Kettlebell lifting


Kettlebell Sport lifting is a repetitive weight lifting sport performed with kettlebells in a given period of time. Competitive kettlebell lifting has a long history in Russia and Eastern Europe, but developed as an organised, standard sport under the name kettlebell lifting during the 1960s.

Lifts

The sport consists of three main lifts: the snatch, jerk and the long cycle. Jerk and Long Cycle can be performed with one bell or two kettlebells of equal weight.
Classic competition format is usually composed of two to three categories; biathlon, long cycle and snatch. The lifter is given ten minutes for each event to perform as many repetitions as possible. They include:
Competition kettlebell colours are 8 kg, 12 kg, 16 kg, 20 kg, 24 kg, 28 kg, 32 kg.
Traditional competitions require the male lifter to use 1-pood, 1.5-pood, and 2-pood competition kettlebells of similar size with identifying colours. Some competitive federations allow 8kg, 12kg, 16kg, 20kg & 24kg for women and 16kg, 20kg, 24kg, 28kg, 32kg, 40kg for men.

Terminology

The main international sanctioning body is the International Union of Kettlebell Lifting based in Riga, Latvia. The All-Russia Kettlebell Lifting Federation is also a member of the International Union of Kettlebell Lifting. A competitor organisation of lesser importance is the International Girya Sport Federation, founded in Lipetsk, Russia but currently based in Ukraine. In 2006, Valery Fedorenko, a former world champion from Kyrgyzstan founded the World Kettlebell Club in the United States. In 2012, The as founded to further develop and popularize kettlebell sport in the Americas. The American Kettlebell Alliance is also a member of the International Union of Kettlebell Lifting and represents American athletes in international competitions including the world championships, which is the largest and most prestigious annual international kettlebell sport competition in the world. The International Kettlebell Marathon Federation is main organisation for marathon kettlebell lifting which was previously sanctioned by IGSF.
World Kettlebell Sport Federation was organized in 2018 offering a platform for countries to compete in the sport as it is being considered for the Olympics.
International Kettlebell Marathon Federation hosts competitions using the traditional lifts for 30 minute and 60 minute sets. "Ultra-marathons" are 2+hours. Arms can multi-switch for one bell lifts. If the bell/bells are set down before the time limit--NONE of the reps count.
There are organizations, besides federations, which promote sport of kettlebell lifting, educate and license coaches and determine conditions for titles of mastery in sport of kettlebell lifting; more notable ones are: KetAcademy, International Kettlebell and Fitness Federation, StrongFirst, World Kettlebell, Girevoy Sport Union, International Kettlebell Sport & Fitness Academy, Kettlebell Athletica.
World Association of Kettlebell Sport Clubs is an association of sport clubs and organizations who practice kettlebell sport as their professional occupation. It also organizes World Championships.

World Championships

International Union of Kettlebell Lifting

EditionYearHost CityCountryEvents
12010
22011
32012
42013TyumenRussia
52014HamburgGermany
62015DublinIreland
72016Aktobe
82017Seoul