If you've been involved in kettlebell sport for a while, you've probably heard, read, or even said phrases like these: “This sport doesn’t receive support.” “The government isn’t helping.” “Organizations don’t promote it enough.”
And some of that may be true. I won't deny it.
But over the years, through training and competition, I've learned something that completely changes my perspective: kettlebell sport is a profoundly individual sport. And not as an excuse… but as its very essence.
Nobody gives you free repeats here. Nobody lifts you up when fatigue burns your forearms. Nobody gets on stage with you when the "start" button sounds.
It's you. Your technique. Your kettlebells. And all those hours of kettlebell training you decided to do when no one was watching.
The growth of the competitive kettlebell starts with you.
It's easy to look for culprits outside the system: federations, institutions, lack of visibility or support for minority sports. But that energy, properly channeled, can become something much more powerful: personal responsibility and commitment to the community.
If you don't like how the sport is managed, contribute. If you think kettlebell sport needs more exposure, spread the word. If you think it can be done better, do it better from your own small corner.
Share knowledge. Organizes meetings. Support events. It adds up, even if it seems small.
Because the growth of competitive kettlebell training doesn't depend solely on institutions. It depends on the people who practice it every day.
An honest sport that gives back what you invest
The reality is this: nobody owes you anything. And far from being a negative thing, it's one of the greatest freedoms that kettlebell training gives you.
Every mark you achieve is yours. Every technical improvement is yours. Every victory —even if it's just finishing a set without letting go of the weights— is yours.
The kettlebell sport is solitary, yes. But he is also honest. There are no shortcuts. There are no excuses. There are no substitutes.
Just you, the iron… and the truth of your effort.
