Adelaide mates go viral sweating it out in female-dominated ‘anything but exercise’ classes

They’re your typical Aussie blokes who have been trading in push ups for pole dancing and pilates classes. They get some inquisitive glances, but this is what surprised them most.

They’re your typical Aussie blokes trading in dumbbells for dancing, bench press for bungee fit and push ups for pilates.

But for best mates – Aussie Edwards, Sam Young, Sam Patterson, and Alex Triplow – these often maligned exercises are much more than working up a sweat.

The quartet are behind one of Australia’s most beloved TikTok pages – Be The One – which showcases their cheeky pranks, daring challenges and overseas adventures.

It’s their ‘Anything but exercise’ series that is turning heads though, attracting millions of views across TikTok and Instagram.

Their online success comes from clapping back at viral crack at women who “will do anything but lift weights” or “normal exercise”.

The friends try their hand at a range of typically female-dominated sports and exercise classes, usually done by older women in a bid to stay active and make friends.

Despite getting some inquisitive glances at their first class – a fitball drumming session – the lads were welcomed with open arms – quite literally.

Sam Young, Sam Patterson, Alex Triplow and Aussie Edwards taking part in a spin class at Studio 360 Bike Club. Picture: Mark Brake

“They bloody loved us, they couldn’t believe there were men in the class,” Aussie, 25, says.

“All of a sudden they were super inviting and they loved seeing some youngsters have fun with the oldies.

“More often than not, all the oldies love interacting with us, talking about taking us out to dinner.

“In the aqua aerobics, they kept splashing us and winding us up, saying we could do a lot better.”

From ballet to aqua aerobics, and trampolining to pole dancing, the Adelaide locals have been blown away by not only how tough the workouts actually are, but the sense of community in every class.

Aussie Edwards being put through his paces in a pole class. Picture: Instagram @betheonebt1

The Be The One lads testing out a trampolining class. Picture: Instagram @betheonebt1

“Youngy can get under a bar and squat 200 kilograms plus, but all of a sudden, you’re trying to climb up a pole and it’s way different to what we normally do,” Aussie says.

“The pole dancing and the silks ones particularly caught us off guard on how challenging they were.

“It just shows that anything can really be fitness, and if you find what you love, you may as well give it a go and break that stereotype down.

“The oldies can bring the energy, they’re bloody cool.”

Two of the quartet recently put their best foot forward in a ballet class. Picture Instagram @betheonebt1

The Adelaide blokes trying water aerobics. Picture: Instagram @betheonebt1

Studio360Cycle co-founder and head coach Sammy Stanton said the quartet were proving to young men the importance of staying active.

“They gave it a good crack, they’ve got a bit of rhythm to them so they picked up the choreography quite quickly,” he said.

“We have such a range of fitness levels, from 70 year olds to 17 year olds … so having those boys in who do make everything fun, make a bit light hearted and not so serious, is on brand for us.”

The content creators going for a spin at Studio360Cycle on Unley Rd. Picture Mark Brake

The content creators have been best friends since meeting in Year 3 at St Peter’s Woodlands Grammar School in Glenelg, filming pranks in each other’s backyards.

But it wasn’t until 2023 that their homemade videos stepped up a gear, gaining traction on TikTok thanks to a video of them sneaking into Adelaide Oval in tradie gear.

Despite all being on different career paths, they decided to down tools and chase their dreams.

Since then, they’ve partnered with some of the biggest brands in the world, including Red Bull, Booking.com, McDonald’s, EA Sports and Budgie Smugglers, and travelled the world to film eye-catching social content.

They’ve also opened their own content studio in Somerton Park, where they film content and hire the space out to other creators.

“It had been our dream to have a business together … we just started filming TikToks and now it’s become our career,” Aussie says.

“Ever since day one, we knew it would work.

“We just knew we were going to be successful in our own business, so we just kept going and going.”

Originally published as Adelaide mates go viral sweating it out in female-dominated ‘anything but exercise’ classes