My Calisthenics Journey: From Beginner to Bodyweight Strength Mastery
How Calisthenics Transformed My Life: A Journey of Strength, Passion, and Growth
This article is my story - it’s one of finding my passion, putting my all into that passion, and a mixture of seeing where that passion leads me, as well as taking hold of certain opportunities that presented themselves along the way. We all have a story. If you are still trying to figure out where yours ends up, or to seek inspiration on where you want to take it, I do think there are a few lessons you can take from mine. Anyone can do what I’ve done. Here, you will see exactly how I’ve done what I’ve done, and the timeline showing how I got here.
Check the full youtube video here
Fifteen years ago, I was just a clueless kid with no direction. Fast forward to today, and I’m a professional athlete, coach, and business owner. Looking back, it’s been an incredible journey filled with challenges, milestones, and lessons that have shaped me into the person I am today.
Many people assume I had a background in gymnastics that gave me a head start in training. The truth is, skateboarding was my passion growing up. While it may not seem relevant to what I do now, skateboarding taught me a fundamental lesson: practice makes perfect. That mindset carried over into every aspect of my journey.
Pre-calisthenics Sondre
2011 – From Skateboarding to Calisthenics: The Spark That Changed Everything
Despite my love for skateboarding, the injuries were piling up, and in 2011 I decided to quit. After high school, I took a gap year, which I mostly spent partying, eating whatever I wanted, and never training. My lifestyle made me feel terrible.
One day, I randomly stumbled upon a YouTube video of people performing planches, human flags, and handstand push-ups. That moment changed everything. I became obsessed, diving into online forums like GymnasticBodies and soaking up inspiration from calisthenics legends like Frank Medrano, Daniel Vadnal (FitnessFAQ), and Simon Ata (SiMonster). Little did I know, a decade later, I’d be coaching alongside some of these icons.
2012 – Balancing Studies and Calisthenics: My First Year of Bodyweight Training
In 2012 I began my studies in environmental engineering while dedicating every spare moment to calisthenics. I didn’t record too much of my training in these early days, but I do have one rare clip of me attempting a bent-arm planche. This was the year I truly committed to training.
2013 – First Muscle-Up, Human Flag, and the Beginning of Handstand Strength
My first major goal was mastering a handstand push-up, which sparked my love for handstands. 2013 was a huge year—I achieved my first muscle-up, back lever, and human flag. I started to become addicted to the progress I was experiencing, and each new milestone fueled my motivation.
2014 – Unlocking Advanced Calisthenics Skills and Entering My First Competition
The early stages
In 2014, I achieved my first 90-degree handstand push-up and made solid attempts at the straddle planche. Three years from when I began training, my handstands started to evolve, and I started exploring creative movements. This is also the year I entered my first national street workout competition, where I ended up taking fifth place.
2015 – From Athlete to Coach: Mastering the One-Arm Pull-Up
First one-armed pull up
In 2015 I competed again, this time placing third. That year, I also pulled off my first one-arm pull-up—a huge strength milestone. My training style became more creative, and I started working toward a one-arm handstand. I also started coaching, formed a calisthenics group, and launched an Instagram page to connect with the community.
2016 – Calisthenics on the World Stage: Competing and Studying Abroad
In 2016 I won the Street Workout World Cup stage in Hong Kong and made it to the Superfinals in Beijing. At the time, I was living in Shanghai as an exchange student, juggling university, training, and competing on the world stage.
2017 – Holding My First One-Arm Handstand and Refining My Flow
Some skills came slower than others, but after two years of persistence, I finally held my first one-arm handstand. Meanwhile, my Instagram gained traction as I shared more of my journey.
about 6 years in to calisthenics training : first one armed handstand!
2018 – Leaving the Stage Behind: Returning to Movement for Passion
Burnt out from competing, I decided 2018 would be my final year on stage. I shifted my focus to training for the love of movement rather than competition. That year, I also completed my master’s thesis, started a PhD in electrical power engineering, and met the love of my life, Sunniva.
2019 – Chasing the Impossible: The One-Arm Handstand Push-Up
finding my own style and aiming high
Strength training had always been my strong suit - in particular, I naturally seemed to excel with my pushing strength. Probably because I’ve always liked it most. So, in 2019, I set an ambitious goal: achieving a one-arm handstand push-up. As far as I know, it’s never been done before. The journey to this goal has been a relentless test of my limits.
2020 – Coaching Online and Building Strength Through Calisthenics
In 2020, my Instagram went viral, and with five years of coaching experience, I decided to take things online. I launched my online coaching platform and YouTube channel. My one-arm handstand significantly improved, and I started experimenting with more intricate strength training methods.
2021 – Launching My App and Achieving the Full Planche
After ten years of training, I finally achieved my full planche and front lever. I also managed two consecutive one-arm pull-ups. This is also the year I launched my personal training app, designed to help others master calisthenics and handstands.
Some skills came quicker than others. The planche took me 10 years
2022 – Going All-In: From Athlete to Fitness Brand Founder
In 2022 I went all in, turning my passion into a full-time career. I traveled, met, and coached alongside athletes I had admired for years. I developed my training app further and created more content, leading to explosive growth on YouTube and Instagram.
Sunniva and I also took on a new challenge: launching our own fitness brand, Movement Made. We wanted to create minimalistic, functional, and sustainable training equipment and activewear.
Bringing an ethical brand to life
2023 – Building a Brand, Becoming a Father, and Living the Dream
2023 was the craziest year of my life. I traveled the world, overseeing the creation of our product line. I sourced sustainable materials, partnered with ethical manufacturers, and expanded Movement Made internationally.
Then came the biggest surprise—on November 25th, 2023, Sunniva and I welcomed our daughter, Nori, into the world. Dad jokes were now officially on the table.
Nori getting an early start in the calisthenics game
2024–2025 – Balancing Fatherhood, Calisthenics, and Building a Legacy
This year, my goal is to maintain my strength, develop our family business, and be as present as possible for my daughter. I’ve focused on helping more people through educational content and refining my coaching app. Our natural activewear line is finally completed, and, most recently, I’ve finished my latest project: writing a book on handstands.
What Calisthenics Taught Me: 5 Life Lessons from My Journey
Looking back, here are the biggest lessons I’ve learned:
Passion Fuels Progress - Skateboarding ignited my love for movement. When I found calisthenics, I pursued it with the same intensity, and it changed my life.
Consistency Over Time Wins - My progress was never overnight. Each skill took years of training, patience, and setbacks.
Reinvention Is Key - I evolved from an athlete to a coach, entrepreneur, and father. Growth comes from embracing change.
Help Others, and Opportunities Will Follow - My business grew because I focused on sharing my knowledge and inspiring others.
Family is Everything - Becoming a father gave me a new perspective. Success means nothing if you can’t share it with loved ones.
Final Thoughts: Why Passion and Consistency Will Take You Further Than Talent
From a lost teenager to a professional athlete, business owner, and father, my journey has been anything but predictable. It’s proof that passion, persistence, and the willingness to evolve can lead to incredible places.
No matter where you are in life, remember—change is possible. You just have to take the first step.
