HISTORY OF THE RUSSIAN KETTLEBELL
The first official mention of the kettlebell, or girya, is in a Russian dictionary dating back to 1704. Resembling a cannonball with a handle, they were likely first used as weights to tarry against bales of wheat or hay at market. Russians being the strength-oriented people that they are, however soon found another use for them...
Feats of strength with the kettlebell were part of festivals in every village. The Russians have always placed great value on physical strength, and to be the strongest man in one's village was a high honor and much sought after.
Though powerlifting as a sport became popular in Russia after the great patriotic war, producing such legendary lifters as Vasily Alexiev, kettlebell training was largely relegated to the ranks of farmers, workers, and the Russian military, groups of men to whom real, usable, and unfailing strength were paramount.
Growth of kettlebells as a recognized sport began in Russia in the 1970's and the first committee for kettlebell sport and USSR national championships took place in 1985, a scant few years before the collapse of the Soviet Union.
The fall of communism brought many former soviet citizens to the United States. Among them was Pavel Tsatsouline, a former trainer of the Elite Soviet Spetsnaz Special Forces. In 1998, he wrote an article for a strength journal titled "Vodka, pickle juice, kettlebell lifting, and other Russian pastimes". This marked the introduction of the kettlebell to an American audience. Since then, its following has steadily grown as workers, athletes, fighters, first responders, and, more recently, everyday men and women have discovered its unique potential to build real functional strength quickly and efficiently.
Feats of strength with the kettlebell were part of festivals in every village. The Russians have always placed great value on physical strength, and to be the strongest man in one's village was a high honor and much sought after.
Though powerlifting as a sport became popular in Russia after the great patriotic war, producing such legendary lifters as Vasily Alexiev, kettlebell training was largely relegated to the ranks of farmers, workers, and the Russian military, groups of men to whom real, usable, and unfailing strength were paramount.
Growth of kettlebells as a recognized sport began in Russia in the 1970's and the first committee for kettlebell sport and USSR national championships took place in 1985, a scant few years before the collapse of the Soviet Union.
The fall of communism brought many former soviet citizens to the United States. Among them was Pavel Tsatsouline, a former trainer of the Elite Soviet Spetsnaz Special Forces. In 1998, he wrote an article for a strength journal titled "Vodka, pickle juice, kettlebell lifting, and other Russian pastimes". This marked the introduction of the kettlebell to an American audience. Since then, its following has steadily grown as workers, athletes, fighters, first responders, and, more recently, everyday men and women have discovered its unique potential to build real functional strength quickly and efficiently.
WHY KETTLEBELLS?
Because they work. Period. The kettlebell is the single most efficient and versatile strength training implement ever devised. The ballistic nature of the core exercises mandates that there is a cardio component to the strength training. And unlike the 'mirror muscle model' with its myth of "isolation", kettlebell exercises teach your muscle groups how to work together, to maximize explosive power and endurance. The immediate and measurable results of kettlebell training have made kettlebells the "weapon of choice" for first responders, elite Special Forces units, professional athletes, and mixed martial artists alike. Come and train with us at Primal Iron. We want to show you what Russian iron can do for you...
