Kettlebells. An incredible tool of strength PDF Print E-mail
 
What is the Russian Kettlebell?

Until recently it was believed that it was nothing more than an old type of dumbbell. A cannon ball with a handle. A retro type of training equipment that could be seen in faded black and white photos of old time strongmen.
Only those that lived and trained behind the iron curtain of the old soviet block were really familiar with it and enjoyed it’s truly magnificent power.
For years it was the favorite training tool of the Soviet army, special forces, Spetsnaz, as well as the truly legendary soviet Olympic weight lifters.
It was also a staple on the training of all combat athletes. Boxers, wrestlers and Sambo fighters. All used it and continue to use it for it’s tremendous benefits in power, endurance and work capacity.
It is not a new tool. It's origines can be traced back to ancient Greece where they were made of stones and used for the training of wrestlers and other athletes.
One such stone was found in Olympia. It was weiging 143 kg and according to written acounts, a wrestler named Bybon, managed to bent press it overhead with 1 arm.


The stone of Bybon

The kettlebell Lifting Sport (Girevoy Sport)

The sport of kettlebell lifting consists of 3 events.
The snatch, in which athletes must do as many snatches as possible with a 32 kg bell in one arm
in 10 minutes time frame. Athletes are allowed to change arms just once and they must not leave the bell down at any time or the counting is over.
The jerk, in which athletes are doing as many double jerks as possible with two 32kg bells, one in each arm, in 10 minutes time frame. Athletes should not drop the bells at any time or the counting is over.
Athletes who compete on the Snatch are also competing on the Jerk and they get ranked based on the total number of reps on both competitions.
The long cycle. This is a double clean and jerk movement and it is done with the 32 kg bells. Athletes should perform as many as possible in 10 minutes time frame.
The long cycle is an independent competition and athletes participate and get ranked just in this. They don't have to compete on the snatch and Jerk.
Women, compete only on the snatch and with the 16 kg bells.
Athletes over 40 compete with the 24 kg bells in all lifts and athletes over 60 with the 16 kg bells

Kettlebell lifting sport is a very tough sport. It does not only require enormous strength but also extremely high endurance, and has tremendous benefits in health keeping the body in very good condition even at old ages.



Coach Filikidis age 58 training for the 2009 Veterans World championship in Kertch Ukraine, where he eventually won the gold medal doing 225 snatches and 130 jerks,
This was his 13th victory in a world championship making him a tue legent of the sport

Kettlebell training is for all ages



The youngest student in our school. Age 10, training with the 8kg bell.




Nikos Papadopoulos age 94. Lifting the 16 kg bell for reps.