Calisthenics has become the word in fitness. Much of Crossfit is down to calisthenics – body-weight movements that chisel away the fat and build a ridiculously sculpted body. Animal-style exercises like the Chameleon Walk, or classic moves such as the ubiquitous Human Flag (yes, the one you’ve seen all over the Web), have led to shredded, ripped bodies around the globe.
Who are the Asian calisthenics kings? We give you a glimpse into their world. You might wanna sit down for this one.
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Hung Yee Chan might just be Taiwan’s best body. The former fitness instructor found fame as a Dolce & Gabbana model and has appeared in GQ, and Men’s Body magazine. This hottie has a body that just don’t quit. That’s because he works out at midnight, taking to parks to do suspended ab crunches. He doesn’t miss a beat even if he’s overseas, performing front levers in Thailand and flipping into handstands in Harbin.
His motto in life: “Rock your body,” he posted recently on Instagram. He also told Element Magazine that “regardless of the successes or adversities (in life), we should aim to be healthy, be at ease, confident and press on”. You keep doing that, Chan Hung.
Photo: Yee Chan Hung/Instagram
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Warren James Li is an American Ninja Warrior whose Insta feed often shows him in suspended animation. Superman push-ups, jumps, handstand push-up claps and single-handed planches are all his jam.
Known for his street workouts and explosive power, this guy is a beast. We love his clean posts and clear intention to continually level-up. Not to be missed are his videos showing super-awesome choreographed fitness action with him and his muscle bros.
His motto in life: “Wake Up, Kick Ass, Be Awesome, Repeat…” he said in an Insta post in 2017.
Photo: James Li/Instagram
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It is not an exaggeration to say that Nicholas Joel Leong is an all-rounder. He’s a calisthenics fan who can do a mean backflip, flip tires tirelessly, and do bar work like nobody’s business. He was one of Cleo’s 50 Most Eligible Bachelors in 2013, and is a model, a Universal Studios performer, and a breakdancer proficient in power moves such as hand hops.
His feed is full of thoughtful quotes, sometimes from his friends. He is also in training as a guide for an adventure group, Beyond Expeditions, so you’ll get to see him travelling – and throwing down moves – in places like Mongolia.
His motto in life: “You can only grow if you’re willing to feel awkward and uncomfortable when you try something new,” he wrote in 2017.
Photo: Nicholas Leong/Instagram
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Jey Sng was a scrawny kid who wanted to build some muscle before hitting NS. He stumbled on the Bar Brothers’ calisthenics training videos and nutrition programme on Youtube and BAM! he has built a physique that rates on the Golden Adonis Index, and is a fitness model and trainer. His playful photos and videos show him at his community classes in Toa Payoh, but also of him at muscle competitions and at photo shoots.
His motto in life: “GOOD things come to those who believe, BETTER things come to those who work hard, and the BEST things come to those who believe, work hard and NEVER GIVE UP,” he wrote on Instagram in 2017.
Photo: Jey Sng/Instagram
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Bollywood, anyone? This actor has dedicated himself to the art of calisthenics and plyometrics in order to achieve his rock-solid frame. His Instagram is dope, showing him at Bollywood events (there he is with Shah Ruh Khan), as well as him doing Parkour and acrobatic workouts.
“There is nothing wrong with gymming or weight-lifting, but I believe there are other ways a sculpted body can be achieved,” he said in an interview.
His motto in life: “Aspire. Dream. Train. Achieve. Inspire,” he wrote in an Insta post in 2017.
Photo: Taaha Shah/Instagram
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Daryl Yeap, founder of the Asia Calisthenics Federation, is #nextlevel awesome. His human flag over the water at a reservoir walkway shows his crazy strength, while choreographed calisthenics moves in his Insta videos show off his creativity.
His moves are advanced, and the tricks that he throws in would probably end up in a face-plant or two if one were to try them out! He may not post often, but this hottie is a fascinating follow thanks to his penchant for freestyling.
His motto in life: #TheWorldIsYour Playground, he hashtagged in a 2017 post.
Photo: Daryl Yeap/Instagram
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This piece of gorgeousness is a fitness trainer turned Mr World medallist. He’s a big fan of body weight movements, telling the Philippine Star that his cut bod is thanks to cardio, calisthenics and free weights.
The Phillippino-Persian will post videos of himself doing crow push-ups (watching him move those long limbs is… fascinating…), handstand push-ups, and him with battle ropes. What can we say? This is classic body beautiful. On our wishlist: Slo-mo vids.
His motto in life: “Fit is not a destination, it is a way of life,” he wrote in a post in 2016.
Photo: Sam Adjani/Instagram
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Leonn Ho, an endorphin junkie and personal trainer in Singapore, believes in animal movements so much that his Insta handle refers to the lizard walk.
He’ll post vids of himself doing V-sits and planches. He’ll do housework such as cleaning the floor while performing calisthenics moves. He’ll post pics of… local breakfasts. We like the Singapore flavour, and the fact that he seems like the approachable everyday guy.
His motto in life: Ho quoted Lao Tzu recently in a post, saying: “‘A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step’… I’d like to go on to say that ‘A journey of a thousand miles is but a culmination of single steps’. Go for it, keep going for it and you’ll get there.”
Photo: Leonn Ho/Instagram
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Hideo Muraoka is Japanese-Brazilian perfection. The Philippines-based model keeps fit by doing all sorts of conditioning workouts, from boxing to yoga, according to his Insta feed.
But he is a big fan of functional calisthenics movements, posting Insta pics of himself doing classic moves such as burpees, mountain climbers, or working the gymnastics rings. His feed also shows him and his picture-perfect family on their travels.
His motto in life: “Remember the emphasis on the heart. The mind lives in doubt and the heart lives in trust. When you trust, suddenly you become centered,” he wrote, quoting the famous Indian guru Osho, in an Insta post in 2017.
Photo: Hideo Muraoka/Instagram
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Hong Kong’s John Chan has the face of a sweet geek and the body of a muscle god. The dichotomy is intriguing. Add to that the fact that he is a star in the Calisthenics scene, known for his positive attitude, and you have the kind of guy who’s intensely likeable.
He fell in love with calisthenics thanks to a background in gymnastics, and ended up opening Hong Kong’s Trybe gym, where he hopes to help keep people healthy through movement and sensible nutrition.
His motto in life: “There’s a quote: ‘Don’t focus on others, focus on yourself’. But I don’t see it that way,” he told #Legend magazine in 2017. “I think if you see something great done by others, you can also feed off of that, but never be bitter or negative about it. That’s how I stay motivated.”
Photo: John Chan/Instagram
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Laos-born, France-based Newton Hanuman is hardcore ripped, making him some of the best eye candy around. He’s part of a duo called Double Dragon, which posts Youtube vids of workouts that use both weight-lifting and calisthenics.
His bar work is ace, and he sometimes straps weights onto his body while doing, say, pull-ups. Just, you know, for the heck of it.
His motto in life: The dude doesn’t say much, but often posts with hashtags #beastmode and #nevergiveup. You get the idea.
Photo: Newton Hanuman/Instagram
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Yoshi Sudarso relocated from Jakarta to Los Angeles with his family at the age of 9. He and his brother, Peter Adrian Sudarso, made their names doing all sorts – fashion blogging, modelling, acting, cosplay… you know, anything to pay the bills.
Now, he’s listed as an actor and stuntman (er, he’s a Power Rangers actor), and according to his Twitter account, he has been a follower of Brendan Meyers, a Calisthenics Youtube guru.
You can tell Sudarso’s work has paid off – especially since he can’t seem to keep his shirt on in his Insta posts. Yum.
His motto in life: “The more I train and workout, the more I crave Hot Cheetos, burritos, stuffed crust pizza… This is my destiny,” he wrote on Twitter in 2016.
Photo: Yoshi Sudarso/Instagram
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