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Strengthen your chest with these workouts
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Strengthen your chest with these workouts

Oct 30, 2025
11:01 am

What's the story

African workouts offer a unique approach to chest strength, drawing from traditional practices that have been passed down through generations. These exercises focus on bodyweight movements and natural resistance, providing an effective way to build muscle without the need for expensive equipment. By incorporating these techniques into your routine, you can enhance your chest strength and overall fitness. Here are five African-inspired workouts that can help you achieve this goal.

#1

Push-up variations from West Africa

West African cultures have a number of push-up variations that target different muscle groups in the chest. These variations include wide-grip push-ups and diamond push-ups, which emphasize different parts of the pectoral muscles. Doing these variations regularly can improve your upper body strength and endurance. To get the best results, try doing three sets of ten reps for each variation.

#2

Traditional wrestling techniques

Traditional African wrestling is not just a sport, but also a workout that builds incredible strength and endurance. The grappling moves and holds require a lot of upper body strength, especially in the chest area. Practicing these techniques will not only improve your wrestling skills but also make your chest muscles stronger. Dedicate some time every week to practice these moves for improved muscle tone.

#3

Dance-inspired cardio workouts

African dance forms are high-energy cardio workouts that also engage the chest muscles. The rhythmic movements require constant engagement of the upper body, which helps in toning and strengthening the pectoral area. Adding dance-inspired cardio sessions to your routine can improve your cardiovascular health while also giving you a toned chest.

#4

Nature-based resistance training

Nature-based resistance training is a common practice in many African communities where people use natural elements like logs or stones as weights. These exercises provide resistance that helps build muscle mass in the chest region effectively. Incorporating such activities into your workout regimen can yield significant gains in strength over time.

#5

Community group workouts

Community group workouts are an integral part of many African cultures, where people come together for fitness activities such as calisthenics or group exercises using minimal equipment like ropes or bands made from local materials. Participating in these communal sessions not only motivates you but also provides diverse workout experiences that can greatly improve your chest strength.