Strength testing methods beyond the conventional gym bench press continue to be practiced worldwide, reflecting diverse cultural traditions and historical practices tied to physical prowess.

While the bench press has become a common global benchmark for upper-body strength over the past several decades, experts note that many traditional tests of strength developed to meet practical needs such as military readiness or labor demands. Conor Heffernan, an academic specializing in the history of sports at Ulster University, highlights that in earlier times, demonstrations of strength often functioned as informal job qualifications or assessments of fitness within communities.

In India, mallakhamb stands out as a centuries-old sport blending yoga, gymnastics, and martial arts. Practitioners perform complex balance and acrobatic poses on a vertical wooden pole polished with oil, challenging grip, stamina, and coordination. The sport, which once served as training for soldiers and wrestlers, remains popular in schools and competitive circuits. Competitors have 90 seconds to execute maneuvers judged across multiple criteria, sometimes performing in teams atop the pole. Practitioners cite the physical demands and challenges of skin rashes and burns as part of the experience.

Scotland’s Highland Games season, running from May through September, preserves a millennium-old tradition of strength contests known as the “heavy events.” These include the hammer throw, caber toss—a feat involving flipping a large wooden pole weighing up to 175 pounds—and stone throws. Many participants invest months in preparation, combining gym training with technical practice to excel, as strength alone is insufficient for success. Originating in the 11th century under King Malcolm III as a way to identify warriors, the games today also celebrate cultural elements such as bagpipe music and Highland dancing, with similar festivals established internationally.

Arm wrestling, a widely accessible contest of strength, remains a popular form of informal competition globally. Charles Osei Asibey, head of the Armstrong Wrestling Federation of Africa, highlights its cultural presence in African communities, where it has functioned as a way to determine local physical dominance. Athletes like Ghana’s Grace Minta, the first African woman to win a World Armwrestling Championship gold in 2024, combine strength and endurance training to compete internationally. The Africa Armwrestling Federation Championship, hosted by Ghana in May, drew 450 athletes from 22 countries, with the host nation finishing first.

In Japan, stone lifting—known locally as chikara ishi—represents a historical strength tradition that dates back centuries and was integral to labor and ritual life. Yuta Sakamoto, a contemporary practitioner, lifts heavy stones at his local shrine to honor and revive this fading cultural practice. Stone lifting’s prominence waned following industrialization, but organizations like Japan’s Tenka Musou Federation seek to preserve it through annual international competitions. This year’s event brought together about 70 athletes from a dozen countries, lifting stones ranging from 75 to 350 pounds. For Sakamoto and others, the practice is not only physical exercise but a means to reconnect with ancestral heritage and promote historical awareness.

These diverse strength traditions underscore that measures of physical power take many forms beyond the gym, rooted in cultural histories and adapted to modern contexts worldwide.