Also known as a Girya, a kettlebell looks like a metal ball with a flat bottom and a handle moulded to it.
Kettlebells have long been used as a dynamic tool to develop strength and endurance.
Through history, they became synonymous with strength, so much so that the Russian term for strongman is Girevik or “Kettlebell lifter.”
Their origin is still a matter of speculation, but archaeological records show evidence of their use in Ancient Greece and Persia, and through the middle ages.
They made their way to Russia about 1700, where they happened to be used as a weight measure for grain and goods.
Old kettlebells
At the end of the market day, at folk festivals and fairs, farmers started swinging and lifting them to show their strength, quickly finding out the health benefits.
In 1885, the roots of the modern sport took shape under the initiative of Doctor Kraevskogo, who introduced exercises with kettlebells to the Russian athletic circles.
In the early 1900’s, circus athletes, bodybuilders and strong men of Europe, Canada and America (Arthur Saxon, Sig Klein and Eugene Sandow, to name a few) all trained with kettlebells just like the Russian strongmen and athletes. Yet, while kettlebells disappeared in the West they began to flourish in the former Soviet Union. Everyone from common people, to the military, to Olympic athletes trained with kettlebells.
Russian research concluded that the kettlebell is an excellent tool for improving all around fitness and performance.
Kettlebells became the conditioning tool of choice for the Russian Army.
In addition, as part of their training program, Soviet Olympic lifters utilized kettlebells unilaterally in order to strengthen their weaker side.
To this day, countries of the old eastern bloc rely on them for supplementing the training of most of their athletes and military.
The government recognized the multiple benefits kettlebells would provide the numerous men and women who worked as labourers in their economy. As a result, in 1981 the first official Kettlebell Commission was formed. The Commission enforced mandatory kettlebell exercise and conditioning for the populous, with the understanding that this singular instrument would keep its people fit, increase productivity, and decrease healthcare costs.
Today kettlebells are being used by Hollywood stars , profession athletes, football and rugby teams, martial artists, and wrestlers. Kettlebells are for everyone, from the professional athlete that wants the edge for competitions, the martial artist that wants flexibility, speed and power to dominate his opponent, the average person who wants to get fit to the grandmother who just wants to play with her grandchild for many years to come.
For those who like in depth details and references, read the IUKL article
KETTLEBELL SPORT
Kettlebell sport is the traditional Russian Strongman sport of repetition kettlebell lifting.Being relatively new, it is still in evolution.
The sport evolved from athletic and military circles and spread to the wider population, far into the rural depth of the country.
In 1948 the first kettlebell competition took place in Russia where the most repetitions, not 1 rep strength, made you champion. It was attended by 200000 persons.
Kettlebell lifting was declared an ethnic sport in 1974.
In 1985 the first official Russian national championship was held. Since then many other nations have entered international competitions.
There are different weight categories for athletes to compete in.
There are 3 events: the two arm jerk, 1 arm snatch and the long cycle. Each event is tested for repetitions in a 10 minute time period without setting the kettlebell(s) down.
You can view videos here.
The two arm jerk requires you to clean the kettlebells to your chest once, and then jerk them as many times overhead as possible.
The snatch is performed by swinging the kettlebell between your legs and brought up to the overhead position in one uninterrupted motion. Only one hand switch is permitted.
The long cycle calls for a clean before each jerk.
Men compete in either the two arm jerk and snatch together, and/or just the long cycle using 2x 32kg kettlebells. ( 24kg for amateurs and over 40s, 16kg for juniors)
Because the competitor cannot set the kettlebell(s) down, precise coordination and energy saving techniques must be used to last the event.
Ranking is determined by weight class and the number of repetitions achieved in the 10 minute time frame.
Furthermore , the spirit of competition is enhanced by special feats such as odd lifts, juggling, and kettlebell relay races after the main program is completed.
