What are Kettlebells?

Series Summary

Kettlebells are traditional Russian cast-iron weights looking somewhat like a cannonball with a handle. The kettlebell has become a popular exercise tool because of its use by strength and flexibility coach Pavel Tsatsouline, and also by World Champion and world record holder Valery Fedorenko. Modern kettlebells feature adjustable weights in order to be used by more people, and in more exercises. Kettlebell workouts are intended to increase strength, endurance, agility and balance, and feature dynamic body movements.

Kettlebells are great weights to use for working out more muscles than precise weight machines. By incorporating the free weight aspect into your workout or exercise routine, you can add muscles while working on your flexibility. In this free video series, our expert will explain to you what kettlebells are, and show you a number of kettlebell exercises to workout every muscle in your body, from swings to clean lifts, presses, and snatch lifts. Learn how to work out your legs as well, with kettlebell squats, lunges, and one-legged dead lifts. Russian kettlebells may be an unusual weight to use, but they are effective, and the exercises you can do with kettlebells are very diverse. In order to work out safely, though, you'll have to follow our expert's video instructions!

Video Transcript

"RASUL AHMED DAVIS: On behalf of Expert Village, my name is Rasul Davis and my company is Punch Kettlebell Gym, New York City, and today I'm going to show you how to get into the swing of things with kettlebells. Okay, right now I'm going to talk about what a kettlebell is, where it came from and what they look like. Right here is a kettlebell. This is about 16 kilos, 35 pounds. This is 20 kilos, about 40 pounds, 44 pounds. This is 25 kilos, about 54 pounds. And this is 32 kilos, which is about 72 pounds. This originated from Russia, centuries-old, extremely effective. You're getting your strength, cardio and dynamic flexibility all at the same time. So what you're talking about is using time effectively, using your money effectively 'cause you don't have to join a gym to use these. They take up very little space, and they're extremely safe when you get proper instruction. That is the key--proper instruction. You'll learn to use these correctly. You're doing total body movement, which are integrating the body, not like normal weight lifting, which is isolating the body."