--- product_id: 1280275 title: "Overcoming Gravity: A Systematic Approach to Gymnastics and Bodyweight Strength by Steven Low (2011-11-12)" price: "S$137" currency: SGD in_stock: true reviews_count: 13 url: https://www.desertcart.sg/products/1280275-overcoming-gravity-a-systematic-approach-to-gymnastics-and-bodyweight-strength store_origin: SG region: Singapore --- # Overcoming Gravity: A Systematic Approach to Gymnastics and Bodyweight Strength by Steven Low (2011-11-12) **Price:** S$137 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** Overcoming Gravity: A Systematic Approach to Gymnastics and Bodyweight Strength by Steven Low (2011-11-12) - **How much does it cost?** S$137 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.sg](https://www.desertcart.sg/products/1280275-overcoming-gravity-a-systematic-approach-to-gymnastics-and-bodyweight-strength) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description Low, Steven Review: Worth it - The book felt a little expensive at fifty dollars ($43 on desertcart), and it's not even a hardback (Compared to Becoming a Supple Leopard hard cover for $28). But it's over 500 pages, the reviews are great, people on /r/bodyweightfitness seem to really love it, and /u/eshlow is around helpfully answering questions with a positive attitude, so I decided to buy it. After making my way through most of the book, I'd say it's worth much more than what I paid for it. The book isn't just about gymnastic movements; it's almost (see Other thoughts below) an all around workout companion. He spends chapters discussing why and how to develop a balanced routine, and the various ways to go about doing so. He talks about goals and having a plan; strength vs endurance. He talks about programming, what a beginner should follow all the way up to programming for people at the level of competitive gymnasts. He talks about programming for more experienced individuals, and what they can do to continue making progress (daily undulating periodization, heavy/light days, other variations). He talks about problems people have, possible workarounds, and expectations if you have other commitments. There's a chapter on rehab and how injuries affect you and what you can do about it (see a doctor! before it gets worse!). He spends time talking about diet, supplements, and other factors like sleep at the end of the book. If you're serious about fitness, you probably already know most of what is covered in the main text portion (or not; I learned acetaminophen is not an anti-inflammatory). The rest of the book (more than half of it) is devoted to the appendices. He covers sample programming for all levels: what a beginner might cover, an intermediate routine, an advanced workout, and all levels in-between. Another appendix is devoted to the progressions. Here he details the entire progression series from basic movements to full mastery, and explains what each step requires. There's also a quick reference chart to see the progressions at-a-glance. I find Overcoming Gravity to be a very useful reference book. I pick it up all the time to ensure I'm doing a movement right. The progression chart is very helpful, especially with the lateral comparisons in difficulty level (e.g. overhead press vs headstand pushup). It's also helpful to know what to do next (so I can L sit, now what?), or at least, show different options, and it's useful to see what movements can lead to (e.g. leaning dips to maltese). The real value for me is the detailed explanation for each step of every progression, and to a lesser extent, all the material covered in the main section of the book. Pros - Covers all aspects of routine building for all levels (main text), and most related topics - Quick summary progression chart - Detailed explanation for every step of every progression (and a few bonus items) - Author is experienced (gymnast) and knowledgeable (physical therapy) and available (/r/overcominggravity) - All topics are covered in detail (this isn't a short book) Cons - Photographs are low quality - Type-setting is sub-par - Lack of editor is very apparent, grammar mistakes galore, constant use of "we" - No footnotes. Mentioning relevant scientific studies would have been helpful. Other thoughts - Gymnastics work is somewhat lacking regarding leg progressions. This is mentioned in the book, and it's suggested that barbell training be pursued for legs and it's never really discussed again. This is perhaps one of the only things keeping this book from being a "complete" workout guide for a bodyweight-focused routine. - There are several egregious editorial mistakes ("If they are to be used consistently through a mesocycle be careful look for plateaus that as they may develop early because of the extra toll on recovery." p76, "Unlike the front lever, there are many different exercises that help develop the front lever..." p358) and many minor ones throughout the text, but the information contained therein is accurate and congruent with the current scientific understanding of strength training. - If I had a friend interested in learning gymnastics type movements I would definitely recommend this book. Review: A long-needed resource - Overcoming Gravity was (assumedly) written to fill the void in quality bodyweight / gymnastics training literature. A lofty goal, but one that many members of the fitness community had been waiting with bated breath to see accomplished. Although many books have been written in the realm of bodyweight / gymnastics training, they have all been fatally flawed in one regard or another: scope of content, not understanding core audience, or fundamentally flawed information. Overcoming Gravity manages to avoid these major pitfalls while presenting a wealth of information. The major drawback seen in this book is simply due to the self-published nature of it: there are consistent typos throughout the book. Despite this flaw, the style of writing is lighthearted and personal, which still allows the reader to quickly and enjoyably flow through the content. This style helps additionally in that the reader can actually understand what's being read without excessive amounts of going back to review. This is no easy feat to accomplish with information that is this dense. One might also consider it a negative point that there is no discussion of lower body training in this book, though the author and fellow readers have been quite clear in promoting it as solely an upper body training guide. The static holds and dynamic movements in OG are demonstrated with digitally drawn mannequins. While this decision might have been partially fueled by time restrictions or logistics, it works. Each position and movement is demonstrated in way that is easily recognizable. The explanations accompanying each exercise are detailed and clear. Most importantly, the actual process of going about constructing a training routine is written with the utmost attention to detail. While the author provides various sample routines for different skill / strength levels, he adheres to the "teach a man to fish" school of thought; no facet of creating a proper program is overlooked. To top all of this off, a very common roadbump in gymnastics-style training is addressed: injuries. General prevention and rehabilitation methods are discussed but are also accompanied by a quite extensive list of injuries that are commonly associated with training in this manner (of course with corresponding instructions on fixing and preventing the issue). I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in acquiring upper body gymnastic strength skills OR anyone who is looking for general strength and muscular development in the upper body. ## Features - Used Book in Good Condition ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | #1,531,912 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #270 in Gymnastics (Books) #2,214 in Sports Training (Books) | | Customer Reviews | 4.6 out of 5 stars 306 Reviews | ## Images ![Overcoming Gravity: A Systematic Approach to Gymnastics and Bodyweight Strength by Steven Low (2011-11-12) - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/911k2j0cXNL.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Worth it *by T***9 on October 3, 2013* The book felt a little expensive at fifty dollars ($43 on amazon), and it's not even a hardback (Compared to Becoming a Supple Leopard hard cover for $28). But it's over 500 pages, the reviews are great, people on /r/bodyweightfitness seem to really love it, and /u/eshlow is around helpfully answering questions with a positive attitude, so I decided to buy it. After making my way through most of the book, I'd say it's worth much more than what I paid for it. The book isn't just about gymnastic movements; it's almost (see Other thoughts below) an all around workout companion. He spends chapters discussing why and how to develop a balanced routine, and the various ways to go about doing so. He talks about goals and having a plan; strength vs endurance. He talks about programming, what a beginner should follow all the way up to programming for people at the level of competitive gymnasts. He talks about programming for more experienced individuals, and what they can do to continue making progress (daily undulating periodization, heavy/light days, other variations). He talks about problems people have, possible workarounds, and expectations if you have other commitments. There's a chapter on rehab and how injuries affect you and what you can do about it (see a doctor! before it gets worse!). He spends time talking about diet, supplements, and other factors like sleep at the end of the book. If you're serious about fitness, you probably already know most of what is covered in the main text portion (or not; I learned acetaminophen is not an anti-inflammatory). The rest of the book (more than half of it) is devoted to the appendices. He covers sample programming for all levels: what a beginner might cover, an intermediate routine, an advanced workout, and all levels in-between. Another appendix is devoted to the progressions. Here he details the entire progression series from basic movements to full mastery, and explains what each step requires. There's also a quick reference chart to see the progressions at-a-glance. I find Overcoming Gravity to be a very useful reference book. I pick it up all the time to ensure I'm doing a movement right. The progression chart is very helpful, especially with the lateral comparisons in difficulty level (e.g. overhead press vs headstand pushup). It's also helpful to know what to do next (so I can L sit, now what?), or at least, show different options, and it's useful to see what movements can lead to (e.g. leaning dips to maltese). The real value for me is the detailed explanation for each step of every progression, and to a lesser extent, all the material covered in the main section of the book. Pros - Covers all aspects of routine building for all levels (main text), and most related topics - Quick summary progression chart - Detailed explanation for every step of every progression (and a few bonus items) - Author is experienced (gymnast) and knowledgeable (physical therapy) and available (/r/overcominggravity) - All topics are covered in detail (this isn't a short book) Cons - Photographs are low quality - Type-setting is sub-par - Lack of editor is very apparent, grammar mistakes galore, constant use of "we" - No footnotes. Mentioning relevant scientific studies would have been helpful. Other thoughts - Gymnastics work is somewhat lacking regarding leg progressions. This is mentioned in the book, and it's suggested that barbell training be pursued for legs and it's never really discussed again. This is perhaps one of the only things keeping this book from being a "complete" workout guide for a bodyweight-focused routine. - There are several egregious editorial mistakes ("If they are to be used consistently through a mesocycle be careful look for plateaus that as they may develop early because of the extra toll on recovery." p76, "Unlike the front lever, there are many different exercises that help develop the front lever..." p358) and many minor ones throughout the text, but the information contained therein is accurate and congruent with the current scientific understanding of strength training. - If I had a friend interested in learning gymnastics type movements I would definitely recommend this book. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A long-needed resource *by G***X on March 1, 2012* Overcoming Gravity was (assumedly) written to fill the void in quality bodyweight / gymnastics training literature. A lofty goal, but one that many members of the fitness community had been waiting with bated breath to see accomplished. Although many books have been written in the realm of bodyweight / gymnastics training, they have all been fatally flawed in one regard or another: scope of content, not understanding core audience, or fundamentally flawed information. Overcoming Gravity manages to avoid these major pitfalls while presenting a wealth of information. The major drawback seen in this book is simply due to the self-published nature of it: there are consistent typos throughout the book. Despite this flaw, the style of writing is lighthearted and personal, which still allows the reader to quickly and enjoyably flow through the content. This style helps additionally in that the reader can actually understand what's being read without excessive amounts of going back to review. This is no easy feat to accomplish with information that is this dense. One might also consider it a negative point that there is no discussion of lower body training in this book, though the author and fellow readers have been quite clear in promoting it as solely an upper body training guide. The static holds and dynamic movements in OG are demonstrated with digitally drawn mannequins. While this decision might have been partially fueled by time restrictions or logistics, it works. Each position and movement is demonstrated in way that is easily recognizable. The explanations accompanying each exercise are detailed and clear. Most importantly, the actual process of going about constructing a training routine is written with the utmost attention to detail. While the author provides various sample routines for different skill / strength levels, he adheres to the "teach a man to fish" school of thought; no facet of creating a proper program is overlooked. To top all of this off, a very common roadbump in gymnastics-style training is addressed: injuries. General prevention and rehabilitation methods are discussed but are also accompanied by a quite extensive list of injuries that are commonly associated with training in this manner (of course with corresponding instructions on fixing and preventing the issue). I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in acquiring upper body gymnastic strength skills OR anyone who is looking for general strength and muscular development in the upper body. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Overcoming Yourself *by A***R on April 11, 2012* Mmm. Let's see here. This book is a very comprehensive work on the subject of building your upper body strength through gymnastic movements and body-weight progressions. If you wish to build a body that you are the master of, this book is a giant leap in the correct direction in terms of learning what your body can do. However, the book doesn't stop there! Which would have made it an excellent reference in terms of upper body-weight training (With a gymnastic slant). The author has also gone into great detail about the process behind muscle building, why you should train at a specific set/rep/rest time, and how to put together your own program to progress through these movements at your own rate and pace. There's such a wealth of information packed in here that it can be a little overwhelming, but if you take the time to read through the book and absorb what's being given to you, you'll come away knowing something new. =) Furthermore, the author continues to aide others both seasoned and new to the fitness world by being very active in the online community. He is extremely helpful to anyone with questions, so not only are you getting an excellent book, but you have the option to get some top notch customer support as well. ;) He is constantly open to discussion on the contents of the book with regard to what can be improved, changed, updated, etc. The information in this book continues to grow and evolve because of how active the author is. It's truly wonderful for those new to fitness such as myself. =) For a bit of an anecdote: I'd just started looking for a body-weight training program, and was getting ready to start Convict Conditioning. However, I happened to read a thread about the author of this book doing a little Q&A session. Reading through the thread really helped, to me, show that the author actually cared. It seems, to this guy anyways, that he really wants to help you if your goal is to release the gymnast inside. That's what really pushed me into getting the book. That and the manna. I mean, seriously. Who doesn't want to do a manna? So, it basically boils down to if you're new to fitness or looking to dive into the world of gymnastic body-weight strength training, this book will serve as an excellent jumping off point, as well as the next two or three steps down the road. All depending on your own dedication, commitment, and motivation. =) The one minor con that most readily comes to mind is very minor grammar errors sprinkled throughout the text. But putting aside the pedantic gnome in all of us, you can easily overlook the small errors in grammar that creep up. Certainly no reason to look down on this book. --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.sg/products/1280275-overcoming-gravity-a-systematic-approach-to-gymnastics-and-bodyweight-strength](https://www.desertcart.sg/products/1280275-overcoming-gravity-a-systematic-approach-to-gymnastics-and-bodyweight-strength) --- *Product available on Desertcart Singapore* *Store origin: SG* *Last updated: 2026-11-05*