A kettlebell is a cast iron weight that looks like a cannonball with a handle. It’s a simple tool that yields amazing, complex, yet easy-to-achieve results.

The kettlebell’s unique shape is what makes it so powerful. Working out with a kettlebell requires dynamic, explosive movements as you swing it, pass it from hand to hand and move around it. Kettlebell training is a highly effective way to develop the hip thrust, the movement that provides the power behind jumps, kicks, punches - all athletic movements. It tones and strengthens your core muscles, provides a tough cardiovascular workout and sculpts all your problem areas.

The History of Kettlebell Training

Russians have revered Fitness and physical strength for many generations. It has always been a great honor to be considered the strongest man of your village or town. At first, strongmen would use kettlebells to showcase their strength and abilities and entertain townspeople. Kettlebell contests were a fixture in social gatherings.

After Word War II, weight lifting became more popular as prominent Russian athletes compete for Olympic medals. Villagers and military soldiers continued to use kettlebells and hold kettlebell contests, but it wasn’t until 1985 that national rules, regulations and standards were set. The First National Championship of the USSR was held in 1985 in Lipetsk, Russia.

Kettlebells began to catch on in America in 2005 when Russian import Valery Fedorenko formed the American Kettlebell Club. The club certified hundreds of coaches who brought this “new” discovery to their clients. It didn’t take long for the amazing effects of kettlebell training to transform them into believers.