Although the kettlebell is an implement that entered the sporting world with the Girevoy Sport competitions in its Gyria conformation (Russian name indicating the competition version), in the last decade it has caught on a bit in all physical-sports contexts, from commercial gyms to professional sports clubs of various disciplines, and has even seen some applications in functional rehabilitation and post-traumatic recovery centres.The reason for this success is the outstanding intrinsic technical features of this toolas simple and crude as it is effective and even 'innovative' in some people's eyes.

The off-centre mass in relation to the handle makes it an extremely versatilefrom its use in traditional weight training exercises (Squat, Press, Overhead Squat) to the most representative ballistic kettlebell training exercises (Swing, Clean, Snatch, Jerk, Push Press).

It is precisely this fundamental characteristic that encapsulates its essence: the ability to develop wide trajectories, at maximum expressible power and in complete safety, while developing great grip strength.

In which sports does Kettlebell Training have applications?

In all those in need of coordination, stability, strength, speed, power e resistance. If we add to these capabilities the joint mobility which is indirectly conditioned in the eccentric phases of ballistic exercises, and the proprioception in controlling a highly unstable implement along wide trajectories that tend to unbalance the body and consequently affect its ability to control along the axis of its centre of gravity, it is quickly explained how kettlebell training becomes a valuable tool for the conditioning of coordination and conditioning skills in all sports disciplines.

Because the kettlebell also integrates perfectly into workouts aimed at the aesthetic fitness general?

Whether you are a professional bodybuilding practitioner or a simple training enthusiast who wants to improve your body composition, this equipment allows you to fill gaps in your strength and staminaIt makes up for the shortcomings of traditional weight room and cardio training. Kettlebell Training is in fact part of the more general concept of Functional Trainingwhich aims to involve the entire body in every single exercise, resulting in a neuro-muscular and metabolic strength impact that is far greater than traditional sector training. This results in stronger muscles, with more quality and a leaner, more powerful physique.

Postural and post-traumatic rehabilitation

At the base of the postural and post-injury recovery there is full awareness of the person's body structure and movements in space. This passes through work that in addition to being based on the global joint mobility of the bodymust then go on to develop a new postural set-up both in static and especially in dynamic. The person must acquire control of their neutral posture and be able to move in normal daily and sporting activities, without creating imbalances in body areas that are not used for that particular movement. Having a tool with the characteristics of Kettlebellis an excellent aid for a physiotherapist or personal trainer, during the building stability, coordination and strength of the person, characteristics that must be trained hand in hand with joint mobility and proprioception in order to achieve an effective and long-lasting recovery.

Underlying these extraordinary applications is obviously a perfect technical knowledge of the tool, its features and functionality. Exercise technique with equipment such as kettlebells cannot be improvised, on pain not only of not achieving the desired goals, but also of a high probability of incurring injuries during their use.

Those who want to approach training with this equipment must absolutely rely on instructors who have the technical and professional skills to adapt its application to each type of request and specificity of the person, and who can transfer the appropriate technical skills in the execution of the exercises as effectively as possible and in a short time.

Technique (with respect to the biomechanics of the human body), aims, teaching progressions and training programming are the pillars of an instructor's sports training and even more so if you want to appreciate the kettlebell not only as an end in itself, but as a real training system.

by Emilio Troiano

Master Trainer of the WTA International Functional Training Academy

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