Building Strength, Community, and Confidence: The ISC Story
Shubham is the visionary behind the Indian School of Calisthenics (ISC), turning his passion for calisthenics into India’s first structured, community-led fitness platform. Under his guidance, ISC has expanded from a single rented studio to multiple branches, 1,000+ active members, and India’s first national calisthenics championship.
Joel plays a key role at the Indian School of Calisthenics (ISC), focusing on building a strong curriculum and nurturing its community. His work has helped ISC grow into a multi-branch, skill-based fitness platform with over 1,000 active members and India’s first national calisthenics championship.
In a world where fitness is often associated with traditional gyms, machinery, and quick solutions, two innovative individuals are revolutionizing the concept of strength, fitness, and self-assurance. Shubham Mishra and Joel, the creators of the Indian School of Calisthenics (ISC), are promoting a method centered on bodyweight exercises and developing skills that enable individuals to utilize their own bodies as the ultimate training ground. Starting off modestly in public parks in 2017, they have expanded their vision by appearing on Shark Tank India, showcasing how ISC has evolved into a community-focused organization that changes lives, supports athletes, and emphasizes that genuine strength comes from within.
What inspired you both to start the Indian School of Calisthenics, and how did you identify the gap in the fitness market?
I started calisthenics in public parks in 2017 because I had nothing except the desire to change my life and my body. I realized that most people believe fitness requires expensive gyms and machines. But the truth is your own body is the most powerful tool you have. Over time I saw that people were struggling with traditional gym systems and many were losing motivation. That is when we realized there was a huge gap in the fitness ecosystem. In 2022 we founded the Indian School of Calisthenics to create a place where people can learn to build strength, mobility and confidence using their own body while being part of a strong community.
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The fitness industry in India has been growing rapidly. What are the biggest opportunities and challenges for fitness businesses in India today?
The opportunity is massive because awareness around health and fitness is growing very fast in India. People are now actively searching for better ways to stay healthy and strong. The biggest opportunity lies in creating systems that are accessible, sustainable and community driven. The challenge however is maintaining quality coaching and building trust. Many businesses focus on quick expansion but the real growth comes when you build a system that truly transforms people’s lives.
"Every athlete, every transformation and every success story inside ISC reminds us that the real power of fitness is not in machines, it is in people discovering their own potential".
Pitching on Shark Tank India is a dream for many entrepreneurs. How was the experience of presenting your business to the Sharks, and what did you learn from the process?
Pitching on Shark Tank was one of the most intense and exciting experiences of our entrepreneurial journey. It pushed us to clearly explain our vision, our numbers and our long term strategy under pressure.
The process made us sharpen our thinking about scale, systems and growth. More importantly it gave us the confidence that what we are building has the potential to reach a national level and inspire many more people.
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Post-Shark Tank, how has the brand’s perception changed in the market? Have you noticed any significant shifts in the way potential customers view ISC?
Yes, the exposure created a huge shift in how people perceive ISC. Being associated with Shark Tank instantly built credibility and visibility for our brand. We started receiving more inquiries, collaborations and serious interest from people who wanted to train with us or work with us. People now see ISC not just as a gym but as a professional training institute that builds athletes and creates real transformation through calisthenics.
In today’s digital age, many fitness businesses focus on online platforms. How does ISC maintain its community-driven approach, and how has it helped you grow in both physical locations and online?
Community is the heart of ISC. Every training session in our institute is coach led and group based, so people train together, support each other and stay motivated. As we expand, we are planning to launch structured online programs that will bring the same coaching philosophy and community feeling into a digital platform. Our goal is to make sure that even when someone trains online they still feel connected to the ISC ecosystem.
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With the growing interest in fitness and health in India, how do you see the future of fitness education evolving over the next five to ten years?
In the coming years fitness education will move from simple workout routines to deeper skill based and knowledge based training. People will want to understand how their body works and how to train intelligently. Hybrid models that combine physical coaching with digital education will become more common. Bodyweight training will also grow significantly because it is accessible, portable and sustainable for long term health.
What advice would you give to other fitness entrepreneurs who are looking to create a unique, skill-based fitness brand in India?
Focus on results and community rather than equipment and aesthetics. Build a strong coaching system and invest in developing great coaches. Do not rush expansion before proving your model. If your system genuinely helps people transform their lives, your reputation will grow naturally and the business will follow.