Enter the Kettlebell!: Strength Secret of the Soviet Supermen

This book is phenomenal. I have read a variety of books about kettlebells and watched countless DVDs. This one is the absolute best. Kettlebell exercises are simple (do NOT confuse "simple" with "easy" !!!). Pavel spends a lot of time breaking down each exercise into stages and always emphasizes the importance of proper technique and safety. The Swing, The Get-up, The Clean, The Press, The Clean and Press, and The Snatch are the techniques that are covered. The Swing is the most beneficial aerobic exercise I have ever done (made all the more intense because of the strength-training and flexibility components). I dislocated my ankle a few months ago and have been unable to run as I normally would. The Swing has allowed me to not just maintain my level of cardiovascular fitness, but improve it. All with no impact and minimal stress/torque on my ankle. Awesome! Pavel is also conscious of the fact that not all people will be able to do all of the exercises without building up to them. Box squats, vertical leaps, etc. all help you build up to being able to do the swing properly. If you take the time to work on the basics, your time investment will be returned to you. Working with kettlebells is the most time-efficient workout I have ever experienced. Cardio, strength-training and flexibility all in one workout. Anyone who complains of not having time to workout needs to get their hands on a kettlebell and some of Pavel's instructional materials. Fifteen minutes of working with a kettlebell beats hours in a gym any day. I have this book and the accompanying DVD and I would recommend doing both. The book is a great resource for the history of kettlebells and for detailed explanations of movements, techniques and advice. The DVD is great for putting it all together and seeing proper technique in action. One of the main criticisms of the DVD is that it is instructional only and does not include a workout routine that you watch and workout with at the same time. Do you understand why there isn't a routine? Because kettlebell work is about repetitions with proper technique. Do you need to watch Pavel do 200 swings in a row? No. I would, but that's for purely aesthetic reasons (I'll admit it: He's HOT). You don't need a routine laid out for you because once you have good technique, it's all about just building up your strength and conditioning with more reps. My one recommendation would be to get a heart rate monitor (you won't believe how many calories you burn!) and it helps you keep in the proper heart rate zone for whatever your cardio-conditioning goal is. Pavel does ham it up with the evil Russian drill instructor persona, but it's endearing. This man knows his stuff.

I’ve been looking for something to incorporate within my current training routine, and I’ve got to say, kettlebells are my new favorite way to train. I’ve been looking for something simple since I like to mix things up in the gym, and you cannot get more simple with a kettlebell - note that simple does not mean ineffective, quite the opposite actually. 15 minutes of swings, snatched and presses gives you an incredible cardio workout while developing incredible strength gains. So why I recommend this book... Pavel breaks it down to as simple as possible without sounding like a “Kettlebells for Dummies” book. The pictures and explanations are helpful, the techniques make sense, the biomechanics of the movements click once you imagine, practice, and fully implement the exercises; this is an incredibly practical book that’s easy to read and understand. Pavel also has plenty of jokes thrown in there and is a great teacher. It might help you know know the following about me: I’m 24 and have been working out since I was 14 and taking it seriously. I’ve done everything from classic clang and bang gym rat workouts to CrossFit, strength and conditioning to bodybuilding style workouts. I’ve recently had a massive slump of depression and gained about 20 pounds. I got back in the gym a few months ago, and just having done kettlebell work for the past week and a half I’ve lost 4 pounds of body fat when I wasn’t losing any before kettlebells. I am a full time student and work full time at a desk job, and I do backend production work for conferences; needless to say, I need a quick workout...and with only half an hour a day, I’ve noticed incredible strength gains in my shoulders.

I started the ETK program in June 2010. I finished the first phase, the Program Minimum in October 2010 and as of writing this review I am still working on the Right of Passage. Note: I'm an average 48 year old male. The good: The program as written is very effective, time efficient, space efficient and cost effective over time. It just plain works. Starting with the Program Minimum (PM) you will concentrate on only two exercises, the swing and turkish getup. The swing will really improve your overall conditioning as well as core, glute, hamstring, and back strength. The turkish getup will really hit your core and greatly improve shoulder stability. The catch? You must perform the exercises correctly. Having a session with a RKC is highly recommended. Yes the book, kettlebell(s) and a session or two with a RKC is hefty up front cost but a one time cost. Spread out over time it will be one of the best investments you can make in your health. The Right of Passage (RoP) adds the clean & press and kettlebell snatch and pullups to your exercise plan. Workouts will increase in length under the RoP but can still be completed in under one hour, under a half hour for the light day. Your strength and conditioning really get a serious bump up on this RoP. Both the PM and RoP have very sensible progressions that do not leave you feeling wiped out, super sore, or discouraged. Instead they set you up for success and allow you to keep building on that success workout after workout. Before you know it you'll look in the mirror and go, "Whoa, when did that happen?". The cons: Like all Dragon Door books there is too much cross marketing. It's a turn off to me. I can mostly ignore it but I think it diminishes the overall reading experience. Many of Pavel's books, the ETK included, goof around just a little too much. It comes of a little to cute and wears thin after a few pages. It's a shame because there is some really great info in the book and the DVD. I'm sure this turns some off and makes them take the book less seriously. Do yourself a favor and just work the program, you'll become a believer. The book lays out both programs, the PM and RoP, but doesn't present them in an easy to follow format. I think this is a mistake. Many people, especially beginners, want to follow a step by step program. The Art of Strength site has created an easy to follow ETK workbook that fills this gap but I think the workout progression should have been laid out better in the book and some sort of workbook should have been included on the DVD. All things considered, I'm very happy I purchased and started the ETK program. If you can overlook the minor annoyances listed above and set aside 30-60 minutes several times a week to transform your strength and conditioning without setting foot in a gym I believe you'll be very happy with the results.

Super Livre. C'est la référence pour les kettlebell et surtout pour le snatch. Pavel Le meilleur en kettlebell. Le hardstyle style plus approprié pour le muay thai et autres sports explosifs. Science,cardiologie,études des effets de kettlebell. Tout y est. Pour une pratique relaxante ou pour les entraînements de guerriers. Chacun sera apprécier ce livre et en faire trés vite un classique,surtout ceux qui aiment le Hardstyle.

Pavel Tsatsouline explains in a very detailed way the exercises with Kettlebell, besides that they start from a very basic level to take you to more advanced levels

Una pequeña coleccion de kettlebell puede ser todo lo necesario para estar en forma y el maestro mundial de las KB es Pavel. Sus libros son divertidos e ilustrativos, con programas sencillos de seguir.

If anyone is looking to become genuinely strong without the assistance of so called "fitness experts " and really want to follow the Advice of a world renowned coach, Follow this book to the letter . You will not be disappointed P.S the program is supposed to make you strong , not make you win a bodybuilding competition. Take that as you will .

There is something raw, agressive and pimordial about kettlebells and this is a fantastic motivational book to bring that instinct out. The style of the writting, although a bit boys own, is actually motivational. To quote, "simple, sinister brutal and ferosiously effective for ...never stay die conditioning...the closest thing you can get to fighting without throwing a punch." It is like poetry. It is also true. Sure the excersises in the book are few, but the level of detail is superb and you simply do not need anymore. I brought this book, not knowing anything about kettlebells with a 12 kg kettelbell 3 months ago as a 36 yo, 1.83m, 64kg long dist runner used to playing about with a 40kg loaded barbell. I soon found out that the 12kg was far to light so I got a 16kg (what Pavel recommends for the average man), which became too light after a fortnight of doing get ups and swings (the two staple excersises in the book) so I brought a 24, which was far too heavy for pressing with my weaker arm, so I brought a 20kg, and that is perfect for me. I am now 66kg, have LESS body fat and have MUCH greater explosive sprint stammina; especially running up steep hills. My whole body has that ripped look. I will be swinging, pressing and cleaning kettlebells for life now with this trusty book to motivate me. A great combination buy would be this book with a 16kg kettlebell. You will probably want to progress to a 20kg within say a month, but hold off getting the 20 until yout technique is sorted on the 16. Olympian's Gym do great cast iron Russian kettlebells.