Pavel Tsatsouline

Pavel Tsatsouline, Chairman of StrongFirst, Inc. (Belarusian: Павел Цацулін; born August 23, 1969 in Minsk, USSR) is a fitness instructor who is known for bringing SPETSNAZ training techniques from the former Soviet Union to US Navy SEALs , Marines and Army Special Forces, and shortly thereafter to the American public.^[1]

Tsatsouline is particularly notable for popularizing the kettlebell in the modern era in the West, most notably through his books and through a series of instructional videos, delivered with his trademark comedic intent, comically exploiting Russian stereotypes with a thick accent, a dungeon-esque setting, and rampant use of the word "comrade". Vic Sussman among others praised Tsatsouline's videos because their power as training tools in part stemmed from the emphasis on kettlebells as fun.

He holds a degree in Sports Science from the Physical Culture Institute in Minsk.^[2] He is involved with the evolving field of martial arts fitness and is a proponent of the kettlebell as an exercise and strengthening tool. In 1998, Tsatsouline became a kettlebell instructor in the United States.^[3]

Tsatsouline claims to have been a PT drill instructor for Spetsnaz, the elite Soviet special forces unit, during the late 1980s (when Tsatsouline was in his teenage years).^[4][5]

In 2001, Tsatsouline was voted a "Hot Trainer" by Rolling Stone, pictured with a kettlebell in hand.^[6] He has published articles in Milo magazine^[7] and Performance Press, as well as being the author of several books on stretching and strength training (see Bibliography).

Tsatsouline's publisher is Dragon Door, owned by John Du Cane. Dragon Door is a website and publishing company generally focused on martial arts and related sports, but also catering to general health, fitness, weight loss, and stress management. Pavel started the Russian Kettlebell Challenge ("RKC"), an advanced kettlebell training certification, with Dragon Door in 2001.

In 2012, Pavel left the RKC and formed a new company, StrongFirst, dedicated to the pursuit, development, and acquisition of strength.

Selected bibliography

Tsatsouline is a prolific author so it is not useful to list all his publications on static Web page.

Publications that were (and remain) important to the normalization of kettlebell and other spetsnaz strength training techniques being adopted into American Gym culture are listed below:

• Power to the People!: Russian Strength Training Secrets for Every American (2000). ISBN 0-938045-19-9.
• The Russian Kettlebell Challenge (2001). ISBN 0-938045-32-6.
• Relax into Stretch: Instant Flexibility Through Mastering Muscle Tension (2001). ISBN 0-938045-28-8.
• From Russia with Tough Love: Pavel's Kettlebell Workout for a Femme Fatale (2002). ISBN 0-938045-43-1
• The Naked Warrior (2003). ISBN 0-938045-55-5.

References

External links

• "About Pavel". Dragon Door Publications. 2003. Retrieved 2007-11-07.