World Championship 2014". wswcf.org. Retrieved 2016-01-04.
14. "About WSWCF | WSWCF". wswcf.org. Retrieved 2016-01-04.
15. "Managing Board WSWCF". wswcf.org. Retrieved 2016-01-04.

External links

• World Street Workout & Calisthenics Federation (WSWCF)
• Article about Street Workout activism, with an interview from Maris Slezins, the current president of WSWCF
• Urban Calisthenics www.urbancalisthenics.com
• Bar Brothers Movement