What is a kettlebell?
It’s a cannonball with a handle. It’s an extreme handheld gym. It’s a great strength and conditioning tool.
The kettlebell can deliver high level all-around fitness. Functional strength. Staying power. Flexibility and mobility. Fat loss without the dishonor of an aerobics class. Kettlebells can be used virtually anywhere.
Kettlebells are traditionally measured in poods. An old Russian unit of measure, a single pood weighs 16 kilograms (kg).
The general rule of thumb is that men should start with a 16 kg kettlebell. An experienced athlete can start with a 24 kg kettlebell.
For women, it is suggested that they start with an 8 kg kettlebell and 12 kg if they’re an experienced athlete.
Kettlebell safety 101
Below is a short list of rules on how to use a kettlebell safely as stated in the book Enter the Kettlebell written by kettlebell master trainer Pavel Tsatsouline.
- Check with you doctor before you start training;
- Always be aware of your surroundings;
- Wear flat shoes;
- Never, never contest for space with a kettlebell;
- Practice all safety measures at all times;
- Keep moving once your heart rate is high;
- Build up your training load gradually using common sense, and always listen to your body;
- Instruction can not cover all contingencies, and there is no substitute for good judgement.
The kettlebell sumo deadlift
The first movement to master is the kettlebell sumo deadlift. This movement requires the athlete to safely pick up the kettlebell from the floor.
Taking a comfortable stance, with feet slightly turned out. Sit back as you would in a high chair, and pick up the kettlebell with both hands by extending your hips and knees.
The checklist:
- Your arms are straight; the legs are doing all the lifting.
- Your knees are pointing in the same direction as your slightly turned-out feet.
- Your heels are planted. You are sitting back, rather than dipping down or bending forward.
- Your back stays straight throughout. Don’t confuse “straight” with “vertical”! “Straight” in this context means “not rounded.”
- You are looking straight ahead, not up or down, at all times.
Once you have mastered this simple and functional movement you will be ready to progress on to more advance kettlebell movements such as:
- The kettlebell swing;
- The kettlebell get-up;
- The kettlebell snatch.
I have personally used kettlebells with great success over the years and can attribute a large part of my own physical conditioning to the kettlebell.
David Marcato 
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