Looking to buy Kettlebells?
Let me give you some options:
Basically there are a handlful of companies that manufacture or import Kettlebells here in the US. One of the biggest sellers is Dragon Door brand as they were they company that started the reintroduction of the Kettlebell back around 2000. Dragon Door have the most consistent finish
Other brands include:
Ader
Power Systems
K2 kettlebells
Max Kettlebells
Gill Athletics sell inexpensive kettlebells. They are made in china. The handles are thicker than other kettlebells. Due the fact that they are cheap and made in China, there might be some imperfections. All you have to do is file the burs on the handle down and spray paint them so they don't rust.
Perform better also makes kettlebells but they are virtually the same as Gill Athletics.
I hope I helped you out.
Kettlestack manufactures an adjustable set of Kettlbells.
First Place Kettlebells
For the Do It Yourself type check out this home made Kettlebell
Benefits of a Kettlebell
The kettlebell is a whole body strengthening and conditioning tool. Due to its design and the manner in which kettlebell training is performed, it helps to train virtually all the muscles in the human body. The benefits from this include weight management, total body strength that can be used in any environment and not only when sitting on a gym machine, improved agility and coordination, explosive power, endurance, aesthetics, super strong core, and the list goes on.
With a kettlebell there is no longer a need for a multitude of resistance machines, treadmills and stationary bikes. By its design the kettlebell constitutes a gym in and off itself (although as the trainees progress they will usually move on to a heavier kettlebell.) Training with a kettlebell trains the legs, core, back, shoulders, arms and chest. More importantly almost all, or most, of these muscles come into play on virtually all the kettlebell lifts. This trains the body as a single unit, developing well coordinated, dynamic strength that can be used in a wide variety of athletic, combative, and everyday situations.
Who can use a Kettlebell?
Almost everyone! Kettlebells come in a variety of weights that allow people at any training level to start using a kettlebell. The usual weights are 8kg, 16kg, 24kg, 32kg, 40kg and 48kg. The reason for this is that the kettlebell normally comes in increments of a 1/2 pood -- an old Russian weight measurement denoting 16kg.
The kettlebells are then perfect for seasoned athletes, fighters, law enforcement personnel, beginners, youth and olderadults alike.
Kettlebells for Martial Arts
Kettlebells are perfect for martial arts. As I have already mentions in the sections above, they help to develop a great deal of explosive, dynamic strength and coordination. They also help to develop a great deal of strength endurance and superior conditioning through the use of kettlebell circuits.
As you can see, I keep stressing such things as explosive, dynamic strength, coordination, endurance, conditioning, power, coordination, and more. Go on, read that list again. These are all things of paramount importance to a martial artist of any discipline. Yet, I see many martial artists (whether in the gyms or on TV), even top professional guys from organizations like the UFC training with isolation, bodybuilding style, exercises on machines. While this may develop strength in the individual muscles or improve aesthetics it does not help the athlete develop any of the skills that are needed to succeed in combat. What martial artists need is an exercise strategy that helps to strengthen the muscles, joints, and cardiovascular system in an integrative fashion, so that they may work effectively as one system to deliver optimal results. Enter The Kettlebell!
Kettlebells for Law Enforcement
Kettlebells are perfect for law enforcement and military personnel, firefighters, and in fact members of almost every other profession. The obvious benefits are the ones already stated above, namely, explosive, coordinated, dynamic strength balanced out by great strength endurance and conditioning. Indeed, kettlebell training is great for police officers for the same reasons it's great for martial artists. The less obvious benefits for military and police is an improved performance in shooting qualifications due to the increased forearm strength, stability and coordination developed by kettlebell training.
Pood to Kilo to Pound conversion
1/2 pood = 8 kg = 17.6 lb
3/4 pood = 12 kg = 26.4 lb
1 pood = 16 kg = 35.2 lb
1 + 1/2 pood = 24 kg = 52.8 lb
2 pood = 32 kg = 70.4 lb
2 + 1/2 pood = 40 kg = 88 lb
3 pood = 48 kg = 105.6 lb
