The word girya (kettlebell) was first published in the Russian dictionary in 1704. Back then, kettlebells were used as scale weights to measure goods at the market, but farmers would sometimes swing and press the bells to show off their strength. After a time, kettlebells became commonplace at festivals, fairs, and circuses with various movements and juggling becoming popular acts.

Since those early circus times, competition with kettlebells has continued to evolve, so let’s talk a little walk through history and see how modern-day girevoy sport evolved.

Girya Timeline

• 1948 – The All-Soviet Union Competition of Strongman was held in Moscow. Only the champions from each of the fifteen Soviet republics were qualified to attend. Contestants performed the two-kettlebell jerk and single-arm snatch.
• 1950s – Training with kettlebells gained popularity with youth, farmers, and soldiers. Soviet Olympic weightlifters trained kettlebells unilaterally in order to strengthen their non-dominant side. Kettlebell competitions were held in the form of strongman events, but unlike today’s meets, there were no rules, classification standards, or time limit.
• 1970s – Kettlebell sport was included in the National Sports Federation as the official sport of the Soviet Union. A commission was created to unify the rules and create sports classifications and a calendar.
• 1972 – The first official match between republics was held in Skadovsk with teams Krasnoyarsk, Sverdlovsk, Moscow, Perm, Lipetsk, and the Tatar Republic.
• 1981 – The government decided that kettlebell training would help their economy by creating a more productive, fitter, and healthier workforce. The Official Kettlebell Commission was formed and mandated kettlebell training for all workers.
• 1985 – The first Soviet Union Championship was held in Lipetsk, along with a chance to qualify for the title of “Master of Sport.”
• 1988 – Long cycle competition is introduced at the First Cup of Girevoy Sport, along with the ten-minute time limit.
• 1993 – First World Championship
• 1999 – Women compete for the first time in the championships
• 2001 – Women are included in the snatch competition for the first time in the Russian National Championship.

Ksenia Dedyukhina at UKL’s Worlds, 2011

General Rules for Competition

Competitions are conducted with kettlebells weighing 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, and 32kg. Events in a classic competition include:

• Jerk – Jerk one (women) or two kettlebells (men) from chest level to overhead.
• Long Cycle – Clean one (women) or two kettlebells (men) to chest level, and then jerk to overhead.
• Snatch – Snatch one kettlebell (men and women) to overhead.
• Classic Biathlon – Compete in the jerk, then the snatch.

Note: for all single-arm lifts, the athlete can change hands only one time.

Uniform and Equipment

The lifters:

• Lifters must wear shorts, a weightlifting suit, t-shirt or a sleeveless shirt so the knees and elbows are visible.
• Weightlifting belts are allowed, but with width no more than 12cm and length no more than 1.5m.
• Wrist wraps are allowed, but with width no more than 10cm and length no more than 25cm. They cannot be inflexible or consist of any hard material.
• Knee caps or knee wraps and groin protection are allowed for medical reasons only.
• Appropriate athletic shoes are required.
• Nothing may be on the hands but chalk.

The kettlebells:

• Cannot deviate from the standard weights by more than 100 grams
• Height – 280mm
• Diameter of body – 210mm
• Diameter of the handle – 35mm

Rules of Performance

Athletes compete in weight categories, and the number of categories will vary depending on the host organization’s ranking tables.

Lifters are given ten minutes to put up as many reps as possible. Each properly executed repetition is accompanied by a signal from the judge. The judge declares the signal as soon as all parts of the competitor’s body are motionless. If the competitor violates any rules of the technical performance, the judge can issue a “no count” or “stop set.”

“Lifters are given ten minutes to put up as many reps as possible. Each properly executed repetition is accompanied by a signal from the judge.”

For example, in the jerk, the “stop” signal is issued whenever the kettlebells are held in a position lower than the hands (i.e. farmer’s carry). A “no count” is declared when there is additional push with the legs or additional press with the arms or when the athlete does not fixate the kettlebell in both starting and overhead positions. In addition, the kettlebell(s) must ascend in a continuous manner without stopping.

In the clean portion of the long cycle competition, kettlebells cannot be held motionless in a position lower than the hands. Kettlebells cannot be placed on the shoulder or roll from shoulders into the tack position. The same rules outlined above for the jerk apply to the jerk in long cycle.

For the snatch, the judge will declare “stop” any time the kettlebell touches the platform or the kettlebell is held motionless in a position lower than the hip. A “no count” is issues if there is a press of the kettlebell; an absence of fixation in the overhead position; or the free hand touches any part of the body, platform, kettlebell, working hand, legs, or trunk.

Fulfilling the allotted ten minutes is not necessary in order to win or achieve rank. In fact, it’s common for a lifter to perform a set in less than ten minutes. Various reasons include overtraining, lifting a heavier weight than he or she is accustomed to, or lifting at a faster pace than the one prepared for. With consistent and thorough training, though, the lifter will have the endurance to fulfill the ten minutes and earn a higher result of quality reps.

Click Here for the Girevoy Sport 4-Week Program

You’ll Also Enjoy:

• 4 Weeks of Girevoy Sport Training: Are You Ready?
• An Introduction to Girevoy Sport Training Methodologies
• Kettlebell Sport Training With World Champion Chris Doenlen
• New on Breaking Muscle Today

Photo 1 by Onurcannar (Own work) via Wikimedia Commons.

Photo 2 courtesy of Steve Burroughs.

The post From Circus Acts to World Titles: The History of Girevoy Sport appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

As opposed to Olympic lifting or powerlifting, GS requires an athlete to lift a sub-maximal load, completing as many repetitions as possible in ten minutes.

Kettlebell sport, also known as girevoy sport (GS), is a highly challenging power-endurance feat of a cyclical nature. Lifters’ success involves technique, flexibility, strength and power, proper breathing patterns, aerobic capacity, stability, and mental focus.

As opposed to Olympic lifting or powerlifting, GS requires an athlete to lift a sub-maximal load, completing as many repetitions as possible in ten minutes.

That’s me competing in GS.

History of Girevoy Sport

The Russians can take credit for developing this unique form of competition, yet weights with handles have been used as early as 8th century BC, when the Greeks began creating their own versions of gymnasiums and were the first to develop organized approaches to weight training and sports, including the use of halteres.

Halteres, from the Greek allomai, means “leap” or “spring.” These metal or stone weights with holes were used for lifting as well as for assisting athletes in the long jump. By holding one in each hand, halteres, weighing between 12 and 35kg, allowed an athlete greater jumping distance.

Greek halteres weighed between 12 and 35kg.

The 3 Traditional Lifts of Girevoy Sport

Lifters choose the weight and lift they wish to perform at competition, usually months in advance. They then train to show quality reps and fulfill ten minutes in their chosen lift.

Biathlon: Jerk and Snatch

Ten minutes of jerk is followed by ten minutes of snatch, with a minimum thirty-minute rest between the two lifts. For jerk, men use two bells, while women typically use one, changing sides once. These two ten-minute events are very challenging to perform and prepare for, therefore biathlon is not ideal for beginners.

To do the jerk, the lifter swing cleans the kettlebells to the tack position with the elbows resting on the iliac crests. From the rack, the lifter quickly dips the legs from the knees as in a hinge. There is no change in the position of the arms or bells during this first dip.

“Ten minutes of jerk is followed by ten minutes of snatch, with a minimum thirty-minute rest between the two lifts.”

The next movement, the drive, accelerates the bells off the body with a fast straightening of the legs. The lifter then quickly bends his/her knees so they are under the arm and bell(s) by the time they straighten. The lifter then straightens the legs with the arm still straight and bell(s) fixated. Once this is done, the lifter can let the bell(s) drop back to the rack position.

For the snatch portion of the biathlon, both men and women use one bell, changing sides once. The lifter begins the snatch from the floor with a backward swing, then accelerates it forward and up. Just before the bell reaches the overhead position of fixation, the lifter slips his or her hand into the handle. The bell is then fixated overhead with knees and arm straight. On the downswing, the bell is rotated slightly to reduce its momentum and caught before it passes between the legs.

Long Cycle

This format offers a slower pace than the jerk or snatch due to the double movement of the cycle – one swing clean to rack position, followed by one jerk. The bell is then brought down through the rack to the next swing clean. Men use two bells, while women typically use one, changing sides once.

An example of long cycle from a competition in 2010.

Weights Used in GS Competition

At certain meets, the weights lifted are determined by the host organization. For example, to win the pro division at international meets, men lift 32kg/72lb and women 24kg/53lb.

Meets in the United States have become very enticing as women can compete with bells as light as 8kg/17.5lb and men with 16kg/35lb. This enables novice lifters to build on their technique and endurance while enjoying the experience of competing and achieving ranks.

Colors Representing GS Weights:

• Pink – 8kg
• Blue – 12kg
• Yellow – 16kg
• Purple – 20kg
• Green – 24kg
• Red – 32kg

Can Anyone Compete?

There are no age restrictions in GS. I’ve seen ages five through 75 on the platform – and it’s a beautiful and inspiring sight! Some meets do require qualification via video submission prior to competition, while others do not.

“There are no age restrictions in GS. I’ve seen ages five through 75 on the platform – and it’s a beautiful and inspiring sight!”

Regardless of the competition, it is highly advisable that you use a good coach throughout your training and competition process. A coach is necessary to guide you in the many aspects of the sport – breathing patterns, pacing, execution of lifts, hand positions, hand care, specific assistance drills to overcome weaknesses, recovery, mental preparation and much more.

Competing in GS doesn’t mean you have to give up everything else, either. If you enjoy activities like lifting, running, cycling, rowing, or swimming, you can utilize them to further develop the aerobic capacity necessary for GS.

Earning Medals and Ranks

In GS, lifters have the opportunity to win gold, silver, or bronze medals in their weight class, age class, and the overall by putting up the most reps in any of these categories, and using the same weight as other lifters in the same category.

Ranks are awarded when a lifter fulfills a certain number of reps dictated by their weight class. Rank abbreviations are:

• HMS – Honored Master of Sport
• MSIC – Master of Sport International Class
• MS – Master of Sport
• CMS – Candidate for Master of Sport
• Rank 1, 2, 3

Honored Master of Sport is awarded through the Russian Sport Consulate to only a handful of athletes who have accumulated 150 points through the following prestigious meets:

• Cup of Russia
• European Cup
• European Championship
• World Cups

For example, winning first place in Cup of Russia earns the lifter ten points, but winning first place in European Championship earns 35 points.

Those outside of Russia desiring to earn the title of World Champion should look to compete at either the IGSF or IUKL World Championships. Each organization has its own ranking tables detailing different weight and age categories.

A Sport to Grow Young With

The incidence of injury in GS is very low when compared to other sports. GS involves standing in one place while moving the weights overhead through the use of the legs, spine, abs, and shoulders. The process of training results in increased lean muscle, fat loss, reduced risk of osteoporosis, aerobic conditioning and endurance, and a balanced muscular system. GS training utilizes three dimensions of the joints, flexibility, muscular symmetry, and joint stability. Since GS is a power endurance sport, it creates bodies that are, in most cases, lean and strong.

What Training Entails

Within a training week, lifters will perform:

• Their competition lifts in various timed sets, with varied weights
• Assisted drills to improve flexibility, timing, grip strength, and tempo and breathing patterns
• Full-body resistance training
• Flexibility training
• Cardiovascular exercise in the form of running, swimming, biking, rowing, skating, etc. at various intensities

Training sessions are performed an average of four days per week, with each session lasting approximately ninety minutes to two hours in order to build stability, endurance, conditioning and mental focus.

“The process of training results in increased lean muscle, fat loss, reduced risk of osteoporosis, aerobic conditioning and endurance, and a balanced muscular system.”

It is imperative for lifters to have a clock available at all training sessions in order to perform the required reps for each training day. After a couple years of training, lifters will be able to perform the competition pace they’ve trained for without reliance on a clock, but the majority of competitions will still have visible clocks and rep counters for competitors to view while on the platform.

Are You Ready?

So, are you ready to get started on your GS training adventure? I’ve created a four-week program for you to get a taste of the sport.

When you begin training for GS competition, you and your coach will determine which lift(s) you’ll perform. Typically, lifters begin with long cycle since it is a slower pace than jerk or snatch and because snatch is heavily reliant on grip endurance, which takes time to acquire.

The following program is a sample of one week’s training for each lift in order to practice prior to setting up your personalized competition program. For best results, you’ll need a variety of competition bells available. Cardio and conditioning should follow at least three of the four training days.

Girevoy Sport 4-Week Program: Week One

Week 1: Accessory Drills

• Women typically use one bell, men use two
• Practice with mid-range weight to begin – women 12-16kg, men 20-24kg

Monday

Set 1

Rack Walk

Men:

• 90 sec – 2 min
• Rest 1 min
• 3 sets

Women:

• 1 min per side using single bell
• Rest 1 min
• 3 sets

Set 2

Single Arm Swings

• Use “buoyant” knees as bell goes through legs
• 15-20 per arm
• Rest 1 min
• 3 sets

Set 3

Men: Double Arm Swing Clean

• Layer handles and hands right away into rack
• 12-15 reps
• Rest 1m
• 3 sets

Women: Single Arm Swing Clean

• Shift hip over to catch the arm and bell into rack
• 10-15 per arm
• Rest 1m
• 3 sets

Wednesday

Set 1

Men: Double Arm First Dip

• Keep arms attached to trunk and hinging at knees
• 20 reps
• Rest 1m
• 3 sets

Women: Single Arm First Dip

• Keep arms attached to trunk and hinging at knees
• 20 each side
• Rest 1m
• 3 sets

Set 2

Men: Double Arm Jerk

• Expand upper back and keep arms attached to trunk on first dip. Path of arms and bells is straight up and straight down to rack.
• 10-12 reps
• Rest 1 min
• 2 sets

Women: Single Arm Jerk

• Rest arm and bell at hip in rack
• 15 each arm
• Rest 1 min
• 2 sets

Thursday

Set 1

Snatch

• Open hand at head height to slip into handle in overhead fixation
• Catch handle low and follow into backswing
• Men: 15-20 each arm
• Rest 1 min
• 2-3 sets

Women:

• Open hand at head height to slip into handle in overhead fixation
• Catch handle low and follow into backswing
• 12-15 each arm
• Rest 1m
• 2-3 sets

Saturday

Set 1

Long Cycle 5 Second Holds in Each Position

• This drill can be performed for jerk, snatch or long cycle
• Men: 5 min total time
• Women: 5 min total time, 2:30 min each arm

Click on the number below that corresponds to the week of training you’re in.

Girevoy Sport 4-Week Program: Week Two

Week 2: Jerk

Weeks 2 to 4 will be timed drills

Monday

Set 1

• Men (2) 12kg 2 min 15rpm
• Women 12kg 1 min each arm 14 rpm
• Rest 2-3 min

Set 2

• Men (2) 14kg 2 min 15rpm
• Women 14kg 1 min each arm 14 rpm
• Rest 2-3 min

Set 3

• Men (2) 12kg 2 min 14-15rpm
• Women 12kg 1 min each arm 13-14rpm

Set 4

Rack Walk for time

Wednesday

Set 1

• Men (2) 12kg 3 min 15 each min
• Women 12kg 3 min (1:30 min each arm) 21 reps each arm
• Rest 3-4 min

Set 2

• Men (2) 14kg 3 min 15 each min
• Women 14kg 3 min 21 reps each arm

Set 3

First dip for reps

Thursday

Set 1

1 Swing Clean + 3 First dips for reps

Saturday

Set 1

• Men (2) 12kg 5 min 15 rpm
• Women 12kg 5 min (2:30 min each arm) 35 reps each arm

Click on the number below that corresponds to the week of training you’re in.

Girevoy Sport 4-Week Program: Week Three

Week 3: Snatch

Monday

Set 1

• Men 16kg 4 min (2 min each arm) 15 rpm
• Women 12kg 4 min (2 min each arm) 14-15 rpm

Set 2

Low Single arm Swings for reps

Wednesday

Set 1

• Men 14kg 6 min 15 rpm
• Women 10kg 6 min (3 min each arm) 15 rpm

Set 2

High Single arm Swings for reps

Friday

Set 1

• Men 14kg with Extra Swing 10 min 11 rpm
• Women 10kg with Extra Swing 10 min (5 min each arm) 10-11 rpm

Saturday

Accessory Drills

• Single Arm Overhead walks 45 to 90 sec depending on weight
• Low Single Arm Swings 20-30 each arm depending on weight, 4-5 rounds

Click on the number below that corresponds to the week of training you’re in.

Girevoy Sport 4-Week Program: Week Four

Week 4: Long Cycle

Monday

Set 1

• Men (2) 14kg 2 min 12 rpm
• Women 14kg 2 min (1 min each arm) 8 rpm
• Rest 2-3 min

Set 2

• Men (2) 16kg 2 min 12 rpm
• Women 16kg 2 min 8 rpm
• Rest 2-3 min

Set 3

• Men (2) 12kg 4 min 12-13rpm
• Women 12kg 4m 8 rpm

Set 4

Rack Walk

• Men: Double Bells
• Women: Single Bells
• 90 sec-2 min depending on weights, 3 sets

Wednesday

Set 1

• Men (2) 14kg 3 min 12 rpm
• Women 14kg 3 min (1:30 min each arm) 12rpm

Set 2

• Men (2) 16kg 3 min 11-12 rpm
• Women 16kg 3 min 12 each arm

Set 3

• Low Single Arm Swings 20-30 each arm depending on weight
• 3 sets

Thursday

Set 1

• Men (2) 12kg 6 min 12-13 each min
• Women 12kg min (3 min each arm) 9 each min

Saturday

Set 1

• Men (2) 14kg 10 min 10-11 rpm
• Women 12kg 8 min (4 min each arm) 8 each min

Click on the number below that corresponds to the week of training you’re in.

The post 4 Weeks of Girevoy Sport Training: Do You Have What It Takes? appeared first on Breaking Muscle.