A travelogue from Kyiv and lessons from the gym
A travelogue can be more than just a tale of airports and hotels. This is a story about Kyiv, its bodybuilding community, local gyms and a SPETSNAZ demonstration workout that proved more memorable than the usual competition trip.
Why travelogues matter in the fitness world
Last month involved quite a few adventures around Europe. On trips like these, you see more than the stage, the hotel and the plane. If you keep your eyes open, you also see how people train in other countries, how athletes are supported and what gym culture is like outside Estonia.
I started in Kyiv, where I had already built a good relationship with the local bodybuilding federation, led by its president, Vitali Usitsenko. I arrived in Kyiv earlier than planned because the “Golden Chestnut” competition I had originally intended to attend had been postponed by two weeks. Something like that can disrupt your travel plans, but for an athlete it also means one thing: more time to train locally and meet people.
Honestly, that is often the most interesting part. The competition itself lasts one day, but the gyms, conversations and shared workouts reveal much more. They give you a picture of the true state of the sport.
Kyiv’s gyms: a travelogue about training
I trained at Vitali’s gyms. He had two at the time, with a third under construction. By our standards, these were not high-end gyms. There were no gleaming interiors, fancy extras or the comforts you might expect at some modern clubs. But everything you needed for training was there.
That is a useful reminder for anyone who trains. A gym does not have to be fancy for you to get stronger there. If it has barbells, dumbbells, benches and the basic machines, you can put in serious work. Your muscles do not care whether the changing room has marble. They respond to effort.
Something else that stood out in Kyiv was people’s straightforward approach to training. They showed up, got the work done and kept idle chatter to a minimum. That atmosphere suits bodybuilding well. When the goals are physique, strength and discipline, there is no need for unnecessary theatrics.
A SPETSNAZ seminar and demonstration workout
To keep their guest from sitting around with nothing to do, my hosts invited me to join local athletes in giving a seminar for SPETSNAZ, the local police special forces unit. This was no ordinary gym lecture. Those present included athletes, a cameraman and people whose jobs demand physical readiness every day.
Aleksander Artjomenko took part in the seminar. I had already written about him after my first visit to Ukraine. His stats speak for themselves: height 175cm, competition weight 105kg, off-season weight 120kg, arm circumference 53cm in competition condition and 55cm in the off-season. He was considered the man with the strongest arm in Ukraine.
Also there was Sergei Jatsjuk, who had previously visited Estonia to give a seminar. At the time, he weighed 110kg and stood 174cm tall. Training alongside men like these involves more than demonstrating exercises. It also creates an atmosphere in which every set has to make an impression.
The entire demonstration workout was recorded on video. A photo report was also produced, and we posed for a group photo with the most senior police officers. It was a very interesting experience. Moments like these show how bodybuilding can reach a much wider audience than those at competitions or in gyms.
What a travelogue can teach you about training
There is a simple truth here: a solid workout does not always depend on ideal conditions. Kyiv’s gyms were not luxurious, but the work got done. The same applies to anyone who trains. If you wait for the perfect time, the perfect program and the perfect equipment, some of the work will go undone.
The second lesson is the value of connections. People matter in sport. When you talk to others, learn and watch them train, you gain more than just a new exercise. You get a point of comparison. You see how seriously others take their warm-ups, working sets, recovery and overall approach.
The third lesson is adaptability. The “Golden Chestnut” competition was postponed, but that did not make the trip pointless. The plan changed; the trip still had substance. It is a familiar situation for an athlete: sometimes a competition, your schedule or your condition changes. The question is what you do with that time.
FAQ
Does a travelogue have to be just a personal diary?
No. A good travelogue also captures the setting, the people and the lessons learned. When the subject is fitness, you should come away with some practical ideas about training or mindset.
What can an everyday gym-goer learn from the Kyiv experience?
Above all, that effort matters more than comfort. With the basic equipment and the right attitude, you can have a very good workout even in a modest gym.
Why were the athletes’ measurements kept in the article?
They give a concrete picture of the era and the standard of the athletes. In bodybuilding, these numbers are part of the story, especially when discussing competition condition and off-season body weight.
The travelogue continues…..
Author: Ott Kiivikas
Source: WHO – physical activity.
Come and train! ArtGym
