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Recommended Books - Pavel Tsatsouline

All of Pavel's books are listed in the following section without regard to alphabetization.


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BEYOND BODYBUILDING 
(Muscle and Strength Training Secrets for the Renaissance Man) by Pavel

  This is the latest book from Pavel (how many people are recognized by their first name alone?) and it’s a blockbuster: Large 8.5 X 11 format, 327 pages including index, 250 excellent photos, 38 workout charts, eight sections (articles and Q&A) on Power Training, Training Planning, Back, Legs, Neck & Shoulders, Arms, Chest, and Naked Warrior (bodyweight training). You get the essence of most-all of the strategies, tips, routines and fine points Pavel has developed over many, many years for the military, police, martial artists, gymnasts, powerlifters, weightlifters, and many more athletes and men and women interested in muscle and strength. Beyond Bodybuilding is a compilation of many of Pavel’s best articles over the course the last few years (he may be the most prolific strength and fitness writer ever). Smash your training plateaus, overcome injuries, make unprecedented strength gains and grow more muscle…with a classic education in the wisdom of the past—and the scientific breakthroughs of the modern day masters. It’s all there for the taking.

$49.95 plus $6.60 priority shipping, $4.60 media shipping

RELAX INTO STRETCH: Instant Flexibility through Mastering Muscle Tension  
by Pavel Tsatsouline, Master of Sports

This book partially replaces Pavel’s earlier book Beyond Stretching.  Relax is better written, better photographed, and more user-friendly. Plus, it includes new techniques not in the original book.

"Stretching is NOT the best way to become flexible!" Pavel writes. "Conventional stretching attempts to literally elongate your tissues, which is dangerous and ineffective. Relax into Stretch simply teaches your muscles to relax into a stretch." The changes are in the nervous system, where the effect is almost immediate. Pavel says: "Your muscles will start noticeably elongating from your first Relax into Stretch practice – and within months you will have achieved a level of flexibility uncommon to our species."

Clarence likes this book because the focus is on making you stronger in the stretched position. Conventional relaxed stretching is unnatural, according to Pavel, because it develops flexibility without strength. "Normally your body does not allow a range of motion it cannot control," says Pavel. The contract-relax stretching technique explained in the book promotes flexibility through strength. It’s a must read. 138 pages (excluding advertisements), large format (11 by 8), $34.95 plus $4.60 shipping media class or $6.60 priority. See ordering page for foreign postage.  (Also see FAQ2:  Stretching can be hazardous - when done improperly.)

RELAX INTO STRETCH Companion DVD or Video

Contract-Relax stretching is 267 % more effective than conventional relaxed stretching, according to Pavel. In this video, he demonstrates the contract-relax technique explained in the book. After you’ve read the book or even if you haven’t read the book, it’s tremendously helpful to hear Pavel explain and perform the stretches he recommends for all parts of the body. Equally helpful, he demonstrates stretches to be avoided. "If you feel discomfort or pain in the joint," says Pavel, you’re overdoing it. Clarence recommends that you always stop short of pain. "If it hurts, don’t do it," is a good rule to remember. Running time: 37 minutes. $29.95 plus $5.60 priority.  (See also FAQ2:  Stretching can be hazardous - when done improperly.)


Bullet-Proof Abs (2nd Edition of Beyond Crunches) by Pavel Tsatsouline

A completely revised edition of Beyond Crunches with larger format, more diagrams and photos, a new section featuring the Ab Pavelizer device invented by the author to isolate the abs by "taking out" the hip flexors (see home page article 47, "The Hardest Situp") and a new chapter on building the abs with power breathing. Pavel’s basic message remains the same: "Crunches belong on the junk pile of history, next to communism." Writes this Russian-trained exercise physiologist, "Feeling the burn of higher reps is a waste of time." Isolating the muscles of the torso is only the first step in building "abs to die for," according to Pavel. The next step is integration, or training the torso muscles to work together "as a team with other muscles and protect your spine." In this new edition of Beyond Crunches, Pavel shows you how with a select group of exercises including Janda situps (now performed without the aid of a training partner on the Ab Pavelizer), jackknife pushups, the Dragon flag, Saxon side bends and many other powerful ab builders. Pavel concludes with an excellent question and answer chapter further clarifying his unique ab training techniques. Clarence does not agree with Pavel’s brief comments on diet, but he loves the book otherwise and uses many of the nontraditional torso exercises in his own workouts. As Pavel would say, "What are you waiting for, Comrade?" 
113 pages of text (11 by 8 ½), $34.95 plus $4.60 shipping media class or $6.60 priority. For foreign shipping, see ordering page.
(To learn how Clarence met Pavel and more about his background, see article No. 43 on home page.)


Beyond Crunches Companion Video or DVD:  BEYOND CRUNCHES: Hard Science.  Hard Abs.

As Clarence explains in "The Hardest Sit-up" (article No. 47 on home page), the Janda sit-up, which is the core exercise in Pavel’s program for building "bullet-proof abs," is difficult to learn. In this much-needed video, Pavel demonstrates step-by-step how to master the Janda sit-up, with the help of a training partner or using his patented Ab Pavelizer device. See the iconoclastic and dynamic Russian in action doing the Janda sit-up, Saxon side bends, Bruce Lee’s favorite the Dragon Flag and the other unique – and very effective – torso builders described in his book. Clarence found this video very helpful. It’s a wonderful complement to Bullet-Proof Abs. The book explains the theory and the video shows the actual performance. 37 minutes. $29.95 plus $5.60 priority.

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ENTER THE KETTLEBELL! (Strength Secrets of the Soviet Supermen) by Pavel

Book and DVD

Brand New Book From Pavel Tsatsouline! This book (and companion DVD) delivers a significant upgrade to his original landmark work, The Russian Kettlebell Challenge. Drawing on five years of developing and leading the world’s first and premier Kettlebell instructor certification program, and after spending five years of additional research into what really works for dramatic results with Kettlebells. Introduction: History of the Kettlebell in Russia and chronicle of the KB invasion of America. Chapter 1: What KBs to start with, safety, basics. Chapter 2: Break-in plan with just two KB exercises, takes you from raw newbie to solid contender. Chapter 3: Jumps you to the next level with the proven Russian Kettlebell Challenge (RKC) formula for exceptional strength and conditioning. Chapter 4: Propels you to a Special Forces level of conditioning. Chapter 5: FAQ: combining KBs with other programs (conventional weights, Power To The People, The Naked Warrior, Bullet-Proof Abs), what diet?, training with bad back, sports-specific training, and more. Chapter 6: The making of a KB. Index

DVD demonstrates basic lifting techniques, stressing safety, with emphasis on the clean, snatch and press. Adds significantly to the value of the book. Learn from the Master himself. See and hear the one-and-only Pavel teaching and lifting, a not-to-be missed trip.

Book, 178 pages, paperback, 11 x 8, $34.95 + Shipping ($4 media or $6 priority); DVD, 46 minutes, $29.95 + Shipping ($4.60 media or $6.60 priority); Book and DVD $64.90 + shipping ($5.60 media or $7.60 priority)

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POWER TO THE PEOPLE! - Russian Strength Training Secrets for Every American by Pavel Tsatsouline

This is Pavel's strength-training book for the whole body. Jim Wright, Ph.D., science editor at Flex magazine, says, "If there was only one book I could recommend to help you reach your ultimate physical potential, this would be it." That's going a bit far, but this book is an eye opener. It will give you new - and valuable - perspectives on strength training. Pavel recommends a bare-bones, no-frills training plan that requires a 300 lb. Olympic weight set that you can buy in any sporting goods store for a few hundred dollars (he says $150). That's it! And would you believe only two exercises, the dead lift and side press, for two sets of five reps or less? It's not quite as easy as it sounds - he recommends training five days a week - but after reading Pavel's explanation, we believe you'll agree that it makes sense. You'll find plenty of ideas here to make your training more productive. (A simple explanation of periodization and why it's the best way to train, why it's often safer to use free weights than machines, why warming up is overrated, why training to exhaustion can be counter productive, why training variation can backfire and many other cutting-edge - and controversial -- concepts.) You're going to be hearing a lot about Pavel Tsatsouline. Get a jump on the crowd. Order this book - and Pavel's other books and video - today! And remember, you heard it here first. 117 pages, (10 by 7), $34.95 plus $4.60 shipping media class or $6.60 priority. For foreign shipping, see ordering page. (To learn how Clarence met Pavel and more about his background, see article 43 on Home page.)

POWER TO THE PEOPLE! companion video/DVD

Pavel strips to the waist and for 47 minutes shows and tells how his "Power to the People" system works. The demonstrations of the concepts explained in the book are both instructive and inspirational. Clarence thought the many possible variations shown of Pavel’s 2-exercise, whole-body workout was especially impressive and useful. Clarence says, "Who would have thought so much versatility could be squeezed out of the Deadlift – Pavel calls it the Health Lift – and the Side Press or Floor Press." It’s as the video jacket promises: "Power to everyone, from a burly strongman to a fashion model!" 47 minutes, $29.95 plus $5.60  priority shipping.

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The Russian Kettlebell Challenge video/dvd, with Pavel Tsatsouline, Master of Sports 

Need a change? Try kettlebell lifting (KBL). Tsatsouline describes a kettlebell as "a cast iron weight that looks like a basketball with a suitcase handle." Traditional Russian kettlebells come in three sizes: 32 kilos (roughly 36 pounds), 24 K. (53 #), and 32 K. (72 #). We’ve long been aware that old-time strongmen trained with kettlebells, but we’ve never known how they were actually used; most people are probably in the same boat.  Tsatsouline, who earned a national ranking in kettlebell lifting in Russia before coming to this country, has filled in the knowledge gap beautifully with the first-ever complete kettlebell training video. Pavel says high-rep kettlebell lifting is one of the best tools for all-around physical development and a great way to stimulate your metabolism and burn fat. After watching this video, we believe he may have a point. We were impressed with the many different exercises shown on the video. KBL is a wonderful alternative to the barbell snatch and clean & jerk, especially for those who don't have the time or inclination – or perhaps the ability – to learn the Olympic lifts. We plan to accept the kettlebell challenge. Follow our lead and start with light weights to give your body a chance to adjust to the extra stress of one-arm lifting. (Dragondoor.com, the publisher of the video and book described below, is offering authentic Russian kettlebells in the five sizes: 4kg(9lb), 8kg(18lb), 16kg(36lb), 24kg(53lb), 32kg(72); visit their Website for prices and shipping charges) Order Pavel’s video (and book) and join us in learning about kettlebell lifting – and what it can do for you. Do it today. 32 minutes, $39.95 plus $5.60 priority. (For more information on kettlebell lifting, see the excerpt from Pavel’s book on kettlebell lifting on our home page: Article 67.)

The Russian Kettlebell Challenge (the book) by Pavel Tsatsouline

The video came out first, so I guess we can call this the companion book. It complements the video nicely, beginning with an interesting section on the history of Russian kettlebell lifting. The book has much more detail on kettlebell training and the performance of the various lifts. Pavel starts with the basic two-arm swing, moves on to the two-arm snatch pull, the one- and two-arm clean, the one-arm snatch, the clean & jerk, many pressing variations, and ends with the very advanced and difficult bent press. I found it helpful to be able to study the pictures in the book along with the full-motion movements in the video. The book ends with excerpts from the official Soviet weightlifting textbook system of kettlebell training and the official rules of competition.

Pavel calls kettlebell lifting the "working-class answer to elitist weightlifting." You might say it’s a cross between Olympic lifting and Dr. Len Schwartz’s HeavyHands. Olympic lifting is far more demanding and probably more effective, but kettlebells are easier to learn and more practical for most people. "Although many pieces of equipment claim to promote ‘all-around fitness’, "says Pavel, "only K-bells delivers strength, explosiveness, flexibility, endurance and fat loss..., all in one tight package." He cautions, however, that kettlebell exercises can be dangerous. You can boink yourself on the head, sprain your wrist, drop it on your foot – or worse. So be careful. Start light and pay careful attention to Pavel’s instructions on proper performance. 153 pages (excluding advertisements), 11 by 8 ½, $34.95 plus $4.60 shipping media class or $6.60 priority. For foreign shipping, see ordering page.   

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Pavel’s From Russia with Tough Love Kettlebell Workout for a Femme Fatale (book and video)

Until now, the benefits of kettlebell training have been unavailable to all but a few very strong women. Pavel Tsatsouline changes that with this book explaining how women can join in the fun. It offers the first-ever kettlebell program designed for women. It’s not easy – that’s why it’s called tough love – but it delivers spectacular results: fitness, firmness, strength, speed, fat-burning, you name it. It’s an exciting challenge: total fitness just for women.

Dragon Door (www.dragondoor.com) now offers 4kg (9 lb) and 8kg (18 lb) kettlebells for women. (Kettlebells were previously available only in the traditional Russian 16-, 24- and 32-kg sizes.) This book explains how to use them from the ground up; it gets you started and takes you as far as you want to go. (With proper supervision, youngsters, boys and girls, can join in as well. In book and video, Pavel stresses safety.)

What sets kettlebell exercises apart from other forms of training is that they involve the whole body; the body – arms, legs, hips, torso – works as a unit. Movements such as the swing, snatch, clean-and-press, front squat, overhead squat and many others strengthen and tone the whole body. Pavel is a genius at getting the most out of kettlebells. Special exercises to firm and shrink your waist, such as the power breathing crunch, are also included. The range of exercises in the book and video is nothing short of amazing. Plus, he’s a wonderful teacher. He can take you from beginner to super-fit, shapely siren – and show you how to enjoy the journey.

The book tells you why and how and the video, featuring Andrea Du Cane and D.C. Maxwell, demonstrates kettlebell training from start to finish. We think you’ll be happiest with both.

For more about kettlebell training, click on articles 65 and 72 on our home page.

What are you waiting for, ladies? Order today! The book is large format (8 ½ X 11), 128 pages, $34.95 plus $4.60 shipping media rate or $6.60 priority. The video is 1 hour and 12 minutes, $29.95 plus $4.60 media or $5.60 priority shipping. Shipping for book and video together is $5.60 media or $7.60 priority.

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