Kettlebell Rx: The Complete Guide for Athletes and Coaches

by Jeff Martone

In Kettlebell Rx , CrossFit certification instructor and world-renowned kettlebell coach Jeff Martone teaches you how to toughen-up your body, develop unbelievable conditioning and stamina, and acquire a chiseled physique by wielding the ball of iron known as the kettlebell. Drawing on his world-wide research and the thousands of classes he has taught to athletes around the world, Jeff breaks down kettlebell training like never before. He offers hundreds of movements, both beginning and advanced, shows dozens of the most common errors students make while training, and offers numerous workouts for athletes of all varieties. With more than 4,000 step-by-step photographs, descriptive narrative, and detailed programming, Kettlebell Rx is the only complete kettlebell book on the market.

Genres: Fitness, Nonfiction, Health

320 pages, Paperback

First published August 10, 2011

Reviews

[Ian · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you want a "how to book" for kettlebell exercises this is THE BOOK. Jeff Martone is one of the US Kettlebell's Patriarchs, along with Steve Maxwell, Steve Cotter and Anthony Diliuglio. He's been adopted by the Crossfit industry and so some of what he says is to be taken with a grain of salt. That being said he has the most middle of the road introduction/explanation for the contentious "American Swing" vs. "Russian Swing"(or as most of us call it "the swing"). At the end of the day it's just solid explanation and tips. One simple tip really fixed my Turkish Get Up form easily. The section on Kettlebell Sport Lifting was informative but really just a primer no real training program for it or key explaination of the differences between "Hard style" and "soft/sport Style." The books greatest weakness is the programming sections; it's just too simple with little detail. It kinda hints toward a format for training very similiar to Pavel's Enter the Kettlebell which makes sense considering Martone's initial starting out with Pavel and Dragon Door. Martone is an awesome, humble, christian man. I acutally wrote him once...and he wrote me back with some advise and encouragement. We competed in a Sport competition together and it was impressive to watch him work. I would say this was the Starting Strength of Kettlebells if it wasn't for the weak programming sections. this books plus ETK would equal the Starting Strenth of Kettlebells.

[Greg · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a relatively new kettlebell book written by Jeff Martone. If you aren’t familiar with Jeff, he is a well known law enforcement fitness trainer and he designed the kettlebell certification class for CrossFit. I’ve trained with Jeff a couple of times and he really knows his stuff.

Kettlebells are weight lifting implements that look like a cannonball with a handle. They can be used like dumbells, but provide more muscle stimulation because the lifter has to control the swinging and momentum of the kettlebell as well as its weight. Many MMA fighters, soldiers, and law enforcement officers (including the US Secret Service) rely on kettlebells for fitness because they are brutally effective and portable at the same time.

To summarize Jeff’s book, it is the single best kettlebell reference ever written! Jeff has done a masterful job explaining every technique and lift (including an incredible amount of photos), troubleshooting methods, and tips on how to combine the individual exercises to create an entire workout system.

It is refreshing to see a book that simply covers best practices for kettlebell lifting. There is no dogma or “ancient Russian secrets” here, just practical information to get you started or refine your current technique. If you use kettlebells, you need this book!

[Ward · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great reference, very detailed instructions. I am still working on learning and polishing the various movements.

[Kendra Ware · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loaded with great information. Pictures make everything very easy to follow. In addition to step by step instructions on different lifts, there is information on common errors made and drills to do to remedy those errors. If you don't want to, or can't afford sessions with a personal trainer, this book is the next best thing.

[Alan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent coaching resource.

[Ellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars. The book did an excellent job of providing lots of visuals on how to properly do all the basic kettlebell moves, with tips on how to correct wrong moves.