INTERVIEW WITH ANTON GUIDERA FROM UK
ATHLETE INFORMATION:
Full Name: Anton Guidera
Nickname: Sensei
Age: 26
Country: England, UK
SOCIAL INFORMATION:
Facebook (fan page or profile): The Compound UK
Twitter: The Compound UK
Youtube Channel: The Compound
Website: thecompound.co.uk
EXTRA INFORMATION:
Time doing street workout: 4 years
Important events (ex.: local or international championships):
UKBC BarJam’s
Street Workout World Cup Stage of victory Madrid
Street Workout World Cup Stage of victory Oslo
Team: TheCompound
Team website or fan page: thecompound.co.uk
QUESTIONS:
How did you get involved in the street workout world?
While I was training with mainly weights and machines in a gym, I was shown a video of Hannibal for King by a friend, 4 years ago. I started implementing calisthenics heavily into my routines and actively chasing moves like the muscle up. I started looking for places to train, like parks and pull up bars, but they were scarce or of poor quality. I then approached a youth club which I had been going to for years with the prospect of building some bars in their garden and they agreed.
Why did you choose to practice street workout?
I had never seen such incredible strength or such a physique before Hannibal for King (and thats after years of following bodybuilding). I kind of dropped the dumbbells and looked further into this madness. I then learnt its was acquired by using only calisthenics, or bodyweight training as I knew it then, and NO WEIGHTS OR MACHINES???!
I wanted to be as strong and as ripped as this guy, thats why I chose Street Workout.
How is street workout reflected in your life?
It is a very large part of my life, maybe a bit more than that. Street Workout is my journey, my passion, my mission and my dream. I am not a religious person at all but I feel like this path was meant for me, destiny if you like. I have always struggled with working a full time job, settling down and doing what society says I should do. Street Workout has given me something to chase instead of the mundane things that really don’t crave you a history.
What are your short term, mid term and long term goals with street workout?
I believe that telling your goals dillutes them. That buy talking about them you get a small sensation that you actually have achieved them, and this makes you less hungry to achieve them. I’d much rather show you, Sorry…
How many times do you workout during the week?
4-9 times a week.
Do you have any specific workout plan or you just improvise and do your thing?
No pen and paper, I’ve tried that a lot of worked out and written plans but have never progressed that way. My plan is to keep it simple and clean, but as difficult as possible.
Which would be the most complex move you achieved (tell us about the process it took you, to achieve it)?
I would say one arm pull up. I have owned it fair few times but it is still so difficult for me. When I focus on it gives me injuries, I found I had it better when I used it more for freestyle then set or routine training. It involves so much strength and technique.
I was training negatives and holds to no avail. Then one of my members cracked it in a matter of months of starting calisthenics. I watched him each session before he got it, just trying to do it. At the start of every session he’d just have a go on each arm, failing, failing and failing over again. Then he came in one day after 4-5 weeks of trying, and got it. Me and the other team members now all use that technique to learn one arm pull ups. This method requires a lot of determination and acceptance of failure. It is the hard way but the quickest.
Which would be the best experience you had doing street workout?
I have many good experiences within different areas of Street Workout that bring many different emotions and feelings. But to pick one… I cant help but feel a certain sense of pride when I see the phenomenal athletes that have been made on the bars I built with my own hands, even though its them who put in all the hard work to get to what they are. It’s a great feeling knowing you have helped people.
What inspire or motivate you to keep on doing street workout?
Seeing its growth around my town and county motivates me massively. The body I get from it is of course very useful (if you know what I mean) but having people join and progress to then surpass my level keeps me pushing. I have always known that this sport would be massive eventually and this has been another thing that drives me, to help push it to success and be a sort of pioneer of something so beneficial to the world.
Which would be the worst experience you had doing street workout?
The worst experiences have probably been the most useful ones. Failing, being surpassed by my team members, these are what teach you valuable lessons in life and keep you humble. If I succeeded at everything first time I would probably be a big headed buffoon.
What do you expect from the street workout community in the next couple of years?
I can see it becoming big business in the next couple of years, I just hope it maintains what got it big for in the first place. Supplying incredible strength and healthy bodies to people that cant afford, get into or enjoy the gym. Social enterprise, business for the benefit of the many and not just for the owner of the company.
Can you give an advise for all the people that would like to start doing street workout?
Dont be scared to fail over and over and over again. I have the same admiration for a person that keeps trying and straining over and over again for there first pull up as I do for the man that pushes for his 50th pull up.
Share some words to inspire the community:
Dream big and keep compassion and forgiveness in your heart for yourself and others. This sport offers so much opportunity for you to help yourself and many many more people. If you haven’t got bars in your area BUILD SOME, if you haven’t got a team/community in the area MAKE ONE. You get one life! What are you going to leave behind?