Customer Reviews

The Russian Kettlebell Challenge [VHS]

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Pavel starts out with simpler exercises such as cleans, jerks and snatches. He then moves on to more difficult exercises like the windmill and bent press. He even demonstrates a stretching exercise that was so effective it prompted me to buy his book "Relax into Stretch." These exercises are of such varying complexity that even the most seasoned comrades will find some sort of challenge here. Just hearing Pavel say "eeeeeevil" makes the video worth watching. :-)

Some people might be annoyed by the fact that this video only runs 32 minutes, but I thought Pavel covered all the essentials. He demonstrates all the major exercises, then he gives some tips at the end.

I strongly recommend these exercises for anyone who wants to get in shape. Even the simplest exercises will leave unseasoned comrades out of breath after just a few minutes. This is the best exercise program I have ever tried, and I've tried a few. A few pointers: What good is this video without a kettlebell? Get one from Dragon Door, but make sure you start out with the lightest weight you think you can handle. I was bicep curling 80 lbs. on my Bowflex, and I almost couldn't lift my 35 lb. kettlebell out of its box. These exercises are MUCH harder than they look! Above all, be very careful not to hurt yourself. It is very easy to pull a muscle or bonk your head if you get careless, so watch and listen to Pavel carefully.

These "evil" kettlebells have been around for over a century. They faded from the weight lifting landscape with the advent of modern bodybuilding. With this video, Pavel Tsatsouline is bringing kettlebells back in vogue. The exercises are similar to powerlifting movements, but with a twist. Pavel teaches the use of dynamic muscular tension, which allows lifting in greater comfort, minimizing risk of injury. Forget about your cable crossovers, preacher curls and spinning classes. If you want a total body workout that's going to leave you lean, tight and strong, the Russian Kettlebell Challenge will do it! The most versatile weight training program on the planet, along with "Power to the People". The best thing about kettlebells is they can be taken anywhere. Tired of the gym? Take them to the park, or the beach, or your hotel room. This type of training cannot be beaten. If kettlebells were around when I started training, I may never have joined a gym.

The advantage of kettlebells: The weight hangs off the handle, so 1/some movements are mechanically superior at heavier weights , when dumbbells would be too long, and 2/ leverage on some exercises give a trainee more work per pound. BUT, a -great- deal of what is promoted as an advantage is really only an advantage IF you're interested in excelling at KBs in particular. Pavel says, "strength is a skill". DB and KB strength aren't 100% transferable to each other , and KB strength is no more transferable than DB to -any- activity. The recent popularity of KBs proves the importance of variety to maintain interest, but that's all. Then there's the HIGH cost of KBs, (as Pavel has somewhat of a monopoly at the moment), and the promotional material of KB advantages, much exagerated, some false. Decades of athletes in all fields have excelled without KBs. I'd rather have the variety of weights that adjustable DBs provide at a lower cost. .

I recently purchased kettlebells, and when they arrived I immediately picked them up and started swinging them around haphazardly. Before I ordered them, I imagined that I would be able to teach myself the lifts. And I did. I taught myself some basic lifts, but quickly became bored. After all, how in the world could I ever use these things to work my pecs? My abs? Good leg exercises? etc. For a moment, I thought I had wasted my money on kettlebells. I thought that there were only a few exercises that I could do with them. But then I figured that there must be a reason tons of people are using kb's these days. So I figured I'd break down and buy Pavel's video.

I was immediately impressed with the production quality of the video. Some fitness videos come across pretty cheap and it's hard to see the exercises sometimes. Fortunately, not here. The video begins with Pavel talking briefly, but wastes no time in getting down to business--the lifts. Pavel begins by showing all the basic lifts- the swing, clean, snatch, jerk, and shrugs. I already knew how to do these lifts, but Pavel showed nice tips and pointers like keeping your wrist in alignment and absorbing shock so that your arm doesn't get bruised up.

Then the video got into the stuff I really bought it for--great lifts. The one in particular that I was looking for was the floor bench press. It is a pretty complicated lift, something that I would not have been able to do without seeing the video. Then there's tons of other great exercises he shows--my personal fave was the turkish get-up. This excercise has increaded my core strength so much that I think the price of the video is worth its price just for this exercise. There's no way I would have otherwise been able to learn how to do it.

The only thing negative that I can say about the video is that at 40 bucks, it is a bit pricey. After all, there's alot of instructional videos in the exercise market that are half that price. However, many of those aren't worth 20 bucks. Even though Pavel's video is pricey, I would definatly consider it a worthwhile investment. There is no other way, for me, to have learned all these lifts. It is a much better value than a kettlebell book, in my opinion, because you can see the kettlebells in motion.

In short, the video quality was great, the information-the wide selection of lifts and the precise lifting methods- were great, the only possible flaw is the price, but the information imparted in the video is priceless. If you don't break down and spend fourty dollars on this video, you just wasted several hundred on kettlebells that you can't do much with.

Russian Kettlebells (they look like little cannonballs with suitcase handles) are an authentic Russian ethnic sport, and a weight-training device little seen in America since the 19th century. A fabulous training system for anyone interested in a combination of power, endurance, balance and coordination. Pavel, a former Russian Spetznaz trainer, presents a simple video that lays down the basic principles. Yes, you can do the exercises with a dumbell--and you should, at first, just to get a feel for the power of this system, which uses ballistic swings (snatches, clean & Jerk) and some standing techniques that resemble yoga with serious weights. Fascinating, and valid. Very highly reccomended!

I've added 10 pounds and counting of pure muscle in 1 month. I didn't change my diet.
I only do a few exercises on a daily basis. Alternating strength days and cardio days. Snatches and Swings one day. Military Presses along with pullups the next.
I also follow Bullet Proof Abs another of his books w/video. I do Janda/Pavelizer situps every other day.
I am planning on buying the book to help out, but this video is good to start with. I could use the book to help nail down the technique on the bent presses.
Oh and the Dragondoor.com forum is a wealth of information not to be passed up. Even if you lurk like me.

The Russian Kettlebell Challenge video is the companion to Pavel's book of the same name (also a must read). It is well done, as are all of Pavel's products. The video is an essential guide to the correct performance of the kettlebell lifts, which in my 30 years of working out are the most challenging, effective, and fun drills I've ever experienced. Pavel's wry humor shines through here again, and he offers straight, no nonsense advice on getting into the best shape of your life.

Most kettlebell lifts can be done with dumbbells, but the authentic Russian kettlebells offer a whole new dimension of effectiveness. Plus, the fun factor simply can't be overstated.

Lots of fitness products are swathed in hype. This is one of the few (Pavel's other products are also happy, highly recommended exceptions) that actually deliver. I have recommended this video to friends, and I highly recommend it to everyone as THE most productive fitness method - one that provides strength, flexibility, and endurance in one compact, highly addictive package.

Get this video, watch it closely, and get started. You won't be sorry.

Tough, fast, see the exercises performed for proper technique. A kettlebell really is an entire gym in one lump of iron. Pavel explains and demonstrates all the exercises in the book by the same name.

Of course be careful and you might get injured even if you do everything right but that's true about any exercise. Fear does not keep you from dying, only living.

If you are ready to truly experience Kettlebell lifting this DVD is for you. This DVD walks you through all of the traditional kettlebell lifts, as well as gives you some tips for overall training.

All of the previous reviewers have really hit the nail on the head. This film provides a great balance between verbal and visual instruction. Not only does Pavel go over the foundational basics he also effectively teaches the more complicated lifts. If it weren't for this video I would not have an understanding of the more complex moves.

I would highly recommend getting the DVD version rather than the VHS version of this training film. The DVD version allows you to skip between sections easily and focus on certain exercises as you need them without slowing down your workout. If you've already decided that you are ready for Kettlebell lifting this book belongs in your video library.

This video is the real deal! Following the program guidelines you will see a huge improvement in your endurance and strength levels and, as an added bonus, have a body to die for. There is absolutely no better way to get fit, strong, etc. Still skeptical? Don't be. Pavel knows what he is talking about and the straight-forward approach he employs in this video is a refreshing break from complex, hard-to-understand trainers who go through sentence after sentence without ever saying anything. Don't keep wasting your money on gym membership, useless equipment, or expensive supplements; just get Pavelized!