What Are Kettlebells and what are the Benefits of Russian Kettlebell Personal Training?

Russian Kettlebells are a fantastic way to build strength, increase lean muscle and burn body fat. Kettlebells are becoming more popular in the fitness industry thanks to DragonDoor and Pavel Tsatsouline. Both, I feel, are the best when it comes to Kettlebell training. When I decided to get certified in Kettlebells, I looked at other certifying agencies such as Crossfit, American Kettkebell Club and Int'l Kettlebell and Fitness Federation, along with a few others not worth mentioning. After all my research, I felt that the Russian Kettlebell Challenge through Dragondoor was the pinnacle when it came to proper execution and technique. Maybe people ask; what is a Kettlebell and what is the history and benefit of using them over traditional "weights"? The information below will provide you with the history of the Kettlebell, a unique and effective weight loss tool.

What is a Kettlebell?

A Kettlebell is a Russian exercise tool that is shaped like a big cannonball with a handle on one end. Proper Kettlebells are made out of pure cast iron, they are available in a wide range of weights and sizes. The smallest Kettlebells weigh in at only 10 pounds and they increase in weight up to 106 pounds (called The Beast). These unique tools are used in a wide variety of strength training and flexibility exercises, to increase muscle and build limitless endurance.

The History of Russian Kettlebells

Kettlebells originated in Russia and the first recorded note about the use of them was in 1704 within a Russian dictionary (Cherkikh, 1994). The Russian word for Kettlebell is "girya," and the people who used these weights were called "gireviks." Kettlebells first received acknowledgement as an outstanding weight loss tool when they were shown in the fitness magazine, Hercules, in 1913. Kettlebells have become increasingly popular recently within the United States thanks to a man named Pavel Tsatsouline. Known to most as "Pavel", he is a fitness author who used to be a trainer for not only the United States armed forces but the Soviet Union forces as well. When the USA saw that their athletes could not sustain as long as their Russian counterparts, they began including the Kettlebell into their training routines. Back in 1985 a committee for the sport of Kettlebell lifting was created and the first National Championship for Kettlebells was held in Russia in 1985. Today, the Kettlebell is being used in fitness routines of the general gym population as their benefits have proven them to be a useful tool for overall fitness.

The Benefits of KettleBell Training

• Unmatched building of endurance and speed.
• Strengthening of almost all muscle of the body focusing on core strength and balance.
• Increases Speed and Agility due to its offset handle.
• Increases flexibility.
• Helps you to shed body fat.
• Gives you the freedom to get an intensive workout anytime and any place.

As you can see, the history of the Kettlebell is a long and proven record of effectiveness. This once thought unusual exercise tool is now being used by individuals around the world. Are Kettlebells right for you? If you think about it, Kettlebells have been working for hundreds of years to build muscle, lose fat, and strengthen elite athletes and improve their endurance. Give me a call to find out how I can help you improve your health and body today using Kettlebells and other training techniques.