Bulgarian Bag Personal Fitness Trainer

Bulgarian Bag Personal Fitness Trainer in London – Build explosive strength, grip power, and total-body conditioning with expert coaching.

Bulgarian Bag Personal Trainer

Best Bulgarian Bag Personal Fitness Trainer

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Bulgarian Bag Personal Trainer in London

Bulgarian Bag Personal Fitness Trainer

The Bulgarian Bag: Old School Training, Modern-Day Power

The Bulgarian Bag was created back in 2005 by wrestling coach Ivan Ivanov in Bulgaria. He designed it out of necessity—his wrestlers lacked versatile training equipment. What started as a creative solution has now become a staple in the personal training and MMA world. Fighters like Conor McGregor and Aubrey Marcus have helped shine a spotlight on this unique training tool, making it more popular than ever.

I’ve personally been using the Bulgarian Bag for the past two years, though I remember seeing it way back when Paul Chek was showing it off in his early YouTube videos. From day one, I found it incredibly demanding—building serious core strength, endurance, and raw power. It’s one of those tools that translates directly into athletic performance, especially for sports and martial arts where you need to throw, twist, and move in multiple planes.

At first, I even tried making my own version by filling a bag with sand. Let’s just say…it didn’t quite work out. Eventually, I invested in a properly made one filled with cloth, and that’s when the magic really started.

The Bulgarian Bag reminds me a lot of clubbells. With clubs, I noticed my shoulders got stronger and my old aches and pains began to disappear. But with the bag, it’s on another level—it pushes you in the sagittal, frontal, and transverse planes, making you stronger and more resilient all-around.

Sadly, you won’t see Bulgarian Bags in many commercial gyms. They’re usually only found in high-end private gyms where trainers bring their own or where the manager really understands their value. If you do get a chance to try one, grab it—you’ll feel the difference immediately.

The Bulgarian Bag isn’t just a workout tool, it’s an experience. For me, it’s been one of the best additions to my training arsenal.

Bulgarian Bag Personal Fitness Trainer in London

Bulgarian Bag Personal Fitness Trainer in London

 

Bulgarian Bag Training Beyond Wrestling

Although the Bulgarian Bag was originally designed for wrestling conditioning, it’s just as effective for other combat sports like judo and MMA. In fact, more and more fighters are using it as a staple in their training. Over the past two years of working with the bag myself, I’ve found it to be fun, challenging, and seriously hard work—but also one of the best tools for developing the fundamental movement patterns needed in martial arts and everyday life.

We live in a world full of “functional” training tools—TRX, BOSU, clubbells, kettlebells, medicine balls, Swiss balls, and more. Each has its benefits, but the Bulgarian Bag stands out because it works the body in all planes of motion while demanding grip strength, rotational power, and endurance. There’s even a water-filled version available, which adds another level of instability and functionality.

That said, the bag isn’t something I’d hand to a complete beginner. The average person starting out at the gym would find it quite demanding without proper instruction. To really benefit, you need a trainer who understands how to build a safe and effective programme around it.

Personally, I found that combining clubbells, the Bulgarian Bag, TRX, and BOSU gave me a well-rounded, sport-specific, functional programme. During lockdown, these were the only tools I had—and they turned out to be a lifesaver. They’re also far more affordable and space-friendly compared to machines like rowing ergs, spin bikes, or the classic Total Gym (great piece of kit, but pricey!).

Bulgarian Bag Personal Fitness Trainer in London

Bulgarian Bag Personal Fitness Trainer in London

The beauty of tools like the bag, kettlebells, or TRX is that they don’t require much space, they’re versatile, and you can take them anywhere—even to the park. You don’t have to confine your training indoors, and that freedom is part of what makes this style of training so enjoyable.

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Bulgarian Bag Personal Fitness Trainer in London

Bulgarian Bag Personal Fitness Trainer

Bulgarian Bag: Not for the Faint-Hearted

The Bulgarian Bag is hands down one of the best pieces of strength and conditioning equipment for martial artists, fighters, or anyone who simply wants to push themselves to the next level. With it, you can squat, lunge, swing, twist, and throw—working the sagittal, frontal, and transverse planes of movement. In short: it’s a complete workout. And let’s be real… it’s not for pussies (yes, I said it—laugh out loud).

A quick word of advice: be careful when buying online. Always go for a certified bag. Don’t waste time or money on the cheap versions you have to fill with sand—I’ve tried them, and they’re a complete letdown. Proper bags come in different weights, and if you’re curious, there are plenty of great videos of wrestlers using them on YouTube. Watch one, and you’ll see exactly how intense this training can be.

For anyone who isn’t afraid of a challenge, the Bulgarian Bag is a powerhouse tool. But don’t expect it to be easy—this is a full-on workout, and definitely not for the workout-shy.


About Me
I’m Scott Bryant, a Master Paul Chek Practitioner, YMCA Personal Trainer, Nutritional Lifestyle Coach, Metabolic Advisor, Shamanic Practitioner, and Naturopath. I’ve dedicated 31 years of my life to exercise and 26 years to studying movement, health, and healing. If you’d like to experience the benefits of the Bulgarian Bag—or build a personalised programme tailored to you—get in touch.

Call me today or drop me an email to book a session.

Thank you for reading—I hope you enjoyed the blog post!