About Indian Club Swinging

Indian Club Swinging has its roots in India and Persia. British and American soldiers brought Indian clubs home where the practice of  

Liam O'Brien - Indian Club Swinging

swinging clubs soon become such a popular form of exercise that it even became an Olympic sport during the 1900s, and in the early part of the 20th Century Indian club swinging was a compulsory part of the United States School physical education curriculum. Club swinging was also popular in gentleman’s gymnasiums along with fencing and gymnastics.

Indian Club Swinging is now returning to popularity once again as sportsmen, golfers, tennis players and mixed martial artists incorporate club swinging into their training programmes to achieve the unique benefits of circular strength and joint/muscle rehabilitation. Lightweight clubs are held in either one or both hands and swung in various movements behind and across the body, and also across all planes of movement according to the body’s natural range, gaining core strength and enhancing mind body coordination.

Indian Club Swinging is a form of training that sits perfectly alongside kettlebell training. It develops a very strong core along with excellent and balanced shoulder, back and neck strength. It also increases flexibility and strength in the wrists, shoulders and elbows and develops the range of motion in these joints as well as improving stamina, endurance and aerobic fitness. Heavier clubs however can be used to promote muscle size and development and Indian Club Swinging is now even being used by some physiotherapists to help with injury rehabilitation.

Club swinging is a fantastic total body exercise that will improve strength, mobility and fitness in people of all ages. If you are bored of the usual gym routine and are looking for something new (yet incredibly old!) to kickstart your fitness and to develop the lean, strong body you are looking for - then Indian Club Swinging is for you.

What is an Indian Club?

Authentic Indian Clubs are wooden, often beech sometimes elm, and come in a range of sizes from 1kg to 20kg! They should not be confused with metal Powerclubs or Clubbells (Clubells). Real Indian Clubs are works of art in themselves; perfectly balanced, beautiful to look at and a pleasure to use.

Unfortunately there are some sports equipment and kettlebell importers / suppliers who are now churning out cheap wooden copies of Indian Clubs.

Indian Clubs are not simply turned on a lathe, they are weighted and balanced to ensure that they move smoothly and comfortably and that they turn over correctly. There are now also, unsurprisingly, cheap plastic copies coming in from China.

The only person I have found producing authentic, quality Indian Clubs in the UK is Mike Simpson of indianclubswinging.co.uk. He is an absolute authority on Indian Clubs and the history of Indian Club Swinging and he makes and finishes all types and size of club. I buy all of my clubs from him.

If you are training with me, I will supply clubs for use during the session. To book your FREE Indian Club Session or for more information please