Calisthenics challenges South Africa
JOBURG - Calisthenics is a lesser understood term in the world of exercise, with many people knowing that they need to do it and very few knowing how.
1Levitation, a group that was formed to practise calisthenics and compete against other teams in the country, is breaking down the sport for the public and showing the world their sweet – and painful – moves while they’re at it.
Calisthenics was initially started by a group of Americans who found that they were able to get their recommended daily exercise without working out in a gym or using gym equipment, but rather by making use of their surroundings. Now known as a street workout, the exercise routine can be described as exercises that train the core muscles, thus creating overall strength in the body.
While calisthenics has been around for ages, it only recently became an official sport around the world.
1Levitation’s gentlemen are some of the pioneers in South Africa and are breaking boundaries in the country. Although it looks a lot like gymnastics, it is considered a different sport altogether.
“Calisthenics is fairly new and has only been around for the past few years [having become an official sport in 2011], so someone who has been doing gymnastics for longer has an unfair advantage over these guys who have been training for less than five years,” explained Sam Makhaya, calisthenics enthusiast and wife of 1Levitation member, Sizwe Makhaya.
While calisthenics affords the gentlemen the chance to exercise in any environment, the gym is where they mostly meet for sessions.
You can also find 1Levitation members in parks busting out their calisthenics moves.
Details: www.saswca.co.za
Watch some of the members of the group in action below:
