Hannibal For King – Pinnacle of Body Weight Training

Written By: Todd Kuslikis
November 21, 2011

hannibal for kingSo there is a dude that goes by the name of Hannibal For King (the Humble Android) that might be one of the craziest body weight calisthenics experts alive. Some of his body weight exercises are extremely intense. For example, he can do a straight arm flag pole off of a gate, hanging ab flutters and a ton of other insane body weight moves. I’ve been following him for awhile now and decided to write a post about him and share some videos.

Hannibal For King Background

I’ve been trying to dig up information on his background but am having a difficult time. Can’t find his real name though I found he lives on the South Side of Queens and his occupation is a Personal Trainer and Calisthenics Expert.

I do know that he must have signed a deal with Hostage Media to produce his first DVD called Hannibal For King “The Wait Is Over”. On the site it says he is a Trainer, Model, and Actor. Above is the link to his DVD. Here’s more information on Hostage Media:

Bodyweightculture.com also seemed to have reached out to him to endorse one of their products: the U.S.A. (the Universal Strength and Power Apparatus).

Hannibal For King Social Media

Here are the links to Hannibal’s Social Media Accounts:

Hannibal On Facebook

Hannibal On Myspace

Hannibal On YouTube

I have a bunch of Hannibal For King Body Weight Videos below that are truly insane.

Hannibal For King Videos

 

 

Barilla Vs Hannibal

 

NBXA held in the Bronx New York City, a freestyle calisthenics tournament

 

White Hannibal For King

I found this guy that goes by “White Hannibal For King”. He is intense too. Not quite as bad as the original Hannibal For King but still tough as nails.

 

Show/Hide Comments (41 comments)
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41 Comments
  1. Emma

    Hi Todd,

    First, I want to let you know that I’m a huge fan of yours!

    Second, Hannibal for King’s real name is Khaled M. Rifai.

    Reply
  2. John

    Great site.
    E-mail response appreciated.
    I want to keep it real simple.
    Muscle and strength.
    That being said what type of routine and how many days with just these.
    Bodyweight Squats
    Chinups
    Pushups
    Dips
    Sprints
    Ab Exercise
    Thanks a mil!

    Reply
  3. Rog

    Hey Todd

    Slightly related question (white Hannibal is wearing one), I want to add a weigh vest to tran with, have you got any recommendations?

    Love the info, thanks for running the site.
    Cheers
    Rog.

    Reply
  4. Webdesign zeeland

    Hello! I’ve been reading your weblog for a long time
    now and finally got the bravery to go ahead and give you a shout out from Humble Tx!
    Just wanted to say keep up the fantastic job!

    Reply
  5. HFK

    Does someone know his real name ? 😀

    Reply
    • Todd Kuslikis

      Love the video H!

      Reply
  6. Todd Keeports

    Hey all! I’m hoping to learn more detailed information on Hannibal For King’s actual diet. A lot of folks say he eats a lot of junk food and has no healthy diet regimen to speak of. Can anyone clear up the confusion? What does he really eat, and how much junk food does he actually allow in his diet? Thanks. Peace and love

    Reply
  7. A. Turner

    Great post ! It’s definitely hardcore for a beginner like me but somewhat somehow I feel a little tingling sensation of becoming a more manly man !! 🙂

    Reply
  8. toni g

    how often go hannibal to training?
    and how long is a training?
    sorry for my bad language,im from germany

    Reply
    • Todd Kuslikis

      Hi Toni,

      I believe in one of the videos I watched he said he trains for 2-3 hours a day every day. Hit Richards trains for even longer.

      Reply
  9. J. F. O'Neill

    Hannibal Lanhan is his birth name.

    Reply
    • Todd Kuslikis

      Hi JF, interesting. Do you have a source for this info?

      Reply
      • J. F. O'Neill

        In the body of the profile, it has some background on him too.

        Reply
        • Todd Kuslikis

          Awesome site J.F.! Thanks for posting!

          Reply
  10. Shaquil Njovens

    Hey I was wondering, do you know the workouts that Hannibal does to get so strong?? Because I believe he has a lot of different workouts but I can’t find a place where he lists all his workouts that he uses. I’m also looking for the workouts that the white hannibal does also if you could provide me with information about that.

    Thank You

    Reply
  11. Tony

    Hannibal is unbelievable. By the way here’s more info on him…He just celebrated his 35th birthday.

    Reply
    • Todd Kuslikis

      Thanks Tony! This is great! It’s hard to see Hannibal building models but that’s pretty cool. Appreciate the link!

      Reply
  12. John239

    Hannibal doesn’t use weights, and eats what he wants. The junk food helps motivate him to get back out there and burn it off. He works out multiple times per day for two hour sessions. He also doesn’t use roids or any of those shortcuts that body builders and pro athletes use..I.e. he doesn’t cheat like they do. He has been at it for nearly two decades. Take a look at the guy and you will see there is no substitute for hard work and time put in. He also says that the results of calesthenics last longer and your body adapts to it that is why he is able to work out every day, even the same muscle groups. I believe it will take longer to get results but the results are better in the long run if you keep at it. I have lost all respect for pro athletes especially baseball and football players because the vast majority are juicers. Same for body builders. So Hannibal has all my respect, he is all natural and the result of hard work.

    Reply
    • Todd Kuslikis

      Hi John,

      that’s right. I saw that on an interview of Hannibal too. He is awesome. I do believe he would be even better if he followed a solid nutrition plan but he is an inspiration to me so I won’t try to take anything away from him.

      Reply
  13. Nab Seplaco

    Hi,
    I love your blog so much and I see you talk about Body-Weight Training . Perhaps you will like these videos and share it on your blog.

    How To Do More Pull Ups
    https://youtu.be/NnN8ksvVRIQ

    An Amazing strength video
    https://youtu.be/j3MTqRWPiZU

    A workout routine to try or follow
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zk9jp9rJ3Ss&feature=share&list=SP2EAA9EF3B32F50EF

    How to get a bigger chest, how to workout your chest muscles
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhkpbzU3sRY&feature=share&list=SP2EAA9EF3B32F50EF

    Abs workouts, or how to get a six pack
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pl1XbjxZndw&feature=share&list=SP2EAA9EF3B32F50EF

    Extremely ripped man
    https://youtu.be/QdmYTYAqHG4

    Inspiration, inspirational video
    https://youtu.be/GrFIB0l9rkE

    learn about core
    https://youtu.be/hwQt3fCmV6A

    old man working out
    https://youtu.be/ZhKOAPMm9Qk

    you can workout anywhere
    https://youtu.be/_4FvQnSpx-o

    how to do a human flag
    https://youtu.be/nW9qs4l–Yc

    how to workout legs, how to do lunges, good exercise for butt, calves, ham strings https://youtu.be/rYYK447lC2U

    Here is our official channel https://www.youtube.com/user/OfficialBarstarzz
    Our website is http://Www.Barstarzz.com we have a blog that you can find on the home page.

    Thank you and have a great day. ..

    Regards
    Barstarzz

    Reply
    • Todd Kuslikis

      Hey Nab,

      I am a huge fan of Barstarzz and happy to promote your stuff to my audience. Let me know if there are any other partnerships you want to work on.

      Keep rocking it!
      Todd

      Reply
  14. Daya Muthu

    Hi Todd,

    Great site first of all. I was and still am, a little sceptical about just using the body weight itself to attain the bodies of Hannibal and the rest, yours included my friend. 🙂 You mentioned to Mark ( post dated June 20th ) that you would help devise a routine for him. I need one badly.
    I am in the Philippines at the moment. Let me know any info you would like to know of me and my lifestyle. Email me at Thayalan.Muthu@westernunion.com please.
    Thanking you in advance Todd. Have a great one.

    Respects,
    Daya

    Reply
    • Todd Kuslikis

      Hey Daya,

      Its good to be skeptical. Hit uses a weight vest and I occasionally do too (the point of body weight is that you work your body as a synergistic unit and develop it as a whole as opposed to traditional weight lifting where you isolate parts). Its ok to use a weight vest and use weights occasionally. Send an email to me via my contact form with your goals, weight, fitness level and I’ll direct you to a plan that I recommend. 🙂

      You have a great one too!

      Todd

      Reply
  15. Patrick N

    Hi Todd,

    You’ll find that the ‘white Hannibal’ is at least as good as ‘Hannibal for king’, i believe him to be way stronger still, he wears an additional 25kg weight vest for starters, and does shoulder exercises on the bars that I haven’t even seen Hannibal do. You may want to research him a little more, he is a Ukranian citizen named Denis Minin. Contrary to Hannibal he does eat clean, and he organizes contests for calisthenic workouts. in their respective communities both these guys are huge.

    Reply
    • Todd Kuslikis

      Hey Patrick,

      Just did some google searches on the guy and am very impressed! Looks like this is his official site: and here’s his facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/STREETWORKOUTUKRAINE. I think I may try to reach out to him. Not sure if he knows English. Would be great to profile him.

      Thanks for the information Patrick!

      Todd

      Reply
      • Patrick N

        My pleasure Todd!,

        Glad to see other people interested in calisthenics, feel free to look me and my community up on Facebook.

        Regards, patrick.

        Reply
        • Todd Kuslikis

          Awesome Patrick. I just connected with you on FB. From the looks of it you are definitely not new to calisthenics. 🙂

          Have a great day!

          Todd

          Reply
  16. mark

    Hi,
    So, how long do you work out? Who has time for long sessions?
    Can a super intense routie with a rock hard body be accomplished in 15 minutes?

    Reply
    • Todd Kuslikis

      Hi Mark,

      I typically work out about 20-30 minutes a day 4X per wekk.

      Yes you can create a super intense workout routine in 15 minutes. Check out some of the stuff online about Tabata training and HIIT. Both of these (Tabata is actually a style of HIIT) give you very little rest and incorporate intense exercises, plyometrics, etc.

      Let me know if you need help tailoring something to your specific goals.

      Todd

      Reply
  17. Mike

    Hey Todd,

    Great Article about Hannibal, when I saw him on youtube I was amazed by his physical abilities. I myself been doing calisthenics and bar work for the past 3 years and find it extremely difficult to replicate some of his movements, definitely an inspiration and motivation to keep going for me. I found another article about him on the web ( ) I think he got a website going. Really enjoy your blog.

    Reply
    • Todd Kuslikis

      Hi Mike,

      Glad you like the site. Yeah, Hannibal is crazy intense. I found him on YouTube as well and was blown away. Been following him ever since and trying to replicate his moves though I am a far way off.

      Where do you typically do your bar work? At a park? I’ve been contemplating building my own home setup using bars so I can practice a bunch of calisthenic moves.

      Thanks for the comment!

      Todd

      Reply
      • Brad

        Hi Mr. todd, i am a beginner would like to learn about street workout, im very curious did any of the calisthenics take supplements? i saw their body are most very shredded. i hope u could let me know the answer

        Reply
        • Todd Kuslikis

          Hi Brad,

          Some calisthenics people take supplements and others don’t. I take a multivitamin and supplement with Vit D in the winter but thats it.

          Reply
  18. Malik

    Greetings I have to ask this does Hannibal for King use Steroids. I followed professional body building for a while when I found out they all use Steroids I felt very deceived. I gave away my Video’s and turned my back on them. I think it is a legitimate question to ask.

    Reply
    • Todd Kuslikis

      Hi Malik,

      That’s a great question and I definitely don’t have the answer. I know the guy is huge but I also did know body builders that weren’t using steroids.

      Bodybuilding is a science and those that resort to steroids are only destroying their long term health in trade for short term gains. Sadly, there are many that do this.

      Todd

      Reply
    • Anthony

      Funny enough I was training with one of my mates today and we were discussing Hannibal I was asking if he took steroids. My friend who looks very small said he didn’t think so. I hadn’t seen my friend in about a year and he was wearing baggy clothes whilst training. He looks smallish then he took his top off…there was a real Hannibal body underneath that. He is 36 looks about 26. Pure muscle.. he doesn’t do calisthenics.. just lifts very heavy weights and plays basketball twice a week. No steroids either

      Reply
      • Todd Kuslikis

        Hi Anthony,

        That’s cool. Yeah lifting heavy weights will definitely do it. I just got a weight vest and have incorporated it into my training and it is bringing my training to a whole new level. I would bet that Hannibal and other body weight experts do use weights as well. It’s good to mix it up so your body will continue to be stimulated to grow.

        Thanks for the comment.

        Todd

        Reply
        • Daniel

          Hey Todd,

          Having been a watcher of Hannibal for a few months now, I’m confident he does not use weights. He says so directly in several of his videos.

          For example this one at 5:53.
          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jG2jZK_QklI&feature=related

          Unless Hannibal is lying, he’s very clear that he doesn’t workout with weights, ever. I was definitely a skeptic that I could get what I wanted from my workouts without weights but I believe its possible now.

          The main difference, I think, is that different amounts of weight mean different exercises in bodyweight. Its not like dumbbell curls where you can do the same exercise at 10 lbs or at 80lbs. Bodyweight exercises have upper and lower bounds what is possible. Take pectorals for example. You can only make normal pushups so hard, before you have to learn to planche in order to sit more of your bodyweight over your arms. But for most people, they can’t start on a “low weight planche” It becomes a very different exercise, even on the same muscle.

          Anyway, with some creativity and originality with your leverage, I’m confident Hannibal and any of us can do what we want to do without any weights, ever.

          Thanks,
          Daniel

          Reply
          • Todd Kuslikis

            Hey Daniel,

            Yeah you have a great point. That’s one of the reasons why I love body weight exercises so much. There are so many variations and ways of making the exercises more difficult without adding weight.

            I watched the video and you’re right. He says he doesn’t use weight. I know Denis Minin uses a weight vest and ankle weights in his routines too.

            Thanks for the comment. Very helpful.

            Todd

    • Ben

      Hi Malik, like Daniel I have been following Hannibal for King for several months now an he is very specific against using weights.

      Whilst it is easy to question this (and none of us can be 100% sure that he doesnt), the ethos around calisthenics is it is a lifestyle choice not just a way to get fit. I have been practising calisthenics for a year now and it is extremely addictive, everyone I have met through it have been the same as me; we all see it as a healthy alternative to the gym monkey culture. It is about living clean, eating clean and pushing yourself beyond your limits. Sounds too good to be true, right? Well no actually, its all about a choice you make within yourself to commit to progress, earnt and proven progress through daily testing of yourself.

      I have improved hugely and can say my body has changed enormously due to calisthenics. Hannibal for King has been involved for over 18 years and I truly believe his results are all natural. Put simply the guy is a machine.

      If you want to look more into calisthenics check out Bar Brothers, Frank Medrano (who uses some weights but is a vegan athlete), street workout etc.

      Good luck on the journey.

      Ben

      Reply
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