Is The Russian Kettlebell A Fad?

In the early part of the 200s, a Russian man named Pavel Tsatsouline introduced a traditional strength training tool to the United States of America: the kettlebell. If you have ever seen one, you know that the Russian kettlebell looks pretty weird compared to other free weights.

Essentially, it is a big metal ball with a handle on it. They sort of like like suitcases made from cannonballs, although these are not the kind of luggage you would want to fly with: kettlebells get pretty heavy and you wouldn’t want to pay the shipping fees.

Back to the question: are russian kettlebells just another fitness fad? I do not think so. They have been gaining momentum in America for nearly ten years now, and I believe that the process is speeding up, not slowing down. Attendance at kettlebell certifications continues to rise as more and more personal trainers try to cash on the recent exposure.

On the popular reality show The Biggest Loser, super trainer Jillian Michaels began training the participants with some light kettlebell workouts. Of course this was a big boost for the industry. Now I have seen them for sale in many used sporting goods stores, online, and even in a Barnes and Noble once, as part of a DVD fitness combo.

In America, particularly with regards to fitness and diets, fads seem to come and go quickly. Ten years is a long enough lifespan for me to believe that these are here to stay. This isn’t a bad thing. If you have ever used a kettlebell, you will understand what I mean.

They are not superior to dumbbells and barbells, as some snobs will say. They are just one more tool that will help people meet their goals and get stronger. They actually work, so if they are indeed a fad, Russian kettlebells are one of the few fads that I believe actually deserve the hype.