I hope my statements do not get glossed over and I am summed up as being "against kettlebells". Ignore what I wrote if one does not want to address what I wrote.
I did not miss out on the positive aspects. I was specifically addressing some of the exaggerated claims and propaganda. That there is benefit to it and there is a beneficial training effect was not denied.
Anaerobic conditioning, powerful athelete movement, great for flexibility and mobility.
It is interesting that I question that kettlebell training makes one particularly strong, other benefits are touted instead of dispelling my statements. I have no doubt that kettlebells are good for what you just listed. I even recommend kettlebell training to some people and have helped some people get started. I also know of many other things which are good for that. High intensity intervals with calisthenics and mobility drills would give the same thing.
Granted higher volume is often required for strength gain, but a man as the capacity to be the middle of know where with a Kettlebell or two and get good levelk of strength and conditioning. All from one tool.
Kettlebells are not cheap, and there are cheaper and far more flexible tools available, starting with calisthenics. One can do things for reps, for grinds, explosively, for skill development, etc, and with no cost.
And, strand pulling offers perfectly muscular shoulders, upper back strength and development, strong and muscular arms, and the cost of a good strand pulling device and strands is less than a kettlebell and there is no time spent learning how to use it without hurting yourself.
Sandbag training offers a cheap, highly versatile, and scalable resistance as well. Just a sand bag, maybe a few dollars worth of sand (or water softener, rock salt, rubber mulch, or a variety of other fills), and you get the functional and awkward shape which is both adjustable and cheap.
And of course, barbell and dumbbell training.
Learning how to use a kettlebell as a tool of choice is a significant investment in time spent learning how to use it, acquisition of kettlebells, and with an definite upper limit on gains with a given bell.
I think the exaggeration of claims does a great disservice to it. It is something which is marketable (more marketable in the USA than good resources on flexibility, mobility, and barbell training), which is why it is given centre stage.
I think a sober sense of reality, instead of a glamorous fictional, view of an exotic secret method of the scary Soviet elites...the same elites which if given the chance, jumped the fence. And after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, led to an exodus of skilled people to other nations to make a living...to make money. It is not so easy to sell what is already widely available, so one has to find a new market.
Hard work, mandatory conscription, and strict food rationing leads to a nation of lean fit people, which is what happened in the USSR. Warrior fantasies are not good for the mind.
This Russian kettlebells are new to America, and people are having some fun with them, and many are getting results. That is fine. But lets keep it real.
And since a 32kg Kettlebell is so Light to you I would be intrested to listen to you Strength accomplishments?
I intentionally do not give numbers for the most part online. However, a bodyweight bent press, over 2.5 bodyweight deadlift, 100 pushups, weighted pullups for reps, etc nothing minor I think. Right now, I do calisthenics and strand pulling only and I no longer lift iron.
If my physique were seen, one would think well of it. No bodybuilder bulk, good mobility and development, and very lean. It is exactly what is described as being a result of kettlebell training:
Kettlebells forge physiques like antique statues: broad shoulders with just a hint of pecs, back muscles standing out in bold relief, rugged forearms, an armored midsection, and explosive legs without a hint of squatter’s chafing.
However, this is the result of being lean and using one's body to do work...almost any work. One could work in a forge, in a junkyard, loading artillery, etc and get the same results. It is human physiology.
I knew there was going to be a demand for personal strength achievements in response to what I wrote. Strength is not a cult, and it would be a shame if marketing took over. Dissenting thoughts should not cause discomfort. If kettlebells are the ultimate strength training tool, then it is my loss I suppose. My statements here are not a personal attack on anyone, and it isn't like people are going to read what I wrote and say "hey, you're right" and just give up on kettlebell training (especially since it is a major business, and many are financially and emotionally invested in it).
Especially since the strongest people, skilled gymnasts, the elites in the militaries of the world, and the strongest people in history did not use kettlebells as developed in the Soviet Union, my position is a safe one.
But, for the luxuries of the rich nations, with its sedentary populations and lack of real need for labour for most people, any system of training which gets people moving and using their bodies like humans should be doing is ultimately a good thing. But I do not think this should be at the expense of reality.