Balanced

Kettlebells are a traditional Russian cast iron weight. Kettlebells were apparently first used in rural Russia as a counter balance for weighing grain. There is some speculation that they originated in Scotland. Regardless, kettlebells the world over look just like a cannonball with a handle.

While certainly not the be-all and end-all of strength and conditioning workouts the kettlebell is a fantastically effective tool. They have been used for some time by the Russian military and are now used by all manner of strong tough people. This includes special forces, boxers, MMA fighters, firemen, police, secret service and plain regular people who love working out.

What differentiates the kettlebell from traditional weightlifting that use dumbbells and barbells is that the kettlebell’s center of mass is displaced from the handle. As a result the weight of the kettlebell when lifted recruits much more muscles through your arms, shoulders and trunk.

Used correctly kettlebells can develop explosive strength, phenomenal conditioning and even improve your posture. Some of the core exercises with a kettlbell are swings, clean, snatch, clean and press, clean and jerk, and Turkish getups.

As always talk to your doctor before undertaking any exercise program.

Trackback URI | Comments RSS