The street gymnastics called Calisthenics can be practiced anywhere without using professional training apparatus and is attracting many young people in Hanoi to exercise.
Calisthenics comes from the exercises of gymnasts in Eastern European countries, such as Russia, Latvia and Ukraine. After leaving gymnastics, the athletes returned to normal life and created many beautiful movements. Over time, this gymnastic genre has spread to America, Europe and Asia regions. In Vietnam, Calisthenics has been developing in the big cities for two years.
According to Nguyen Ngoc Khanh, Head of the Brother TN Calisthenics team, he and his friends learned about Calisthenics through online clips. Initially, they only did the basic exercises, such as push-ups, pull-ups and running. Later, the number of people interested in doing Calisthenics was on the rise, so they decided to establish the Brother TN Calisthenics team and created more difficult and beautiful movements.
According to Nguyen Ngoc Khanh, Head of the Brother TN Calisthenics team, he and his friends learned about Calisthenics through online clips. Initially, they only did the basic exercises, such as push-ups, pull-ups and running. Later, the number of people interested in doing Calisthenics was on the rise, so they decided to establish the Brother TN Calisthenics team and created more difficult and beautiful movements.
 Handrails on Hanoi streets are also used for doing Calisthenics. Photo: Van Quyen/VNP  Performing Calisthenics movements at the corner of Le Duan and Dai Co Viet Street. Photo: Van Quyen/VNP  A billboard pole on the street also becomes a tool for doing Calisthenics. Photo: Van Quyen/VNP  Calisthenics dancers can practise anywhere. Photo: Van Quyen/VNP  A difficult movement performed by Calisthenics dancers. Photo: Van Quyen/VNP  A difficult movement of Calisthenics. Photo: Van Quyen/VNP  A push-up from lying parallel to the ground requires a lot of practice by the dancers. Photo: Van Quyen/VNP  Back lever is a difficult movement so only 1-2% of people who do Calisthenics can perform it. Photo: Van Quyen/VNP  A difficult movement performed by Calisthenics dancer. Photo: Van Quyen/VNP  Difficult movements require the mutual support of the dancers. Photo: Van Quyen/VNP  A member of the Brother TN Calisthenics Club relaxes in his own way. Photo: Van Quyen/VNP  Beautiful movements of Calisthenics dancers draw the attention of people in Lenin Park. Photo: Van Quyen/VNP |
Witnessing the rehearsals of the Brother TN Calisthenics team we saw the passion of its members. The movements of pull-ups and push-ups performed by the team members seemed to become artistic skills of the real artists, such as balancing the body in the air and hanging by the neck. The most difficult movements that only 1-2% of Calisthenics players can perform are balancing the body in the posture of lying parallel to the ground while holding the bar to make a 45 degree angle, and the movement of balancing in the push-up posture with the feet not touching the ground.
To do such difficult movements, Calisthenics enthusiasts must patiently practice in any conditions. Moreover, this is a sport that helps the players strengthen their muscles by using their own body weight instead of dumbbells or barbells, so the practice process requires the players to have endurance, balance and the will to be able to control the body easily and flexibly.
Calisthenics has not only developed in Hanoi but also has spread to Quang Ninh, Hai Phong, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City, attracting an increasing number of young people to join. In November, 2014 members of the Brother TN Calisthenics team will hold a competition among Calisthenics teams in the North, Central and South of Vietnam to popularise this sport and make it become more and more professional in the future.
To do such difficult movements, Calisthenics enthusiasts must patiently practice in any conditions. Moreover, this is a sport that helps the players strengthen their muscles by using their own body weight instead of dumbbells or barbells, so the practice process requires the players to have endurance, balance and the will to be able to control the body easily and flexibly.
Calisthenics has not only developed in Hanoi but also has spread to Quang Ninh, Hai Phong, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City, attracting an increasing number of young people to join. In November, 2014 members of the Brother TN Calisthenics team will hold a competition among Calisthenics teams in the North, Central and South of Vietnam to popularise this sport and make it become more and more professional in the future.
Story: Ngan Ha - Photos: Van Quyen
