Kettlebells
History
So, what exactly is a kettlebell? The kettlebell was brought to America in 1998 by Pavel Tsatsouline, who also created the certification process that our entire staff completed successfully. A kettlebell is a centuries-old Russian training tool that looks like a bowling ball with a handle. The kettlebell appears in a 1704 Russian Dictionary (Cherkikh, 1994). It appears that, originally, kettlebells were counter-weights used in Russian markets. Country folk started throwing them around and eventually they became very popular in Russia as a training tool. In 1913 the Russian magazine Hercules reported "Not a single sport develops our muscular strength and bodies as well as kettlebell athletics." A Russian strong man was referred to as a kettlebell man girevik. Girya is Russian for Kettlebell.
Although kettlebells develop strength, a kettlebell-trained body is not bulky. Russian athletes and common folk have been using kettlebells for centuries. Tsarist Russia declared the kettlebell as the conditioning tool for the masses. The 1980 Russian track and field team trained with kettlebells and swept gold in all throwing events. The Russian Military has long used kettlebells for conditioning and in fact do not test push-ups. They use a kettlebell snatch test. The Christian Science Monitor reports: When Russian and US Special Forces started competing against each other after the Soviet Union broke up, the Americans made a disturbing discovery. "We'd be totally exhausted and the Russians wouldn't even be catching their breath." says...[a] Secret Service agent..."it turned out they were all working with kettlebells." The United States Secret Service has now instituted a 10-minute kettlebell snatch test. ((10-minute max. rep snatches with 24 kg KB (53 lb) = 200 reps))
Benefits
By combining kettlebells and heart rate management; Kettlebell Elite is transforming clients in rapid time with maximum results.A kettlebell workout is both anaerobic and aerobic; in laymen terms, it’s like running and lifting weights at the same time. This allows our clients to burn on average 700 calories per hour; difficult to do with running or lifting as standalone workouts. But more importantly, unlike running, you will continue to burn calories long after your work out is complete.
Russian Kettlebell Challenge (RKC)
As the demand for kettlebells and kettlebell training grows, many unqualified trainers have begun to advertise their services as kettlebell instructors. But beware; kettlebell instruction requires an extensive background and training to be truly safe and effective. Don't risk injury or waste time with subpar instruction when you can take advantage of Pavel and Dragon Door's growing, worldwide network of highly qualified RKC and HKC certified kettlebell instructors. Our RKC and HKC kettlebell instructors have undergone the world's most rigorous of kettlebell instructor certification courses and are fully qualified to help you meet and surpass your goals, be they fat loss, strength and power development or athletic success.
RKC II
The RKC IIs have been certified to teach an additional curriculum of kettlebell drills and have received further training in specialties such as corrective strategies and injury prevention for clients.
CKFMS
The CK-FMS is an RKC who has been certified to teach an additional curriculum based on the integration of RKC kettlebell training and the Functional Movement Screen and Corrective Strategies protocols.
RKC I
The RKC Instructor has demonstrated a high proficiency in the most essential kettlebell drills and shown an ability to effectively teach kettlebell use to others. RKC instructors are required to recertify every two years by attendance at a kettlebell certification workshop, either as a participant or in the role of an assistant instructor. Kettlebell books and DVDs can take you only so far. Experience the difference when you get personal instruction from an RKC!
HKC
Our HKC kettlebell instructors, as successful graduates of our HKC kettlebell instructor certification program are qualified to teach you the kettlebell movements most essential to realizing your physical goals, be in the area of weight management or athletic performance. When you invest in the services of an HKC you can be confident you are receiving the safest and most effective kettlebell training available today.