Clubs have been used by warriors in one form or another for thousands of years, as far back as cavemen, and are perhaps the oldest training tools known to man. Clubs were used as hunting tools as well as weapons of war and so the need to become proficient in their use was vital for obtaining food and protecting life. They were essentially a tool that provided man with an advantage in liviving up to the old adage, "survival of the fittest".

The most widely acknowledged origin of club swinging comes from Iran with clubs known as Meels. Other examples include the Russian Bulava and Polish Bulawa, (known as a Mace in western countries). These tools were originally used as weapons, but throughout the ages they were adopted by martial artists, strongmen, gymnasts and Olympic weightlifters as a means of training the body and improving physical capacity.

Club training was a phenomeneon that lasted well into the 20th century until its popularity waned in the 1930's. However, in recent years due to innovators such as Scott Sonnon with his patented "Clubbell" and Circular Strength Training system, club training has re-emerged as a leading physical training modality.