Russian Kettlebells
What is a Kettlebell?
A 'kettlebell' or girya (Russ.) is a traditional Russian cast iron weight that looks like a cannonball with a handle. "Not a single sport develops our muscular strength and bodies as well as kettlebell athletics," wrote Ludvig Chaplinskiy in Russian magazine Hercules in 1913.
In the Soviet times weightlifting legends such as Vlasov, Zhabotinskiy, and Alexeyev, started their Olympic careers with kettlebells. The Russian Special Forces personnel owe much of their wiry strength, lethal agility, and never-quitting stamina to kettlebells.
Kettlebells deliver all round extreme fitness
Voropayev (1983) observed two groups of subjects over a period of a few years. The control group followed a typical university physical education program. The experimental group just lifted kettlebells. In spite of the lack of practice on the tested exercises, the kettlebell group showed better scores in every one of them!
Researchers at the Lesgaft Physical Culture Institute found a very high correlation between kettlebell lifting and a great range of tests: strength, strength endurance, general endurance, work capacity and balance! Shevtsova (1993) discovered that kettlebell training lowers heart rate and blood pressure.
Reality SDC, the RKC and Kettlebells
The Russian Kettlebell Challenge (RKC) is the world's pioneering and leading Kettlebell certification course. The list of amazing athletes and coaches developed through Dragon Door and Pavel Tsatsouline's RKC curriculum include Steve Cotter, Jeff Martone, Kenneth Jay and Mike Mahler.
The Head Coach is one of only 6 RKC (Russian Kettlebell Challenge) certified instructors in Australia and the only trainer currently certified by Pavel Tsatsouline and the RKC in kettlebell lifting in South Australia.
Head Coach with Master of Sports, Pavel Tsatsouline of Dragon Door and the RKC and Expert level Krav Maga instructors Tommy Bloom and Amnon Dharsa on the RKC in Budapest, Hungary.
Who uses kettlebells?
The list is many and varied:
- The elite of the US military and law enforcement including Force Recon Marines, FBI's Hostage Rescue Team, the Secret Service Counter Assault Team
- Boxing champions like Kostya Tszyu and most MMA fighters worldwide
- Australian Army and Navy
- AFL clubs such as Port Adelaide Football Club
- Australian Institute of Sport
- Physiotherapists throughout the country for rehabilitation
- Body Building champions
- Various Rugby League teams
- Personal trainers worldwide
- Celebrities like Sylvester Stallone, Matthew McConaughey, Jennifer Lopez & Penelope Cruz
The Kettlebell Body
Kettlebells forge their practitioner's physiques along the lines of antique statues - broad shoulders with just a hint of pecs, back muscles standing out in bold relief, wiry arms, rugged forearms, a cut midsection, and strong legs.
Kettlebells melt fat without the dishonor of dieting or aerobics - losing 1% of body fat a week for weeks is not uncommon. If you are overweight, you will lean out. If you are skinny, you will get built up.