There’s so much to say about kettlebells that those who look up insider sites or pick up a training magazine from the news stand will see a nearly endless trail of reviews and features from trainers and coaches about all of what these simple, one-piece free weights can do for a range of athletes, from the Olympians we see on the international stage to athletes in national contact sports like NFL or college football. But there’s even more out there about kettlebells, and some of it doesn’t even have to do with athletes at all.

One of the clues to this is in a quick study of groups that use the kettlebell. We often read that kettlebell use is prevalent in the Soviet Union, and has been for a while, among that nation’s athletes. But we also see that another group of Soviets also trains with kettlebells: its fighters. From conventional law enforcement to special military echelons, we see stories of kettlebells as a tool in workouts for those charged with a range of law enforcement and military duties. And here on the other side of the Atlantic (or Pacific), it’s the same.

So why do law enforcement and military professionals all around the globe work out with kettlebells?
The short answer is that the kettlebell has all of the positive qualities of a dumbbell, and then some: as a free weight, it demands that the body practice moment to moment compensation, which is a great, quick way to amp up overall body response. Think about throwing around a large suitcase, but with all of that weight condensed into a small lead ball!

But that’s not all that kettlebells offer. Because of their design, and the way a user “throws” or “jerks” one of these handled tools, kettlebells do even more for many muscle groups. Some refer to the “stabilizer” muscles, and the way that kettlebell work engages them. Firefighters refer to kettlebells as essential training for the range of physical tasks that they may need to do on a fire sight, with little or no warm up.

Another somewhat unlikely testimonial involved handgun users who work with kettlebells: according to some of the top marksmen out there, kettlebell work helps! Apparently, kettlebell ‘crush curls’ and ‘crush lifts’ can add up to better targeting stability and improved accuracy at any range.

In addition, other army and infantry trainers claim that kettlebells can help prepare a soldier or boot camp trainee for activities like crawling. The list of uses for the kettlebell goes on and on, showing that this is not just a tool loved by sports pros, but by a wide spectrum of trainers, for a wide range of professions and goals. So, don’t think of the kettlebell as some obscure Olympic tool – think of it as the secret to power for the rank and file of armies, police departments and fire companies all across America and the rest of the world.