Functional Strength Secrets of Ancient China: China has a history of strength training going back thousands of years. In fact, the earliest evidence of organized calisthenics comes from China and dates back more than 5,000 years, with body weight exercises becoming part of military training not long after and organized group calisthenics showing up by the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD). In particular, China was host to a wide variety of functional strength methods. As with most cultures, stone liftin