Curious Minds is where big questions meet everyday curiosity, exploring how science, technology, and imagination shape our world. From kids to grandparents, everyone can find something to spark their mind here.

If you think running on all fours is just a bizarre TikTok trend or a "glitch in the matrix," think again. Today we explore Quadrobics, where viral youth culture collides with four million years of evolutionary biology.

In this episode (Ep. 21): Join Sakura as we dive into the science of "De-Evolution" — from the Japanese "Monkey Man" who set world records, to the moral panic sweeping Russia, to the surprising 2016 study linking crawling to higher intelligence.

We break down how this primal movement practice is challenging modern fitness norms, why experts believe our wrists (and dignity) might be at risk, and the surprising ways rejecting efficiency might be the cure for our digital, sedentary lives.

You’ll hear about:

– The Great Trade-Off: Why humans originally stood up to save energy, and why "de-evolving" is the ultimate calorie burner.

– Sudoku for the Spine: How a study in Human Movement Science proved that crawling boosts cognitive flexibility.

– Global Rebellion: Why teenagers from London to Tokyo are rejecting the treadmill to run like wolves.

– The "Monkey Man": The story of Kenichi Ito, who worked as a janitor just to train on all fours without getting arrested.

And here’s the takeaway: Quadrobics isn't about becoming a monkey; it’s a subconscious rejection of the chair.

Because as our lives move deeper into the digital realm, reconnecting with our bodies isn't just a physical challenge — it’s a human one.

The stakes have never been higher, and the opportunities have never been greater.

Stay curious because sometimes the best way to move forward is to get down.

Disclaimer:This episode is crafted with the support of advanced AI tools to ensure clarity, smooth delivery, and an engaging listening experience. All information is drawn from credible, publicly available research, and any discussion of potential risks reflects the current understanding of subject-matter experts.

This content is intended for educational and informational use only. It does not provide medical, legal, or policy advice, nor does it express political opinions or seek to influence any election.

Listeners are encouraged to explore the referenced sources for further detail.

#CuriousMindsPodcast #Quadrobics #FitnessTrends #EvolutionaryBiology #PrimalMovement #CognitiveScience #ViralTrends #MonkeyMan #DeEvolution #DigitalDetox #ScienceExplained #NewFrontiers

Sources

• Quadrupedal movement training improves markers of cognition and joint repositioning, 2016, Human Movement Science, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26896559/

• Kenichi Ito (athlete), 2025, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenichi_Ito_(athlete

• Ryusei Yonee Breaks 100m World Record… On All Fours!, 2025, YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUsRhpZRJUM

• What Is Quadrobics, Russia's Viral But Divisive Youth Subculture?, 2024, The Moscow Times, https://www.youtube.com/shorts/z09OPa6nSHg

• Quadrobics: Exploring the Therian Fitness Trend, 2024, wikiHow, https://www.wikihow.com/Quadrobics

• What is Quadrobics? Viral fitness trend that has people running on all fours, 2025, Times of India, https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/fitness/what-is-quadrobics-viral-fitness-trend-that-has-people-running-on-all-fours/articleshow/123737743.cms

• Animals in the City: Quadrobers between humans and non-humans, 2025, World Anthropological Union Congress, https://waucongress2025.org/paper/?id=390

• Chimpanzee locomotor energetics and the origin of human bipedalism, 2007, PNAS, https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.0703267104