What Are Russian Kettlebells?
Kettlebells are special weights with their origins in Russia. These weights are special because they do not look like the dumbbells that everyone is used to seeing in gyms. Instead of being a bar with weight focused on each end, Russian kettlebells resemble an iron cannon ball with a handle protruding from the top. This unique shape gives Russian kettlebells a unique center of gravity and feel compared to traditional Western style weights.
When lifting kettlebells there is usually an emphasis on whole-body workout. This means a person does not stand there and try to do bicep curls. Instead, a person will start with two Russian kettlebells hanging in neutral position near his or her hips, bring them to chest level (similar to a curl, but kept closer to the body), and finish by raising the weight overhead as if doing a military press. The Russian kettlebells are then lowered to the chest, and finally to the neutral position near the hips again. This process is repeated in a steady pace in order to help the user build strength and endurance at the same time.
Russian Kettlebells have an added benefit for martial artists who train for shock resistance. Due to the unique shape, a kettlebell must be rotated around the wrist and “caught” on the forearm when doing the equivalent of a bicep curl. This rotation can be performed in such a way that when the weight impacts the arm it does so in very abrupt manner - which is good for shock training. or trainees who wish to save their arms, some body english can be used to make the rotation of the Russian kettlebells very smooth.
The size of Russian kettlebells can range from as small as 9 pounds or as large as 106 pounds. Many companies recommend that a person who can lift 80 - 100 lbs. with traditional weights not begin with the equivalent Russian kettlebells since form is very critical and makes lifting more difficult.
When one thinks of Russian kettlebells, he or she should think of building functional strength instead of going for the ‘roid boy look. Russian kettlebells are known for sculpting strong shoulders and arms with a defined set of pecs and strong core, abdominal muscles. This aspect may be why many martial artists and fighters are attracted to Russian kettlebells.
Learn more about the benefits of Russian Kettlebells and how they can help you build lean muscle and burn fat by visiting http://kettlebells.swifo.com The site also includes a free newsletter in which you can subscribe for fitness tips.
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