Customer Reviews

Russian Kettlebell Challenge, The: Xtreme Fitness for Hard Living Comrades

5 star:		(31)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Don't be so quick to fall for all the enthusiastic reviews here. First, this is in fact Pavel's best book, which honestly isn't saying much. Still it has a little more substance than his usual product. Hence it gets two stars not one.

Second, Kettlebells are not magic. There are hundreds of good exercises devices and programs that work just as well if you apply yourself. Many of the reviewers forget the author's own words in the book, that there is "no gold inside a kettlebell". If you haven't succeeded with other programs, don't expect miracles with this. Fitness doesn't increase and fat doesn't come off the body with marketing gimmicks, just hard work.

Third, kettlebells can be very dangerous. Ignore the macho-oozing-with-latency talk by the "comrades". Injuring yourself is not fun and not necessary. I am not saying reject the whole kettlebell program because of the risk factor, but you should honestly assess the safety factor before making a decision without being intimidated by all the teenage chest thumpers looking to prove their manhood. Dropping these on yourself or someone else, or hitting yourself or someone else would be very sad. Although I am sure Pavel would like to drop one on me after this review.

Fourth, the author as usual, makes some questionable statements. Just one example is how he advocates kettlebell lifting for boxers or kickboxers, to strengthen the shoulder muscles. The objective,he states, is too be able to hold your arms up for a longer period of time. To anyone who has studied biomechanics, this is laughable. Muscular shoulders are not necessary for this as the arms are not held up by the shoulders, but rather by the thorax at the level of about T3 or T4. Very bad mistake.

Overall, the book is a usual Pavel production only a notch higher. Pavel was apparently a top competitior in this sport so he is has more to offer on this subject than others perhaps.

Ce livre de 150 pages aurait pu en faire que 50. Beaucoup de blabla et peu d'explications d'exercises. On dirait que le livre est fait pour ménager l'information, de façon à devoir ce procurer les autres livres de l'auteur pour connaitre l'ensemble. Très, très décevant.

If you're looking for an effective and efficient way to get stronger, leaner, more flexible, and increase your endurance (both muscular and cardiovascular), you won't find anything better than Pavel's Russian Kettlebell Challenge. The book clearly illustrates both exercises and routines to get you up to speed. You don't need to have a kettlebell (a round weight with a thick handle) to benefit; you can still get 75-80% of the benefits working with dumbbells and get kettlebells later if you're hooked.

In six weeks of kettlebell work, I lost an inch off my waist and dropped my heart rate 6 beats per minute, while staying the same weight. I was already working out when I started using kettlebells, so I'm not a novice. There are few ways to lose fat, gain muscle, and improve your cardio fitness all at the same time; I've never seen a better one than this. By simply changing exercises and rest periods - all of which is explained in the book - you can work on just about any attribute you want.

Kettlebells were a favorite tool of the Soviet Special Forces, whom Pavel trained in Russia. He is now training the U.S. Marines and similar organizations with kettlebells here. It's great for martial artists, soldiers, and SWAT teams, but you can adapt it to your needs even if you're a housewife who has never exercised before. As long as you have access to dumbbells, you can do this at home, which is where I do my kettlebell work. Give the Russian Kettlebell Challenge a try; you won't be disappointed.

I've been working out with weights for over 25 years, and the Russian Kettlebell Challenge is simply the best approach I've ever found to combining strenght training, endurance, and flexibility. Pavel Tsatouline has done his usual outstanding job of presenting clear, no-nonsense info on the best way to get into killer shape, with tremendous carryover for virtually any athletic endeavor. The explanations of the why's and how's of kettlebell training are excellent. The exercise descriptions and photos are clear. The training guidelines Pavel presents and the sample programs alone are worth the price of the book. The Russian kettlebell sport standards he includes are inspirational, and great for goal-setters. His "program minimum" can be followed by ANYONE - male or female - in only a few minutes a day, with minimal equipment, and will produce spectacular results. His "program maximum" is a challenge in ever sense of the word, but will definitely get you in the best shape of your life. The companion video for this book is superb as well, and a must for mastering some of the nuances of the unique kettlebell exercises. His kettlebells, which are sold separately, are the coolest toys in my house. I have purchased almost all of Pavel's excellent works, and they have literally changed my life. After years of beating myself up with unproductive exercise routines, I've applied Pavel's Power to the People principles with far better results at 40-plus years of age than I got at 20. Now, I'm addicted to kettlebell training, and more excited and enthusiastic about working out than ever. The Russian Kettlebell Challenge is Pavel's best work yet - and that's saying a lot. I highly recommend this book, and all of Pavel's products. If you're serious about exercise and getting into the best shape of your life with surprising ease, you will not be disappointed with this or any of Pavel's products.

If you have been power lifting, bodybuilding or are involved in martial arts, you owe it to yourself to give kettlebells a try. They provide an intense full body workout that leaves you exhausted. Additionally, they demand good form and intensity. You can't do a sloppy workout with these things, they'll punish you if you do. The author's writing is basic and to the point just like the workouts, and his sense of humor makes the book enjoyable. He does a great job of explaining the techniques as well. I was up and running with a 20KG kettlebell the first day and can honestly say it's one of the best workouts I've ever experienced. Get the book, get some kettlebells, and get strong Comrade!

On one hand, I agree wholeheartedly with what some of the critics have to say about the Russian Kettlebell Challenge (and Pavel's books in general). Yes, it's expensive, not a lot of text, and he spends a good deal of time promoting his other products. On the other hand, though, let me say this: if you try this book, chances are good that you'll look forward to giving Pavel a lot more of your hard-earned money.

I got hooked on the basic idea of high-rep, ballistic dumbell exercises about a month before I actually shelled out the money for this book, when an issue of MuscleMedia magazine had an article highlighting Pavel's book and a few of the exercises he recommends. It was easy for me to jump right into it based simply on the magazine article because I had a lot of experience with "Olympic" lifts like the clean & jerk and the snatch. But I had never tried them with dumbells before (I'll get actual kettlebells eventually), and in two decades of lifting weights I've never experienced anything like this before. It is incredibly grueling, but the workout really does do everything that Pavel says it does: build explosive strength, burn fat, tone up your muscles. As exhausting as the workouts are, though, and as much as I dread doing them beforehand, it's also surprisingly easy on my back and all the joints that usually ache after a "conventional" lifting workout. The workouts are also very short, due to the fact that they are so intense.

So why did I buy the book, if I was already getting great results from a magazine article that I had only read one time? For me it was because the book showed me more great "old school" exercises . . . For example, I had never tried a "bent press" or a "side press" before. Wow. Not too many barbell exercises or "Hammer Strength" machines will work your entire upper body at once, like a bent press will.

Why should most people get this book? I'd imagine that very few people know how to do lifts like the clean & jerk or snatch correctly, and most people probably don't even know what a bent press is! There is a lot of technique involved, and Pavel teaches you what you need to know; i.e. how to do these potentially dangerous lifts properly and - equally important - avoid dropping the weights on your head. He teaches them in a way that comes across as very simple, though, and easy to learn - and with a humorous and intimidating, yet oddly motivating, style: "I assure you, ladies and gentlemen," he says in describing one exercise, "it is a puker."

Like many of Pavel's devotees, since buying his book, I quit my gym membership, and now get far, far better workouts at home for the price of a heavy set of adjustable dumbells.

This book is an old,but new approach to physical conditioning based on the official Soviet Army conditioning system by a Russian Special Forces trainer. Kettlebells are different in that they offer a tremendous cardiovascular effect while building strength. They are inexpensive compared to various other systems that offer comparable benefit and can be used in small spaces.

Be prepared to be humbled!! Try the execises in this book with dumbells or better yet-real kettlebells. Not only will you gain real useable strength, but your cardio fitness will go thru the roof at the same time. Lifting iron is one thing-swinging it around with high rep routines is another!! Be prepared to be in the best shape of your life!! It may even get you to drop all other forms of training. The book is clearly written with excellent photos of the movements. It has historical coverage of kettlebell training as well as many humorous lines. Don't hesitate to get the book before you get the kettlebells as you can do most of the routines with dumbells. Kettlebells add a more difficult dimension however. If you read and profited from Pavel's Power to the People book, be prepared to move to a higher level. You will love this approach to training and will quickly be hooked on it. Buy the book and get to work-you will never look back!!

Pro: Good illustrations; background on the nature of kettlebell sports; inclusion of light-duty and heavy-duty regimens depending on what you want to get out of effort; inclusion of routines by his friends and by professional kettlebell lifters.

Con: Sometimes the pictures/instructions included are more detailed than needed but then some other times they fall a little short, making it difficult to tell how exactly it should look or feel.

I would think that the dvd along with the book would be the perfect combination. The book gives all the background and detail and I would like to think that the dvd with him doing exercises would be ideal for the proper demonstration and perhaps, maybe even a timed workout that you could do with him. I don't have the dvd because I think it is overpriced and so I am not sure how close my assumptions are to reality.

Comrad Pavel's book is packed full of information for real-world strength, power and endurance. He first gives a good update of the kettlebell world from past to present, then he dives into the movements and programs. I must admit, his writing comes off cocky but thats what i want in a person trying to help me, as long as he can back it up, and Pavel can. The only downfall is it makes you want to buy a real kettlebell, which can cost hundreds just for a pair a 1 pood crunchers. I found that an adjustable kettlebell handle works just as fine and costs only $60. I got mine from a company based out of Canada and it lets you put as much or as little weight as you wish. Don't use dumbbells, you will miss the full effect. With this book, or his video, & a kettlebell or similar, you can forge a body made out of stone!