Hey Guys, as of next week i will be an acredited member of the BKLF (British Kettlebell Lifting Federation) which is the UK governing body for Kettlebell training and competition. I was thinking of starting a class and just wanted to check peoples views before i set anything up.

If you are not sure what a kettlebell is, the best way to describe it would be it looks like a cannon ball with a handle.

Kettlebells are currently used by the entire Russian Army as the main physical fitness exercise system. Various Athletes from Russia and former soviet republics are also known to utilize them for competition preparation training.

In the west in the last five years kettlebell usage has exploded in popularity amongst personal trainers, athletes, martial artists and fighters as well as law enforcement and military groups. In fact anybody who wants a very effective, yet simple system of training that can deliver high levels of strength and endurance can benefit from their use.

They offer a comprehensive system of training that can be done easily at home, in the office or anywhere else requiring very little room and equipment

Kettlebells are used in special kettlebell sport lifting competitions throughout Eastern Europe as a means to see who is really 'strong'. The sport tests the boundaries of strength and endurance, as well as mental strength and determination. There is also a very underappreciated technical component to attaining the ranks of kettlebell lifting champions.

Kettlebells are unique in that the center of gravity is not controlled by the lifter. This is the major difference and has profound implications on exercise mechanics and control.

A quick youtube search will show you plenty of vids.

It would also be cool to know if anyone other than some of Gracie Barra Sheffield currently use Kettlebells in their training??

So let me know what you think so i can go about sorting a class.

Thanks in advance.

Paul.

Good luck with your new class Paul, from what I've seen of kettleball training it looks good.

Craig.

Virgin Active at Broadfield run a Kettlebells class. Never tried it though as I thought it looked a little scary! I might have a go after all now I know what it's all about :)

not enough hours in the day unfortunately but it sounds good and i've heard good stuff about it before - good luck with it

mick

thanks for the support guys.

I've had a few people say they'd be interested. I think i'll just do a few classes and see how it goes from there. I'll let you know how i get on.

I know what you mean about there not bein enough hours a day. Working to pay bills and live is way overrated.

way, WAY overated!

Yeh, when they brought the 37 hour working week, I was like **** that !!!
I thought it was mandatory to work all those hours :hihi:

Craig.

Well Paul inspired by your post I saw that Esporta had some kettlebells, so I had a wee go yesterday. I found some exercises on tinternet, managed to get an ickle one I could lift and swung it around like billyho! As you know I love all forms of exercise, except weight training and it's the first time in my life I've enjoyed doing something weight related! So, if I pass my wee exam at the weekend I'd be up for a class..my God I might even develop a muscle or two!!

lets not get too carried away Noel.

Anyone else that may have an opportunity to play around with a kettlebell id definately recommend it. Its suprising how much technique is actually involved but if you get a light one and start throwing it around you'll not do any damage. Its really strange how quickly you start sweating. Its been great for my strength and cardio.

thanks for the support guys.

I've had a few people say they'd be interested. I think i'll just do a few classes and see how it goes from there. I'll let you know how i get on.

I know what you mean about there not bein enough hours a day. Working to pay bills and live is way overrated.

when/ where are your classes?

Brilliant training, but just remember it's advanced training & your technique has to be spot on. A physio friend saw the Virgin class in action and was tempted to stay behind & hand out his business cards !!!!!

Ive got no classes booked yet.

I said in a previous post about the importance of the technique. The course i'll be on is 2x 4hr sessions this weekend, and with Vasily Ginko - President of the Latvian Kettlebell federation and several times world champ. If i don't learn top class technique from him i can't see i'll get it from.

That's just the expertise you need. My comments weren't meant as a critism of you , but I doubt the fitness centres who have jumped on the bandwagon with this, would have had instruction from someone as eminent as Ginko.
Good luck with your class, I'm sure it will be a great success.

just got back from London after completing the course and it was well worth the trip.

Ginko is phenominal. Seriously, the stuff he can do with a kettlebell is crazy. He was showing us some juggling with a pair of 24's. (these are hard enough to lift off the floor for most people and he was throwing them round)

He also went really in-depth in training techniques for power and endurance. I learned so many techniques its gonna take a whole lot of practice to get them perfect.

I've watched a few dvd's and lots of youtube clips but none of them have even come close to the things i learned this weekend.

To be honest, doing the course has shown me how much you really need to know before you can really coach so, for now, i doubt i will start a class.

If anyone is interested in training with them i will be more than happy to give you any tips though.

Re: not coaching yet that's very honest:thumbsup:

Some advice pls; I've got a 16kg KB but could do with a heavier one for some exercises i.e. clean & press. Would you recommend a 20kg or going for a 24kg. Obviously shorter term it would make sense to just go for the 20kg but since they're expensive I'm not so sure whether to get a 24kg instead.

Thanks

ceej, where are you getting your kettlebells from?? Newitts.co.uk do them very cheap and shipping is good too.

With regards to the weight. Is your technique correct with the 16, ie taking the weight on your forearm and not the wrist and are you cleaning it like a dumbbell?? If so, your technique is wrong. You need to have your elbows tucked in to your ribs at the front of your body with the weight on your chest not shoulder. The handle should be diagonal across your palm. Pressing the weight straight up instead of using the crescent motion you need to with a dumbbell. Move onto using 2 and pressing them both properly uses a lot of small muscles conventional dumbbells can't seem to hit.

An exercise you can also try which is quite difficult is swinging the kettlebell and then hold it up so the handle is pointing to the floor (great for your grip) and then press the weight straight up in a controlled manner and then bringing it down. Your arm will start shaking very quickly.

I don't know how strong you are or weight or anything so i'd suggest going steady rather than making sacrifices in technique with trying to go heavier than you are ready for. With the range of movement they have its a lot more difficult to control it if you can't handle it properly.

Hope that answers your question without waffling too much.

Id like people to know that i am not an expert with them but i have been shown how to use them safely and correctly by a current world champion. That just gives me a bit more insight than most.

Thanks very much for that, I'll check the website out. I think I got the KB from london KB but it was awhile ago now.

I've studied Pavels Enter the Kettlebell book re: technique so am trying to concentrate on that. Re: the C&P you mention pressing straight up but I was under the impression that from the clean position you should press out slightly laterally to stress the bicep and then straight up directly straight over the shoulder?

The other technique you mentioned about the swing and having the handle facing the floor - is this when the arm is elevated at 90 degrees and straight?

Am also considering getting another 16kg instead of a heavier one - think this is better?

Cheers

p.s. if your interested in a copy of the Pavel book (pdf) let me know.

I'd love to have a read of that.

Its difficult to explain with the clean and press's. I was told you needed to make sure your arms were tucked right into your body (hands just to the side of your chin)with the weight infront of you, then to press the weight up in a straight line.

With the handle facing down exercise(weight above your hand), have your arm out infront of you at a 90 degree angle and then slowly press it up in a controlled manner and then bring it down slowly.

Does the book have any exercises in using 2 kb's? I learnt some great stuff with 2.

PS Did you try Newitts? What did you think?

Ya Newitts prices are good - are the KB of a decent standard?

The book - covers just a few basic moves but in full detail but no doubles unfortunately. Can't seem to be able to send you a message but if you can then send me your email and I'll attach a copy of the book to you on PDF.

Cheers.

the kettlebells are great. i've got 4 from there and they've been fine.

Hi,

I have a 32kg (recommend it) and 24kg kettlebell, our rugby club physio used to run a class but numbers dwindled and as such it's been shelved. If you know of any classes in sheffield I'd be very interested, I do it on my own at home now but it's not quite the same and its battering my floorboards.