Do these exercises for full-body strength
What's the story
We all know African exercises are great for building comprehensive full-body strength. These exercises usually involve some natural movement and hardly require any equipment, making them easier for many. They emphasize endurance, flexibility, as well as muscle strength. By including these exercises in your workout, you can have a balanced workout, targeting several muscles at once. Here are five African exercises to develop full-body strength.
Jumping exercise
The power of the Maasai jump
The Maasai jump is a traditional exercise performed by the Maasai tribe in East Africa. The exercise includes jumping vertically with both feet together as high as possible, multiple times. It is great for building leg muscles as well as improving cardiovascular health. The repetitive motion improves endurance and strengthens calves, thighs, and core muscles. Adding this exercise to your routine can improve your lower body strength tremendously.
Dance exercise
Agility with capoeira moves
Capoeira is a Brazilian martial art, rooted in Africa, that incorporates dance, acrobatics, and music. Its moves demand agility and coordination while working out multiple muscle groups of the body. Training with capoeira moves leads to improved flexibility, balance, and body control. This dynamic exercise not just builds physical strength but also increases mental focus with its rhythmic sequences.
Combat exercise
Core strength from Zulu stick fighting
Zulu stick fighting is an ancient martial art of the Zulu people in Southern Africa. It requires using sticks to mimic combat situations while staying balanced and coordinated. The activity works core muscles a lot as fighters move their bodies quickly while sparring or drilling against an opponent or partner alike. It builds upper body strength too owing to constant arm movement when using sticks right during practices.
Dance routine
Flexibility through gumboot dancing
Gumboot dancing originated with South African miners who employed rhythmic stomping in gumboots for underground communication, where noise banned speech. Now a global phenomenon, its lively routines enhance flexibility and cardiovascular health, boasting of synchronized steps to live drum beats (and sometimes whistles) which add to the group performance experience.