Russian Pavel Tsatsouline's Unique Perspective on Muscle Building, Strength and Kettlebell Training.

Pavel Tsatsouline is a former Soviet Special Forces physical-training instructor, currently an SME (subject matter expert) for the United States Marine Corps, the National Nuclear Security Administration/U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Secret Service. Pavel brought to the U.S. a traditional Russian training method that historically produced some of the toughest and strongest men on earth. He makes his 'low-tech/high-concept' fitness programs available to civilians through his best-selling books that include Power to the People! and The Russian Kettlebell Challenge (Dragon Door Publications, dragondoor.com). Pavel's approach, in particular his kettlebell training, has been considered by many sports and strength experts to be brutal and effective.

The following discussion presents ideas that may be controversial or even revolutionary. Nevertheless, bodybuilders who are looking for alternative training methods to help break plateaus or gain strength will most likely find this information quite intriguing and useful.

OH: What is a kettlebell?

PT: A kettlebell is a cannonball with a handle. It's an extreme hand-held gym. Kettlebell training is like saying: 'I'm sick of your metrosexual gyms! I'm a man, and I'll train like a man!' Lifting a kettlebell is liberating, and it's as aggressive as broadsword play. It's a manifestation of your warrior instinct.

Traditionally, guys name their kettlebells the way warriors used to name their weapons. They paint them with their unit's coat of arms. They get tattoos of kettlebells. The Russian kettlebell is the Harley-Davidson of weights. ...

View Bodybuilding Success Blueprint: The Red Zone

The Red Zone: Pavel Tsatsouline's kettlebell training.

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Iron Man magazine was founded in 1936 by Peary and Mabel Rader of Alliance, Nebraska. Their first print run of 50 copies was done via a duplicating machine which sat on their dining room table.

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In the early 50s, Iron Man magazine was the first weight-training publication to show women working out with weights as part of their overall fitness regimen. It even went so far as to show a pregnant woman training with weights and educating readers on the benefits of exercise during pregnancy— thoroughly modern concepts 25 years ahead of its time.

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By the early 80s, the Raders—now in their 70s—had spent nearly 50 years working incredibly long hours to put out a bimonthly publication. The hard work was beginning to take its toll.

I had been interested in Iron Man since the mid-70s as a business and had in fact talked several times with the Raders about purchasing Iron Man. Eventually, my dream of owning and publishing a bodybuilding magazine was realized and in August 1986, Iron Man magazine changed owners after 50 years. At that time, Iron Man had no foreign editions, published bimonthly and averaged 96 black-and-white pages except for a color cover.

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