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How To Improve Thoracic Flexibility

In many years of kettlebell training and coaching I realized how critical proper thoracic flexibility and mobility is to execution of proper kettlebell technique.

Thoracic mobility is critical to proper posture and overall health but it also plays a vital role in ability to properly execute kettlebell sport lifts.

Why is good thoracic mobility important for kettlebell sport athletes?

  • Improved lifting efficiency
  • Increased safety and injury prevention
  • Improved and comfortable rack position
  • More efficient lockout and transitions
  • Ability to rest in rack position during jerk or long cycle jerk
  • Improved lockout
  • More efficient execution of jerk or long cycle jerk

In this e-book I’d like to share with you few key stretches, drills and exercises that made a huge difference in my training and thousands of other kettlebell athletes in Russia.

In this ebook you will learn:

  • Key stretches and drills to improve flexibility and mobility
  • Stretches and drills that work
  • How to improve thoracic mobility with time tested drills and stretches

My new e-book “Thoracic Flexibility and Mobility for Kettlebell Lifters”is now available for download.

How much is it?

Well, I’ll tell you how much itisn’t.

It isn’t $94.95

It isn’t $64.95

It isn’t $44.95, although it is a fair price for this type of information..

You can have your copy of this book for $14.95 of FREE if you are member of Kettlebell Systema University

Important Note: this ebook is short and to the point. It contains 20 pages, 7 stretches and 4 kettlebell drills that I found to be most effective for kettlebell lifters.

Buy Now

New Year 2011 is Here. What is Your Training Plan?

Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year came and went.

It is now 2011.

Time to reflect back onto previous year, analyze it, make conclusion and adjustments. It is time for a new plan for 2011.

Ask yourself:

  • What was my training goal of 2010?
  • Did I reach it?
  • If not, how come?
  • If you did reach your goal, what is your next goal?

It is not too late to ask yourself those honest and tough questions, draw conclusions and make a realistic action plan that can be implemented immediately.

Too often, going with a flow leads away from goals.

Whether  you want to achieve next kettlebell rank or get into a top notch shape, a proper plan is critical to success.

  • Be honest with yourself
  • Look back and analyze
  • Make a plan and follow through

Daily Challenge: December 20th 2010

Today’s challenge: heavy swings!

  • Use kettlebell heavier than your competition weight kettlebell
  • Do as many swings as you can with one hand then switch
  • Rest and do more sets
  • Shoot for 10-20 reps per hand
  • Shoot for 4-5 sets

Enjoy!

Daily Challenge: December 7th, 2010

Today’s Challenge: 60 minutes of single arm long cycle jerks

  • Use kettlebell weight 8kg lighter than your competition kettlebell
  • Unlimited hand switches
  • Good number to shoot for is about 300-400 reps

enjoy!

Remember, winner of this challenge gets a prize. Just post a video of the challenge to our facebook page.

Daily Challenge: December 2nd, 2010

Today’s challenge: Single Arm Overhead Lockout Holds

Winner of this challenge gets a PRIZE. That’s right! Winner of this challenge will receive an official Kettlebell Systema sticker.

Back to the challenge:

  • Use competition weight kettlebell (kettlebell that you are planning to compete with)
  • Get it to overhead lockout any way you want (jerk, press etc)
  • Hold it in lockout for as long as you can
  • Good time to shoot for is around 3 minutes

How to qualify for Kettlebell Systema prize:

If you have the best results, prize is yours!

Besides, daily challenges and prizes, there will be monthly challenges and other opportunities to win awesome prizes like Kettlebell Systema duffle bags, keychains and t-shirts. Stay tuned!

Good luck!

What is Kettlebell Sport? Part 2: How Athletes Compete and Score Points

Kettlebell Sport is a sport and as such it has strict rules about how to compete and score points.

(To read an overview of Kettlebell Sport)

In Kettlebell Sport, athletes compete in two different events:

  1. Biathlon (consists of 10 minutes Snatch Lift set and at a different time, a 10 minute Short Cycle Jerk set)
  2. Long Cycle Jerk

Kettlebell Sport: Biathlon

As mentioned above, Kettlebell Sport Biathlon consists of two separate events – snatch and jerk lifts.

Athlete participating in Biathlon competition must compete in both of these events. Both sets last 10 minutes and the goal is to do as many lifts in each events within those 10 minutes as possible.

Traditionally, Short Cycle Jerk or simply Jerk is done first. Then an athlete has an hour or two to recover until the next (Kettlebell Snatch) event. During a larger championships, these lifts are done on separate days. During a smaller, local competitions, biathlon events are performed within one day.

How to Score Points in Kettlebell Sport Biathlon

Athlete earn points for each event. After competing in both, jerk and snatch, points are added together to form a total.

Each counted lift in kettlebell sport Jerk liftt counts as 1 point.

Each counted lift in kettlebell sport Snatch lift counts as 0.5 points.

After completion of both events, points are added together to create a final sum.

For example, if kettlebell lifter Ivan completed 100 repetitions in jerk set and a total of 160 repetitions in snatch lift, his total becomes 100 + 160*0.5 = 100 + 80 = 180 points.

Kettlebell Sport: Long Cycle Jerk

With Long Cycle Jerk or simply Long Cycle, each successfully completed repetition counts as 1 point.

How winner is determined

Winner of either Kettlebell Sport Biathlon or Long Cycle Jerk is determined by the highest overall score in their weight class.

Daily Challenge: November 29th, 2010

It’s winter time, good thing that there is so much heat in kettlebells :-) Lets get warm!

Today’s challenge is a simple one:

  • One arm Swings with heavy kettlebell (kettlebell that is 8kg heavier than your competition weight kettlebell)
  • One hand switch

How many were you able to do? Share your feedback on our Facebook page

Daily Challenge: November 28th, 2010

Holiday days are upon us. To burn some extra calories, here is today’s challenge:

  • 30 Minutes of One Arm Long Cycle Jerk
  • Use kettlebell lighter than your current competition weight kettlebell
  • Switch hands as often as needed
  • Do not put the bell down
  • Enjoy!

Daily Challenge: November 23rd, 2010

Today’s challenge: good ol’ heavy swings (1 arm)

  • Pick a kettlebell that is 4 to 8 kilograms heavier than your competition weight kettlebell
  • Swing it as many times as you can
  • Switch hands
  • Repeat with other hand
  • A good number to shoot for is somewhere around 50 reps (+- 10 reps)

How many reps were you able to do?

Daily Challenge: November 16th, 2010

Today’s Challenge: 300 double jerks (or 300 per side for single kettlebell jerks)

  • Guys: do double jerks
  • GIrls: use one kettlebell but you get to do 300 per side
  • Do the volume in any number of sets with as much rest as you need in between
  • Record the total time that it takes you to do it
  • Winner will be the one with the fastest time

Enjoy!