Russian kettlebell as an original Russian sports equipment

First, we should remember that there are competition kettlebells. They have the same size, i.e. the base and handle of weights of any weight are the same. This is done, firstly, to ensure that athletes perform under equal conditions. And secondly, it is much more effective when moving from one weight to another. In this case, there is no need to get used to the new size, which means there is no need to adapt to the new technique.

Pictured: Perform Better competition kettlebell

Unlike competition weights, whose shape is standardized, fitness weights can have completely different shapes and designs. The shape of the kettlebell may be unusual, but comfortable. For example, a long handle is suitable for training where there are a lot of interceptions. However, the convenience in one exercise may be more than offset by the inconvenience in another. Let's take a closer look at fitness weights.

What is a kettlebell?[edit | edit code]

Kettlebells 8, 12, 16, 24 and 32 kg

Weight

- a sports equipment of a given mass, which has a special shape in the form of a metal core with a handle and other design features.

The word kettlebell first appeared in the Russian dictionary in 1704 (Cherkikh, 1994).

Artistic weights, with faces

Weights by weight[edit | edit code]

Russian weights are traditionally measured in pounds. One pud is an old Russian unit of measurement equivalent to 16 kilograms (about 35 pounds). The most popular weights in Russia: 1 pound for beginner men; 1.5 pounds, or 53 pounds - the standard weight of an army weight; and the so-called “dvuhpudovka”, 2 poods, or 70 pounds. The two-pudovka is used by experienced weight lifters.

Competitions in kettlebell lifting are held with kettlebells weighing 16, 24 and 32 kg. During training, weights of a more varied gradation are used.

According to the rules of the MSGS, MFGS, VFGS, sports competitive weights must have the following parameters:

Approximate conversion of poods and kilograms to pounds

Heavy kettlebells are traditionally called "bulldogs"

. “Heavy” is a relative concept; usually weights heavier than 32 kg are included in this category. 48 kg is the maximum weight for a kettlebell, but it did not stop Russian strongmen. Weightlifting legend Yuri Vlasov was upset when someone stole his custom-made 56kg weights.

Dragon Door produces high-quality classic Russian-style rubber-coated cast iron kettlebells ranging from 26 to 106 pounds and women's kettlebells from 9 to 18 pounds.

Kettlebell training[edit | edit code]

Kettlebells provide complete and comprehensive development. Multifunctional strength, power and flexibility. They get rid of fat without necessarily doing aerobics. In just 1-2 hours of training per week. All you need is one compact and literally indestructible projectile that can be used anywhere.

What kind of weights do you need?[edit | edit code]

Start with one weight, the table will help you choose the right weight. If funds allow, buy a set of three or four weights presented in the table.

Do you need two kettlebells of the same weight? Not yet. There are great double kettlebell exercises, watch senior kettlebell trainer Mike Mahler do them, but they're not for beginners. Start with one kettlebell, work on strength imbalances, and train the snatch and press.

The average person should start with a 16kg kettlebell. What does "average" mean? If the bench press is used as a standard test to evaluate strength (which is incorrect), then a man lying on a bench pressing a barbell weighing 90 kg should start with 16 kg. If you bench more than 90 kg, then try training with a 20 kg kettlebell. If you are a powerlifter or strongman, start with 24 kg.

A woman with average physical fitness should start with 8 kg. A strong woman can try 12 kg. Most women should aim for 16kg. Few stubborn women will go further. Katherine "Catherine of Steel" Imes, a master kettlebell lifter, can bench press a 32kg kettlebell five times, putting many men to shame.

You've probably noticed that the weight of kettlebells, unlike dumbbells, increases in larger increments. There is simply no need for additional hardware. Inventive weightlifters don't need a ton of weights to progress their workouts. You save money and space.

Cannons and cannonballs

Metal weights, which have retained their shape to this day, appeared in the 18th century in a completely unexpected way. Russian gunners constantly, with great effort, manually placed cannonballs into the muzzles of the cannons.

It took preparation. A simple but excellent idea was proposed: attach a handle to the core and thereby train the arm muscles. The results were stunning; the speed of loading a cannonball into the cannon increased several times.

This is how a round weight appeared with a comfortable handle that provides a tight grip. Trade weights of that time were multifaceted and had a very uncomfortable handle.

Kettlebell Lifting Day was marked on August 10, 1885. It was on this day that the first “Amateur Athletics Club” was created, organized in St. Petersburg. The club brought together amateur athletes. At the same time, the rules and regulations of kettlebell lifting were approximately developed. Until this day, exercises with weights were more of an entertaining nature and were carried out at fairs and entertainment events, in circuses. But after this, performances increasingly began to be held officially, with the specific goal of identifying the strongest person. And since the concept of “hero” has always been highly valued in Rus', victory in such competitions was very prestigious, and there were many who wanted to compete for such a conditional title.

There are two types of sports weights:

— solid cast

- collapsible.

Solid weights come in weights of 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 48, 56 kg. A weight weighing 16 kg is called a pound weight. In kettlebell lifting, competitions are held using kettlebells weighing 16, 24 and 32 kg.

Benefits of training with kettlebells[edit | edit code]

• the weight of each weight falls on only one support point, due to which the ligaments and small muscles work at full strength, stabilizing the load. The weights are designed in such a way that the weight is distributed across two support points at once. This greatly facilitates the work of the stabilizers and makes it more balanced. They do not limit the strength of the working muscle, which allows the athlete to cope with a greater load;
• Weight gain has a greater impact on these same stabilizers, causing them to become stronger. This allows you to periodically increase weight, which leads to further increases in strength and muscle mass;
• kettlebell training is almost not dangerous, the likelihood of injury is minimized;
• kettlebells do not require strict exercise techniques. These implements are pulled or pressed in a way that is convenient; the athlete’s body optimally distributes the load between the working muscles. This promotes rapid weight gain;
• distributing the load across a large number of muscle groups leads to maximum intensity of exercise, which gives the athlete several more advantages: the hormonal surge occurs more intensely, so metabolic reactions accelerate tens of times, which not only helps to build the athlete’s muscle mass, but also increases his strength (damaged cells replaced with ones more adapted to the load). Subcutaneous fat is also burned more intensely;
• over a certain period of time, a larger amount of blood passes through the target muscle, bringing much more nutrients and hormones to the cells than during regular training. Thus, an ideal environment arises for the development of both muscles and other parts of the musculoskeletal system;
• Kettlebells are always lifted in the same way as any large weight would be lifted in natural conditions.

To summarize, we can conclude that kettlebell training is the best for developing functional strength. As a result of such training, the athlete will move easier, react faster and (if necessary) hit harder.

Scammers

Skeptics claim that there is no secret in the form of a magical component of the tumbler weight. And all this hype is an artificially created scheme by scammers. An unprecedented interest is created around an item for which an unrealistically large amount of money is offered.

The entire Internet is replete with similar, usually paid, texts. There are a lot of people who want to make money quickly and easily. Therefore, people who have taken the bait are already looking for those from whom they could buy these weights. Fraudsters raise prices for goods and at the same time sell those they once bought for big money to newly minted businessmen.

As a result, you buy a weight in order to make money on the difference, but you cannot sell it. The whole point is that this product ceases to be of interest to anyone. And it turns out that the acquired “USSR” weight actually does not represent any particular value. (But you and I know the real value of such weights, which were and remain the best way to pump all muscle groups in the arms). By the way, similar schemes have already been noticed with an unprecedented demand for buying up ZINGER sewing machines and old refrigerators.

Structure of the kettlebell[edit | edit code]

Structure of a kettlebell Structure of a kettlebell
Example of the structure of a kettlebell on RF patent No. 2484870:

contains a spherical balanced hollow body (1) with a cut (2) at the bottom, a bow (3) at the top and weights (6) with threaded fixation inside the cavity, the cavity of the spherical body is open from the side of the lower cut (2), made cylindrical, vertical from the inside thread (4). In its middle and upper part, the cylindrical cavity has lateral symmetrical relief recesses (8). The weights (6) are made disc-shaped with an external thread corresponding to the internal thread (4) of the cylindrical cavity; at the ends of the weights 6 they have recesses (9) for their installation. On the cut side (2), the cylindrical cavity is closed with a removable plug (5). The end recesses (9) of the weights (6) can be made for installation with your fingers. The removable plug (5) can be equipped with holes (10) for installation with your fingers. The body (1) of the weight contains two horizontal, diametrical, parallel to the horizontal section of the arch, holes (7) for visual monitoring of the position of one or two weights (6), respectively. The technical result is the implementation of a sports apparatus with a stepwise variable weight, for training with a gradual increase in load, while maintaining the outer surface of a standard competitive weight and its balance (at the center of mass), as well as improving the fixation of loads inside the cavity.

How to make a kettlebell. DIY gym

Tumbler weight (device)[edit | edit code]

The Tumbler is good because it always stands on its base. That is, its internal content does not allow it to fall and return to its original position from any position.

Assumptions

Some argue that the value lies in the fact that gold was used in their production. That is why they, having small parameters, weigh so much. Some assumptions go even further, and say that this gold is party gold, specially hidden in such an unsightly shell, with the aim of confiscating all the weights from the people if necessary. Well, who would suspect that there might be something valuable in the middle? Yes, such an assumption comes to mind with difficulty.

Platinum is another option for what the tumbler weight is made of. That is why the price for them is supposedly so high. But how much platinum can be in one such weight for its price to exceed tens of thousands of dollars?

Another purported value of the weights may lie in the precious material they contain, palladium. Whether this is true or false is extremely difficult to determine, since this will require special chemical tests. But some sources still contain information that the material from which weights were made in those days was a mixture of cast iron with a significant admixture of palladium.

Another guess as to what the projectile is made of is osmium. It has three times the density of metal. And supposedly the price for this material is $10,000 per 100 grams. Again, whether to believe this or not is your choice.