Having strong, toned biceps is an important part of any fitness routine. Calisthenics is a great way to build muscle strength, increase muscular endurance and gain overall body control. This article will discuss the best calisthenic exercises for targeting your biceps, as well as offer tips to help you maximize your results. Whether you're just starting out or looking for a challenging new workout routine, this guide has something for everyone.
What is a Calisthenic Workout?
A calisthenic workout is a type of exercise that are beachbody workouts good uses bodyweight movements to build strength, endurance, and flexibility. Calisthenics exercises can be done anywhere with minimal equipment, making them a great option for those who don't have access to a gym or are looking for an effective way to stay in shape at home. Common calisthenic exercises include push-ups, pull-ups, squats, burpees, planks, and lunges.
Calisthenic workouts can be tailored to suit any fitness level. Beginners may want to start with basic bodyweight exercises such as wall sits and squats while more advanced exercisers can incorporate plyometric drills and explosive movements into their routine. With the right form and intensity, calisthenics can help you burn calories, build muscle mass, and improve your overall physical fitness.
Benefits of Calisthenics for Biceps
Calisthenics is an excellent way to build biceps strength and size. The primary benefit of calisthenics is that they require minimal equipment, making them accessible to anyone regardless of budget or location.
Calisthenics also provides a great full-body workout since many exercises involve multiple muscle groups. This can help you develop a balanced physique and avoid overworking one area of the body. Additionally, because the exercises are often done in a circuit format, you’ll get an intense cardio workout as well.
Finally, calisthenics is versatile and can be modified depending on your fitness level and goals. For example, if you’re looking to increase bicep strength you could do pull-ups with added weight or perform more challenging variations such as close-grip chin-ups or one-arm chin-ups.
The Best Calisthenic Workout for Biceps
Calisthenic workouts are a great way to build strength and tone your biceps without the use of weights or machines. Here are some of the best calisthenic exercises you can do to target your biceps:
Pull-Ups
Pull-ups are a great exercise for building upper body strength. Here is a step-by-step guide to performing pull-ups correctly:
- Begin by gripping the bar with your palms facing away from you, slightly wider than shoulder-width apart. Your arms should be straight and your legs should be bent at the knee.
- Slowly pull yourself up until your chin is over the bar, then slowly lower yourself back down to the starting position. Make sure to keep your core engaged and your body in a straight line throughout the movement.
- Aim for 3 sets of 10 repetitions each, with 1-minute rest between sets. As you become stronger, you can increase the number of repetitions or add extra weight to make it more challenging.
Chin-Ups
Chin-ups are a great exercise for building upper body strength.
- To do them correctly, start by standing underneath a chin-up bar and grab it with an overhand grip that’s slightly wider than shoulder-width apart.
- Keep your legs straight and bend your knees to lift yourself up until your chin is above the bar.
- Hold this position for a few seconds before slowly lowering yourself back down to the starting position.
When you’re ready to increase the difficulty, try doing chin-ups with one arm at a time. Start in the same position as before but use one arm to lift yourself up until your chin is above the bar. Then lower yourself back down and switch arms so that you’re using the other arm to lift yourself up. This will help build more strength in each of your arms individually while still providing an effective full-body workout.
Pseudo Planche Push-Ups
Pseudo Planche Push-Ups is a great calisthenic workout for biceps to increase your upper body strength and stability. This advanced exercise requires you to balance your hands while keeping your body in a straight line from head to toe. Here is how you can do them:
- Start in a standard push-up position with your hands slightly wider than shoulder-width apart.
- Engage your core and lift up onto the balls of your feet, so that only the tips of your toes are touching the ground. Keep your arms fully extended and make sure that your body is in a straight line from head to toe.
- Lower yourself down until your chest almost touches the ground then press back up into the starting position. Make sure to keep your core engaged throughout this exercise and keep your body in a straight line at all times.
Pelican Curls
The Pelican Curl is a great calisthenic exercise for the biceps.
- To do this exercise, begin by standing in an upright position with your feet shoulder-width apart.
- Bend your elbows and bring your hands up to chest level, palms facing outwards.
- Next, slowly curl your arms upwards until they are fully extended above your head.
- Then, slowly lower your arms back down to the starting position and repeat for desired reps.
It is important to keep your core engaged throughout the entire movement to ensure proper form and avoid injury. Additionally, be sure to keep a slow and controlled tempo as you move through the exercise. This will help you maximize the effectiveness of the exercise while also avoiding any strain on your muscles or joints.
Archer Pull-Ups
The archer pull-up is a great calisthenic workout for biceps. To do this exercise, you will need a sturdy bar or set of rings that you can hang from.
- Begin by gripping the bar with your palms facing each other and your arms slightly wider than shoulder-width apart.
- Slowly pull yourself up until your chin is above the bar, then lower yourself down in a controlled manner.
- As you pull up, focus on keeping your elbows tucked in close to your body and engaging your core muscles.
Once you have mastered the basic archer pull-up, you can add variations to make it more challenging. Try using a narrow grip, adding weight plates to increase resistance, or performing slow negative reps (lowering yourself slowly). With practice and consistency, you'll soon be able to do more reps and build stronger biceps!
Pull-up Iso Hold
The pull-up iso hold is an effective calisthenic workout for biceps.
- To perform the move, start by gripping a pull-up bar with your palms facing away from you.
- Pull yourself up until your chin is above the bar, then hold that position for as long as possible.
- Aim to hold it for at least 10 seconds before slowly lowering yourself back down.
To increase the intensity of this exercise, you can add weight by holding a dumbbell between your feet or wearing a weighted vest. You can also try doing the pull-up iso hold with different grips, such as a wide grip or a close grip. This will target different areas of your biceps and provide more variety to your workout.
Finally, make sure to rest between sets so that you can give your muscles time to recover and build strength. Aim for 30-90 seconds of rest in between each set depending on how challenging the exercise was for you.
Korean Dips
Korean dips are a great way to build strength and size in the biceps. This exercise primarily works the biceps but also engages the triceps and shoulders.
- To do Korean dips, start by standing with your feet shoulder-width apart and arms extended straight out in front of you.
- Bend your knees slightly and lean forward until your arms are at a 90-degree angle from your torso.
- From there, lower yourself down until your upper arms are parallel to the floor, then press up through your palms to return to the starting position.
Make sure to keep your core tight throughout this movement for maximum benefit. You can increase the intensity of this exercise by adding weight or doing more repetitions.
Ring Curls
Ring curls are a great way to target your biceps and can be done with minimal equipment. Here’s how to do them:
- Start by standing with your feet shoulder-width apart and grab a set of exercise rings. Make sure the rings have adjustable straps so you can adjust the height for different exercises.
- Place your hands on the rings, palms facing up, and arms straight out in front of you. Slowly curl your arms towards your chest, keeping your elbows close to your body as you do so.
- Hold this position for a few seconds before slowly lowering back down into the starting position. Make sure to keep tension on the muscles as you lower down, rather than letting gravity take over. Repeat this motion for 10-15 repetitions per set depending on how much resistance you’re using in the rings.
Curls With Bands
The curl with bands exercise is an effective way to target your biceps. To perform this exercise, you will need a resistance band.
- Start by looping the band around both hands and standing with your feet hip-width apart. With your palms facing up, keep your arms straight and begin to curl the band up towards your shoulders. Make sure to keep your elbows tucked in at your sides throughout the movement.
- Once you reach the top of the curl, pause for a few seconds before slowly lowering back to the starting position.
- Aim for 3 sets of 10-15 repetitions each set. As you get stronger, increase the tension of the band or add more sets and reps as necessary.
Remember to keep good form throughout this exercise and focus on using your biceps to control each movement. This exercise is great for building strength and size in your biceps without needing any weights or machines!
Conclusion: Get Started with Calisthenic Workout for Biceps
Calisthenics is a great way to get bigger biceps. It is an effective form of strength training that can be done at home or in the gym with minimal equipment. The exercises involve using your own body weight to build muscle and strength, and they can be tailored to target specific muscle groups like the biceps. With regular practice, calisthenics can help you develop stronger, more defined biceps.
In addition to building muscle, calisthenics can also help improve overall fitness levels by increasing cardiovascular endurance. This type of exercise is low impact and helps strengthen bones and joints as well as muscles. As such, it's a great choice for anyone looking to improve their physical health while also achieving bigger biceps.
Overall, calisthenics is an excellent way to get bigger biceps. With regular practice and dedication, it can help you achieve the results you're looking for without having to spend hours in the gym lifting weights.