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From Russia With Tough Love: Kettlebell Workout for a Femme Fatale

Andrea Du Cane (Actor), D. C. Maxwell (Actor), Pavel Tsatsouline (Director) Rated:
NR
Format: DVD
4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 50 ratings
Genre Exercise & Fitness
Format Color, NTSC
Contributor D. C. Maxwell, Andrea Du Cane, Pavel Tsatsouline
Language English
Runtime 1 hour and 12 minutes

Product details

  • Is Discontinued By Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ No
  • MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ NR (Not Rated)
  • Package Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.1 x 5.42 x 0.58 inches; 3.1 ounces
  • Director ‏ : ‎ Pavel Tsatsouline
  • Media Format ‏ : ‎ Color, NTSC
  • Run time ‏ : ‎ 1 hour and 12 minutes
  • Release date ‏ : ‎ October 1, 2003
  • Actors ‏ : ‎ Andrea Du Cane, D. C. Maxwell
  • Studio ‏ : ‎ Dragon Door Publications
  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ 0938045474
  • Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 50 ratings

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
4.1 out of 5
50 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

T. Thomas
5.0 out of 5 stars Best workout ever!
Reviewed in the United States on August 2, 2005
Verified Purchase
When I first heard of kettlebells a couple months ago they seemed like they were for hardcore macho-man types--commandos, Green Berets, whatever. Not for me, a plump middleaged woman trying to get into shape and lose fat.

But then I found out about this book and video for women, and suddenly I knew I had to try it. I'm so glad I did!!!

Pavel's attitude is highly amusing as he milks the macho Russian drill sergeant schtick for all it's worth, but it's all tongue-in-cheek. And at the same time, he's giving priceless information and motivation about a training method that I'm sure will be huge once it catches on, because the results are so spectacular and quick and it's so physically satisfying and fun to do.

I ordered this book, the accompanying DVD, and one 15-lb. kettlebell to get started with, and I received them and started using them about a week ago. I can honestly say that this kettlebell workout is the greatest form of exercise I've ever tried.

I'd been eating a super-healthy top-quality diet for about five or six months and going to the gym and using the machines (both resistance and cardio) for about an hour to an hour and a half. Hadn't seen much in the way of results yet, despite my healthy diet and working out several times a week. I was feeling good, though.

But when I tried the kettlebell, it just ***blew away*** my gym workouts. I've been using the KB for about a week now and plan to cancel my gym membership ASAP. The KB stays in my bedroom and I use it at least once a day, sometimes twice, for up to 20 minutes at a time. It feels so good that I WANT to do it--and that means no more time-consuming trips to the gym for me.

I'm already starting to feel a difference in my body composition. According to Pavel, if you work out a lot with kettlebells you can shred up to 1% of your body fat per week, which is a LOT.

The book has a lot of pictures showing the correct form, which I like, and it explains the WHY's behind KB training, which helped me to quickly gain a basic understanding of everything KB-related without having to read the book cover-to-cover.

As for the DVD, I watched it through twice, and then started just skipping to the workout at the end, where the two women (DC and Andrea) are doing a freestyle KB workout as Pavel comments in the background. I watched that freestyle workout every day the first few days, as I did my own freestyle workouts, but now (yesterday and today), I've started just doing a freestyle workout to my favorite music instead.

I feel I don't really need the book or the DVD anymore, except for occasional reference. So, to me, I'd say the most valuable part of the three things I bought to get started (Pavel's book, DVD, and a kettlebell) was by far the kettlebell itself. You pretty much need to have either the book or the DVD, or both, to get started, however, because you need to learn the various drills, correct form, etc. The DVD physically demonstrates how to do it, whereas the book explains why and gives more detail. In my opinion you need both, although for me I think the DVD was more valuable.

These KB exercises are very different from dumbbell exercises. Way more fun, for starters! It just FEELS incredibly good to do the KB workouts. I get a flood of pleasant endorphins after only about 15 minutes, whereas it used to take me about an hour to achieve that at the gym. My flexibility has already improved a lot too--now I spring out of bed in the morning like a panther, rather than dragging myself around with morning joint pain/stiffness. After only a week of daily use!

I'm so glad I found out about working out with KBs--I know it will make a profound difference in my life and health. I'm telling everybody I know about them. I'm completely confident that I will be able to shed over 100 lbs. of body fat in a year with my kettlebell training. I'm so ready to become a FEMME FATALE!!!
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Impressive! Pavel delivers.
Reviewed in the United States on September 15, 2016
Verified Purchase
Easy to read and very clear explanatory pictures. I like how he puts a focus on not only how to do it right, but how to make sure you don't hurt yourself. The author is definitely not a coddler, but he also doesn't go on about "powering through the pain no matter what" - the kind of garbage that some people like to profess in order to show how "badass" they are (and end up getting people to damage themselves through bullheaded stupidity). Pavel on the other hand really is a badass, because he not only tells you what to do, and how, but the ever so important WHY. Why this is good, why this other is not good, etc. I've already learned quite a lot from this book, and I'm only up through the first several exercises. I am impressed. I guess there's a reason that guys like Tim Ferriss (author of 4-Hour Workweek) and Dave Asprey (author of Bulletproof Diet) both recommend Pavel. Pavel delivers.
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David Huebel
4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent instruction outweighs imperfections
Reviewed in the United States on March 9, 2005
Verified Purchase
I bought this DVD because it's longer than Pavel's first DVD, The Russian Kettlebell Challenge, which sounded skimpy at 32 minutes. I'm pleased with my purchase. The video isn't perfect, but Pavel's instruction alone is worth the price.

First and foremost, for all the self-promotion and over-the-top slogans, Pavel knows what he's doing. His sense of humor shows through the awkwardness, and his running commentary is filled with valuable information. Pavel is truly a geek: He has a broad and deep knowledge of his field, he believes in the importance of his work, and he wants everyone else to love it and know as much about it as he does. There is no substitute for the quality of instruction such a person can provide.

Based only on the choice of material and quality of instruction, I would give the video five stars. The downside is that I'm a little bit disappointed with the models.

The models are good, but they don't always look completely comfortable with the techniques. Watching a master is an enlightening experience. Occasionally these women rise to that level, but just as often they seem more like advanced beginners. On some of the exercises, I can see imperfections in their technique, and they seem to be correcting their form as Pavel describes the exercises. (I'm not talking about the times when Pavel asks them to demonstrate common mistakes.) It's easier for me to be a critic than to do it right, but for a commercial video, Pavel should have found models who were truly masters with the kettlebells. After all, they're not called models because they have exceptional bodies (although they do), they're called models because the viewer is supposed to be able to use them as models for his or her own technique.

On a final note, I'd like note that the production quality is not very good, and the people on screen are not professional fitness actors and actresses. This interfered with my first viewing of the video. In fact, on my first viewing I got a strong "battered woman" vibe from the two models. On subsequent viewings I realized that this is a product of lighting (the women's faces are often half in shadow), awkwardness in front of the camera, the fact that the women are actually being challenged by the exercises (no fake weights here), and the lack of that awful chirpiness and cheerfulness that bugs me so much in real life, but which I have come to expect from women who exercise on my television. The women don't act coked up, the actors don't always hit their marks, and Pavel's delivery is occasionally stilted. Ack! Real people on my television screen! After watching the video once or twice, this won't bother you any more. (On the other hand, you *will* be disappointed if you're looking for spunk or girl-power attitude from the models.)

In summary, the instruction is top-notch, the production quality distracted me a bit during the first viewing, and the models do not always live up to that title. It's an easy four stars, and I won't hesitate to buy more of Pavel's products in the future.
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NadineG
2.0 out of 5 stars It was OK but not great!
Reviewed in the United States on April 7, 2011
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This is an instructional video NOT an exercise routine. You will not break a sweat following the DEMONSTRATION sets. The video moves slowly from one DEMONSTRATION to the next, it just gives instructions about the sets. The OK part is, it provided allot of good advise on techniques but the tone of the Russian trainer was boring as heck and un-motivating. The two women looked very strong and made me feel very hopeful that I could achieve the same level of fitness. BUT, this video is not worth the higher than nominal cost for an exercise video!!!
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Top reviews from other countries

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Linda Potvin
5.0 out of 5 stars Arrived on time
Reviewed in Canada on October 20, 2018
Verified Purchase
So happy to find this book
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Valerie Fort
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent même sans une maîtrise parfaite de l'anglais
Reviewed in France on December 22, 2014
Verified Purchase
Excellent ouvrage. J'avais commencé par Kettlebells for Dummies qui n'était pas à la hauteur de mes attentes: trop de blablabla et pas assez d'exercices mais comme tous les "Pour les Nuls" me direz-vous... Là, il y a vraiment de quoi travailler. Mon autre erreur, c'est de l'avoir acheté d'occasion: un livre soit disant "très bon" mais en fait assez crade. A la vue du contenu, il vaut bien son prix neuf.
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A. L. Joyce
2.0 out of 5 stars I was looking for more...
Reviewed in Canada on July 10, 2009
Verified Purchase
While I was hoping this would be THE kettlebell book, it just didn't live up to the hype. Lots of writing, some photos, but not enough (in my opinion) to give a beginner a really good foundation in kettlebell moves, proper form, etc. Perhaps better for an experienced user to keep boredom at bay.

I would recommend Body Strong Kettlebell Blitz For Beginners over this book.
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