Reviews

This is a fantastic book that offers a brief history, use of, and the exercises involved with the kettlebell. I started with ENTER THE KETTLEBELL to be instructed in the mechanics, and bought THE RUSSIAN KETTLEBELL CHALLENGE to experience the broader use of the kettlebell.
I have many years experience in weight training but with just six weeks of practising with the kettlebell my body composition has radically changed. The workouts are gruelling and more satisfying then the traditional barbell exercises. The engagement of the nervous system is incredible, it allows for the use of heavy resistence with PNF principles. In a word the workouts are three dimensional, awesome.

Well,what can I say, this is my second copy of the book. I wore the first one out from using it so much. Now,if you really want hard core
training do the workouts in this book and you will have it,HARDCORE!!!!
I hear people complaining about the Windmill,Bentpress, and the other
exercises in this book,WHY!!! these are the ones that give the core strength we all are working so hard to find,Soooooooooo, stop
complaining and get to work on all of the basics and you will find what
you are looking for!!!!!!! OH,and the hard bodies that all of the old
time strength MEN had back in the 1930's had. I want to say one more thing,these will get you to the poetry of the TURKISH GET UP faster
than anything you can do!!!!!!!!! SO BALLS TO THE WALL,and it will
come.

William J.Jones

I made the mistake of lending out my original copy of the RKC book and purchased it a second time. (might be third time since I "lend" books a good deal)
This is the book that started it all and resulted in me attending the second ever RKC in 2002 so all I can say is that if you serious about kettle bells and do not have this book then you are missing out.
After 10 years as an RKC this is still my one of my favorite resources.

After having great success using Power To The People to boost my strength, I thought I'd give the Russian Kettlebell Challenge a try. I read where others had great results trimming fat while using this simple tool.

I asked for and received my first kettlebell Christmas, 2003. Over the next 6 months I trained with kettlebells exclusively. I lost 25 lbs. of body weight, going from 250 to 225. But, that's just a small piece of the story. My body fat percentage has dropped from over 30% down to 17% during the same time period. 13 percentage points averages out to almost 2% bodyfat drop per month. Those who can do the math realize I lost more fat than body weight! Some of that fat was being replaced new muscle. My resting heart rate is down from 72 bpm to 66. My ability to keep up with my sons when doing physical task has increased tremendously. Things I struggled with last summer are a breeze to me now. I purchased two more bells just a couple months ago. I'll probably ask for a couple more this Christmas. Kettlebells have changed how I train for endurance, stamina and fat loss. Pavel has changed how I'll train for the rest of my life!

In 25 years of training, I've used free weights, Nautilus, Cybex and all the rest of the machines. And I've studied all the books and tried all the protocols: high rep, low rep, multi-joint, isolation, circuit and interval.
Simply put, kettlebells and Pavel's book demolish all the other hardware and protocols. Yes, Pavel's ideas seem shocking, and the hardware seems too simple, and that's exactly the point. Using only two drills that Pavel details in RKC, my body has been revolutionized: I'm stronger and leaner at 44 than I've ever been, and there's no end in sight. The book is smart, inspiring and fun, and most importantly it delivers on all its promises.

I picked up this book as a biginning Kettlebell Lifter so I could understand a greater variety oflifts, even though I didn't polan to usethem yet. It has a fantastic trove of lifts, from siompleo complex, and is invaluable when trying to understand what more advanced lifters are discussing. The section of Siviet workout programs is fasicnating, and worth the price itself. Thanks! Another great DragonDoor Book.

I love when pencil necks wince as their soft little palm gets crushed by my calloused vice grip. I look em dead in the eye because I earned that shake, kettlebell style.

This book gave me an execellent introduction to the kettlebell. I would highly reccommend this book. I would also asap purchase Power to the People.

These two texts contain all you really need to get strong, to tell the truth even one or the other will do, but both is better. I say about 6 week cycles between the two is really productive.

If you are not using kettlebells you are wasting your training time and losing out on a still somewhat secret weapon. Now go get strong, or go away.

I started training with kettleblls at the age of fourteen with a 12 kilo for about 6 months. Pavels great techniques helped me to acheive muscle mass increase, my strenght went trhough the roof, and my endurace is amazing. Everyone from my school wanted to know my secret, and i told them simply kettlebells. They looked at me like i was crazy. After i started to get really strong for my 15th birthday i decided to get two 20 kilo kettlebells. I got tottaly whipped out the first few workouts. However, after a couple of months of training my strenght increased by at least 70 percent and my muscle mass inreased as well. Now everyone fears me and my potential, and takes me as a threat in sporting competitions. My new knickname has become girevik and the BEAST all thanks to Pavels book and Kettlebells. I am curently training to become an elite in the sport of wrestling, and shot put in my school. Standing at 6 foot 2 inches weighing 200 pounds i have become already an elite in fitness within my family thanks to kettlebells and Pavels ideas. I'm thinking of taking up Power to the People, and i already am using the Naked Warrior and Bullet Proof Abs. Simply this is Pavels Best work yet, THANKS AGAIN!!!!

As a Personal trainer, I have access to two "fully-equipped" fitness centers to for my own training, at no charge, and don't use either one any more.
Here's the point, I find kettlebells superior to anything I find in those gyms for what I want to accomplish. That is not to knock those facilities, I just want a more functionally-balanced program.
I am 53 years old, and train six days a week with kettlebells.
My wife, also a Personal Trainer, and a medical professional finds kettlebells superior for her training. She trains four times a week with them.
This is the best equipment and training strategy I've seen, period!

I have worked out for years. I am 51 and in relatively good shape. I think this will get me to the next level in fitness.

The book was easy to read. I am rereading the instructions on the exercises constantly to reinforce the proper movement. The pictures are good. For the movements themselves I would prefer along with the pictures a step by step description with numbers or letters tied into the various pictures rather than just paragraphs as in a novel. Because I believe that there may be more helpful information in it, I will probably be ordering the "Enter the Kettlebell" book shortly to add to the knowledge I gained from "The Russian Kettlebell Challenge".

I've enjoyed Pavel's previous works, and find his insights and knowledge refreshing when compared to the mainstream; but sadly I can not recommend this book. The Russian Kettlebell Challenge is 143 pages long and in my opinion, the majority of the book is filler--I counted only 66 pages with valid information on Kettlebell lifting (and that?s being generous). There are eleven blank pages (fifteen counting the four section pages) and sixteen pages that were a maximum of half full. The first two sections of the book (32 pages!) were comprised of the history of Kettlebells, and Pavel?s reasoning on why they?re so great. This book reminded me of one of my college term papers were I had procrastinated until the last minute, and used every possible technique to stretch the length of the paper. At $34.95, this book is definitely not worth the price.

The book has the right balance of theory vs practical application. kettlebell workouts may appear simple, but there are many subtle nuances that once revealed make a lot of difference in your technique. This presentation is straightforward. The historical background info helps us newcomers understand not only "how" but "why".

The book is good for the history it provides. The main weakness, as to me, is that it lacks more basic or begining routines. Probably would be better with an accompaning video or CD.

I have read Enter the Kettlebell... Bought this because someone on forum said they refer to this addition, the most of any book---its not mentioned a lot--This book might be the best one...and they are all great. Great info to cross reference!

This book is a MUST for anyone who is serious about his or her physical conditioning and overall well- being. It is for the novice or the advanced athlete, and everyone in between. The most effective aspect of this classic of Pavel's is it's simplicity. For those of you who are serious about your overall health, this work is money well spent.