Overcoming Gravity is a comprehensive guide that provides a gold mine of information for gymnastics and bodyweight strength training.
Steven Low takes readers on a journey to build highly effective strength-based routines using a structured, science-backed approach. He breaks down the physiology behind bodyweight strength and helps readers prepare their bodies for advanced training without injury.
This resource dives into areas many other fitness books overlook — including injury management, lifestyle adaptations, progressive programming, and the key factors behind successful long-term training.
Whether you’re a beginner, intermediate, or advanced athlete, you’ll find step-by-step guidance to structure routines that evolve with your abilities.
Highlights include:
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Clear explanations of exercise science and training principles
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Powerful methods of progression to break through plateaus
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Sample programs tailored to different levels and goals
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Real-life examples and detailed technique guidance
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Improved illustrations for easier movement understanding
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Smart training splits and modification strategies for every body type
📌 Please note: This book focuses on strength training and does not include gymnastic skills like tumbling or cartwheels.
aaron (verified owner) –
Great book. Gave me an understanding on how to implement an exercise program based on my schedule, of how and why to make my own precise program and how to progress. In the past 4 months I have moved up 4 levels on the progression chart in the book and I work out 4-5 times a week for about 45-60 minutes a week. I do not do the perfect program of a pro for time reasons, but I know what I need to adjust to make something work for me. For whatever sports you do, if you are serious about it, this book help you know what and how to train. If you teach or coach this is a great book to help you. Even if you do one of the below programs this book will help. Though it is geared toward gymnastic exercise it goes over the basics of the various types and how and when you use them. He does not tell you what is best but gives you the data to decide what works for your purpose.
My friends were into Convict Conditioning and my physio friends are doing the Gymnastic Bodies program. This got me interested in doing a gymnastic based program. I researched online and found 4 basic ones that seem to be the most popular. I went with this book as it was not hundreds of dollars. I did not want to pay for a program that I spent a lot on and might not stick with. This had good reviews in terms of applicability. Even the section on injuries change my view on recovery. Now if I wake with a stiff neck or something like THAT, I handle it different and a lot more effectively. This alone made the book worth it.
The other programs were:
Convict Conditioning was 7 basic movements and was limited for me and has a slower progression than I liked. It has a basic book that was $30 ($10 used) but once you hit a point you need to buy other books from the author to advance.
Gymnastic Bodies costs a couple hundred for the beginner program and about $750 for the full program. This is geared toward getting to the professional standards and is based on a very strict program. The author/coach is very strict and is very critical of anybody else’s program. Some of his students are also like this but most seemed helpful with online questions. If one was going to go to competition levels this would be a good program. He keeps pushing how he was the junior nationals coach though the majority of us do not fit into that category and training a bunch of teenagers does not necessarily qualify one to train 30-70 year old people. Though I think he has a good workable program and can work for others.
Gold Metal Bodies is similar to Gymnastic Bodies (but not per the above coach) and priced the same. If I get advanced enough I may pay for this program but that will be in a few years.
Cons to this book are: it is a bit technical in vocabulary. When I started reading it I had zero gymnastic knowledge, no idea what the Victorian or iron cross was or some of the biology terms. I ended up using YouTube and Google to get a good understanding of these terms, it helped a lot to be able to actually see what he was talking about. I had 2 friends who saw me reading the book and tried to get through it but gave up. If you find it too complex there is a cheat sheet on how to get started fast, just Google it. Though I recommend reading the book. The main critical reviews were on how it was written. Yes there are some typos and sometimes it is a bit repetitive or not elegantly written but this is not why I bought the book. I wanted something that works and teaches me how to make a program and this does that. In the book he says to make your own program and not use his example programs. If you were like me and had no experience, just use his example programs, they work fine.
So thank you Steven for a great workable book.
SonoGuy (verified owner) –
Tons of material to digest. Comprehensive text as others have mentioned.
omar (verified owner) –
This is one of the best calisthenics books out there. Number one. I know a lot about calisthenics and this is perfect. It’s the Bible of calisthenics. It has everything you need to know and the progressions are there. There should be more exercises on legs but it’s all good. It has a lot of ring progressions as well. It also talks about weights and how it can help you in calisthenics. the reason why calisthenics athletes don’t train legs is because they think that their skills will go down. It’s true but if you train your legs for mass then you will suffer on your skills. it will get harder. this book explains everything you need to know about calisthenics. If you are a beginner to calisthenics or fitness, then this book might be a little hard to understand. Overall, get this book if you are serious about calisthenics.
However. The only thing I hate about this book is that it does not talk much about nutrition. It only has 2 or 3 pages talking about nutrition. It doesn’t tell you how much you should eat. It doesn’t tell you how to eat for weighted calisthenics or for skills. it doesn’t tell you how to stay lean year round. It just tells you to eat clean and low calorie foods to stay lean and eat plenty of protein. Basic stuff. What j want to know is how do we eat if we train skills or weighted calisthenics. Or even high reps calisthenics basics. how long and how much is too much. If you go into a surplus your skills will suffer because you weigh more but it doesn’t explain when you should bulk or cut. It doesn’t talk about when you should bulk or cut. I’m still confused as to how we should eat if we want to progress in weighted calisthenics, skills, endurance, reps and sets, weight training, hiit, etc. how do we eat if we train all of this? Do our macros change? It doesn’t talk about macros that much. There needs to be a book about nutrition or at least add some more info or try to explain more in detail because without nutrition how do you expect us to achieve these skills. we can’t just eat to stay lean. We also need to eat to gain muscle. if you eat a lot you will get heavier so to me it makes no sense whatsoever as to how calisthenics athletes and gymnasts eat. I’m pretty sure they don’t eat the same way as bodybuilders. A lot of books and videos out there do not and I mean do not talk about nutrition because nobody knows. I have been looking for an answer and nobody seems to know the answer. nobody seems to know anything about eating right. How much, how long, and why? Nobody can explain if we should bulk or cut. Nobody knows how to explain the concept of nutrition. The answer is nowhere to be found.
Kalin G. (verified owner) –
I love the amount of information and all the progressions in this book. I feel like I have progressed since I bought this two weeks ago.
I used to train only with weights but I am now realizing calisthenics is much more effective. Will give an update in a few months.
Dylan (verified owner) –
The book is an invaluable resource for anyone interested in gymnastics and bodyweight fitness, and contains comprehensive information on all aspects of training, creating programs, and injury rehabilitation and prevention. I have learned many new skills due to the detailed wisdom and form cues in the book. Steven Low is a true expert in his field.
PNWester (verified owner) –
This book helped changed my life. I got back into fitness after a ten year hiatus and using this book has helped me lose 40 pounds. I went from doing 3 pull ups to over a 100. Every other thing I’ve been working towards feels like it is within reach. And I’ve done it without major injury. It breaks down every thing you need to know about how the body builds muscle, how to build routines and how to progress towards different levels of individual exercises. Without a doubt one of the best purchases I’ve ever made. You stuck with it and you will see results.
vrod (verified owner) –
I spend a few years looking for this book! This book is KING when it comes to bodyweight or calisthenics every althetes I know has recommended this book. I am currently studying to get good insight and it’s a GOLDEN token. If your are in bodyweight, calisthenics or general fitness this book is in top 5 of books to read!
Holly Hillmann (verified owner) –
This book is incredible. It will answer every question you have about calisthenics and fitness. It will also answer every question you didn’t even know you had. I can’t imagine all the time and research that went into writing this. Bottom line: this is the go to choice if you’re looking for a guide for fitness and calisthenics.
Tania Prybylski Blair (verified owner) –
Such a well researched and well written book. I’ve struggled with decision paralysis when designing a workout plan, and this book helped me a great deal. It also answered several unknown unknowns, factors that I didn’t realize were holding me back or that I was training incorrectly.
Thank you Steven!
Michael Masanek (verified owner) –
This book has all the information you need to begin or amplify your fitness journey. Its build as a solid reference guide that you’ll keep coming back to and consistently learn more each time. It might scare away someone looking for a spoonfed workout plan. This book has all the tools, you need to choose what you want to build.
yaniv (verified owner) –
Really great book for beginners and intermediate
Juarez (verified owner) –
If you think, maybe, i should buy this book, buy this book. Whether you know everything or are just getting started, buy this book. Read this book. Its easy. Is it in your cart yet?
Randy (verified owner) –
The end al be all book of programming your own calisthenics workouts