A World of Exercises
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There is a world of exercises in your fitness arsenal, and some of them are literally in their names. But why are so many exercises named after foreign countries? Do they simply sound more exotic? Do foreign countries create better workout routines? Or are some athletes ahead of the rest of the world in the fitness and athletic field? Here is a brief look into the origin of some of the most common exercises used every day, named after a country somewhere in the world.
The Bulgarian Split Squat
This term originated when Angel Spassov, the Assistant Coach of the Bulgarian Weightlifting National Team, toured the United States in the late 80s to speak about training methods of the highly successful Bulgarian Weightlifting System. It is a single leg movement, where you place the back leg on a step and then squat down with the front leg, which is a fantastic way to make sure that one leg isn’t doing the lion’s share of work in your regular squatting.
The Cuban Press
The Cuban press, which combines an upright row, an external shoulder rotation, and an overhead press, will strengthen your rotator cuff (the group of muscles and tendons that both stabilize your shoulder and allow it to rotate) to bulletproof your shoulders. Strength coach, Charles Poliquin, made up the name Cuban Press so he could convince a weightlifting athlete of his to do them!
The French Press
Most of us know this as either an excellent cup of coffee, or as a plain old tricep extension. But originally, the latter was a move practiced by the French Foreign Legion using sandbags. The French Press is executed by holding the weight above your head and then bending and straightening your arms, to isolate the long head of the triceps.
The Romanian Deadlift
Named after a Romanian Olympic weightlifter Nicu Vlad, the Romanian Deadlift is a superb movement for building glute and hamstring strength. With a slight bend at the knees, raise the barbell up to your waist and then lower it back down towards your feet. When you get as low as you can, drive your hips forward and return the bar back to your waist.
The Russian Twist
The Russian Twist is an abdominal exercise, where you sit half way up and then twist your upper body first one way and then the other, really hitting the obliques. While the exact origin of its name is unknown, it is speculated that the Russian Twist was developed in the former Soviet Union during the Cold War as a training exercise for Russian soldiers.
The Turkish Get-Up
Traditionally performed with a kettlebell, the Turkish Get-Up is believed to have originated when wrestlers, in what is now modern-day Turkey, invented the exercise to train for competition centuries ago. It is an excellent way to condition your legs, lower back, and abdominal muscles. Lie in a sit up position and hold a weight up with one arm. Use your legs and other arm to stand yourself up, and then return yourself back to a sit up position, keeping the arm with the weight extended all the while.
Swiss Ball Jackknife
Although the name includes “Swiss Ball”, this piece of equipment did not originate in Switzerland. In 1963, Italian manufacturer, Aquilino Cosani, developed a special technique for manufacturing large toy balls made of durable, burst-resistant vinyl to replace rubber. These large colorful balls were sold throughout Europe under the brand names Gymnastik or Gymnic. Shortly thereafter, English physiotherapist, Mary Quinton, discovered them while visiting Bern, Switzerland, and she began using them in her intervention treatment programs for newborns and infants with cerebral palsy. Despite the Italian origin, it was American physical therapists who coined the term “Swiss balls” after witnessing the use of the balls while visiting several Swiss clinics. The term “jackknife” received its name because it resembled a move of the same names performed by divers.
Hindu Pushup
As opposed to conventional pushup, Hindu pushups aren't concentrating majorly on pectoral muscle. Instead, the Hindu pushup is an incredible exercise to develop stronger shoulders, pectoral, arms, core, and spine. Traditional Indian wrestlers have been performing Hindu pushups for centuries to strengthen their upper body.
Add these exercises to your current bodybuilding or conditioning routine. But don’t forget to count the reps in the appropriate language! If you are unsure how to perform any of these moves, because you just “don’t speak the language,” feel free to click the button below for a complimentary assessment. Our Success Studio trainers will show you how to do them safely and effectively.