The 48kg kettlebell is a seriously sized kettlebell for the advanced strength athlete.  The 48kg is not called “The Beast” for nothing as to press the 48kg is a supreme test of strength.

As well as being heavy, which is even more of an issue when they are used for high speed exercises like swings and snatches, the 48g is big and bulky which is another challenge that dedicated strength athletes will need to overcome.

Strictly pressing a 48kg kettlebell is a tough goal very few people will ever achieve.  Pressing the 48kg Beast is a rite of passage for the seriously strong.  However, if pressing the 48kg is at the moment a bit beyond the trainer, the 48kg  can be used for other exercises like two arm swings, farmers walks, deadlifts or goblet squats by serious trainers who may typically use a 32kg or 40kg  for most of their training.

The core strength and grip strength developed from using the 48kg for double hand swings and other strength type  exercises will typically carry over to your other kettlebell work and often result in Personal bests and with the 32kg and other smaller sized kettlebells and will help in building your pressing numbers with the 40kg.

So although you may never press the 48kg kettlebell it is a very useful tool for the serious kettlebell trainer to develop a base of strength that will benefit your other kettlebell training and and fitness goals.

[add_to_cart item="48kb" quantity="user:1" ]

Let’s face it, it can be hard learning kettlebell techniques when 99.9% of gym instructors have either never used kettlebells before, or are self taught and not very good.  Maybe you have tried to learn from YouTube, but it can be difficult to know what is right or what is just pure ineffective or even dangerous.

That is why we made NZ’s first professional produced kettlebell instructional DVD to show you how to correctly and effectively use your kettlebell.

The Kettlebells Unleashed DVD is a 45 minute instructional DVD by RKC instructors Mike Capper & Paul White that teaches you how to to correctly perform the key kettlebell movements as taught by Pavel Tsatsouline’s Russian Kettlebell Challenge (RKC) Instructor course.

Mike & Paul both have had extensive kettlebell training having both passed the 3 day RKC Kettlebell instructor course (RKC) in the USA by Dragondoor & Pavel Tsatsouline (Mike recertified in 2010) as well as Steve Cotter’s Certified Kettlebells Instructor (CKT) course under the International Kettlebell Fitness Federation.

This DVD breaks down the key kettlebell movements, it highlights common errors when performing the key exercises and provides tips and drills to correct these errors so you can workout safely and learn effective exercise technique to accelerate your progress.

The following exercises demonstrations are included in this 45 minute DVD;

• Two Arm Swing
• One Arm Swing
• Kettlebell Deadlift
• Kettlebell Clean & Press
• Windmill
• Turkish Get Up
• Overhead Snatch & much more

The DVD also includes an innovative split screen camera view of exercises as key exercises were filmed simultaneously with two separate cameras.  This enables the viewer so you can see both a front and side view of exercises at the same time.

So if you want to stop wasting your time searching for capable kettlebell instructors and are ready to learn effective safe kettlebell technique then order your “Kettlebells Unleashed” training DVD here

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Lets face it, it’s tough to get and stay in shape these days.  Everyone is  busy with work, family, & friends and its so easy to grab that snack food and skip those long exercise sessions.

We can change all that with kettlebells, an exercise tool that Hollywood celebrities such as Angelina Jolie, Penelope Cruz, Charlize Theron, Jessica Alba & many others are now using to get in shape and stay in shape for their movie roles.

The reason Hollywood celebrities are using kettlebells is because they train the whole body in a minimal amount of time with a program that incorporates cardio, fatloss & resistance training all with one piece of equipment. In fact the well respected American Council of Exercise (ACE) with the University of Wisconsin, tested kettlebell training and determined it provides “Twice the results in half the time”

Yes there are a lot of exercise fads and gimmicks around.  Late night TV is full of shiny gimmicky pieces of equipment which promise results in a few easy minutes a day, but ultimately fail to deliver.

The kettlebell is different.  It has stood the test of time and has been around since the turn of the century.  However, up until recently kettlebells have been hidden away in Russia or the former Soviet bloc to train their Olympic athletes, fighters and Soviet Special Force members.

But now Hollywood celebrities, housewives, mothers, fathers,  in fact males  and females of all ages are starting to use kettlebells to get a more effective training program in a limited amount of time.

So if you are like most people you probably have a few questions about kettlebells which we will hopefully answer below.

 Why should I train with kettlebells?

• Kettlebell training is time efficient and very effective.  An hour a week gets results and they are ideal for mini 10 -20 minute training sessions.
• Kettlebells train the whole body, both cardio and with resistance so you look good & feel good.
• Kettlebell training can be done at home, or anywhere you have a bit of space and time.  You can fit them around your life and not have to travel travel to the gym.
• Kettlebells can both rehab injuries & develop a more resilient body resistance to training injuries .

Therefore if you are a Mum with a family that wants to lose some of the middle age spread and get back to the physique you had 10-20 years ago but doesn’t have much time to train.

Or perhaps you  are a Dad with a family that wants to lose some of the middle age spread and get back to the physique you had 10-20 years ago but doesn’t have much time to train.

Then what you need is a training tool that can give you maximum results in minimum time, and kettlebells are one of the most efficient & effective types of exercise (along with cross country skiing) you can do, whatever your training goals, as recommended by the American Council of Exercise (ACE).

 Why is kettlebell training more effective than other types of exercise?

• Kettlebells train the body as a whole unit, the upper body, lower body & core together, how it is designed to be used.
• Kettlebells train the fast twitch muscle fibers with medium /high reps, especially the thighs & butt,  so you tone up without bulking up
• Kettlebell interval training maximises EPOC (excess post-exercise oxygen consumption) thereby keeping your metabolism raised and burning calories long after you have stopped exercising.
• Kettlebell slow low rep strength exercises focus on he core, building a foundation of functional strength for everyday activities.

Click to expand for more Information on why kettlebells are so effective

Why should we buy your kettlebells?

• Our kettlebells are the best quality you can buy in NZ and have been tested and approved by a qualified kettlebell instructor.
• Cheaper poorly designed kettlebells make doing kettlebell exercises difficult and can damage the hands and wrists.
• We provide a free downloadable Kettlebell Quick Start Guide along with our kettlebell (with an optional kettlebell training DVD) so you can learn how to use your kettlebell correctly without injuring yourself so you can get the fastest results in the least time.

Click to expand for more Information on reasons why you should buy our kettlebells

 Kettlebells seem ideal for me but what size should I get?

•  An average size and strength female should start with a 8kg kettlebell
• A stronger / bigger than average female could start with a 12kg kettlebell in some circumstances
• An average size and strength man should start with a 16kg kettlebell
• A stronger / bigger than average man could start with a 20kg kettlebell in some circumstances
• Only strong athletes should start with a 24kg kettlebell and this will be too heavy for most

The 8kg kettlebell is ideal for the average Female

Click to go to 8kg Kettlebell Page

Use Coupon  NZFITNESS to get a 20% discount

Click to expand for more Information on Choosing the correct size kettlebell for Female trainees

The 16kg kettlebell is ideal for the average Male

Click to go to 16kg Kettlebell Page

Use Coupon  NZFITNESS to get a 20% discount

Click to expand for more Information on Choosing the correct size kettlebell for Male trainees

Please follow this link to our shop for all our other sizes, kettlebell sets and products

Please note the downloadable Kettlebell Quick Start Guide will be emailed once your order has been process

For further information on our kettlebells & other products click this link

For a complete list of FAQs please click this link

If you have any other questions please click this link

KBNZ was foundered  in 2005 when I (Mike) discovered Russian kettlebells and started using them to help with his power lifting training.  I like a lot of Kiwi’s have always been active, played sports and went to the gym from when I was 17.  However, due to other commitments gym training and power lifitng took a back seat but I continued to use kettlebells because they are ideal for the home trainer who is too busy to train at a gym.

When KBNZ was started it became clear that there was limited, if any decent kettlebell trainers who can help people train with kettlebells.  More and more people were asking me how to use these kettlebells.  So in 2007  I increased my training intensity and  decided to attend Dragondoor’s Russian Kettlebell Challenge (RKC) Kettlebell Instructors course in the United States, becoming the 5th New Zealander to successfully pass this three day intensive kettlebell course under Chief Instructor Pavel Tsatsouline.  Pavel is an ex Russian Forces trainer and kettlebell expert who basically reintroduced kettlebells to the West in 2001 with Dagondoor owner John Ducane.

The RKC instructors course is the leading kettlebell instructor course.  It is not a classroom course and is very practical,  involving you spending most of the day using and learning kettlebell techniques under the watchful eye of your Team Leader, Assistants and the Senior & Master RKC’s.  Along with a strict focus on learning and teaching correct kettlebell technique, there is also a kettlebell snatch test that you must pass to become a RKC kettlebell instructor. To pass the RKC instructor test I had to snatch the 24kg kettlebell 73 times continuously with only one hand swap allowed.  When I re-certified in 2010 the test had changed and although you could swap hands as many times as you liked, and even put the kettlebell down on the ground (not recommended), you had to now snatch the  24kg kettlebell 100 times in 5 minutes.

After reading about the RKC course most people presume I am a full time personal trainer.  However, I am not a 20 something full time fitness trainer with plenty of time to devote to training and nothing much else.  Although a long time ago I worked full time in the fitness industry I actually have a full time office job.  I also have a family and three kids, I coach sports teams, I am on my kids school Board and am now 40 years old.  So I have the same issues as a lot of people in trying to find time to train and fit it in with my busy life.  However, I continue to use and promote kettlebells because I think they are the most efficient form of training and are ideal for busy people who don’t have  a lot of time to train but want to maximise their training in the minimal amount of time.  But don’t just take my work for it as The American Council of Exercise (ACE) did a recent study and confirmed kettlebells are the most efficient training method (with cross country skiing)

Kettlebells NZ (“KBNZ”) was foundered early in 2005 by Mike & Jenni Capper.  Back in 2005 almost nobody had heard of kettlebells, especially in New Zealand, and KBNZ basically arose out of Mike’s desire to improve his own training for powerlifting as he had competed in a few local and regional competitions.  After much research on how to make these strange cast iron kettlebells, at first for himself, it became clear that other New Zealanders may also be interested in these strange pieces of training equipment so KBNZ began selling the odd kettlebell through a website, basically to help cover manufacturing costs.

KBNZ has since gone through many different kettlebell designs, always looking to improve its product.  Whereas other sports companies have come onto the kettlebell scene they don’t have KBNZ specialised knowledge and the benefit of Mike’s kettlebell raining qualifications so the result is that New Zealand now has a lot of cheaper inferior kettlebells that are difficult to use and ultimately result in poor training and less than optimal workouts.

When KBNZ started its mission was to promote and sell only the best quality kettlebells and other products that allow trainees to have the best workouts possible.  Whereas our competitors cut corners to make more money you can rest assured that since we ourselves use kettlebells we will only sell quality products that we are happy to train with ourselves.

1. Drink 16oz of quality water first thing in the morning and then wait at least 15 minutes before eating your first meal. This will get your system recharged and moving again.
2. Focus on eating high quality foods throughout the day in snack size portions, rather than 2-3 large meals. You will speed up your metabolism by spreading your snacks/meals throughout the day. Eating a large meal during the day can easily zap your energy and cause you to lose focus.
3. Always keep a piece of fruit, such as an organic apple or pear, and raw almonds or walnuts with you. It’s very easy to be running errands and all of a sudden realize your blood sugar is low. Keeping this type of healthy snack with you will save you from indulging in all the unhealthy temptations that surround us everyday.

If you are not eating what your body truly needs, then you could really be slowing down your fat loss. Healthy nutrition counts for at least 75 percent when it comes to sculpting and toning your body. I am not a believer in calorie counting. All calories are different and some burn faster than others. Basing a “diet” only on calories will not be effective in keeping your hard earned lean muscles and shedding the fat. With a sudden low calorie diet you will initially lose some weight and slow your metabolism down, but you will end up gaining more weight back in the long run. If you concentrate on the quality of your food your body will know what to do with it.

The second element to fat loss is just the right amount of interval work. When working with kettlebells it can be challenging to set up your own workout. Some people are so accustomed to thinking that they can only achieve fat loss with long winded and boring cardio sessions. When in reality, the people with the sculpted bodies, such as boxers, martial artists, and many kettlebell gurus, are doing intense intervals in different segments. The best way to burn fat while increasing your lean muscle mass is to combine good nutrition with a training program that will keep you motivated. The beauty of incorporating kettlebell training is that it’s quick, efficient, and fun. There are many people who really have a hard time sticking to a strict training program. Lots of people want to increase their overall strength, lose fat, increase cardio power and have more energy without dreading the planned workout. If you are one of those people who don’t have a whole lot of time and just want the thinking done for you, check out a few of the workouts below.

These simple workouts can be done in less than 30 minutes and all you need is a timer and at least one kettlebell. Make sure you are working to your potential. Don’t be afraid to go heavy since the longest you will be working at one time is for 30 seconds. Proper form is imperative so don’t be stupid!

The Ultimate Double Fat Burner ?

Workout 1

Set your timer for 30 seconds of work to 30 seconds of rest. Go through each exercise and repeat for a total of 3 -5 rounds.

Double Swings Burpees Double Squat Press Double High Pulls Double Snatches The Sculptor ?

Workout 2

A. One Arm Rows Left 30 sec One Arm Rows Right 30 sec Kettlebell Swings 60 sec Rest 30 and repeat for 2 rounds

B. Back Lunge (Right Leg, Holding Kettlebell) 30 sec Back Lunge (Left Leg, holding kettlebell) 30 sec Alternating Swings 60 sec Rest 30 sec Repeat for 2 rounds

C. Plank 60 sec Pullover to crunch 60 sec Russian Twists 30 sec Keep in mind the perfect workout does not last forever.

What might work for you right now will probably not work for you in 6 weeks since your body and mind are always adapting. It’s important to keep challenging your body by changing the weights you use as well as the intensity, duration, rest periods, sets, and exercises. If you have fun with your workouts, train smart and focus on high quality foods, your body will ultimately be the fat burning machine you want it to be!

The 8kg kettlebell is the ideal starter kettlebell for an average female to start with. The 8kg It is heavy enough to provide suitable resistance to tone & reshape muscles as well as provide a strong cardio endurance element to burn calories and raise your metabolism.

Throughout my years with the kettlebell (I was introduced to it in late 2003) I have accumulated close to one million ballistic repetitions and around 300.000 presses in my quest to conquer the kettlebell. That is a lot in a relative short amount of time. So why am I telling you this? Well, one popular model used to describe motor learning suggests three different stages in the development and acquisition of a skill set. The model suggests that in order to become autonomous in any skill you need several hundred thousand repetitions under your belt and the very elite athletes, those competing at national and international levels, have done millions. All these repetitions serve a purpose. Practice with thorough evaluation of all aspects of each repetition and then choosing what single thing to improve in the next repetition is what makes a great athlete. That was exactly what I wanted with the presses, pullups, pistols and snatches- I wanted to be better than good. I wanted to be among the elite. If I succeeded or not I will let you decide, but I did manage to press two 32kg bells in one hand and press the beast 11 times on my left and 10 on my right. While that is not equivalent of pressing the Inch dumbbell it is still pretty good for a guy who is 6’4” and as Pavel says; “has a wingspan of a 747“. Perfecting the Press! Outlines the various methods I utilized to get there along with a scientific rationale of why they work. Perfecting the Press! also contains one of my approaches to monitoring fatigue while fitting in this much overlooked parameter with Intensity, density and volume.

At this point I should give you a training tip to really boost your pressing abilities but instead I will give you a tip that will boost EVERYTHING you do, be it pressing, squatting, deadlifting- you name it! Get a coach. Get a coach that can provide you feedback on what you do. A coach that will specifically take the skill you are working on apart and provide constructive feedback on each and every little segment of the movement you are practicing. Right now you might be thinking: ” Is that supposed to be the big training tip? Of course! Everybody knows that…….blah blah blah…” Well, how many of you are actually doing it? How many of you are actually spending money on proper coaching? Not just occasional coaching but ongoing frequent and structured coaching? My guess is that it is not the majority of you and that is OK. Just remember that if you want to be way above average you have to have a coach. The best athletes in the world have coaches so why shouldn’t you?

Oh yeah, one more thing: If you are wondering if the program template outlined in Perfecting the Press! will work for pullups and pistols as well I can tell you that I utilized the exact same template to get me to a double Beast dead hang pullup and and 64kg pistol.

Please take the time to review Perfecting the Press! on DragonDoor.com – whether you like it or not, I am a firm believer that we all need feedback to get better, and getting feedback from you will help me get better as well.

Finally, remember to enjoy movement because life happens in motion!

Kenneth Jay, author of Perfecting the Press! has worked with elite-level athletes since 2000, including world champions and Para-Olympic and Olympic medalists in wrestling and swimming. In addition to working as a strength and conditioning coach to elite-level athletes, Kenneth currently does research at the University of Copenhagen and the Danish National Research Centre for the Working Environment and is working toward his PhD in neuro-science. He is the author of the first university experiment done in the Western world on kettlebell training and cardiorespiratory physiology. That experiment served as the basis for his first book, Viking Warrior Conditioning. A former Master RKC, Kenneth is now, along with his studies, a Z-Health Master Trainer candidate.

KJ Movement Coaching
www.KennethJay.dk
email@KennethJay.dk

If you have decided to focus on improving your kettlebell press to develop your upper body strength & size then you are going to need the right tools.

This 16kg, 24kg & 32kg  kettlebell set has  a kettlebell for every pressing situation.  The 16kg can be used as a warm up or for those high volume lighter days and the 32kg is when you are pressing closer to you max.  For other combinations of kettlebells please check out all our sizes & sets here at the kettlebell shop

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If you’ve never heard of “complexes” before, the basic concept is that instead of repeating the same exercise for multiple reps to complete a “set”, you sequence one rep of several different exercises right after one another and repeat the sequence several times to complete a “set”. This type of training is excellent to work a huge amount of musculature in a short amount of time, and definitely takes your workouts to a whole new level of intensity. The conditioning aspect of this type of training is amazing, as you’ll find yourself huffing and puffing after repeating a sequence a mere two or three times. If I had to venture a guess, I’d have to say that this type of training probably elicits a good growth hormone response as well, due to the large amount of full body work completed in a given time period. But that’s just my guess.

I like to incorporate about 5 exercises into my complexes. Any more than that and you might start to forget what’s next in the sequence. Here’s an example of a killer barbell complex that really gets me fired up:

Use a weight that you can still handle for your weakest lift of the bunch, but keep it heavy enough to challenge you. Try to repeat the sequence 2-3 times without resting. That’s 1 set. You could progress over time on this routine by increasing the amount of times you repeat the sequence in each set, or by adding sets on subsequent workouts before eventually increasing the weight. For example, say you completed the above complex with 155-lbs for 3 sequences per set for 3 sets in today’s workout. Next time you perform the workout, try to do 155 lbs for 3 sequences per set for 4 sets. Once you successfully complete 5 sets with 155, increase the weight 5 or 10 lbs next time, and drop back to 3 sets. This is a great way to make improvements over time, while cycling your training volume.

Now here’s a kettlebell complex that really kicks my butt:

As with the barbell complex, repeat the sequence (without rest) 2-3 times with each arm. That’s one set?and one hell of a killer set at that! Try increasing from 3 to 4 to 5 sets on subsequent workouts with a given weight before increasing your sequence reps. If you’re not drenched in sweat with your heart beating out of your chest after that complex, you either went too light, or you are a mutant freak!

I think a great strategy is to alternate barbell complexes on one day with kettlebell complexes on alternative training days. For example, you could do barbell complexes Monday, kettlebell complexes Wednesday, and back to barbell on Friday. Maybe hit some sprints and bodyweight drills on Saturday; then Monday would be kettlebell complexes, Wednesday would be barbells again, and Friday kettlebells. Give this program a try for a month or so (if you dare), and you will be one hardened individual!

Author bio:
Mike Geary is a nationally dual certified personal trainer, author of the book “The Truth about Six Pack Abs”, and founder of http://truthaboutabs.com. Visit his website to receive several free bonuses including four of his secret hard body workout routines.

If you are ready to experience conditioning at a new level with kettlebell complexes then start with New Zealand’s best quality kettlebells.

Back

In 2006 after successfully losing 120lbs the previous year, I earned my RKC at the age of 42. It was training the Hardstyle Kettlebell Swing that helped me lose the weight and develop the conditioning to endure the RKC’s three days of intense physical training. Although both of those accomplishments are impressive, even more miraculous was how training the Hardstyle Swing brought out my inner athlete, transforming my body and helped erase the signs of former obesity!

I’ve been lucky to have the opportunity to watch and assist my husband, Master RKC Mark Reifkind, at numerous kettlebell certification workshops for 5 years. It was while assisting at HKC’s that I designed a “workout” for these potential instructors as an example of how to use the numerous exercise drills to help reinforce proper swing technique. What started out as my way of “teaching teachers,” became the best teaching tool in my own business as an RKC — to teach new students the swing!

In the first workout I lead in the DVD, you will quickly see, and feel, that practicing the drills that lead up to the actual kettlebell swing are a workout in themselves. I often take the students in my more advanced classes back through these exercise drills for that exact reason! Whether you are picking up a kettlebell for the very first time, been swinging for a while, or are an Instructor, I’m betting that you will find this first workout will be challenging and fun!

The second workout I put your new skill, or your reinforced skill, the Hardstyle Swing, to the test! You learn how you can use one exercise (the swing) as a complete workout….and I do mean complete! Combining a strong cardio endurance element with muscular strength and development, the Hardstyle Swing is your one stop training tool. No other exercise burns more calories per minute with the exception of uphill cross-country skiing! No wonder the Hardstyle Swing is so physically transformative!

For a Quick 20 minute workout try doing 100 swing reps three different ways:

1. 10 sets of 10 swing reps. 15 sec work, 15 sec rest intervals. (15/15)

2. 5 sets of 20 swing reps. 30 sec work, 30 sec rest intervals. (30/30)

3. 1 set of 10 swing reps, 1 set of 20 swings, 1 set of 30 swings and 1 set of 40 swings. 15/15, 30/30, 45/45, 1 min/1 min. work to rest intervals.

Which was more difficult? Do that one more time!

The 8kg kettlebell is the ideal starter kettlebell for an average female to start with. The 8kg It is heavy enough to provide suitable resistance to tone & reshape muscles as well as provide a strong cardio endurance element to burn calories and raise your metabolism.

As well as being heavy, which is even more of an issue when they are used for high speed exercises like swings and snatches, the 44kg is big and bulky which is another challenge that dedicated strength athletes will need to overcome.

Strictly pressing a 44kg kettlebell is a tough goal very few people will ever achieve the 44kg is the last step on the way towards pressing the 48kg Beast, a rite of passage for the seriously strong.  However, if pressing the 44kg is at the moment a bit beyond the trainer, the 44kg  can be used for other exercises like two arm swings, farmers walks, deadlifts or goblet squats by serious trainers who may typically use a 32kg or 36kg  for most of their training.

The core strength and grip strength developed from using the 44kg for double hand swings and other strength type  exercises will typically carry over to your other kettlebell work and often result in Personal bests and with the 32kg and other smaller sized kettlebells and will help in building your pressing numbers with the 40kg.

So although you may never press the 44kg kettlebell it is a very useful tool for the serious kettlebell trainer to develop a base of strength that will benefit your other kettlebell training and and fitness goals.

[add_to_cart item="44kb" ]