**Iron & Ice Kettlebell Instructional Review**

Iron and Ice A Kettlebell Training Instructional DVD by Shawn Mozen Reviewed by Daniel Mroz, Ph.D. (Montreal, Canada)

To begin, a few caveats: First, I am no great expert in the field of strength training and the reader will have to take my opinions for what they are, those of a devoted beginner. Second, I consider Mr. Mozen to be both my teacher and my friend and my appraisal of this product sure to be influenced by the high personal and professional esteem in which I hold him. That said.

Overall Appraisal Iron and Ice is an accessible, well-made and well-priced instructional video. I recommend it both for newcomers to physical culture and for experienced athletes who are looking to broaden their repertoire of training possibilities. The material presented on Iron and Ice has both depth and breadth. Individual exercises are presented in a highly visible manner and are explained in detail. In addition a wide variety of exercises are presented in order to meet the potential needs of different athletes.

Depth A careful and paced instructor, Shawn Mozen begins by leading the viewer through a comprehensive introduction to Kettlebell lifting safety. He then explains and demonstrates the mechanics of the fundamental squatting movements required by the majority of Kettlebell exercises before beginning to present each individual drill. With each demonstration, the exercise is broken down into as many component elements as possible. Mr. Mozen has the skill and confidence to narrate through the execution of each exercise, providing the viewer with practical examples and verbal instructions simultaneously.

Breadth The DVD is divided into several sections, each one presenting a different aspect of Kettlebell training. The sections are arranged in order of increasing sophistication and allow the viewer to move through the video over a few months, adding exercises as his or her skill level and strength increases. Exercises for training explosive power, drills for pressing, core strengthening methods, leg conditioning, endurance development and balance training are all presented. One could do far worse than using the syllabus of exercises presented on Iron and Ice as one's entire physical regimen.

Technical Aspects of the DVD The DVD navigates well offering the viewer a section-by-section display and the possibility of accessing individual exercises quickly and simply. Sound is always and issue on instructional videos and Iron and Ice is no exception. While one can always hear what Mr. Mozen is saying, the volume of the narration varies between sections. One other small concern is that on occasion the extremities of Mr. Mozen's body are off camera. A few slightly longer shots of such exercises as the Snatch or the Clean and Jerk would serve the viewer well.

Comparisons I have not actually seen the Kettlebell instructional videos put out by Pavel Tsatsouline and his associates at Dragon Door and so I am not in a position to compare Iron and Ice to them. However. living outside of the United States as I do makes products priced in American dollars prohibitively expensive for me. For those who are in the same position as I, Mr. Mozen's DVD, priced EXTREMELY affordably at $29.99 Canadian, is an exceptional value. Iron and Ice compares favourably to such excellent instructional videos as Adam Hsu's Chinese martial arts series and Scott Sonnon's Russian Fisticuffs tapes all of which retail at between $30.00 and $40.00 US per tape.

In A Perfect World. To most North Americans Kettlebell lifting may seem like another exercise fad, but it has a long history in Europe. A short historical presentation on the use of Kettlebells by 19th century European strongmen, working class Slavs and the military and law enforcement corps of the former Soviet Union would have been welcome.

Nice Touch Iron and Ice is shot outside on what looks like the back porch of a Canadian chalet in the middle of winter. Wearing only a heavy sweater and a woolen toque Mr. Mozen presents his material against a backdrop of snow-covered pines. With ice crackling underfoot he goes through his paces without a shiver. His choice of venue demonstrates with both beauty and intensity the versatility of the Kettlebell - the cannonball with a handle with which one can train anywhere.

And So I liked this product very much and I recommend it highly. Kettlebell training with Shawn Mozen has increased the strength of my muscles and the resilience of my joints without reducing my speed or my mobility. I'm certain these are gains that any athlete would welcome and that this DVD is a great place to start.