After my last post I posted several videos on IGX of my Long Cycle practice with the "pumpkins", AKC's orange 28kg kettlebells.
Although I've been steadily increasing my ability to lift them, a number of experienced lifters and coaches told me what I already knew:
My technique stinks.
To be more accurate, the jerk portion of my Long Cycle lift stinks. The cleans are pretty good. And, according to more than one authority, I will never truly progress until I improve my jerk technique.
So the last couple weeks I've been doing some remedial jerk work. To make sure I improved my speed with the bells (one major issue I have), I've dropped back down to the 24kg bells for jerks. I must say I'm not thrilled by the idea, but honestly, it had to be done. Its best to use a comfortable weight when working on technique.
The last couple weeks, I've done a set (or two, or three, or more) of 2x24kg jerks. After that I switched to 2x28kg cleans.
The cleans have actually been pretty easy.
The jerks, not so much. Part of the reason I chose Long Cycle as a specialty is my discomfort with jerks. With Long Cycle, if the bells don't sit right on your forearms, you can reset them by virute of the mechanics of the lift. With the jerks, you are stuck with the position you choose in the beginning. If your wrist gets bent back, you are toast. End of story.
I'm sure that biathlon specialists know how to set the wrists to make this less likely. But that doesn't really matter to me. Long Cycle, to me, is the perfect lift. It has the jerks of biathlon, plus double cleans (which I find superior to the one armed snatch).
For now, though, I do the jerks. I'm looking forward to my return to pure Long Cycle work.
Here's one of my jerk sets:
Here's my work with cleans:
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Building volume with the Pumpkins
Since my last post just after X-mas I've been enjoying lifting the "Pumpkins", AKC's orange 28kg kettlebells. I am such a freak for these things that I have really enjoyed it.
At first they felt noticeably heavier than my 24kg bells ("The Wonder Twins", as I dubbed them in my earlier review last year). I only clean and jerked them 25 times in 4 minutes (just over 6 rpm) the first time I lifted them on December 25th. Less than I month later I can maintain over 8 rpm for that same time period. I've had a number of sets of five minutes and over. My form with these heavier bells has improved as well; smoother and less jerky, and sticking the lockouts without pressing them.
I've had two primary means of acclimating to the heavier bells. One is to increase the volume. Typically, I perform just one "money" set with my competition weight kettlbells. This set ranges from 4-10 minutes long, 90% of the time between 5 to 7 minutes. Occasionally I will do an extra set with lighter kettlebells. But usually its just one set, then a set of squats, then stretching and done. This has worked well for me.
But to get used to these heavier bells I decided the best way was to spend as much time under them as possible. And the way to do that was to do shorter sets, but more of them. I started with 5 sets of 2 minutes. I did this for 4 consecutive workouts.
Then 3 sets of 3 minutes. I did this for 3 workouts.
The next step was transition to 2 sets of 4 minutes, but I had to travel for a few days and could only do one 4-5 minute set for a few days.
I returned home and for the last couple workouts I've done 2 sets of 4-5 minutes each.
I think for the time being I will make set one the set that I work on building duration, that is, the ability to lift the bells for longer and longer periods of time. Set 2 will be a slightly shorter set that I use to increase my pace.
For example, last night's first set was five minutes long. I set the timer for five minutes, and lifted without regard to pace. In my head, I did internal "7 counts", that is, I lifted 7 reps then paused/rested in the rack for a few seconds, then resumed for another 7 reps. I repeated this process until the timer went off. Using this method, I completed 32 reps, which is 6.4 rpm.
I rested a few minutes, then did a 4 minute set. This time I set the timer to go off every minute, and intentionally tried to complete at least 8 rpm. I ended up with 33 reps, completing 8 reps per minute for the first three minutes and nine reps in minute 4. Rpm for the second set was 8.25.
Set one was easy, and I spent the entire time working to improve my technique. Set 2 was challenging but manageable, and I spent the entire set in "clock management" mode, simultaneously considering technique and pace for every rep.
The upside is that I have grown very accustomed to the weight of the new bells, I have increased my baseline rpms with this weight, and I can lift them longer at a faster pace. While I diverged from the AKC approach for the few workouts that I used to build volume, my new template (one long set for duration, one shorter set for pace) is very AKC-like. I'm not one to be a slave to orthodoxy, but their approach has really worked in producing CMS and MS athletes quickly (can you say "Ice Chamber"?).
In any event, the bells feel lighter than they did on December 25.
One other thing I've done to improve my lifting is video recording. I bought a second-hand Flip Ultra for $50 a few weeks ago. Since that time I've been recording almost every workout, then reviewing the video to look for flaws I should work on. Last night was no exception. Here is the recording of my 33 rep 4 minute set below. Thanks for reading...
At first they felt noticeably heavier than my 24kg bells ("The Wonder Twins", as I dubbed them in my earlier review last year). I only clean and jerked them 25 times in 4 minutes (just over 6 rpm) the first time I lifted them on December 25th. Less than I month later I can maintain over 8 rpm for that same time period. I've had a number of sets of five minutes and over. My form with these heavier bells has improved as well; smoother and less jerky, and sticking the lockouts without pressing them.
I've had two primary means of acclimating to the heavier bells. One is to increase the volume. Typically, I perform just one "money" set with my competition weight kettlbells. This set ranges from 4-10 minutes long, 90% of the time between 5 to 7 minutes. Occasionally I will do an extra set with lighter kettlebells. But usually its just one set, then a set of squats, then stretching and done. This has worked well for me.
But to get used to these heavier bells I decided the best way was to spend as much time under them as possible. And the way to do that was to do shorter sets, but more of them. I started with 5 sets of 2 minutes. I did this for 4 consecutive workouts.
Then 3 sets of 3 minutes. I did this for 3 workouts.
The next step was transition to 2 sets of 4 minutes, but I had to travel for a few days and could only do one 4-5 minute set for a few days.
I returned home and for the last couple workouts I've done 2 sets of 4-5 minutes each.
I think for the time being I will make set one the set that I work on building duration, that is, the ability to lift the bells for longer and longer periods of time. Set 2 will be a slightly shorter set that I use to increase my pace.
For example, last night's first set was five minutes long. I set the timer for five minutes, and lifted without regard to pace. In my head, I did internal "7 counts", that is, I lifted 7 reps then paused/rested in the rack for a few seconds, then resumed for another 7 reps. I repeated this process until the timer went off. Using this method, I completed 32 reps, which is 6.4 rpm.
I rested a few minutes, then did a 4 minute set. This time I set the timer to go off every minute, and intentionally tried to complete at least 8 rpm. I ended up with 33 reps, completing 8 reps per minute for the first three minutes and nine reps in minute 4. Rpm for the second set was 8.25.
Set one was easy, and I spent the entire time working to improve my technique. Set 2 was challenging but manageable, and I spent the entire set in "clock management" mode, simultaneously considering technique and pace for every rep.
The upside is that I have grown very accustomed to the weight of the new bells, I have increased my baseline rpms with this weight, and I can lift them longer at a faster pace. While I diverged from the AKC approach for the few workouts that I used to build volume, my new template (one long set for duration, one shorter set for pace) is very AKC-like. I'm not one to be a slave to orthodoxy, but their approach has really worked in producing CMS and MS athletes quickly (can you say "Ice Chamber"?).
In any event, the bells feel lighter than they did on December 25.
One other thing I've done to improve my lifting is video recording. I bought a second-hand Flip Ultra for $50 a few weeks ago. Since that time I've been recording almost every workout, then reviewing the video to look for flaws I should work on. Last night was no exception. Here is the recording of my 33 rep 4 minute set below. Thanks for reading...
Saturday, December 26, 2009
The Great Pumpkins: AKC's 28kg Kettlebells
After making Rank I earlier this month, I immediately set my sights on acheiving my Candidate for Master of Sport ("CMS") ranking in 2010. According to an article on the Unified Sports Classification System of the USSR, Rank I equates to regional champion. Candidate for Master of Sport, often thought of as a bridge between the amateur and pro ranks, equates to being nationally ranked. At least that's what the article says here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unified_Sports_Classification_System_of_the_USSR
I understand Russia and other former Soviet countries still use a similar system for classifying their athletes. My current ranking falls under the World Kettlebell Club auspices. Their ranking tables appear here:
http://worldkettlebellclub.com/ranks.php
To acheive the CMS ranking in Men's Long Cycle Clean and Jerk I'd need to perform 69 clean and jerks with two 28kg kettlebells. Weighing approximately 62 pounds, they are nearly nine pounds heavier than the 53 lb kettlebells I used to acheive my Rank I.
The only thing standing in my way of acheiving my CMS (other than months in the gym, ha ha) was my lack of 28kg kettlebells. If you are a follower of my blog you know that I consider the AKC/WKC kettlbells to be some of the best you can buy, and the absolute best buy for your money. I checked prices again before making this purchase. AKC was actually running a sale that made the bells even more affordable than ever. I emailed them to make sure they were in stock, then ordered two 28kg kettlebells. They arrived about a week later.
These bells are identical in quality and dimensions to the 24kg bells I ordered last summer. They are truly high-quality products. I'll let the photos do the rest of the talking.
I immediately opened them upon their arrival, only to be sharply rebuked by my wife. These bells were to be a X-mas present to me from my kids, and she was afraid they would see me with them. So I packed them back in their boxes and carried them inside for my wife and kids to wrap them. After the bells were wrapped, my kids asked me to carry them and place them under the X-mas tree ("Daddy we bought you some heavy rocks for X-mas; can you put them under the tree? Be careful, they are special rocks").
The children were so exicted to be giving me something that I really wanted,they asked me to open my presents first. Here is what I found:
Later, I took a few photos of them in my garage gym:
A close up. Notice the quality of the finish, particularly the handles:
The next competition tentatively scheduled in my area is Scott Shetler's GA State Championships in late June or early July. I plan to go for my CMS numbers on that day if logistics allow. Wish me luck.
I'll close with two more photos. One of my lovely wife, Rebecca (sporting her X-mas gifts from the kids and me: a peacock pearl necklace and emerald ear rings), who decided kettlebells would be a perfect X-mas gift for me from the kids, and my youngest child Maddie, displaying her favorite gift: a toy pig she named "Filthy". No I am not kidding.
I understand Russia and other former Soviet countries still use a similar system for classifying their athletes. My current ranking falls under the World Kettlebell Club auspices. Their ranking tables appear here:
http://worldkettlebellclub.com/ranks.php
To acheive the CMS ranking in Men's Long Cycle Clean and Jerk I'd need to perform 69 clean and jerks with two 28kg kettlebells. Weighing approximately 62 pounds, they are nearly nine pounds heavier than the 53 lb kettlebells I used to acheive my Rank I.
The only thing standing in my way of acheiving my CMS (other than months in the gym, ha ha) was my lack of 28kg kettlebells. If you are a follower of my blog you know that I consider the AKC/WKC kettlbells to be some of the best you can buy, and the absolute best buy for your money. I checked prices again before making this purchase. AKC was actually running a sale that made the bells even more affordable than ever. I emailed them to make sure they were in stock, then ordered two 28kg kettlebells. They arrived about a week later.
These bells are identical in quality and dimensions to the 24kg bells I ordered last summer. They are truly high-quality products. I'll let the photos do the rest of the talking.
I immediately opened them upon their arrival, only to be sharply rebuked by my wife. These bells were to be a X-mas present to me from my kids, and she was afraid they would see me with them. So I packed them back in their boxes and carried them inside for my wife and kids to wrap them. After the bells were wrapped, my kids asked me to carry them and place them under the X-mas tree ("Daddy we bought you some heavy rocks for X-mas; can you put them under the tree? Be careful, they are special rocks").
The children were so exicted to be giving me something that I really wanted,they asked me to open my presents first. Here is what I found:
Later, I took a few photos of them in my garage gym:
A close up. Notice the quality of the finish, particularly the handles:
The next competition tentatively scheduled in my area is Scott Shetler's GA State Championships in late June or early July. I plan to go for my CMS numbers on that day if logistics allow. Wish me luck.
I'll close with two more photos. One of my lovely wife, Rebecca (sporting her X-mas gifts from the kids and me: a peacock pearl necklace and emerald ear rings), who decided kettlebells would be a perfect X-mas gift for me from the kids, and my youngest child Maddie, displaying her favorite gift: a toy pig she named "Filthy". No I am not kidding.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Reflections on making Rank I
If you have followed this blog, you know that my goal for this year was to make the top amateur ranking (Rank I) in Long Cycle Clean and Jerk at the 2nd Annual American Kettlebell Club Southeast Kettlebell Sport Championship, hosted by Scott Shetler at his club "Extreme Conditioning & Fitness / Atlanta Barbell & Kettlebell Club", located at 2830 Peachtree Industrial Blvd. Suite AA - Duluth, GA 30097 (http://www.extreme-fitness.org/kettlebelltraining.html).
Let me start off by saying Scott is a class act; he knows a lot about kettlebell sport and physical training in general, he runs a great meet, and to top that off he's one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet. I'm glad he's the kettlebell guru in my area.
The meet ran efficiently and on time. The competitors were all prepared and cordial, and surprisingly supportive of each other, even their direct competitors. Some of the biggest names in kettlebell sport were there, including Valery Fedorenko, Catherine Imes, and Eric Liford. I got to meet a number of friends I'd only talked to on various internet forums, and it was great to put a face with a screen name.
As for making Rank, I was pretty confident I'd make Rank, given that I'd made the numbers I needed in practice several times, and had even made my goal on a test day when I was pretty sick.
All that being said, I caught a bad cold several days before the meet, and it really sapped my stamina during the competition. I felt like I had no strength in my legs after 2:00 minutes into the set, and I began to doubt if I would make my goal (69 reps to make Rank I).
During the course of the set, other athletes would shout tips or words of encouragement. Chris Duffy offered his support, and even loaned me his wrist bands. David Elkins reminded me to drop the bells instead of just lowering them. And Valery Fedorenko himself gave me suggestions when I was two minutes away and a few reps shy of Rank. When he nodded with approval at one of my lockouts and said "good, good" I was so flattered I was speechless. Well, I was out of breath with the effort anyway, but even if I hadn't been I still would have been speechless. It was like having Robert Deniro watching you in acting class and telling you that you did well.
I ended up with 75 reps in 10:00, making Rank I, and won "Best Male Lifter" in the Long Cycle event.
I could not have been more proud.
Here is video of my effort:
Let me start off by saying Scott is a class act; he knows a lot about kettlebell sport and physical training in general, he runs a great meet, and to top that off he's one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet. I'm glad he's the kettlebell guru in my area.
The meet ran efficiently and on time. The competitors were all prepared and cordial, and surprisingly supportive of each other, even their direct competitors. Some of the biggest names in kettlebell sport were there, including Valery Fedorenko, Catherine Imes, and Eric Liford. I got to meet a number of friends I'd only talked to on various internet forums, and it was great to put a face with a screen name.
As for making Rank, I was pretty confident I'd make Rank, given that I'd made the numbers I needed in practice several times, and had even made my goal on a test day when I was pretty sick.
All that being said, I caught a bad cold several days before the meet, and it really sapped my stamina during the competition. I felt like I had no strength in my legs after 2:00 minutes into the set, and I began to doubt if I would make my goal (69 reps to make Rank I).
During the course of the set, other athletes would shout tips or words of encouragement. Chris Duffy offered his support, and even loaned me his wrist bands. David Elkins reminded me to drop the bells instead of just lowering them. And Valery Fedorenko himself gave me suggestions when I was two minutes away and a few reps shy of Rank. When he nodded with approval at one of my lockouts and said "good, good" I was so flattered I was speechless. Well, I was out of breath with the effort anyway, but even if I hadn't been I still would have been speechless. It was like having Robert Deniro watching you in acting class and telling you that you did well.
I ended up with 75 reps in 10:00, making Rank I, and won "Best Male Lifter" in the Long Cycle event.
I could not have been more proud.
Here is video of my effort:
Thursday, November 12, 2009
GS Longevity
In my last post (WTH effect) I mentioned how there is a 63-year-old Latvian GS athlete who can best my Long Cycle personal record by 20 reps. It's actually worse than that:
He can beat it by 31 reps (He did 111 reps at a competition in Kerch, Russia, last February).
And he lifts in the weight class below me. His name is Adolfas Vejelis.
Not only that, but there is a 70-year-old GS athlete, Nikolaj Sazonov of the Ukraine, who can beat my pr by 10 reps.
He did 90 reps at the same Kerch competition.
He lifts four weight classes below me.
These men are lifting the same size kettlebells that I use (two 24 kg/52.8 lb kettlebells).
These GS facts are simultaneously humbling and encouraging. On the one hand, every time I start to feel too proud about my progress, seeing the results of a masters or veterans match from Russia and the performance of men older than my father humbles me in a hurry.
On the other hand, I know that, as a 40-year-old athlete that's new to competition lifting, I can reasonably expect to improve and perform at a high level for decades to come (guys who hope to date my daughters in the coming years, take note: I plan to be stronger than you even when I'm drawing Social Security).
These athletes I have mentioned are not aberrations. Although they are high-level athletes, their continued success and acheivement is not unusual for older GS athletes who put in dedicated training time. Another GS blogger featured a similar post on another older GS athlete here: http://kahvakuula.fi/artikkelit/interview-with-eduard-trusevich/
This promise of increased strength, stamina, and work capacity at any age, along with an exceedingly low rate of injury, attract me to GS more than anything. I can't imagine myself ever quitting.
Special thanks to Smet, who's thread topic at the IGX forum inspired this post. Here are the official results from the Kerch comp:
Here is 62-year-old Eduard Trusevich of Latvia finishing the last minute of a 220 rep snatch set with the 24kg kettlebell at the Ventspils Atlans comp in 2007:
He can beat it by 31 reps (He did 111 reps at a competition in Kerch, Russia, last February).
And he lifts in the weight class below me. His name is Adolfas Vejelis.
Not only that, but there is a 70-year-old GS athlete, Nikolaj Sazonov of the Ukraine, who can beat my pr by 10 reps.
He did 90 reps at the same Kerch competition.
He lifts four weight classes below me.
These men are lifting the same size kettlebells that I use (two 24 kg/52.8 lb kettlebells).
These GS facts are simultaneously humbling and encouraging. On the one hand, every time I start to feel too proud about my progress, seeing the results of a masters or veterans match from Russia and the performance of men older than my father humbles me in a hurry.
On the other hand, I know that, as a 40-year-old athlete that's new to competition lifting, I can reasonably expect to improve and perform at a high level for decades to come (guys who hope to date my daughters in the coming years, take note: I plan to be stronger than you even when I'm drawing Social Security).
These athletes I have mentioned are not aberrations. Although they are high-level athletes, their continued success and acheivement is not unusual for older GS athletes who put in dedicated training time. Another GS blogger featured a similar post on another older GS athlete here: http://kahvakuula.fi/artikkelit/interview-with-eduard-trusevich/
This promise of increased strength, stamina, and work capacity at any age, along with an exceedingly low rate of injury, attract me to GS more than anything. I can't imagine myself ever quitting.
Special thanks to Smet, who's thread topic at the IGX forum inspired this post. Here are the official results from the Kerch comp:
Here is 62-year-old Eduard Trusevich of Latvia finishing the last minute of a 220 rep snatch set with the 24kg kettlebell at the Ventspils Atlans comp in 2007:
Sunday, October 25, 2009
WTH effect
The term "What the hell effect" was first coined on the Dragondoor.com forum about eight years ago, when kettlebell lifters began noticing unexplained improvements in their performance of various activities seemingly unrelated to kettlebell lifting. Folks reported improvements in everything from one-armed pullups to distance running, even when they had abandoned training those activities altogether. People were so surprised by their success after doing nothing but kettlebells for exercise, that they exclaimed "what the hell!" when they unexpectedly bested a previous personal record. It seemed like kettlebell training was magic.
Not everyone who lifts kettlebells experiences the "WTH" effect, and some people doubt its existence altogether.
I don't know if my experience tonight counts as a WTH experience, because it only makes sense that kettlebell lifting strengthens the lifter's hands to a great degree. Here is what happened:
I went to Kmart to get a new watch battery. The sales staff at the watch counter could not loosen the screws on the watch to remove the old battery. They told me I'd need to take the watch somewhere with better screwdrivers, as they were afraid they'd strip the screws with the set they had, since no one could budge the screws.
I asked them to hand me the jeweler's screwdriver they were using. I could only use my thumb and index finger to turn the screwdriver since I was holding my toddler in my arms at the time, so I could not really bear down with any strength. Basically, I just used two fingers to turn the screw.
I loosened all four screws with ease using just two fingers. The jaws of the sales staff dropped to the counter. "Oh my God, you are strong" said one of the clerks.
I relate this anecdote not to glorify myself. I know there are probably dozens of teenage girl kettlebell lifters in Siberia who can outlift me. I read the other day of a 63-year-old Latvian man who can best my personal record in Long Cycle by 20 reps.
My point is, kettlebell lifting gives you real-world, walking around, every day strength you can use. You get the strength where you need it, especially in the back and hands.
I am not naturally strong. But I have enjoyed the benefits of the practical strength that kettlebells develop.
In the meantime, I'm still looking for a watch battery. It turns out Kmart was sold out, as was the drug store on the way home. Looks like I'm headed to Wal-mart and Target tomorrow.
Not everyone who lifts kettlebells experiences the "WTH" effect, and some people doubt its existence altogether.
I don't know if my experience tonight counts as a WTH experience, because it only makes sense that kettlebell lifting strengthens the lifter's hands to a great degree. Here is what happened:
I went to Kmart to get a new watch battery. The sales staff at the watch counter could not loosen the screws on the watch to remove the old battery. They told me I'd need to take the watch somewhere with better screwdrivers, as they were afraid they'd strip the screws with the set they had, since no one could budge the screws.
I asked them to hand me the jeweler's screwdriver they were using. I could only use my thumb and index finger to turn the screwdriver since I was holding my toddler in my arms at the time, so I could not really bear down with any strength. Basically, I just used two fingers to turn the screw.
I loosened all four screws with ease using just two fingers. The jaws of the sales staff dropped to the counter. "Oh my God, you are strong" said one of the clerks.
I relate this anecdote not to glorify myself. I know there are probably dozens of teenage girl kettlebell lifters in Siberia who can outlift me. I read the other day of a 63-year-old Latvian man who can best my personal record in Long Cycle by 20 reps.
My point is, kettlebell lifting gives you real-world, walking around, every day strength you can use. You get the strength where you need it, especially in the back and hands.
I am not naturally strong. But I have enjoyed the benefits of the practical strength that kettlebells develop.
In the meantime, I'm still looking for a watch battery. It turns out Kmart was sold out, as was the drug store on the way home. Looks like I'm headed to Wal-mart and Target tomorrow.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Kettlbell Competition(s)
So many of you know I plan to compete in the 2nd Annual American Kettlebell Club Southeast Kettlebell Sport Championship in the Atlanta area on December 5th. I'm hoping to acheive my "Rank I" level classification in the long cycle event at that event. For my weight class that means cleaning and jerking two 24kg kettlebells for at least 69 reps in 10 minutes.
Since my last entry I have bested that goal twice in training. On one test day, I acheived 80 reps in just under 10 minutes. I video recorded this test on my cell phone. Since then, I haven't been able to locate my adapter to load the video on to my computer and post it to the web for critiques. Regardless, I've watched my performance and I think I may need to work on my lockouts to make sure every rep counts on competition day. So instead of working on increasing pace or duration, I've been working on crisp lockouts for every rep.
This post isn't just about kettlebell lifting competition. The competition in the marketplace has changed. Since my last Kettlebell Comparison post, a number of companies began offering competition style kettlebells, while others have improved their quality. Ader and Agatsu are now offering competition style kettlebells that appear to be similar in quality to the AKC kettlebells. And, based on forum postings (including photos) at IGX, Perform Better has improved the quality of their competition style kettlebells, particularly in the handle area. Prices are always subject to change, but based on my recent review of prices, AKC kettlebells still seem to be the best deal on the market. Still, it looks like their competitors now offer a good product at a good price. This can only benefit the consumer. I am glad that the competition style kettlebell is becoming more the norm than the older style offered by Dragondoor. Hopefully, this means the sport will continue to grow.
Since my last entry I have bested that goal twice in training. On one test day, I acheived 80 reps in just under 10 minutes. I video recorded this test on my cell phone. Since then, I haven't been able to locate my adapter to load the video on to my computer and post it to the web for critiques. Regardless, I've watched my performance and I think I may need to work on my lockouts to make sure every rep counts on competition day. So instead of working on increasing pace or duration, I've been working on crisp lockouts for every rep.
This post isn't just about kettlebell lifting competition. The competition in the marketplace has changed. Since my last Kettlebell Comparison post, a number of companies began offering competition style kettlebells, while others have improved their quality. Ader and Agatsu are now offering competition style kettlebells that appear to be similar in quality to the AKC kettlebells. And, based on forum postings (including photos) at IGX, Perform Better has improved the quality of their competition style kettlebells, particularly in the handle area. Prices are always subject to change, but based on my recent review of prices, AKC kettlebells still seem to be the best deal on the market. Still, it looks like their competitors now offer a good product at a good price. This can only benefit the consumer. I am glad that the competition style kettlebell is becoming more the norm than the older style offered by Dragondoor. Hopefully, this means the sport will continue to grow.
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