Introduction

Kettlebell or girya is a traditional Russian cast iron weight that looks like a cannonball with a handle. It is the ultimate tool for extreme all-around fitness.

The kettlebell first appeared in a Russian dictionary in 1704 (Cherkikh, 1994). So popular were kettlebells in Tsarist Russia that any strongman or weightlifter was referred to as a girevik, or a kettlebell.

Why train with kettlebells?

They deliver extreme all-around fitness. No other single exercise equipment does it better. Here is a short list of hardware the Russian kettlebell replaces:

• barbells
• dumbbells
• belts for weighted pull-ups and dips
• thick bars
• medicine balls
• grip devices
• cardio equipment

What are the benefits of kettlebell training?

• Develops all-purpose strength--to easily handle the toughest and most unexpected demand
• Amps resilience--to repel the hardest hits
• Maximizes staying power--because the last round decides all
• Blends strength with flexibility--because strength that fails to reach its target is important
• Strips away the fat--without dieting and aerobics
• Forges a fighters physique--the form follows the function
• Makes strong anywhere, anytime--an extreme hand held gym