Bulgarian bag

[5] Ivanov was inspired by the tradition of shepherds performing strength acts with sheep and goats on street fairs in his homeland, Bulgaria.

[6] Although the Bulgarian bag was initially designed for Olympic class wrestlers, it came to be adopted by fitness trainers and professional athletes for its ability to increase muscular endurance and make weight training more versatile.

[7] One of the first advocates of the Bulgarian Bag outside the Olympic wrestling circuit was fitness specialist and retired Navy SEAL Stephen Nave.

Along with Ivan Ivanov they formed the International Bulgarian Bag Confederation to educate the public and offer advanced instruction to individual consumers, personal trainers and fitness establishments.

The interior is filled with individually wrapped and weighed sand packets and padded with wool to form a smooth rounded contour.

[11][12][13] The Bulgarian bag strengthens and increases the muscular endurance of the grip, wrists, arms, shoulders, back, legs, and rotational muscles.

Because of its shape, material and construction, Bulgarian bag can be used to develop quickness and agility in ways which solid iron weights and circuit machines cannot.