Unlike Many Popular Fitness Trends, The Iron Kettlebell Is Here To Stay

Are Russian kettlebells just another fitness fad?  To be blunt, no.  Unlike Suzanne Sommer’s epic Thigh Master, the Aerobic Striptease series (the currently very popular “striptease aerobics” that makes Jane Fonda (“Barbarella”) look like an old fogey fuddy-duddy) by Carmen Electra, and the Body Blade (which actually has some value if you don’t mind looking like a total idiot), the Russian kettlebell is here to stay.

Why can we say this?  Well, for one thing, kettlebells have been used for a couple hundred years now by the Eastern Bloc.  Kettlebell training were always an integral part of the workout curriculum of athletic coaches behind the Iron Curtain.  The kettlebell has been a relatively unknown workout tool to Westerners and, so, gave the Russians a distinct advantage in many sports.  Kettlebells is part of the reason why the Soviet Union was able to dominate much of the Olympics for so long.

Carmen Electra

Now that kettlebell training has made a revival in the United States (it was a favorite of many 19th century strongmen), the popularity of the kettlebell has climbed exponentially, with no end in sight.  Interestingly enough, the western world’s adoption of the kettlebell as an boost in strength building has fanned the flames of popularity even further in Europe as well.

Kettlebells are very effective in helping one build strength in a very efficient manner. Its age-old design has no need of silly packaging or advertising gimmicks. Unlike a fad that just comes and goes, kettlbells aren’t going anywhere except to gyms, garages, and backyards all around the world.

The Russian Secret Weapon Breaks Out Into Mainstream Popularity

For centuries, the iron kettlebell was Russia’s best kept strength and fitness secret. Just a few years ago, there were but a handful of Americans who had ever heard of the Russian kettlebell (known in Russia as a “girya”). Of this handful, a few of those began to actually train with one. Thanks to the propaganda of Pavel Tsatsouline (aka “The Evil Russian”), along with the backing of John DuCane’s Dragon Door Pubications, the western world watched as the iron curtain was drawn back to reveal this most effective and efficient piece of exercise equipment.

Suddenly, the 100 lb. bag of fertilizer seemed lighter. The sledge hammer swung with greater force. And playfully tossing junior up into the air could end up accidently throwing him into orbit.

While many scoffed at the appearance of the kettlebell and at the odd exercises performed with one, the open-minded gave the kettlebell a chance and discovered what is known to gireviks (the Russian term for “strongman” and usually used to refer to one who uses a kettlebell) as the What-The-Heck (or, for preference, you may substitute the other H word) effect. The return on investment for a kettlebell was unheard of in the strength training world. Atheletes were consistently reporting new PRs (personal records) in strength, speed, endurance, and so on. But not only were the gains great in the areas specifically trained for, these same people found that working out with the kettlebell also gave them unexpected, residual side-effect strength for everyday life. Suddenly, the 100 lb. bag of fertilizer seemed lighter. The sledge hammer swung with greater force. And playfully tossing junior up into the air could end up accidently throwing him into orbit. Hence the term What-The-Heck (WTH).

So eventually, the handful of gireviks became a community of people from all backgrounds, from Olympic powerlifters to wrestlers to basketball players to couch potatoes, all gathering together on the Dragon Door Forum to discuss with Pavel Tsatsouline the principles of girevoy (the Russian term for the sport of Kettlebell lifting) as discussed in his articles in Muscle Media magazine as well as in his first kettlebell training book, “The Russian Kettlebell Chalenge”, and his unorthodox weight training book, “Power To The People”.

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