Enter the kettlebell

[Ranzan]

Enter the kettle bell by Pavel Tsatsouline does anyone have it? if you do would you advise getting it?

Thanks

[tellner]

"In Soviet Russia Kettlebell enters You!"

Sorry, couldn't resist that one.

Kettlebells are great tools. Even though Mr. Tsatsouline has been caught out embroidering his background his material is still very good.

[Arnoo]

on a complete side note and totally offtopic but what are reasonable prices for kettlebells i saw a site today that had them on sale there prices where:

8 kg , 50 euro
12 kg, 70 euro
16 kg, 90 euro
20 kg, 100 euro
24 kg, 120 euro
32 kg, 140 euro

good price or expensive ?

[Aaron Fields]

I first used "bells" living in Mongolia during the mid to late '90's. In about 2003I switched from more standard weight routines, to sandbags and dumbells in kettlebell fashion. About two years ago I made the purchase of my own bells.

I love it, it not only is the type of work that is good for my grappling sports, but is also good for my dayjob as a firefighter in a major metro area.

I recommend them, but I also recommend taking a lesson or two from folks who know what they are doing. Like everything, the real difference is in the details.

Good luck,

Aaron Fields

[TurboKC]

Kettlebells by design force you to recruit more muscle groups per movement and perform those movements in a more natural way.

The weight remains separate and cumbersome as opposed to becoming an extension of your arm like a dumbell. It's like the difference between waving around a length of wood (dumbell) or a carrier bag full of shopping (kettlebell).

I love using them, I recommend buying two for the full range of exercises available for this piece of equipment. Plus, kettlebell exercises are WAY more fun than just repping dumbells.

KC

[SteffenBerg]

I've used Kettlebells since 2003 or so... and it is an indispensable tool in my training regimen. Highly recommended for the great cardio and core strength tool that is highly applicable to combat training.

/Stef

[Koyoku]

Kettlebells are great, but I suggest Steve Maxwel and or Steve Cotter.

[Morra]

[QUOTE=tellner;10580999Even though Mr. Tsatsouline has been caught out embroidering his background his material is still very good.[/QUOTE]

Embroidering his background? What did he embroider it to? :)

[cloudz]

Kettlebells are great, but I suggest Steve Maxwel and or Steve Cotter.

maybe... but will their commentary be as funny, comrade!

Enter the kettle bell by Pavel Tsatsouline does anyone have it? if you do would you advise getting it?

Thanks

I have a title of his that I borrowed off a mate, could well be this one. Solid exercises there, instruction is fine, and he funny in a Borat kind of way. But I'd probably agree with Koyoku. I've heard good things about Steve Cotters work. Maybe more aimed for MA. He studied Hsingi with Mike Patterson!

[Connovar]

Steve Maxwell is a bjj black belt and a personal trainer.He said although over systems such as bodywt or free wts are good, the kettlebell is single best conditioning tool for fighters.

Saulo Ribeiro (a very well know and respected BJJ instructor and competitor says they are great compliment to jiu-jitsu training.

My bjj instructor got me into using them although I was reluctant at first as I was more of a free wt guy. I use them for 90 of my conditioning now.

I like steve maxwells the best. He has some short (15-25 minute workouts) that are tough and efficient.

[Clint M Clark]

^^^

I second Steve Maxwell's method. I received a kettlebell instructor's cert from him earlier this year, and I also have his Cruel and Unusual 2 DVD. Steve also has a great online training program for those that need assistance with sport specific training, workout design or general fitness.

Steve's method (i.e. combining kettlebells, bodyweight and joint mobility exercises) are great for overall strength-endurance and fitness, and he designs his workouts from a grapplers perspective.

If you haven't yet, check out Steve's blog and website:

http://maxwellsc.blogspot.com/
http://www.maxwellsc.com/

Another great kettlebell strength coach is Mike Mahler. I worked with Mike back in 2005 when I first got into kettlebells. I highly recommend his DVDs: Kettlebell Solutions for Size and Strength, and Kettlebell Solutions for Speed and Explosive strength.

http://www.mikemahler.com/

As mentioned previously, if you can work with a coach, that would be your best bet. But if that isn't feasible -- as was the case with me -- I'd then recommend a DVD and online training. I'd go with a book as a last resort.

Most kettlebell exercises are fairly straight forward, but when you start getting into more technical exercises, like the Turkish Getup or Snatch, it's much better to have a visual demonstration via a detailed video, or be able to communicate with a coach -- even if it's via email. The snatch kicked my ass when I first tried it on my own. I eventually got it, but it would've been so much easier with a coach.