Kettlebell Sport lifting (Russian: гиревой спорт, girevoy sport, GS) a.k.a. Girya is a repetitive weight lifting sport performed with kettlebells in a given period of time.[1]
Competitive kettlebell lifting has a long history in Russia and Eastern Europe, but developed as an organised, standard sport under the name kettlebell lifting during the 1960s.[2]
The sport consists of three main lifts: the snatch, jerk and the long cycle.[3][4][5] Jerk and Long Cycle can be performed with one bell or two kettlebells of equal weight.
Classic competition format is usually composed of two to three categories; biathlon, long cycle and snatch. The lifter is given ten minutes for each event to perform as many repetitions as possible. They include:
Competition kettlebell colours are 8 kg (Pink), 12 kg (Blue), 16 kg (Yellow), 20 kg (Purple), 24 kg (Green), 28 kg (Orange), 32 kg (Red).[12] Traditional competitions require the male lifter to use 1-pood (16 kg), 1.5-pood (24 kg), and 2-pood (32 kg) competition kettlebells of similar size with identifying colours.[13][14] Some competitive federations allow 8 kg, 12 kg, 16 kg, 20 kg & 24 kg for women and 16 kg, 20 kg, 24 kg, 28 kg, 32 kg, 40 kg for men.
There are two main international sanctioning bodies: the International Union of Kettlebell Lifting (IUKL) based in Riga, Latvia[21] and the World Kettlebell Sport Federation (WKSF) based in Nosate, Italy which formed in 2017.[22][23] The All-Russia Kettlebell Lifting Federation (Всероссийская федерация гиревого спорта) is a member of the International Union of Kettlebell Lifting (IUKL). A third International organisation exists, the International Girya Sport Federation (IGSF), founded in Lipetsk, Russia but currently based in Ukraine.[24] In 2006, Valery Fedorenko, a former world champion from Kyrgyzstan founded the World Kettlebell Club in the United States (WKC).[25] In 2012, The American Kettlebell Alliance (AKA) was founded to further develop and popularize kettlebell sport in the Americas.[26]
International Kettlebell Lifting Union (IUKL) is leading organisation that is recoganised by AIMS – Alliance of Independent Recognized Members of Sports,[27] also have Observer status from top multi sport organisation Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF). [28]
International Kettlebell Lifting Union (IUKL) is World Anti Doping Agency - WADA signatory. [29]
The International Kettlebell Marathon Federation (IKMF) is main organisation for marathon kettlebell lifting and also for Kettlebell Pentathlon.[30] The IKMF hosts competitions using the traditional lifts in a marathon format (One arm—jerk, snatch, half snatch, long cycle. Two arm-jerk, long cycle, half snatch) for 30 minute and 60 minute sets. "Ultra-marathons" are 2+hours. Lifters can multi-switch arms for one bell lifts. If the bell/bells are set down before the time limit NONE of the reps count.
There are organizations, besides federations, which promote sport of kettlebell lifting, educate and license coaches and determine conditions for titles of mastery in sport of kettlebell lifting; more notable ones are: IKO[31] KetAcademy, International Kettlebell and Fitness Federation, World Kettlebell Club, Girevoy Sport Union,[32] International Kettlebell Sport & Fitness Academy.
World Association of Kettlebell Sport Clubs (WAKSC) is an association of sport clubs and organizations who practice kettlebell sport as their professional occupation. It also organizes World Championships (individual and team (club affiliation)).
Year | Host City | Country | Events |
---|---|---|---|
2010 | Tampere | Finland | IUKL World Championship 2010 |
2011 | Nanuet | United States | IUKL World Championship 2011 |
2012 | Šiauliai | Lithuania | IUKL World Championship 2011 (with TAFISA world games) |
2013 | Tyumen | Russia | IUKL World Championship 2013 |
2014 | Hamburg | Germany | IUKL World Championship 2014 |
2015 | Dublin | Ireland | IUKL World Championship 2015 |
2016 | Aktobe | Kazakhstan | IUKL World Championship 2016 |
2017 | Seoul | South Korea | IUKL World Championship 2017 |
2018 | Daugavpils | Latvia |
IUKL World Championship 2018 |
2019 | Novi Sad | Serbia |
IUKL World Championship 2019 |
2020 | Saint Petersburg | Russia |
IUKL World Championship 2020 |
2021 | Budapest | Hungary |
IUKL World Championship 2021 |
2022 | New Delhi | India |
IUKL World Championship 2022 |
2023 | Khiva | Uzbekistan |
IUKL World Championship 2023 |
2023 | Daugavpils | Latvia |
IUKL World Championship 2023 |
Year | Host City | Country | Events |
---|---|---|---|
2018 | Milan | Italy | WKSF World Championship 2018 |
2019 | Gormanston | Ireland | WKSF World Championship 2019 |
2020 | |||
2021 | Milan | Italy | WKSF World Championship 2021 |
2022 | Maia | Portugal | WKSF World Championship 2022 |
2023 | Hódmezővásárhely | Hungary | WKSF World Championship 2023 |