Training for weight loss, power, strength and endurance
WHAT ARE KETTLEBELLS?
The biggest things to hit the fitness industry, Kettlebells are creating major-hype in the U.S. Now they’re taking the U.K by storm, with many celebrities and sportsmen touting their effectiveness for getting them in shape and increasing fitness - Jennifer Lopez, Matthew McConaughey, Gerri Halliwell and Penelope Cruz to name but a few. Top fighters such as K1's Bob Sapp, and welterweight UFC champion BJ Penn use kettlebells to boost muscular endurance for killer MMA battles.
Kettlebell training is one of the most effective and exciting ways to train. It will burn fat; make you very fit, flexible and super-strong. I’ve recently discovered this exciting training tool, and now I want to share it with you!
So…. what are kettlebells?
Originally called Girya, the Russian Kettlebell looks like a cannonball with a flat bottom and a handle moulded to it. Their origin is a subject of great debate. Some say they originate from Ancient Greece, others say the Highlands of Scotland where villagers used old church bells to exercise.
Through history, it became a fantastic strength tool, so much so that the Russian term for strongman is Girevik or “Kettlebell lifter.” It is in Russia and other Eastern bloc countries that Kettlebell lifting became an international sport with local, national and international competitions.
Soviet Special Operations (Spetznaz) attribute much of their strength, agility and stamina to kettlebells. The official Soviet armed forces manual on strength training states that kettlebells are the most effective means of developing fitness and strength.
There is no other training tool out there which guarantees ALL of the following:
- Fast results whatever your goal.
- Burns fat quickly
- Improves strength
- Increases muscle mass in men
- Increases flexibility
- Improves co-ordination
- Works the whole body!
Why should I use them?
The style of training used with the Kettlebell returns us to learning how to use our bodies better, as one unit. All the moves are ground-based, and get you back on your feet, away from machines or benches. Because you are using so many muscle groups, the energy demands of kettlebell exercises are much greater than conventional gym exercises. This means you'll be burning up to 1,500 calories per hour when you're well conditioned and become proficient in the various exercises. Compare this to 400 calories when running on a treadmill for an hour! Furthermore you'll be boosting your metabolism, so you'll be burning more fat for up to 36 hours afterwards!
As the handles are much thicker than conventional dumbbells, every exercise feels harder. The kettlebell is much more difficult to control as the weight hangs to one side. Your core muscles are constantly taxed as the kettlebell pulls at you from every direction. You have to fight to stabilise it throughout the movement. Exercises such as the kettlebell clean and snatch where the kettlebell flips over your hand, will build your co-ordination very quickly.
