I recently heard someone say that bulking and cutting isn't necessary in calisthenics. Most of the calisthenics athletes I follow don't bulk and cut, but seem to be lean year round. However, the fact still remains that to become more lean, one must be in a calorie deficit, and to gain more muscle, one must be in a calorie surplus. So I would think that would mean at some point these athletes have been in a deficit (cutting??) to become as lean as they are, and at some point have been in a surplus (bulking??) to build muscle. Does this mean we do need bulking and cutting in calisthenics? I understand they would be clean bulking and eating healthy etc. to reduce fat gain but still aren't they bulking and cutting?
Ultimately, I want to know how calisthenics athletes get muscular and extremely lean, and stay that way year round. Did they bulk at first, then cut once, then just stay lean? Or?
Thanks!