Athleticism 4 Life

Train Hard. Wake Up Ready. Not Wrecked

A 30-day Bulgarian Bag program that builds real strength and mobility, without destroying your joints.

Your Body Doesn't Move Like It Used To

You show up every day and handle your responsibilities, but somewhere along the way your body started working against you instead of for you. Maybe you wake up stiff and it takes a while to feel human. Maybe your back aches after a long day. Maybe movements that used to be easy now require effort and recovery time.

You want to train, but the thought of another brutal gym session that leaves you wrecked for three days doesn't appeal to you anymore. You don't need to prove anything. You just want to feel capable again. Strong. Mobile. Alive in your body.

That's what this program is designed for. You want to move your body with power, the kind where you can move explosively, lift heavy things, play hard, and wake up the next day ready to go. You also want freedom. Freedom from stiffness. Freedom from feeling locked up. Freedom to move the way your body was designed to, in every direction, with confidence and capability.

That's what this program gives you. Power and freedom. Built through one of the most versatile, time-tested training tools in existence: the Bulgarian Bag. You're going to look strong, feel strong, and move strong. That's the point.

You Don't Need to Be an Athlete to Do This

I know the Bulgarian Bag looks intimidating. When you see videos online, it looks intense and explosive. But here's the truth: those are highlight reels, not actual training. This program is designed for real people. There's a dedicated Getting Started section if you're deconditioned. There are progressions and regressions in every workout. There are breathwork and mobility modules you can start with even before your bag arrives. You don't need to be an athlete. You just need to be willing. The rest, I'll teach you.

Need a Bulgarian Bag?

If you're located in the USA, use code TEAMSALEMI10 for 10% off by clicking here.

See What's Inside: Follow-Along Workouts That Teach You as You Train

This is a sample from one of the 7 follow-along workouts included in the program. You'll get clear instruction, technical breakdowns, and coaching on every movement - plus ways to scale up and scale down each workout.

How It Works

1

Click "Get Started" and get instant access to the full program

2

If you need a Bulgarian Bag, order yours here (use code TEAMSALEMI10 for 10% off at shop.mikesalemi.io)

3

Start training immediately with the breathwork, mobility, and getting started modules

4

When your bag arrives, jump into the follow-along workouts

5

Transform your body over the next 30 days

Get Instant Access - $249

Start today, even without a bag.

With Ivan Ivanov, inventor of the Bulgarian Bag

Trained by Ivan Ivanov, Inventor of the Bulgarian Bag. Teaching Coaches Worldwide

I'm Mike Salemi, and I've been one of Ivan Ivanov's top instructors for nearly 7 years. Ivan is the inventor of the Bulgarian Bag, a former Olympian, and the former US Olympic wrestling coach in Greco-Roman wrestling. I've spent weeks at a time at his headquarters in Boise, Idaho, studying directly with him and his family. He's not just a colleague. He's a mentor and a dear friend.

I teach Bulgarian Bag certifications around the world, primarily to fitness coaches and trainers who want to learn how to program this tool properly for their clients. I've certified hundreds of coaches from universities, elite training facilities, gyms, and wellness programs across the globe. I've also worked directly with Olympic-level athletes and complete beginners.

I'm a 2-time world champion, once in powerlifting and once in kettlebell sport, and I've been coaching for over 20 years. This program reflects everything I've learned from Ivan and from teaching this tool to coaches and athletes worldwide, refined and tested through thousands of hours in real settings. People just like you.

And right now, this is the only comprehensive Bulgarian Bag program currently available.

Mike Salemi Has Been Featured In

"Real strength isn't about
how much you can lift. It's about how steady you can stay when life gets heavy."

Why Most People's Bulgarian Bags Collect Dust

Here's the truth: most people who buy a Bulgarian Bag don't know what to do with it. So they use it like a sandbag. Squats, lunges, curls. Which isn't bad, but it completely misses what makes this tool special. The Bulgarian Bag was designed for dynamic, rotational, full-body movements that build power, grip strength, and freedom in all planes of motion. But without proper instruction, you're just guessing.

That's exactly why I created this program. Follow-along workouts that teach you as you train. No guesswork. No confusion. Just press play and move. By the end of 30 days, you'll understand this tool better than 99% of people who own one. This is the only comprehensive Bulgarian Bag education currently available outside of in-person certifications.

"Mastering your body is the gateway to mastering your emotions."

40-75 Minute Workouts. Train 3-4x Per Week. Do It Anywhere

This isn't a 2-hour gym commitment. This is intelligent training that fits your life. You can do these workouts in your garage, a park, your living room, or a hotel room. All you need is the bag and the space to move. Consistency beats intensity every time. This program is designed so you can actually stick with it.

Why This Builds You Up Instead of Breaking You Down

Most training programs give you workouts and send you on your way. This gives you a complete system that's designed to keep you training without breaking down.

You'll learn how to prepare your body properly with joint-specific warm-ups. You'll learn how to breathe correctly with nasal breathing techniques based on my certification through Patrick McKeown's Oxygen Advantage program. You'll learn how to recover intelligently with targeted myofascial stretching and spine decompression protocols using ELDOA postures. This is what most programs miss.

Every workout includes follow-along instruction where I'm either coaching you directly or coaching another athlete so you can see exactly how to move. There are specific tutorial videos for the main movements with detailed technical breakdowns. And every workout can be layered up or down depending on your level. I give you all the insights to make it work for your body.

The Bulgarian Bag is a soft implement, which means it's forgiving on your joints. Unlike a kettlebell or barbell where bad technique can wreck you, the bag gives you room to learn and refine without constant fear of injury. It fits in your car, your garage, your living room. The bag trains rotation, grip strength, and movement in every plane, which means the power and athleticism you build here translates directly to everything else you do. Playing with your kids. Hiking. Competing in your sport. This isn't gym strength. It's life strength.

Who This Is For

For Men and Women

You don't need another program that beats you up. You need intelligent training that makes you feel more capable, not broken down. This gives you strength, mobility, and confidence in your body without the 2-hour gym sessions or joint destruction. You'll look as powerful as you feel, move freely with your kids, and train on your terms.

For Coaches & Trainers

This is certified lineage training from the source. You'll learn progressions, regressions, and professional recovery protocols you can immediately use with your clients. If your clients own Bulgarian Bags that are collecting dust, you'll finally know how to program them properly.

For Athletes

Learn from a 2-time world champion who's refined this over 15 years with elite performers. This builds the kind of athleticism that translates everywhere. Rotation, grip strength, movement in all planes, and the capacity to perform when it matters.

What You Get

Everything you need to transform your training and build lasting athleticism

30 Days of Expertly Designed Programming

A complete training plan broken into 2 phases with workouts done 3-4x per week. Each phase builds on the last.

7 Follow-Along Workouts

Total body functional training workouts that take 30-60 minutes to complete. Press play and train. I'm coaching you through every rep.

50+ Exercises with Detailed Instruction

Learn powerful Bulgarian Bag and bodyweight movements with guided instruction and technical breakdowns.

Body-Weight Joint Warm-Up

Follow a guided warm-up that prepares your joints and nervous system for training. This keeps you healthy and mobile.

Post-Training Recovery: Stretching & ELDOA Postures

Precise myofascial stretching and ELDOA postures leave you feeling more fit and mobile, not broken down.

Breathwork Integration

Learn nasal breathing techniques based on my Oxygen Advantage certification. This alone will change how you feel during and after workouts.

Getting Started Onramp Section

New to this type of training? There's a dedicated section that walks you through how to approach the program if you're deconditioned.

Mobility for Spine & Shoulder Health Module Bonus

Targeted mobility work to keep your spine and shoulders healthy.

Value $59

Working In Module Bonus

Learn restorative movement practices that help you recover actively.

Value $59

Energy Cultivation Discussion Series with Paul Chek Bonus

Deep conversations with renowned holistic health practitioner Paul Chek on energy management and recovery.

Value $99

How To: Level Up/Down Your Workouts Bonus

Specific guidance on how to make every workout harder or easier based on your current capacity.

Value $39

Complete Package

Total Value: $713

$249

Lifetime Access

That's less than 3 months at most gyms. And you keep this forever.

Get Lifetime Access - $249

Instant access. Start training today.

Instant digital access

All updates free

Access on any device

No recurring fees

Built to Grow With You

This isn't a one-and-done 30-day program. It's designed to be repeated and to grow with you as you improve. Every workout includes progressions to make it harder and regressions to make it easier. As you get stronger and more skilled, you layer in more challenging variations, add sets and reps, or increase your bag weight. All of this is instructed carefully within the program.

Your first round builds the foundation. Your second refines and intensifies. Your third unlocks mastery. This is lifetime access to a program that scales with your progress. You'll never outgrow it.

What Changes in 30 Days: Wake Up Without Stiffness, Move Without Pain, Feel Strong Again

You're going to feel better in your body. Not just sore-from-a-good-workout better. Actually better. More energy throughout your day. Less stiffness when you wake up. Your joints will feel healthier, your spine will decompress, and you'll move through life with a sense of ease and capability you haven't felt in years.

You'll look as strong as you feel. This builds the kind of lean, athletic physique that comes from moving powerfully, not from endless isolation exercises. You'll carry yourself differently because your body actually works the way it's supposed to.

You'll become a better mover in real life. The rotational power, grip strength, and full-body coordination you build with the bag translates directly to everything else. Playing with your kids, hiking, sports, lifting heavy things. This isn't gym strength. It's life strength.

You'll develop body mastery. The bag requires rhythm, timing, and coordination. You can't just muscle through it. You have to move with control and awareness, which builds a level of embodied confidence most people never experience.

My Story: From Elite Athlete to Holistic Coach

I spent years as an elite athlete, becoming a world champion in powerlifting at 19 and then in kettlebell sport in 2017. But that level of intensity came with a cost. Burnout, injuries, knee issues that wouldn't go away. I realized I was strong on paper but my body was breaking down.

That's when my journey shifted. I spent years studying with mentors like Ivan Ivanov and Paul Chek, learning that there's a smarter way to train. The Bulgarian Bag became a central tool in that evolution, not because it was a magic solution, but because it allowed me to build real athleticism without destroying my joints in the process.

This program reflects 20+ years of coaching and competing at the highest levels, refined into a system that actually works for real life. It's what I wish I had known when I was younger.

Want to learn more about my journey? Read my full story here.

What People Are Saying

"Mike is one of the most disciplined men I've ever had the blessing to work with. Mike's a world-class athlete, but what impresses me even more is his creativity, leadership, and presence, both in movement and in life. Watching Mike carry the CHEK Principles forward makes the entire Hero's Journey of my own teachings worth it. He's a true example for men of all ages, and a leader with heart."

Paul Chek

Holistic Health Practitioner, Author & Founder of the CHEK Institute

"Mike Salemi is the real deal. He's my go-to when I want to level up as an athlete, coach, or man. As someone who's spent a lifetime in fitness, hosted top podcasts, and worked with world-class coaches, I know mastery when I see it. And Mike has it. Whether it's healing injuries, boosting athleticism in my 40s, or supporting deep personal growth, he delivers on all levels."

Mike Bledsoe

Co-founder of Barbell Shrugged Podcast, Former Crossfit Gym Owner

"Working with Mike was one of the smartest long-term decisions I've made. I came in to refine my movement technique, but what I gained was a lifelong foundation for movement and vitality. His coaching and programs help you move well for decades to come, not just for today's workout."

Mark England

Co-Founder of Enlifted, TEDx Speaker, and Mindset Expert

Want to read more transformation stories?

View Results & Client Stories

Frequently Asked Questions

What size Bulgarian Bag should I get?

This program is designed for one Bulgarian Bag. Suggested sizes: Females over 120lbs use 13-17lb. Females under 120lbs use 11-13lb. Males over 200lbs use 26-37lb. Males 170-199lbs use 22-26lb. Males under 170lbs use 17-22lb.

What if I don't have a Bulgarian Bag yet?

No problem. I'm a Suples distributor and can get you the authentic Bulgarian Bag at a discount. Use code TEAMSALEMI10 at shop.mikesalemi.io for 10% off. Your program access is immediate. Start with the breathwork, stretching, and mobility modules while you wait for your bag to arrive.

How do I access the program?

The program is web-based and fully mobile-responsive, which means you can access it from any device (phone, tablet, computer) through your web browser. No app download needed. Just log in and train.

Is this too advanced for me?

This program works for beginners to advanced athletes. Every workout includes progressions and regressions so you can scale to your level. The warm-ups and recovery protocols keep you safe and mobile. The bag is a soft implement, which means it's forgiving. You can learn and refine without constant fear of injury.

How many days per week do I train?

The program follows a 3-4x per week plan. On off days, there are suggestions for recovery work like stretching, mobility sessions, and breathwork.

How long are the workouts?

Workouts vary from 30-60 minutes from start to finish. This is real training in a timeframe that actually works for your life.

Can I do this alongside other training programs?

Yes. However, if you're doing it alongside other programs, reduce the number of workouts each week or reduce the training volume. Prioritize your main sport or activity goal and let the Bulgarian Bag support that.

Can I repeat this program?

Yes. It's designed to be repeated. With the progressions, regressions, and personalization built into every workout, you'll get stronger and more capable each time through.

What's your refund policy?

If you are not fully satisfied with the program, you have 7 days from the point of purchase to return it.

You Can Start Today, Even Without a Bag

Your program access is immediate. While you're waiting for your Bulgarian Bag to arrive, you can dive into the breathwork modules, recovery stretching, mobility work, and getting started section. By the time your bag shows up, you'll be primed and ready to move.

Physical freedom is the gateway to everything else. When you feel strong and capable in your body, you show up differently everywhere. With your partner, your kids, your work. This isn't just fitness. It's foundation.