From Workouts to Real Talk: Building a Community for Youths

Cheng Wee (left) and Daemon (right), founders of Caliversity

Six days a week, unassuming neighbourhood fitness corners across the island come to life.

A diverse group, spanning from eight- to sixty-year-olds, are doing handstands, push-ups, and pull-ups, getting their calisthenics workout in. For the uninitiated, calisthenics is a type of strength training that relies on using body weight as resistance.

Moving between the crowd and correcting their forms are Ng Cheng Wee, 25, and Daemon Chan, 26. The two calisthenic enthusiasts are the founders of Caliversity, a community-driven fitness movement that aims to promote bodyweight training in an accessible way.

A chance meeting that brought together two kindred spirits

Caliversity in its founding days (Photo credit: Caliversity)

Caliversity (a combination of “calisthenics” and “University”) was born from a case of mistaken identity.

“I had arranged to meet with a friend to work out at a fitness corner in Woodlands. Just nice, Daemon was also there and my friend mistook Daemon for me.” Cheng Wee recalled.

That chance encounter in 2020 would eventually develop into a close friendship. Spurred by their shared love for calisthenics, Cheng Wee and Daemon started training together alongside mutual friends.

To document their calisthenics journey and reach out to others, they began creating educational content across YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok under the blended moniker. While viewers sought feedback, the pair felt there was a limit to the effectiveness of online coaching.

“We felt a bit stuck because there wasn’t a physical place in Singapore where people gathered to do calisthenics. So we thought, ‘Why not start something?’”

From navigating awkward beginnings to growing a physical community

Daemon and Cheng Wee conducting a session in Ubi fitness corner

Buoyed by a shared vision, the two put up a post on their personal social media accounts stating the date, time and location of their first in-person session. Just five people showed up. But through word of mouth, the class quickly gained traction.

“At one point, we had up to 40 people show up for our Saturday session. That’s when Daemon suggested we organise classes every day, at different locations around Singapore, with the goal of kickstarting a community in each neighbourhood."

Six times a week (from Monday through Saturday), Caliversity conducted training sessions across the island in locations such as Boon Lay, Canberra, Hillion, Redhill, Ubi, and Punggol. Daemon manages the training logistics, while Cheng Wee focuses on networking and branding.

Caliversity is open to the public, and everyone is welcome to join. Weekday sessions start promptly at 6pm, and people who are interested in learning just show up. Classes are open format with no fixed lesson structure.

“Our sessions are really just a place where you come down and practise. Some message us and say they are afraid to come down because they have workout anxiety or are out of shape. But there's nothing that you need to have, you just need to be willing to try.”

Bringing life to Singapore’s fitness corners

Daemon explaining a workout during a session

Beyond honing physical strength and gaining new abilities, Caliversity is also about nurturing bonds and friendship.

In the spirit of fostering an inclusive community, Daemon and Cheng Wee remind everyone – newcomers and regulars alike – to be open and welcoming towards others. Clearly, their efforts have paid off in spades.

Participants have meals together after sessions. Children from different schools and cohorts hang out. Some even invited Cheng Wee and Daemon to their school performances. Kids bring their parents down for a workout. And parents drop them appreciative messages to thank them for encouraging their kids to become more active.

“We are not being paid and do not charge our members. We do it solely to spread awareness of calisthenics in Singapore. In return, we get a family-friendly group and a sense of belonging – that’s something that can't be bought with money.

We started off as a bunch of random people gathered in one place. Now, we are our own community.”

Daemon and Cheng Wee, assisting one of their participants to do a handstand

Reviving our community spaces through a shared passion for fitness

Along the journey, the duo also realised they had unexpectedly become leaders and role models to youths and senior members alike.

“We understand we have a certain responsibility to those willing to learn from us. To be in a position where we can positively influence others is special. So I always want to give my best and ensure Caliversity remains a safe space.”

Cheng Wee and Daemon, posing with participants of their Friday’s Ubi fitness corner session

Currently, Daemon and Cheng Wee are the only trainers. Eventually, they hope for Caliversity sessions to be fully run by its members, and are actively nurturing community leaders from among their regulars to achieve this goal.

Another item on their wishlist is having a dedicated space to call their own. But Cheng Wee remains mindful of Caliversity’s humble origins — all you need to practise the sport is gravity and proper technique.

By encouraging fitness and play in shared neighbourhood spaces, the ground-up initiative has organically kindled a new spark of the community spirit among those who gather.

It goes to show that sometimes, to build a community, you just need to grab a friend, show up, and get moving.

Just like how Caliversity began as a ground-up movement, you too can foster ties and build your own community around you – whether through shared workouts at a nearby fitness corner or connecting with fellow residents to pursue a hobby together. It might change the way you see the space, and who knows, you might even find your own little community, right in your neighbourhood.