Russian Kettlebells

Progressive Martial Arts & Fitness is the first fitness center in the Duluth Area to offer Russian Kettlebell Classes!Come & try the ULTIMATE training method for simultaneous strength training & cardio!

What is a 'kettlebell'?

A 'kettlebell' or girya (Russ.) is a traditional Russian cast iron weight that looks like a cannonball with a handle. The ultimate tool for extreme all-round fitness. The kettlebell goes way back, it first appeared in a Russian dictionary in 1704 (Cherkikh, 1994). So popular were kettlebells in Tsarist Russia that any strongman or weightlifter was referred to as a girevik, or 'a kettlebell man'.

Why train with kettlebells?

Because they deliver extreme all-round fitness. And no single other tool does it better. Here is a short list of hardware the Russian kettlebell replaces: barbells, dumbbells, belts for weighted pull-ups and dips, thick bars, lever bars, medicine balls, grip devices, and cardio equipment.

Why will kettlebell lifting succeed where contemporary bodybuilding and aerobic exercise routines have failed?

Kettlebell lifting with proper technique requires that all of large muscle groups of both the upper and lower body participate to move the resistance through the desired range of motion. Hamstrings, glutes, hips, quads, abs, chest, shoulders, traps and lats, not to mention every arm muscle are taxed, particularly during the ballistic movements. The ballistic, high repetition movements also build the tendon and ligament strength and thickness that is neglected by other contemporary training methods.