Ask Al - Why Don't YOU Have Bigger Muscles?

[@williamharding1319]

Watched Al's videos for years and it really got me into calisthenics. A few years ago I saw him walking on 14th street with his girlfriend. I said "Hey Al!" and he immediately said "Hey hey hey!". Super nice guy. Even got a photo with him. The good old days before covid!

[@SiwaBudda]

And then covid came and wiped entire World population 🤣

[@benvella1728]

The most polite way of saying "Cause I ain't on roids". Just stumbled upon this channel, good stuff.

[@willpeachable]

Still the most wholesome "fitness guru" out there. And he's been doing it for years.

[@daveparker2090]

I think the most important piece of advice any young trainee should hear is "There will come a day when you hear yourself say I can't do XYZ anymore because of XYZ " Being able to do anything at anytime for as long as you live, is the most important goal. I've got so much functional movement and strength back since finding the Kavadlo Bros, I'm shocked 👍👍👍

[@odjrin]

Al Kavadlo, the nicest guy on KZbin.

[@leehelppie4544]

i've been working out for over 50 years. i never wanted to get big, even when i was a powerlifter back in my late teens and early 20s. i'm nowhere near doing what you do, but i follow both your training and nutrition advice. i recommend your approach to people who are interested in calisthenics training. at age 67, i'm following the progressions from convict conditioning and working on my flexibility. getting big can tend to lead to health problems when you reach my age. your muscles are big enough to do the impressive skills you perform. thanks for sharing your knowledge with us.

[@Durzo1259]

@Nobody-rq2wj I think your size plateaus at a certain point with calisthenics. After that point you gotta take up heavy weight lifting to get even bigger than that.

[@stephendulajr.8124]

I like that the calisthenics community is about feeling good in your own body. You're the man Al! Respect.

[@arkhust6775]

Lets also not forget that most actors that have insane muscle development and most influencers we see on the internet are on some form of performance- enhancing drugs, this has distorted how a natural body should look like and when we face someone that doesnt consume drugs but has trained for so many years we think he/she is small when in reality thats how the body really looks like after so much time of working out AND being lean.

[@michaelrhodes6730]

I just subscribed. I'm a certified personal trainer and am 37, since training mma in my early 20s, I realized that being lean and strong and healthy is the way to go. I think big swole dudes like strongman-type dudes are good to have around to fulfill their roles cuz we need big guys and they are impressive but they seem to need alot of dietary maintenance and suffer alot of joint pain later on. I don't think the human body is happy being swole. It seems to want to be lean and built, but hey you can dp whatever you choose. Id like to be like Steve Maxwell and have his physique, even if it means not having hulk-like strength.

[@2gyi718]

Be it calisthenics or weightlifting, as long as you're stimulating your muscles hard enough and also eating enough protein and surplus calories, your muscles will grow.

[@datalearningsihan]

Very nice and humble man

[@elviseugene1233]

Al you have the perfect body for longevity! After all isn't that what fittness is about to have a healthy body.

[@trevbarlow9719]

Oh FFS, Al has a great physique! I'm sick of the ridiculous standards these days.

[@aryn7833]

I think your physic is great AL. Your body is strong, functionnal and very decently muscular!

[@LukeD91]

I had been fixated on trying to get bigger since I was in my teens, since switching over to Al's 'Get Strong' program and watching his videos, I am more than happy to embrace the size I am, and just enjoy the process of getting stronger! Thanks Al 😁 Big Fan ❤

[@jgbw6467]

I think you look fantastic Al. And that smile. 🤩

[@darylmckay]

Nicely said 👌

[@carlcoetzer6564]

Great to see you back on YT! You’re the whole reason I got into calisthenics 6yrs ago👍🏻

[@stluciestrength]

Right on Al. You have plenty of muscle. You're not overbuilt like bodybuilders. And much of that is just for show. And of course don't forget the "extra push" ( drugs) they take. But how many of them can do pistol squats or 1 arm pull ups? Keep it up Al.

[@Arthax83]

Al, if I would look like you and be able to do what you do, I would consider myself very happy and successful! Thank you for being you! Have a beautiful day!

[@5RRRtarRiver]

Sweet throwback pic, Al.❤️

[@KaimarkLifestyle]

Living legend.

[@SMOMOTIONTV]

What’s good AL. I practice a whole food plant based oil free , gluten free lifestyle and I am looking to maintain muscle mass without gaining weight. I have lost over 220 lbs in the past 5 years and have come a long way but now I feel stuck. Any help is greatly appreciated Kinfoke! Much love & respect! - SMO

[@Durzo1259]

Just wondering, why would you avoid oils? I thought olive, coconut and avocado oil were great for you.

[@MikeC-pd2vq]

Good to see more content!!

[@Discipleofyeshuahamaschiach]

Still strong as hell !!!!

[@mattc4266]

For his size

[@bangbangcabrera]

@@mattc4266 for any size. You wanna tell me the average Joe can do the things he does?

[@mattc4266]

@@bangbangcabrera it’s harder if you weigh 200+ pounds

[@bangbangcabrera]

@@mattc4266 ok? That doesn't negate that you need to be strong as hell to be able to do what Al can do.

[@mattc4266]

@@bangbangcabrera true

[@fluntimes]

Good to see these Ask Al videos back!

[@mrstoner2udude799]

Love Al s common sense answers. Im losing weight, so just getting firm fit is my goal.

[@TheDomin8rr]

Calisthenics builds better ligament & tendon strength than other methods imho. Muscles & bones are subjected to full ranges of motion & load in training & while results maybe not necessarily look as big what is there is tough like dolphin skin & can do things that seem impossible to mere bodybuilders. Calisthenics improves balance & posture too.

[@nyeintnyeint3667]

yes agree 100% with you... most people haven't realise that high BMI is never good regardless from FAT or MUSCLE. Lean and strong is the way to go. (Actually bulky is not sexually attractive as well.)

[@coreyfrisch3966]

I’ve always enjoyed Al’s content, whether it be in his videos, books, or magazine articles. I remember him talking about this in “Zen Mind, Strong Body.” He’s very motivating!

[@BulkierEmu050]

It's just because he doesn't want to but If he wanted to be bigger he could train for hypertrophy

[@damancandance1]

what a G, great insight man

[@ManuelOrtiz-tv7oe]

Love you bro

[@mauricio0341able]

I barely understand English but I like your way to explain, so I strongly believe I'll suscribe your channel

[@drpt26]

Great video

[@elliotgregory3356]

I think you have an ideal physique. Functional and strong. Look at a welter or middle weight boxer. In my opinion a far better look than a bodybuilder. And how you train is better for longevity. Just my opinion

[@michaelkulman7095]

Ask Al - Why Don't YOU Have Bigger Muscles? - A lot of calisthenic programs aren't designed like strength or bodybuilding programs...and steroids, and genetics, and it's complicated, and looks aren't athleticism or health... Skills based training is pretty different than raw general strength or hypertrophy. Power lifters train differently than bodybuilders... There are quite a few different catagories within calisthenics or bodyweight exercise with some approaching it more like bodybuilders, some not...

[@gogginsgoggins1338]

Real talk, new subscriber 👊🏻👌🏻

[@marcDS]

These videos are great, Al.

[@aperezdeal]

He’s a nice guy and won’t throw dirt at anyone but Al is clean, no drugs just consistent.

[@treyurquhart4508]

Al- What training program did you use to gain enough to be able to perform muscle ups and front levers?

[@ruckusfitnesd7505]

Hey hey hey Al I am currently going to college to get my PT qualification here in the UK do you know of any calisthenics qualifications that are available over here Thanks From Big Al. P.S Its good to see you back on you tube again

[@chessbrilliance8783]

Bruce Li wasn't big either, he would have been much slower and less explosif if he was too big. Big is good to show off , but that's about it.

[@anthonyjohn3445]

Excellent

[@StopTheDamnTape]

Great video, I’ve found myself fall away from the “trying to get big” trend too - it’s really quite mindless and insecure. I’m still into chasing pbs, but being healthy and enjoying life is more important.

[@blankspace1416]

I am180cm tall, weight 55.3 kg, have been lean for a long time (I can see fibers of muscle whenever I flex them), train like an engine, eat lots of proteins, carbs, a little fats, drink at least 1.5L of water every day and yet I don’t weigh more, instead it seems like I just replace fat with muscle. What am I doing wrong?

[@NAZMli]

Also Al Kavadlo deals with this issue from 02:18

[@MR-yb8od]

I've been there. It's simply not enough overall calories. Try to add a high calorie shake (oats, milk, protein powder and some healthy fats) daily.

[@critterdude311]

He's also not loaded to the gills with PEDs, which are rampant in the fitness industry.

[@scottmason1937]

Hey Al, when you slow exercises down and you don't get as many reps I worry I'm not trying hard enough, is there a way to get good form and know you're trying? Thanks for all the ask Al's.

[@30wrdy]

Biggest smile muscles I’ve ever seen

[@theleechqueen]

That's one of the reasons I'm unable to gain muscle beyond a certain point. I don't like eating too much food!

[@powderedtoastman3093]

That synthol pic is hilarious hahahaha

[@mayukhsen8195]

Thank you AL. This video makes so much sense. Funny story, I have a cousin who is obsessed with being big and having 20 inch arms. Only two exercises he does are diamonds and chin ups full rom. He can do 65 diamonds per set, for 10 sets, and 20 chin ups per set for 7 set. Full rom. 1 minute between sets. He has 19.6 inch arms, ripped, he is 228lbs. 5ft11inches. The size formula is simple for calisthenics. You need to be able to lots of reps of push ups and pull ups before failure, non stop, while weighing big and heavy, the ability of doing high max rep numbers ensure that majority of your bodyweight is muscle.

[@adeelali8417]

I don't believe it. He doesn't isolate his arms?

[@SpaceMarine113]

The problem with getting huge is not exercise, that is easy. The problem is diet. A natural athlete needs a shit ton of food to put size, way more than an enhanced one. This is not practical for most people who have a life abd other activities to do.

[@davidpearson8954]

Al, you are a dude. Thanks for being on YT. :)

[@NDemanuele1]

So does Al do exclusively Calisthenics? or does he do some weight training?

[@ashishshukla36]

Incorporating memes was a great idea 👍🏻👍🏻

[@clementkong8133]

To add to what Al says, what it essentially comes down to is this. If you have a slower metabolism, you'll be a lot beefier from doing calisthenics. If you have a faster metabolism, you'll be comparatively lanky; if you think about it, a naturally skinny person doing a pull up, vs a naturally chubby person doing a pullup; both are doing the exact same exercise but the naturally chubbier person is going to be pulling more weight because he has more bodyweight to pull, thus bigger muscles just simply because of the bigger workload. Both have their advantages and disadvantages. If you are naturally chubbier aka slow metabolism, it's a steeper hill to climb when you do calisthenics, but once you've climbed that hill, you will be a lot beefier and people would mistake you for pumping a lot of iron. If you are naturally skinny aka fast metabolism, you would still look athletic but comparatively lanky, but doing those calisthenic exercises is not as steep of a hill to climb. As for how much muscle you can expect to gain from calisthenics if you are naturally skinny aka fast metabolism? I think Al himself is the perfect example of that, for he too seems to be the type that has a fast metabolism.

[@tiger-rgn]

hi al, great points! i have a question though, could ir also be because you only push and pull your own weight? would you gain more muscle mass if you did more weighted calesthenics, and made it heavier over the years?

[@TheWebCoder]

Potentially, but he’d need to increase caloric intake too. Gotta feed the beast if you want to put on size

[@johnmortimerjbmfitness7753]

Genetics....

[@tiger-rgn]

@@TheWebCoderyeah so nutrition + consistently adding weight to your calisthenic workouts= hybrid bodybuilding calisthenics?!

[@magnushenriksen204]

Its about time under tension, spefically using your own bodyweight doesnt decide whether or not you will gain size since you can make it harder in a lot of ways

[@tiger-rgn]

@@magnushenriksen204 you can only go so far with the same weight, after a couple of years even the most difficult stuff becomes obsolete, but you can add weight to infinity

[@DavidKolbSantosh]

I would say that perhaps genetics also plays a part.

[@BulkierEmu050]

He just trains for strength purposes, it's not that he can't get big.

[@DavidKolbSantosh]

@@BulkierEmu050 anyone can get bigger but genetics always plays a part on how fast and/or how much. Those with good genetics to build muscle get bigger easier, this is well known. There are those with those kinds of genetics that will put on more muscle mass than Al by doing the same as him!

[@alkavadlo]

I agree that genetics is a factor. I have another video titled "How Jacked Can You Get With Calisthenics" that talks more about the role of genetics: kzbin.info/www/bejne/a6S3k3ecetmcntk

[@JW0121]

While that's true its irrelevant for this case as he has been training for OVER 30 YEARS and it was all in has hands to gain weight to get the bulky physique but he chose not to by his own choice due to the reasons here. Anyone can get the bulky look if your training for over 30 freaking years lol ( with the goal to get big and bulky and eating like crap )

[@RitchieRosson]

Imagine you’d gone down the steroids road. You could be in a box by now. You look amazing Al.

[@allenarrows9347]

calisthenics is about practicality than aesthetics

[@mathdavies9546]

Functional strength

[@allenarrows9347]

bulking involves committing to big servings of protein like meat, fish, eggs and poultry

[@paulcarlson4230]

D9nt eat enough, but that isn't always good

[@tractor720]

that's called a hard gainer ;-) (a skinny person who has troubles to build up muscles mass)

[@Syazwan1990]

But.. you're 200% natural. 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@Durzo1259]

I'm sure a lot of it boils down to the fact that Al eats only 1 meal day. Great to stay slim, but you need caloric surplus to get bigger than Al.

[@loucummins7918]

I know coach Wade and he said Al is tiny!

[@ALbertoDoriguzzi]

Ahah ultimate warrior! 🤦🏻‍♂️🤣🤣🤣 You are the best

[@Twobirdsbreakingfree]

For a guy of average height, you really don't want to weigh much more than 85 kg.

[@insanoibro6331]

Why not?

[@Twobirdsbreakingfree]

@@insanoibro6331it's likely that you'd be fat or on steroids

[@STIXAHOY]

Muscle mass has become a media fueled.......overhyped .......gauge of fitness

[@whereisfester]

He walks around everyday looking like an mma fighter ready to go, I'd say that's amazing. His bro is ripped, too, and a bit bigger.

[@波撚頭]

More muscle mass = easy callisthenics skills

[@Xtramedium1961]

You’ve plenty of lean muscle I reckon you’re just too polite to mention the obvious gear abuse for those larger guys, 30 lbs of steak is serious gains on your frame mate, cheers from Dublin Ireland 🇮🇪

[@СергейАнатольевич-к9д]

Большие мускулы!😂 а нахуя они нужны вопрос!?большие мускулы это ещё не признак силы.

[@seansartor]

The short answer: Body building MASS is NOT sustainable over a lifetime. Most body builders have "juiced" in their competitive years; and once their 50+y/o they tend to be in declining health

[@billlane7911]

Bodybuilding is not everything i enjoy body weight training

[@DarthNoshitam]

I'm sorry, but everyone is a fan of Arnold movies!

[@synthonaplinth5980]

Umm, because he doesn't do steroids and his muscles are pregenetically disposed to BE that size?!? I'd KILL to be as lean as Al.

[@ps5xboxseriousx407]

Your very functional have balance and athletic so your more unquie than this mass monster

[@rangosantana]

Way healthier anyways

[@ajw9533]

You can't out-train genetics.

[@pricerowland]

Al is stronger and moves better than most of his calisthenics will at that age. Results speak for themselves.

[@alexpiper1115]

men who look leaner as they get older 🥵 >>>>>> men who body build and have big muscles in their older age 🤮

[@jarrasmith1]

For a natural to look big, you have to carry a lot of body fat. Which I am not interested in. To get huge muscles. You have to be willing to get on the juice. Which I also am not interested in.

[@eddiegardner8232]

You have plenty of lean, athletic looking muscles, Al. And your chest hair and thick beard makes you look very macho, so who needs to be awkwardly big when you have the “lean, mean, fighting machine” persona all wrapped up.

[@VeganRichPT]

Please go Vegan 💥 ... You'd be a mAsSiVe KZbin HIT 💥.

[@VeganRichPT]

I don't mean that you aren't already a HIT by the way 😁.

[@Leafie1]

Veganism sucks (4 me at least), tried it for 3 yrs lost gains and mental health and got inflammation in elbow and shoulder that took 2 yrs to recover from

[@mathdavies9546]

How do you know if someone is a vegan ?