Since I announced that I’d be putting on an IKFF Sanctioned Kettlebell Competition at The Beast of the East Fitness Expo here in Connecticut in October 2011, I’ve had a lot of questions about just what exactly a “Kettlebell Competition” is. So, I put this little primer together just to give my friends who have been asking a little something to help them along. The competition itself is The IKFF East Coast Kettlebell Beast and you can follow that link to read more about it and register.
Carrie swinging a kettlbell at CrossFit Relentless
I’m also putting this out there for those who have decided NOT to compete in The Beast of the East, but still want to get some competition experience. Here’s why: there’s just over two months now until The Beast. If you’re a CrossFitter and you chose one or two kettlebell events to enter, you could keep doing your regular CrossFit training and add in kettlebell technique work and a few longer sets to prep for the competition. Knowing what the event is going to be TWO MONTHS OUT is a big advantage for those with “competition jitters” that are particularly intense when faced with the “Unknown and Unknowable” aspect of CrossFit-style competition. This gives you TWO MONTHS to train one or two movements knowing EXACTLY what’s expected on competition day. Yeah, it’s still going to be HARD – but at least you know what you’re getting into ahead of time 
How a Kettlebell Competition works…
Kettlebell Competition is done on a 10 minute time limit. Basically, each event is a 10 Minute AMRAP (where AMRAP = As Many Reps As Possible). If you’re doing Kettlebell Clean and Jerk (Also called “Long Cycle”), you choose your Kettlebell Weight (Men use one bell in each hand, women use only a single bell with ONE hand switch allowed in 10 minutes.) and you do max reps of Clean and Jerk in the 10 minute time limit without putting the Kettlebell or Kettlebells down. If you can’t finish the full 10 minutes, you terminate your set when you have to by putting the Kettlebells down.
Here’s Ken Blackburn, IKFF Director of Operations, doing a shorter set of Kettlebell Clean and Jerk (Long Cycle):
And here’s my friend Sincere Hogan from NewWarriorTraining.com doing a 10 minute set of Long Cycle in competition:
Another Kettlebell Event is the Snatch. Here’s a vid of Sally from New Warrior Training doing a 10 minute snatch set at The IKFF Nationals Kettebell Competition last year in 2010:
And, there will be some other crazy stuff…
Because Merle and Glenn from CrossFit Relentless and CrossFit 033 are involved in this whole thing, we also decided to add in some other wacky events. These will NOT be IKFF sanctioned but WILL be a lot of fun! Currently, we have a Kettlebell Turkish Get Up for One Rep Max Weight competition scheduled. There will also likely be some other stuff thrown in as well.
Here’s my friend Jason Marshall, RKC doing a Turkish Get Up with a 48kg (106lbs) Kettlebell and some other classic lifts:
And here’s Steve Cotter doing some INSANE stuff with some Kettlebells:
That’s it for now. Drop me an email if you have questions and GET YOURSELF REGISTERED for The Kettlebell Beast!
ttys
Adam
About Adam
in your primer or description one thing that is not mentioned is technique. One must lift the bell according to “the rules” in order for the rep to count. Timing of knee dip, lock out and fixation are all a huge part of the sport. It is not a matter of simply getting the bell “up there” it is a matter of getting it up there with the proper form. Judges should give no counts for improper form.
fixation is when the bell is overhead and completely still – not wobbling or shaking – fixed. The count should only be given once this occurs and not before.
These details are just that details but they are also what sets competitors apart.
Thanks for the addition, Heidi. Good points!
Adam
I want to host a kettle bell competition at my recreation facility. I have a couple of questions…..do the competitors get to choose which weight he or she lifts in each competition as long as they use either a 12kg, 16kg, 24kg, or 32kg keetlebell? Does the referees have to be certified to judge a competition and what will count as an improper lift?
Melanie,
Depending on the sanctioning body, the competitor usually chooses their own weight. Best idea is to figure out who you want to sanction it and have them help you with rules and logistics. IKFF is the federation I’m associated with. http://ikff.net
Adam