📅 Sunday 13 September · 1.5 hours

Beginner
Calisthenics
Workshop.

Early bird · £30

Book the beginner workshop → OverGravity, Shadwell · small group · no calisthenics experience needed

1.5 hrs

Hands-on coaching

£30

early bird

Sun 13 Sept

OverGravity, Shadwell

📅 Sunday 27 September · 2 hours

Cali &
Handstand
Strength.

Early bird · £40

Book Cali & Handstand Strength → OverGravity, Shadwell · small group · prerequisites apply — see below

2 hrs

Hands-on coaching

£40

early bird

Sun 27 Sept

OverGravity, Shadwell

Your coaches

Who's teaching

▶Play intro

Elliott Staley

@elliottstaley

Founder & Head Coach

Founder of London Handstand Academy. Coaches handstands and calisthenics strength across London, with a diagnostic approach — find the actual sticking point, then train the thing that fixes it rather than repeating what already works.

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▶Play intro

Suryava

@flying_with_strength

Gymnastics & Calisthenics Coach

Over eight years in gymnastics, both training and coaching it. Brings the structure and progression-discipline of a gymnastics background to calisthenics — strong on rings, muscle-ups and the straight-arm strength most people skip past.

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What we'll cover

The session

Ninety minutes, split between the strength that builds handstands and the strength that builds pulling. You'll leave knowing which progression you're on for each skill — and exactly what to train next.

Handstand strength

Wall-supported shapes and stacking
Frog stance — your first real balance hold
Building the shoulder position that holds a handstand

Pulling

Pull-ups — from band-assisted to strict
High pull-ups: chest to bar, stomach to bar, hips to bar
Dead hang and scapular control

Pressing

Dips and the shapes that make them safe
Push-up progressions that actually carry over
Front support — holding tension under load

Muscle-up foundations

Banded muscle-ups
Jumping muscle-ups
Skin the cat — your introduction to rings

Is this the right level for you?

You train a bit of strength already
Pull-ups: anywhere from 0 to 5
Push-ups on your feet (knees are fine)
You can hold a front support
You can dead hang from a bar

This session is built for people who can't yet muscle up and are still learning the handstand. If you can already do both, Cali & Handstand Strength on 27 September is the one you want.

The session

Two hours on the skills that need a real strength base underneath them. We'll work the progressions properly — with breathing, bracing and honest assessment of where you actually are.

Handstand push-ups

Tripod shape and head position
Wall-supported negatives
Range and depth without collapsing

Muscle-ups

Jumping muscle-ups
Banded progressions
Ring muscle-up mechanics

Tucked planche

Lean, protraction and the hold itself
Building straight-arm strength safely

Intro to levers

Skin the cat
Tucked front and back lever
Straddle progressions

Prerequisites — please read honestly

30-second chest-to-wall handstand
5 strict pull-ups
You can lift yourself up on rings
Comfortable with 10 push-ups
Comfortable with 10 dips

These aren't gatekeeping — they're what the session's progressions are built on. Not there yet? The beginner workshop on 13 September is designed to get you there.

What people say

Straight from the mats

Feedback from our workshops at OverGravity, Shadwell — small groups, hands-on coaching, real progress.

A word from a recent workshop

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Inside a session at OverGravity

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★★★★★

Brilliant teacher. Lovely central venue. Learned a lot — thank you!

Lisa Colclough

Local Guide · Google review

★★★★★

First time attending such a workshop. A central location and ideal facility. The teacher was approachable and considered questions before answering. The class was structured well, with a comprehensive warm-up and progressively more difficult options. A conversational flow between teacher and students led to new ideas being explored and tried out — a calm and productive environment to further a handstand practice.

Jim Lee

Workshop attendee

Questions

I've never done calisthenics — is this too advanced?

No. This session assumes you do a bit of strength training and can hold a front support and dead hang. If you can do that, you'll be fine — we scale every progression on the day.

I can't do a single pull-up. Should I still come?

Yes. Zero to five pull-ups is exactly the range this workshop is built for. You'll leave with the specific progression that gets you your first one.

Do I need to be able to handstand?

No — you'll be learning. If you can already hold a handstand and muscle up, the intermediate session on 27 September is a better fit.

What should I bring?

Comfortable clothes you can move in, a water bottle, and grippy socks or bare feet. Chalk if you use it.

Can I do both workshops?

Absolutely — two weeks apart is a sensible gap. Message us and we'll sort a price for the pair.

What if I don't quite meet the prerequisites?

Be honest with yourself — the session moves fast and the progressions assume that base. If you're close but not there, come to the Beginner Calisthenics Workshop on 13 September instead and build toward this one.

I can do a muscle-up already. Is this still worth it?

Yes. We'll clean up the mechanics and move into tucked planche and lever work, which is where most people stall.

Are rings provided?

Yes — OverGravity is a full gymnastics facility, so rings, bars and mats are all there.

What should I bring?

Comfortable clothes, water, grippy socks or bare feet, and chalk if you use it.

Can I do both workshops?

Yes — plenty do. Message us and we'll sort a price for the pair.

Sunday 13 September.

Ninety minutes at OverGravity, Shadwell. Small group, hands-on coaching, and a clear plan for what to train next.

Book the beginner workshop — £30 → Early bird price · limited spots

Sunday 27 September.

Two hours at OverGravity, Shadwell. Handstand push-ups, muscle-ups, planche and levers — coached properly.

Book Cali & Handstand Strength — £40 → Early bird price · prerequisites apply

Beginner
Calisthenics
Workshop.

Cali &
Handstand
Strength.

Who's teaching