Recently, one of my clients asked me where the name “dumbbell” came from and I realized I didn’t know! While the terms are generally universally accepted, there is actually a lot of history in the origin of the “bells”: dumbbells, barbells and kettlebells.
These three types of basic strength training equipment were available long before modern weight machines and have a host of advantages to each one. For history buffs that like to work out, you may want to research it further, but here are some basics.
Origin of the term dumbbell, according to dumbbellclub.com:
The use of dumbbells dates all the way back to ancient Greece, where the Greeks used halteres during their long jump competitions. Halteres were not in the shape of the modern dumbbell, though. They were crescent-shaped and had a handle for the jumper to easily grab them. Historians believe athletes used these for more than just jumping. There is evidence the ancient Greeks used them for general exercise to build muscle strength.
Meanwhile, in the middle east, athletes used a nal to strength train. This club-shaped piece of equipment was longer than the modern dumbbell but shorter than a barbell. Middle Eastern and Indian wrestlers, bodybuilders, and athletes used nals to build strength and stamina. The clubs were of different weights so they could be used for calisthenics and weight lifting. British colonists adopted the use of the nal, which they called the Indian Club, and brought the equipment to the west.
While the use of Indian clubs remained popular, a new type of equipment gained popularity in the 1700’s. Joseph Addison, a British poet, wrote about his exercise routine with dumbbells. There were church bells with the clappers removed to silence them. The bells were made “dumb”, hence the name dumbbells. Using dumbbells was a popular exercise in the 18th century, even among our founding fathers. Benjamin Franklin wrote about using dumbbells to maintain his physical fitness and contributed his longevity to using them every day.
Origin of the term barbell, according to barbell-logic.com:
The first versions of barbells appeared around the 1860’s in European gymnasiums, having evolved from the dumbbell design. They came with either fixed weights or fillable globes on the ends of a four- to six-foot bar. Changing weights either meant you had to get another bar or you had to fill the globes with a different material, making progressive loading and varieties in weight cumbersome.
In 1908, Alan Calvert sold the Milo Triplex bar, letting people change the load simply by adding or removing plates to the end of it. Calvert’s invention made strength training more accessible to any person of any level of skill, removing some of the mystique of the strongman performers’ regimens. Strength historian David P. Willoughby called Calvert’s invention “the single greatest impetus ever given to weightlifting in this country.” Today, you can find olympic-style barbells (usually 45 pounds) that can have weight plates added to them, or fixed-weight barbells in either a standard grip or cambered grip.
Finally, a kettlebell is a cast-iron or cast-steel ball with a handle attached to the top (resembling a cannonball with a handle). It is used to perform many types of exercises, including ballistic exercises that combine cardiovascular, strength and flexibility training. A commonly seen exercise is the dynamic “kettlebell swing”. When executed correctly, this exercise is terrific for the strength and functional movement of the posterior muscles of the body.
According to Wickipedia, the Russian “girya” was a type of metal weight, primarily used to weigh crops in the 18th century. The use of such weights by circus strongmen is recorded for the 19th century. (The competition itself is also called Girya.) The birth of competitive kettlebell lifting is dated to 1885, with the founding of the “Circle for Amateur Athletics.” Russian girya are traditionally measured in weight by “pood”, corresponding to 16.38 kilograms or 36.1 pounds. The English term “Kettle bell” has been in use since the early 20th century.
According to the book Kettlebell Training, Second Edition by Steve Cotter, cast-iron kettlebells are primarily used for general training and fitness, and come in different sizes (and often colors) based on the weight of the bell. In kettlebell competitions, the kettlebells are different colors but are made of cast-steel and are all the same size to make it easier for competitors to change from one weight to the next without needing to adjust their grip. In competition, chalk is usually used to allow the kettlebells to move more smoothly in the user’s hands, although chalk is generally banned at many gyms.
I also found it of interest that the shoes worn by competitive lifters have high heels.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this brief lesson on the origin of the BELLS!
Lori Vance
Body Image Fitness, LLC
503-351-6476
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