Beginner’s Guide to Kettlebells
For all the technological advances made in exercise equipment, there’s definitely something to be said about the simplistic design of the kettlebell. One of the best things about the kettlebell is that it can give you a total body workout in a short amount of time, without any kind of set up requirement. Since kettlebells have become very popular over the last few years, you’ve probably seen one, but you may not know exactly how to use it. The in-depth guide below will give you all the information you need to know: what a kettlebell is, where to buy a kettlebell, and how kettlebells can help you achieve your fitness goals.
A Kettle in Time
Before the kettlebell became a staple in the gym, it was first used in 18th-century Russia as a way to measure dry goods. Recognizing its utility in building strength, farmers made a competition of lifting kettlebells. The fact that seeing who could lift the heaviest kettlebell built up their strength for the rigors of farming probably didn’t hurt either. Speaking of strength, circus strongmen soon got in on the action of lifting kettlebells to demonstrate their athletic prowess.
Members of the Soviet Red Army trained with kettlebells after the conclusion of WWII. By the 1970s, kettlebell lifting was officially recognized as the Soviet Union’s main sport.
As for how kettlebells found their way to the U.S., they were first available in the 1940s. The turn of the century saw them become more prevalent in gyms across the country.