Glossary

Below you will find a glossary of kettlebell terms.
(If you think something should be added please leave a comment)

A

AOS
Art of Strength Kettlebell Foundation. Amongst other things they have kettlebell certification and instructor training programs.

C

CKT
Certified Kettlebell Teacher. The kettlebell certification name issued to instructors who have qualified with IKFF’s training program.

Clean
A one arm lift raising the kettlebell from the floor by driving it up with the hips, bringing it straight up in the air, tucking the elbow in and letting the kettlebell flip over your wrist.

D

Dragon Door
Amongst other things they have kettlebell certification and instructor training programs.

G

Gireviks
The old Russian term for a man who lifted kettlebells. It means ‘a kettlebell man’.

Girevoy
The official kettlebell competitions are called Girevoy Sport Competitions

Girya
The Russian word for kettlebell.

I

IKFF
The International Kettlebell and Fitness Foundation. Amongst other things they have kettlebell certification and instructor training programs.

J

Jerk
A competition lift, like the kettlebell snatch, this lift culminates with the weight overhead at arms’ length.

K

KBC
Kettlebell Concepts. Amongst other things they have kettlebell certification and instructor training programs.

N

NAKF
North American Kettlebell Federation.

P

Pavel Tsatsouline
A fitness author and strength and flexibility coach who used to be a trainer for not only the United States armed forces but the Soviet Union forces as well. Considered largely responsible for helping the kettlebell become a popular exercise tool in the USA.

Pood
A Russian word used in reference to sports weights, such as traditional Russian kettlebell. A pood is approximately 16 kilograms or 36 pounds.

Power Clean Squat Thrust
A complicated lift that requires first a lifting the kettlebell to about chest height, then squatting, and then finally thrusting the kettlebell to above the head.

R

RKC
Certified Russian Kettlebell Instructor (RKC). The kettlebell certification name issued to instructors who have qualified with Dragon Door’s training program.

S

Snatch
Similar to a traditional snatch, the weight moves from a lower position to over the head with the arm extended.

Swing
This conditioning movemement is performed either one-handed or two-handed. The kettlebell swings at arm’s length from between the legs to approximately head-level, with the legs, hips, and lower back providing the motive force. The arms should barely even move except to hold on to the kettlebell.