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Kettlebell History

The kettlebell exploded into popularity in the middle of the twenty-first century when former Soviet Special Forces instructor, Pavel Tsatsouline, moved from Belarus to the United States soon after the Berlin wall collapsed. Kettlebells are essentially a weight with a handle attached, and several cultures have had similar tools with different names. Everyone from the Shaolin monks of China to the philosophers of ancient Greece have had some variation of the weighted instrument, and names range from “ring-handled weight” to “stone padlock.” Even Benjamin Franklin credited his good health in 1786 to “using daily the dumb bell.” But fitness historiographers are stumped as to the actual origin of the mysterious piece of equipment.

How did kettlebells become so popular?

The history of the kettlebell is heavily debated amongst physical fitness experts, but their popularity is unquestionable. Modern popularity goes back to Russia, where the device is known as giro or girya, and first appears in Russian dictionaries from 1704. The term is thought to have originated from the Persian word gerani, which means “difficult” and from the Slavic word for “bubble,” gur.

Russian Legacy

Some people believe that farmers in Russia would use kettlebells as counterweights for their grain, measuring the product before it was sent to market. Farmers eventually began including the weights in their festival activities, and they were used in competition. Athletic farmers would line up to display their strength by hurling the weights as far as they could, and endurance was a factor as several rounds would continue.

Around 1800, a Russian physician by the name of Vladislav Krayevsky noticed the potential for kettlebells to be used in sports-medicine. This doctor happened to be the personal medical professional for the Russian Czar at the time, and his recommendation for kettlebell exercises was introduced to the army that beat Napoleon Bonaparte. As more Russians trained with the new weights, the activity later became a national sport, but others in Europe were using kettlebells too.

Alternative Origins

The Turners System of Gymnastics is highly regarded as the hallmark of physical education in the West, and the program used kettlebells for exercises dating back to eighteenth-century Germany. Turners System is considered to be similar to modern day CrossFit, an intense workout program that uses constantly varied, “functional movements” to develop endurance and physique. The diaries and diagrams from the time period show evidence that Germans were the first—or among the first—to use the kettlebell for physical fitness and to develop strength. Certainly, their culture is one that has well-documented information, and several journals, diaries, and articles from that time have been preserved.

Experts agree that Dr. Krayevsky could have possibly obtained information about the kettlebell when he visited Vienna in 1898 for a presentation of strongmen. The late 1800s were dominated by globalist ambitions for international travel and resulted in foreign cultures influencing one another. It is hypothesized that Dr. Krayevsky was inspired to use kettlebells in his medical practice after meeting the progressive German mentor, Theodore Siebert, who relied heavily on kettlebell swings in his physical training programs. Perhaps after witnessing an impressive display at the international gathering, the czar’s personal doctor thought it would be beneficial to take the new information back to Russia. Dr. Krayevsky wrote a book about kettle weights just two years after this event.

Ancient Greeks are not the ones

Although there is speculation that ancient Greece played a pivotal role in developing the first kettlebell, experts argue that the Greek device, while resembling a weight with a handle, failed to develop into what is considered a kettlebell today. The culture romanticized human physique, and weight training was an important part of their physical regiment. Although ancient China had developed ishi sashi, made of stone, and ancient India used wooden clubs to train, it was the ancient Greeks who developed the precursor to the modern handheld weight.

In the second century, a Greek geographer named Pausanius described exercise weights as “half of a circle, not an exact circle but elliptical, and made so that the fingers pass through as they do through the handle of a shield.” They were referred to as “halteres,” but varied greatly in their designs, with the only common factor being some sort of weighted apparatus. Romans adopted weight training from the Greeks, and soldiers are documented having used weights similar to kettlebells to prepare for war.

The missing era

Researchers are puzzled by the lack of kettlebell training in the 40’s and 50’s and do not understand why the weights suddenly disappeared from American gyms by the late twentieth century. Strongmen had career opportunities with traveling circuses, and would often journey to the United States, exposing the country to kettlebell workouts. A New York Herald report from 1912 recounts the performance of a sixty-seven-year-old German strongman, who went by the name Attila, who lifted an eighty-five-pound weight with his teeth and held two seventy-five pound kettlebells above his head. By the end of the second World War, kettlebells had disappeared from American fitness culture.

The era was ripe with controversy, and sentiments towards Russia after World War II were quite cold. Some experts theorize that anti-Russian sentiments created a distaste for the handled weights. Patriotism was strong, and Americans wanted to develop their own system of weights to use for physical training.

Joe Weider and Bob Hoffman were two of the world’s best known American physical trainers at the time, and neither one of their programs incorporated kettlebells. Perhaps their workout rivalry spurred a new trend in the U.S. that focused on other exercises without kettlebells, or perhaps the trend ran its course and died. But in Russia, kettlebells were dominating the scene.

During the middle of the twentieth century, competitions featuring kettlebells exploded. The first Russian czar had been a big fan of kettlebells, and the Russian army continued using them for strength training. Historians believe this was when lifting kettlebells became a sport for the masses.

The German sociologist, Norbert Elias, is credited with defining sports as cultural concepts for a modern time, used as commercial spectacles, and must be formally regulated by public institutions. In 1948, the United Soviet Socialist Republic rejected an invitation to the Summer Olympics hosted by Great Britain and proclaimed the sport of kettlebell lifting as their national competition. The Soviets held a national contest with two big events. One event was called the “long jerk” which involved a clean and a jerk, using two weights, and the other was a “biathlon” where athletes would perform a series of jerks with two kettlebells, and then a set of snatches. Athletes needed to lift the heavy weights in repetition over 200 times to be declared the winner.

From the 1950s through the 70s, kettlebell training was mandated throughout the Soviet Union, and became the “working man’s sport.” The equipment was relatively cheap, and there was no need for large amounts of space to hold competitions. In 1985, the sport became standardized across the Soviet Union with official rules, weights, dimensions, and workouts. Soviet authorities believed that mandatory kettlebell exercises would create a healthier population, and ultimately, serve the purpose of having more efficient workers with fewer health issues.

Sport and fitness

The Soviets used kettlebells for sport, but personal fitness is a much different type of physical challenge. Using the weights in competition requires a unique mindset and practice is different than when kettlebells are used for wellness, rehabilitation, and general cardiovascular health. In modern times, kettlebells are now used with a distinct type of motivation and help people get into shape, not display strength.

Pavel Tsatsouline founded his Russian Kettlebell Challenge in 2001, and many fitness experts credit this program with reinvigorating American interest in kettlebells. His marketing strategy proved to be highly successful and helped spread kettlebells as a strength-training tool in gyms across the country. It seems that humans were destined to develop handles on weights, and many isolated groups were using them around the same time. Despite the uncertainty of which culture invented the modern kettlebell, the fitness phenomenon is still flourishing today.

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Massachusetts Hospital Negligence Lawyers

For decades, [firm-name] have been the trusted law firm that injured people in Boston and across Massachusetts have turned to when they need help the most. We have made it our mission to help those who have been harmed by others get the justice that they deserve. If you have been hurt by the negligent, careless, or reckless actions of a medical professional while in a hospital, you do not have to deal with the repercussions alone. We have helped people who have been in your same situation, and we are ready to put our knowledge and experience to work for you.

Our Massachusetts hospital negligence lawyers realize that patients in a hospital are at risk for harm due to negligence. Especially at night or on weekends, or when many different health care providers are involved, communication may be poor or non-existent, test results may be ignored, and changes in a patient’s condition may go unnoticed for long periods of time. Far too many hospitals don’t take the necessary steps to ensure that their patients get the treatment and care they need, potentially leading to serious medical complications.

Our Massachusetts hospital negligence lawyers represent families throughout New England, including Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island. If you or someone you know has suffered an injury or illness as a result of a hospital’s negligence, you may be entitled to seek compensation for your losses. Contact a hospital negligence attorney at [firm-name] by calling [phone-number] for a free consultation about your case.

Do I need an attorney?

If you have been harmed by the negligent actions of hospital staff, you may not know where to turn for help. We trust that we will be taken care of if we ever have to go to the hospital. We expect that doctors, nurses, and other staff members have our best interests in mind and will deliver the highest quality of care possible. When they fail in this duty, we may be forced to endure pain and our injuries may worsen if not treated adequately or immediately. If this happens, you do not have to suffer alone. An experienced hospital negligence attorney may be able to help you take legal action against the hospital to help you recover the fair and just compensation you need to rebuild and move on with your life.

Why Choose [firm-name]?

Major medical complexes have attorneys and insurance companies on their side that may look to diminish or dismiss your valid negligence claim. They will work hard to save themselves money and they will often put up a strong fight against any claims against them. That’s why it is critical that you hire a law firm that has experience with these types of cases and has fought and prevailed on behalf of their clients. This is one of the main reasons why people in Boston and across Massachusetts choose [firm-name] over others. We have the resources you need, including medical professionals on our staff, to ensure that your case is handled correctly and we will work to present the strongest case on your behalf. When you hire us, you get an entire team of professionals who will not rest until justice is served. We treat your case as if it were our own case. That is why so many of your friends and neighbors here in Massachusetts have trusted us to handle their claim.

Consequences of Hospital Negligence

Hospital negligence can occur in a variety of ways and as such, can negatively affect patients in a number of different ways. Some of the most serious potential issues arising from hospital negligence include:

• Lack of attention by senior doctors – Doctors owe it to their patients to pay attention to them and to be there when they are needed most. Failure to promptly diagnose and treat problems can result in a worsened condition or even death.
• Poor communication among medical staff – Medical staff need to make sure that proper communication is upheld at all times. When shifts change, the next staff member must be updated on the patient’s condition, medications given, and things to watch out for.
• Post-surgical infections – Infections must be dealt with immediately, and failure to do so may threaten the health and life of the patient.
• Prescription medication errors – Hospital staff must be very careful with prescription medication. While it can help treat infection or pain, medication, if not properly prescribed or dosed can be deadly.
• Delays in treatment – Any delays in treatment can have devastating effects on the patient. Doctors and staff must not wait if a patient is in need of prompt medical attention.
• Patient confusion – Hospitals are often very busy places, but hospital staff must remain organized and give the proper treatment to the right patients at all times.
• Lost or delayed test results – Lost test results or a delay in processing them can be very dangerous, especially when the patient is waiting to find out about their condition.
• Surgical errors – Simply put, surgical errors should not happen. We expect our surgeons to take care when operating on us, and if they make a mistake, the consequences could be devastating.
• Anesthesia errors – An error with anesthesia is unthinkable. The pain and suffering that a patient may endure, or the deadly consequences of such errors are something that no one should have to deal with.

If you have suffered injury or lost a loved one due to these or other issues while in a hospital, do not despair. We have the experience and track record of success that you need on your side if you wish to seek justice. We have experience holding hospital administrators and staff accountable for negligent treatment of their patients, and we are ready to help you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Negligence on the part of hospital staff can have a devastating effect on patients. People have a reasonable expectation that their doctors, nurses, and other staff members that are attending to them are behaving according to the standards of their profession, and that they are doing all they can to provide the best treatment possible. When this doesn’t happen, you or your loved ones may suffer as a result. Because we always want to keep you informed of your rights and your legal options, we have provided the answers to a few questions that we hear frequently below. If you have a specific question that is not listed here, please don’t hesitate to contact us at [phone-number].

What is hospital negligence, exactly?

If a medical professional who is employed by a hospital fails to provide a reasonable and applicable standard of care to their patient and the patient is harmed as a result, the patient may be able to file a negligence claim. The standard of care is determined by identifying what a reasonable professional in their position would do, and if they would have behaved in the same manner. If they would not, the professional’s actions may be considered to be negligent.

What type of compensation might I be owed?

If you file a negligence suit and prevail, you may be owed the same type of compensation as other types of personal injury claims. This means that you may be able to secure compensation for your medical bills, future medical expenses, disability or disfigurement, loss of the ability to enjoy a normal life, loss of earning capacity, and possible punitive damages for pain and suffering. If you lost a loved one due to the negligence of a doctor or other medical staff, you may be eligible to recover compensation for funeral costs, loss of financial support, and loss of companionship and love that the person would have provided you and your family.

When should I contact a lawyer?

You should contact an attorney as soon as possible if you have been hurt by the negligent actions of a medical professional. Some claims may have a time limit, and the longer you wait, the more difficult it may be to gather evidence to support your case. Don’t wait until it is too late, make sure to contact an experienced attorney as soon as you encounter negligence in the hospital and have suffered harm as a result.

Contact Us

If you or someone you know has been the victim of hospital negligence, you shouldn’t have to pay for the consequences on your own. We have made it our mission to protect injured individuals in Boston and across the state, and our team is standing by to help you. Our track record of success demonstrates our commitment to our clients and our abilities in and out of the courtroom. Don’t trust your case to just anyone. Turn to the team that can help you get them justice you deserve.

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Austin Real Estate Housing Market Forecast

It’s no secret that the Austin housing market has been experiencing a boom like never before, especially for sellers. Similar to past years, 2018 is shaping up to be another record-breaking year thanks to strong demand for homes due to a job and population growth, continual rise in home prices, and a short supply of labor and lots. In fact, according to Dr. James Gaines, Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University’s chief economist, Austin’s growth will be “phenomenal, more than doubling in the next 40 years.” A lot of this comes from the daily influx of people into the city—150 per day— who all need a place to live. But with only a 2.1-month inventory of homes in the Austin area, competition for homes is driving prices up or keeping them high with no end in sight.

What specifically is driving this increase in the number jobs, population (currently 31st largest in the country), and the demand for housing? One reason is the increasing number of technology-related companies moving to Austin over the past decade. The Central Texas area has added on average 27,300 jobs annually over the last decade, and a significant amount of those jobs have been with tech companies like Google, Facebook, Indeed, and HomeAway. And as more people move to Austin to fill these jobs, the demand for housing continues. Housing market expert Eldon Rude spoke at an event sponsored by the Home Builders Associations of Greater Austin at the end of 2017 and said the demand for housing has sent the area’s median home price up 45 percent over the past five years and “despite the significant price increases people are continuing to buy.”

Like clockwork, the Austin housing market sets new records every single year and 2017 was no different. The Austin Board of Realtors reported that the number of pre-owned homes sold and the median sale price of around $300,000 was an all-time high—the seventh year in a row the numbers surpassed the previous year’s. Along with preowned homes, builders started construction on 16,000 new homes in 2017, the highest in over ten years.

“They know that fuel for the market is in the $200,000 to $300,000 price range. As a result, lots and homes are getting smaller, and attached housing is gaining a foothold in the market,”
Vaike O’Grady, Austin regional director for Metrostudy told the Austin American-Statesman

These trends don’t appear to be changing anytime soon, and despite a shortage in supply and increase in demand and prices, 2018 is looking to be more of the same for the Austin and Central Texas area. And while it’s impossible to predict with certainty how the market will behave for the second half of the year, here are a few predictions based on real estate and housing experts.

Home Prices Will Slow but Still Increase

Experts predict Austin will remain a seller’s market which means home prices will continue to rise through the rest of the year. Fortunately, inventory levels are also expected to increase meaning home prices may slow compared with the past five years. This means a four to six percent increase in home prices instead of the eight percent Austinites are used to seeing. And while some experts believe affordability will continue to be a challenge for many potential home buyers whose wages remain stagnant, affordability is still more favorable in Austin than compared with big cities in the rest of the country. For home buyers, this means you’ll have a few more options when shopping compared to years in the past.

Rising Interest Rates

Despite rising home prices and increased competition, one reprieve for many first-time home buyers over the past few years has been lower mortgage interest rates. Experts predict that interest rates may rise moderately (.5 to 1 percent) toward the end of the year, sending first-time home buyers outside the city and into the suburbs. One percent may not sound like a lot, but for every one percent interest rate increase on a 30-year fixed mortgage, you lose 10 percent buying power. This means you’d have to buy a home that is 10 percent less to have the same mortgage payment. Rising interest rates will make it harder for many buyers to qualify for a mortgage, discouraging renters from taking the plunge and also preventing some home buyers interested in purchasing larger, more expensive homes.

Millennials Will Be Primary Buyers

Usually the subject of negative headlines, millennials (born between 1981 and 1996) now make up the largest group of home buyers across the nation, including Austin. With the median resident age currently 32.7 years in Austin, this younger population is a huge driver of the market moving through 2018 and into the future. From house style to proximity to restaurants, parks, nightlife, and other amenities to fit the millennial lifestyle, homes in East Austin, Central Austin and other popular areas of town will continue to be in demand.

Overall, 2018 is still an excellent time for buyers looking to enter the market for the first time. Yes, home prices are rising, and it’s currently a seller’s market, but the prices are rising at a much slower pace than past years meaning the market may start to stabilize. And with the threat of interest rates increasing throughout the year, it may be the right time to take advantage of current rates by purchasing your first home or upgrading to a larger space.

Whatever your goals, you need the help of an experienced and qualified real estate professional to find the perfect home and guide you through the home buying process. At Domain Realty, we go to work every day because we’re passionate about helping Austinites find a house they can call their own. To start your home buying process today, contact the Austin real estate professionals of Domain Realty by calling (512) 872-4211.

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