The Uniqueness of Kettlebells

By Greg Diener


Whenever I see people exercising they always see an odd looking weight shaped like a bowling ball with a handle on it. The first question people might have in their head when they see it is "just what is this weird thing?" It's simple these weights are known as kettlebells and they have had great popularity in Russia. It has only been in the last few decades that these weight have become very well known in the land of fitness. But don't let the weird shape of the weight fool you.

Kettle bells are cast-iron weights used for fitness purposes. They sort of look like a solid iron tea kettle, just without the spout. Another way to detail them is a cannonball with a handle that had been attached. They were initially used in Russia where they were used as weights for scales in marketplaces. Since they were mostly used to weigh agricultural equipment and products, kettlebells were mostly used by farmers. Eventually these farmers would turn swinging and carrying these weights into a tournament. Festivals were held to show each farmer's abilities. This would continue on for decades until it became more of a fitness tool.

These farmers started using kettlebells in the ways that we see now; swinging, lifting, squatting, jerking, cleaning, etc. They found that kettlebells helped increase their strength, speed, agility and endurance. Because of its abilities, the Russians started to develop workout routines around the kettlebell. The technical skill needed to use them properly also helped shape kettlebells into a Russian national sport.

It wasn't long before the use of Russian kettlebells stretched to other European nations. It slowly started acquiring success in different nations and finally reached the shores of America in the early 2000's. Since it has reached the United States, it has continued to rise in popularity. More individuals are shifting to kettlebells from the more traditional bar bell weights utilized in the United States. Not only are individuals adopting the kettlebells, but fitness groups, such as CrossFit, have begun to adopt them into their programs.

Kettlebells are so sought after because of their extremely productive techniques. While they do bring many good results, they do have a high risk of injury. This is because of the motions are very specific and need to be finished with precision. Professional assistance should be sought before starting a workout program that uses kettlebells so that the risk of injury is prevented as much as possible.




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