FitFact: Top 3 fitness exercises named after countries

Fitness is cosmopolitan, that much is clear. In every twisted corner of the world, muscles are steeled and heart rates are pushed up. But you don’t even have to leave your gym for a trip around the world, because over the years you’ve accumulated a mass of country-specific exercises. For all fitness-enthusiastic globetrotters, we have our world map with fitness exercises ready 🌏:

3) Bulgarian Splitsquat

Probably the most widespread export from Bulgaria is the split-squat. His story is shrouded in legend: whether it was a difference of opinion, calculated propaganda or a marketing stunt is anyone’s guess. The fact is: Angel Spassov established the split-squat during a tour of the Bulgarian weightlifting team in America (ypse.de). With this one leg is placed on an elevation. Then a squat is performed with one leg.

2) Romanian Deadlifts (RDLs)

1990 in San Francisco: World and Olympic champion Nicu Vlad is invited to a Q&A of the American weightlifting team to talk about his career and technique in various exercises. What reportedly tripped up the American team was Vlad’s additional workout of deadlifts with bent knees (physicalculturestudy.com). This would strengthen his middle and back thighs. Full of amazement at the efficiency of this exercise execution, the exercises were carried through the American team to all gyms in the States and finally overseas to us at ACTIV FITNESS.

1) Cuban Press

Legend has it that the Cuban Press owes its name to a brazen lie. Convinced of the efficiency of the exercise, the famous coach Charles Poliquin had claimed that the secret of the success of the Cuban team lies in this exercise (fitnessvolt.com). It strengthens the rotator cuff in the shoulder, which is involved in all weight-bearing exercises where weight is moved through the shoulders.

Even though the other continents were not mentioned in our top 3, it does not mean that there is nothing happening in the national fitness scenes on these continents. So there’s plenty for globetrotters to discover in the studios. That’s why we’d like to recommend our first FitFact, which is about the best fitness destinations in the world.