What is a Kettlebell and Why Use One?

A kettlebell looks like a cannonball with a handle attached. They have been around for a long time and are popular in Russia where they even hold kettlebell competitions. Nowadays, the word is spreading. In the USA kettlebells are becoming an increasingly popular way to get into great shape and build strength.

They come any many sizes to suit the needs of all, ranging from 8 lbs. to 105 lbs. Many athletes including top MMA fighters and football players are using kettlebells. So are your average weekend warrior and even stay-at-home moms.

What makes them so great? Couldn’t a dumbbell be used instead? While every tool has its place, the kettlebell has some distinct advantages. First of the handle is off-set from the weight rather than the weight being centered around the handle. This fact causes your muscles and stabilizers to have to work harder in order to control the weight. Harder is better as you will get more benefit and build real-world strength.

In addition, the thick handle will work your grip which is sadly neglected in much of society. Best of all is a kettlebell is a hand-held gym. Besides bodyweight exercises nothing is more convenient.

You can do any standard weight lifting exercise with a kettlebell but you would be missing out on much of the unique value that kettlebells can offer. Ballistic exercises such as swings, snatches, cleans, and my favorite, kettlebell juggling, will build huge explosive power and shock absorption. When done in high reps you will get great muscular endurance and non-stop cardio benefits.

Many other exercises can be done with an added range of motion, to build your flexibility further, or with a slight twist adding to the fun. A kettlebell will allow you to build strength, power, endurance, agility, and balance.

By learning how to properly train with kettlebells you can get into the best shape of your life. You can even do double kettlebell work to increase the difficulty…and your strength gains.

Kettlebells are not the end-all-be-all of training like some may suggest, but they do deliver, and you will have a blast using them. Some people even use them exclusively for their fitness needs while others use them in conjunction with other tools and methods.

The biggest benefit is that they are just plain fun. Swinging a large chunk of iron around may look intimidating, but if you give it a shot you may find how addictive it is. Plus there is just so great a variety of exercises you can do.

Give kettlebells a try for a few months and you won’t regret it. To get the best kettlebells that I have used Click Here.