1. A Former Soviet Sport
The Russian kettleball, Russian kettlebells and giryas all describe the same thing, a form of weight lifting or the apparatus used to do it. Lifting the kettleball was primarily a sport in the former Soviet Union and recently made its way to the United States. The practice of kettleball lifting is akin to a poor man's weight lifting and focuses on repetition increases as opposed to amount of weight. The kettleball looks a great deal like a bowling ball that has a luggage case handle attached. At one time it became popular in America, but weights replaced it.
2. They Come in Poods
Kettlebells weights are by the pood. A pood is a Russian weight that weighs 36 lbs.or 16kg. You can purchase 1, 1 1/2, and 2 pood kettleballs. Russian circuses or sports use special made heavier kettleballs called bulldogs. One semi-official story attributes the Guinness record lift of a 1015-lc. lift by a circus strongman 60 years of age, named Valentin Dikul. He trained on heavy kettleballs.
3. Work Your Grip
The action of lifting the kettlebells develops the wrists without even focusing on the area. Its shape and method of lifting creates a different type of training than dumbbells or weights. Dumbbells and weights are better for large muscle development and kettleballs develop timing, agility and flexibility better. Some exercises work a lot better with a kettleball. Working the shin area with a dumbbell is almost impossible, but the seated toe-raise easily adapts to the kettleball. Simply stick the foot through the handle and begin the exercise.
4. Kettleballs Can Be Costly
Training with the kettleballs work well with movements like swings and snatches. The focus is primarily on number of repetitions and not necessarily amount of weight. One of the major drawbacks is that you have to buy several different kettleballs as your weight requirements increase. This can be quite costly for the average person.
5. The Swing Is Basic
Swings with the kettleball develop many parts of the body. Start with the kettleball between the legs and behind you. Bend over and grab the handle. Stand up and once straight snap the hips forward as you stand. This allows the muscles of the hamstring and glutes to do the work. Drive the weight through the heels. Allow the kettleball to glide upward in a swing motion and return to the position behind you as you bend back to the beginning position. The swing is one of the most fundamental movements.
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