Ukraine’s answer to Muscle Beach! Kyiv weightlifters at the world’s only …

  • The Kachalka gym is a 6.2 square mile outdoor fitness centre on the island of Tuhen in the Ukranian capital
  • It was the brainchild of a Polish gymnast Kasmir Jagelsky and maths professor Yuri Kuk and opened in the 1970s
  • Most of the gym equipment is made from scrap metal, vehicle parts and chains taken from machinery
  • Despite its lack of luxury the gym does have one obvious advantage – it’s free to work out there

By
Steve Nolan


PUBLISHED:

13:21 GMT, 4 July 2013


|

UPDATED:

13:43 GMT, 4 July 2013

If your favoured work out involves counting calories on high tech digital equipment and you enjoy a sauna and steam at the end of your session, then the Kachalka gym in the Ukraine is probably not for you.

With muscle-bound gym goers using stacked tyres as a punch bag and free weights chained to the ground surrounded by unorthodox makeshift metal machines, the gym looks more like a scrapyard than a fitness centre.

And you won’t just be dripping with sweat should the heavens open during an intense workout.

Al fresco: Gym goers of all ages and fitness levels flock to Kachalka outdoor gym in Kyiv - because it's free

Al fresco: Gym goers of all ages and fitness levels flock to Kachalka outdoor gym in Kyiv – because it’s free

Tough guys: Men hit punching bags made out of tyres as they train at the Kachalka outdoor gym on the banks of river Dniper

Tough guys: Men hit punching bags made out of tyres as they train at the Kachalka outdoor gym on the banks of river Dniper

Working hard: A gym-goer works out on a makeshift chest press machine in a packed Kachalka gym

Working hard: A gym-goer works out on a makeshift chest press machine in a packed Kachalka gym

Outdoor workout: The Kachalka gym is the Ukrainian answer to California's Muscle Beach (pictured)

Outdoor workout: The Kachalka gym is the Ukrainian answer to California’s Muscle Beach (pictured)

For Kachalka – perhaps the most hardcore outdoor gym in the world – is completely open to the elements.

But formed in the early 1970s, the Ukraine’s answer to California’s Muscle Beach has increased in popularity over the last four decades and is now home to more than 200 different fitness machines.

The brainchild of a Polish gymnast Kasmir Jagelsky and maths professor Yuri Kuk, the 6.2 square mile outdoor fitness centre is located on the island of Tuhen right in the heart of the nation’s capital Kyiv.

Unlike the luxury, members-only health clubs many of us are used to, Kachalka won’t set you back an arm and a leg – you can work out there for free.

Packed: The gym, which was formed in the early 1970s, has grown in popularity over the past four decades

Packed: The gym, which was formed in the early 1970s, has grown in popularity over the past four decades

Fitness fanatics: The gym was founded by Polish gymnast Kasmir Jagelsky and maths professor Yuri Kuk in the early 1970s

Fitness fanatics: The gym was founded by Polish gymnast Kasmir Jagelsky and maths professor Yuri Kuk in the early 1970s

Unorthodox: The equipment, some of which looks more like torture machinery than something that belongs in a gym, is made mostly from old machinery and scrap metal

Unorthodox: The equipment, some of which looks more like torture machinery than something that belongs in a gym, is made mostly from old machinery and scrap metal

Put to new use: Much of the equipment was made when scrap metal was at a surplus in the counrty during the Cold War

Put to new use: Much of the equipment was made when scrap metal was at a surplus in the country during the Cold War

Hardcore: An outdoor gym seemingly attended mostly by musclebound men, the Kachalka gym is a tough environment

Hardcore: An outdoor gym seemingly attended mostly by musclebound men, the Kachalka gym is a tough environment

Its name comes from the Ukranian word ‘kachat’ which literally means ‘to pump’.

Many of the machines were created when there was a surplus of scrap metal in the country during the Cold War years and consist of spare parts from machines and vehicles.

Rusted tank chains and marine salvage parts have been roughly forged together to create the most primitive and basic of strength and resistance machines.

Made mostly of metal and wood, the machines are painted blue and most lack the luxury of padded seats or soft plastic coated pulleys.

Much of the equipment is chained to the ground so that it isn’t stolen.

Onlooker: An older gym-goer waits patiently as youngsters aim for bigger biceps on some of the equipment

Onlooker: An older gym-goer waits patiently as youngsters aim for bigger biceps on some of the equipment

Bulking up: A young fitness fanatic struggles to push out one final rep as he attempts to build bigger muscles at Kachalka

Bulking up: A young fitness fanatic struggles to push out one final rep as he attempts to build bigger muscles at Kachalka

All ages welcome: An older woman stretches as she enjoys a workout at the huge outdoor fitness centre in Kyiv

All ages welcome: An older woman stretches as she enjoys a workout at the huge outdoor fitness centre in Kyiv

Getting stronger: The name of the gym comes from the Ukranian word Kachat which literally means 'to pump'

Getting stronger: The name of the gym comes from the Ukranian word Kachat which literally means ‘to pump’

Security: Much of the equipment in the gym is chained to the ground so that it is not stolen

Security: Much of the equipment in the gym is chained to the ground so that it is not stolen

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” Security: Much of the equipment in the gym is chained to the ground so that it is not stolen ” . Some of those chains look like anchor chains from boats , the dont do anything by half , do they ? Nice place though .

DC
,

swansea, United Kingdom,
04/7/2013 18:39

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Its ridiculous that the equipment has to be chained to avoid being stolen some people should show some gratitude especially when its be offered for free

Bobo the clown
,

N.Ireland-London, United Kingdom,
04/7/2013 18:35

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Some wonderful pictures and an interesting article. As an American woman living in London, I have found that so many British folk love to attack people from this part of the world and Eastern parts of Europe in general. Well you Brit men with your beer bellies should take note and try and learn a thing or two from these gorgeous healthy men, instead of spending your time drunk and eating junk while attacking hard working people.
– janeyBB, London-Boston, United Kingdom, 4/7/2013 17:10

Maybe you should go out there and see their, inhumane filthy abusive orphanages where children are left to rot. But hey their fathers are gorgeous so I bet you’re panting away there on heat. Give me a kind beer bellied father anyday.

youknowitall
,

cheltenham, United Kingdom,
04/7/2013 18:34

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Pretty cool, wish there was one in England.
– dougyshub, london, 4/7/2013 17:04

Yeah, maybe we could have some of their inhumanely cruel, degrading orphanages too.

youknowitall
,

cheltenham, United Kingdom,
04/7/2013 18:32

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this is beautiful!
– vickrams, london, United Kingdom, 4/7/2013

Maybe you should research a bit more about the real Ukraine, romantic fool.

youknowitall
,

cheltenham, United Kingdom,
04/7/2013 18:29

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Instead of doing this maybe they should look after their children that they shut up in orphanages to rot tied to beds, abused and forgotten, they make me so angry.

youknowitall
,

cheltenham, United Kingdom,
04/7/2013 18:28

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Why does everyone want to be pumped up these days? Whatever happened to lean and toned?

Jim
,

Loughton,
04/7/2013 18:26

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another article stolen from another website….. good job DM

meez
,

the real jersey shore,
04/7/2013 18:25

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Well it seems to be working judging by the physique of the guy in the shades

Bonzer Bogan
,

Kent, United Kingdom,
04/7/2013 18:23

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the chap in the top photo looks like they ran out of spray tan – and used spray engine oil instead.

bigneil
,

derby, United Kingdom,
04/7/2013 18:16

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