From the far corners of Russia to mainstream Hollywood, the kettlebell is here to stay. Check out this video to see how kettlebells are being used by top celebrities to get in shape.

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I’ve never needed any scientific research or university-backed studies to convince me that kettlebells are one of the most effective tools for burning calories and incinerating unwanted body fat. One set of high rep swings or snatches and most individuals become instant believers in the benefits kettlebells offer. But in case you’re a fence sitter and not completely sold on the power of the Kettlebell or you need some scientific numbers to support the claims, then you’ve got to check out the latest university study measuring the effect of kettlebells and calorie burn. The American Council on Exercise (ACE) funded the Kettlebell study and the scientists at the University of Wisconsin are stunned by the research. To quote “Kettlebell calorie burn is off the charts.” Now that’s a pretty bold statement. But they’ve got the research to back those claims. Below are some quick highlights from the press release “New ACE Study Proves Kettlebells King of Cardio, Fat Burning” or check out the complete research in the January/February 2010 issue of ACE FitnessMatters.

The research team led by John Porcari, Ph. D and Chad Schnetter, M.S at the University of Wisconsin, La Crosse Exercise and Health Program, used a VO2max kettlebell snatch protocol developed by Dragon Door author and Master RKC kettlebell instructor Kenneth Jay, in Jay’s bestseller Viking Warrior Conditioning. After only a 20-minute kettlebell workout, research subjects burned an average of 272 calories. However as, Dr. Porcari states in his research conclusions: “We also measured the blood lactate, so anaerobically they were burning another 6.6 calories per minute, which is off the charts. That’s equivalent to running a 6-minute mile pace.”

The scientists credit the startling level of calorie burn to the fact that the kettlebell workout is a total-body movement that is also done very quickly, due to the interval-training format. Added researcher Schettler, “The kettlebell workout gives you a big bang for your buck in a very short amount of time.”

Gerard Butler supposedly used kettlebells in part to hone his chiseled physique as Leonidas in 300. Now, modern science has provided the proof that this “Spartan” exercise tool offers new hope for those still struggling to lose unwanted body fat — or wishing to lose that body fat far faster than traditional methods.

Press Release: New ACE Study Proves Kettlebells King of Cardio, Fat Burning

Well, not really…but you must become proficient at the kettlebell swing before you move on to other exercises. Any kettlebell instructor worth his or her salt will tell you that and I can’t stress it enough. Learning the correct mechanics of this movement cannot be overlooked. But so often it’s done completely wrong…and that’s even after you’ve demonstrated the correct technique with the client and used different drills to help them improve. After working with dozens of clients, there are 3 major mistakes that I see which prompted me to right an article on the kettlebell swing. To read more about the importance of the kettlebell swing and the common mistakes made, take a look at the article “Building the Foundation—The Kettlebell Swing” by clicking the link below. It’s also posted under the article tab on the homepage.

The Kettlebell Swing