Kettlebells
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When the old Soviet Union was in power, ever wonder why their athletes cleaned up in weight-lifting events? Some think it was because they trained with kettlebells as opposed to just the usual dumbbells. They actually aren't bells, although there is a slight resemblance. They look more like a very small, very heavy Hippity-Hop toy with a handle. Kettlebells can be found at professional gymnasiums and sold as kits, often with accompanying video or DVD instructions. Use of kettlebells can also be incorporated into other workout routines such as Pilates and yoga.
When the old Soviet Union was in power, ever wonder why their athletes cleaned up in weight-lifting events? Some think it was because they trained with kettlebells as opposed to just the usual dumbbells. They actually aren't bells, although there is a slight resemblance. They look more like a very small, very heavy Hippity-Hop toy with a handle. Kettlebells can be found at professional gymnasiums and sold as kits, often with accompanying video or DVD instructions. Use of kettlebells can also be incorporated into other workout routines such as Pilates and yoga.
More Information About Russian Kettlebells
Kettlebells were used in the Soviet Union, especially in Russia, by athletes and soldiers. This type of exercise equipment was relatively portable and could be used for one-handed and two-handed training. It was also thought that kettlebell training helped soldiers' bodies better prepare to take on the impact of getting shot. The constant lifting of the heavy weight also reportedly helps strengthen tendons and ligaments. However, kettlebell lifting did not start as a competitive sport in Russia until 1948 and a national championship didn't happen until 1985. The West didn't know anything of russian kettlebells until one Soviet special force coach, Pavel Tsatsouline, came over to the US and brought the whole concept of kettlebell workouts with him. Kettlebell lifting competitions has also caught on as a world-wide sport. Winners aren't those that can lift the heaviest kettlebells, but those that can perform the most lifts with kettlebells for ten or twenty minutes.
Working Out With Russian Kettlebells
Kettlebells, like dumbbells, come in a variety of weights and sizes. Weights are usually referred to as "poods", although they can also be sold with their weights listed in kilograms. One pood equals 35 pounds heavier than the average bag of kitty litter. There are also instructors and personal coaches that deal almost exclusively with kettlebells. Working out with kettlebells isn't just repetitive lifting over and over again. The body can go into a wide variety of positions while lifting the bells. Keeping balance while also balancing one or two heavy weights certainly helps strengthen the core and can help give a strong cardiovascular workout.