Teen improves strength and physique without using weights
Calisthenics athlete Robin Klijsen does a back lever. • Photos Submitted
By Tom Victoria
Robin Klijsen significantly increased his strength without lifting a weight. The 17-year-old Netherlands native is a calisthenics athlete capable of amazing feats.
Calisthenics also enhanced Robin’s physique. As with many other athletes focusing on that exercise regimen, which employs body weight in lieu of barbell weights, he enjoys it.
“Calisthenics means a lot to me because it always cheers me up,” Robin said. “When I'm training, I get to rest in my head. You only think about my training, form and what I have to do next. The rest you don't think about anymore. It also gives me a lot more self-confidence.”
He explained the ability to train anywhere adds to the appeal.
“Calisthenics appeals to me the most because you can do it anywhere,” Robin said. “You can start at any level. It's very cheap because you don't necessarily have to buy a gym membership or a lot of weights. There are more and more calisthenics parks where you can train for free but it is also possible outside in the garden or in your room. The skills you learn in the longer term look impressive. And because of this, you always have something to work toward. And you can always make the exercises more difficult and make them at your level.”
Robin, who developed a shredded physique doing calisthenics, performs a hanging L-sit.
He also enjoys not being restricted in what he learns.
“You do whatever you want,” Robin said.
He never stops trying to improve his abilities, incorporating weights now to increase the difficulty and executing harder moves.
“At the moment, I am working on getting the full planche and freestyle more under control and getting better at this,” Robin said. “Also, I'm still trying to get some more strength. I recently learned the front lever with a 35-kilo vest and one finger. I could already do the back lever but I am also working on this to be able to do it with one arm. I am currently working on making more schedules and coming up with different exercises to keep variation in it and thus make the training more and more fun and also make more progress.”
He started his fitness journey a year-and-a-half ago. In addition to a leg injury that ended his competitive running, Robin wanted to improve his physique.
“I was really skinny,” Robin said.
Robin took quickly to calisthenics, mastering skills in no time.
“I did a muscle up after two weeks,” he said about the difficult pull-up that continues until a person’s waist reaches to the bar and beyond.
Unexpected adversity didn’t deter Robin from sticking with calisthenics.
“Unfortunately, because of some health problems and injuries, I had to take a rest for a while,” he said. “And because of this, I had to pick up a large part again. I've been really working on my workouts for 10 months now if we leave out the injuries and health issues.”
Robin doesn’t have a problem staying motivated.
“I just want to be the best version of myself, so I just want to get better every day,” he said. “For myself, I just really enjoy training and I don't consider it something I have to do. So for me, it's very easy. If I could give tips to other people who have some difficulty staying motivated, it would be: think of training as a kind of work. If you don't feel like working, you still get out of bed to go to work. That should be the same with training then.”
Robin has a 90-degree hold on the bar.
Robin suggested finding a workout partner.
“You will set higher standards for yourself,” he said. “For me, that also worked well because I often train with a friend of mine. He sends videos to me of what he has done and then I have the urge to also train and send back another exercise. Other friends of mine also give exercises at random times of the day.”
Robin’s friends will send videos with a challenge to do more than they did.
“That also motivates you to show that you can do it,” he said. “So find people who can help you motivate and train together.”
Robin posts on Instagram and Snapchat to motivate others.
“I like to help others in the field of calisthenics because I know quite a lot about it and how I can best teach people a certain exercise,” he said. “When they have finally achieved that particular exercise, it gives a kind of adrenaline rush.”
Robin does an elbow lever on a roof.
After starting to work out, Robin eventually discovered his passion for instructing others.
“When I had the basics under control, a friend came to train once,” he said. “And then I found out that I really like to help others with this in order to get the best out of themselves. Everyone is also happy if you help them and for everyone it has benefits. And in the field of social media, I not only motivate my followers but they also motivate me.”
Robin also offers training programs for those seeking some guidance. He dispensed advice for those also wanting to improve their fitness.
“If you want to start calisthenics yourself, my advice would be you have to be patient,” Robin said. “Start with the basics such as push-ups, dips, Australian pull-ups, chin-ups, core exercises. Start with the basics and then move on to the elements if you feel that urge. You have to be careful with some exercises because some can be very dangerous if you do not perform the exercises properly, want to go too fast or skip steps.”
Robin highly recommended those wanting to become fitter try calisthenics.
“You will learn a lot of skills.”
The link to Robin's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robinklijsen/
