Article: Why We Train Differently - Bodyweight Training vs Traditional Cardio

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Mar 28, 2026

Why We Train Differently - Bodyweight Training vs Traditional Cardio

Variety truly is the spice of life.

When it comes to movement, it's no different. We could put one foot in-front-of-the-other or pedal in one direction only, or we could move our entire body in every direction? ...skip, jump, lunge, lift, push and pull - forwards, backwards, side-to-side, up in the air or lower yourself to the ground.

Everywhere we go we take our bodyweight with us - no equipment needed. Our bodyweight is the perfect resistance for building the proportional strength and athleticism we need to operate efficiently for our size.

Traditional cardio such as running, cycling, swimming and rowing bring great benefits, but you repeat the same movement, using the same muscles, through the same range of motion. Bodyweight training can allow every limb and joint to move through its full range of motion while targeting every muscle group with one exception, the back - you cannot perform a pull without a bar to hold on to. So rowing has the upper hand on that one!

Bodyweight training is the most efficient way to train in a short space of time. If running, cycling, rowing or swimming is performed with 100% intensity, they're all going to tire you out fast! However, doing a full-body movement like burpees with 100% intensity will tire you out fast but it utilises almost all of the body.

Using our bodyweight we can perform a mix of strength (e.g. isometirc holds) and cardio. You can't do both when you run, row, cycle or swim.

You can run, cycle or swim with someone, but you don't rely upon their participation to complete the task. Movement makes your partner accountable and vcie-versa , like linking feet while you do sit-ups, or holding a plank while your partners burpees over the top of you. Movement together builds trust and builds connection.

Movement offers infinite variety from our fingers to our toes and encourages adaptations to every part of our physiology, improving mobility, stability, agility, strength and speed = pure athleticism.