The history of kettlebells

These days, it's a given that kettlebells are available for strength training. But how long has that actually been the case? Read more about the kettlebell and the history of this indispensable product for strength athletes.

Cannonball with a handle

The kettlebell—also called a girya in proper Russian—is a cast-iron weight that bears a strong resemblance to a cannonball with a handle. Kettlebells are available in numerous different versions these days; just check out our impressive selection. You'll often find weights like 8, 16, 24, 32, 40, and even 48 kilograms. This isn't entirely coincidental. In the past, the unit of weight was the pood, and one pood equaled 16 kilograms.

For various training purposes

The fact that we just mentioned the Russian name for the kettlebell isn't a coincidence. It's well known that kettlebells were used in Russia centuries ago for various training purposes. Military personnel and athletes, in particular, used them. Back then, kettlebell users were also called Gireviks. It's a given that the term kettlebell first appeared in the Russian dictionary in 1704. So, we can safely say the kettlebell has proven to be a keeper. Hundreds of years later, it hasn't lost any of its power.

The Secret Service also trained with the kettlebell

In Russia, the kettlebell was initially a toy for market vendors and farmers, who used it for competitions. After the farmers and market vendors came the secret service, the army, and later, elite athletes. The fact that athletes started training with the kettlebell is thanks to Pavel Tsatsouline, a fitness instructor. He was the first to use the kettlebell to train the secret service's needs. He recognized even then that this tool could be used for an endless number of exercises and to train a wide variety of muscle groups.

Endless exercises for different muscle groups

Thanks to this fitness instructor, you'll find a wide variety of kettlebells in our shop. They're still perfectly suited for various exercises and still train different muscle groups. The gym, or your home gym, of course, is pretty much the only place where kettlebells are used these days. In the past, however, kettlebells were also used in other ways. For example, German Dennis Kohlruss still holds the world record for kettlebell heap throwing. He managed to throw a 26-kilogram kettlebell over a 510-centimeter bar.

Often made of steel, cast iron or rubber coating

You'll find modern kettlebells in our shop, available in steel, rubber-coated, plastic, or cast iron. We offer them in various styles and weights ranging from 8 kilograms to 40 kilograms. Perfect for both beginners and more experienced athletes. Anyone who takes a look at the kettlebells we offer will see that the steel versions are the most expensive. However, steel offers a very precise finish and a very precise weight. Moreover, steel has the highest density. So, it's definitely worth the money.

Cast iron is durable, rubber coating ensures less damage to the floor and the kettlebell

If you choose cast iron kettlebells , you're choosing durability and a kettlebell with excellent density. Cast iron kettlebells are slightly cheaper to purchase compared to steel ones. A rubber coated kettlebell simply means that the cast iron has a rubber coating applied to it. The coating protects both the kettlebell and the floor, and it reduces noise when you drop the kettlebells. Incidentally, the cast iron beneath the coating is cast in one piece and has a flat surface. This provides slightly more stability.

Train strength and cardio at the same time

Finally, what also makes the kettlebell unique is that you can train strength and cardio simultaneously. The weight of a kettlebell extends beyond the handle. This means that when swinging, you have to use almost every muscle in your body to create a counter movement. Because you're doing this, you're not just training for strength, but also working on things like balance, endurance, flexibility, and fitness. This means you can train strength and cardio simultaneously. What a wonderful invention from the Russians, and how much we owe that Russian fitness instructor.