All 40 competition rules from International Kettlebell Organization (IKO), organized by category.
IKO competition disciplines: Long Cycle, Jerk, Snatch, Biathlon, Triathlon, Double Half Snatch (added 2024), and Kata (choreographed kettlebell movements).
Jerk / Long Cycle (2 KB): 1 point per rep. Snatch (1 KB): 1 point per rep per hand. For women's events with 1 KB: every rep per hand equals 1 point.
IKO also offers 5-minute sprint events at various competitive levels from professional to beginner.
IKO competition sets are 10 minutes for standard/professional events.
The judge-secretary announces time as each minute passes. After 9 minutes, control time is announced at 50 seconds, 30 seconds, 10 seconds, 5 seconds, and every second until time runs out.
IKO age divisions: Open (standard adult), Legends 50+ (athletes aged 50 and over with adjusted KB weights), Legends 60+ Semi-Amateur (athletes aged 60 and over with further reduced KB weights), Futures Under 16 (boys/girls use 12kg/6kg), Futures Unde...
Female weight classes: Strawweight (52kg), Flyweight (57kg), Bantamweight (61kg), Featherweight (66kg), Lightweight (70kg). 5 classes total.
Male KB tiers: 32kg (Professional: MSIC, MS, CMS), 24kg (Semi-Pro: CMS, Rank I, II, III), 16kg (Amateur: Rank I, II, III), 12kg (Beginner: Rank I, II, III). Female KB tiers: 24kg (Professional), 16kg (Amateur), 12kg, 8kg. IKO also defines 4 category ...
Male weight classes use boxing-style names: Strawweight (52kg/115lb), Flyweight (57kg/125lb), Bantamweight (61kg/135lb), Featherweight (66kg/145lb), Lightweight (70kg/155lb), Super Lightweight (74kg/165lb), Welterweight (80kg/175lb), Super Welterweig...
If 2 athletes of the same category have an identical result, the one with the smallest body weight wins.
For online submissions: All three exercises must be performed on the same day (rest between exercises allowed). Each exercise must be filmed separately. Must include: introducing yourself with first and last name, showing proof of date and time, disp...
Two competition officials must supervise the weigh-in procedure, fill in details of athletes' registration (bodyweight and weight group, birth year and age group, kettlebell size) and collect the cards. The team captain must be present. The competito...
A set terminates when: (1) the lifter drops or sets one or both kettlebells down before the end of the set time, (2) the lifter steps or falls off the platform, (3) the kettlebell touches the platform. Previously executed fair repetitions count as th...
The call for any Technical Foul is 'stop.' After the 'stop' command the lifter must put down the kettlebell(s), and all previously executed fair repetitions will be counted as the participant's score.
Competitors must compete with bare hands. Gloves are not permitted.
Athletes may wear a weightlifting belt with a maximum width of 12 cm.
Athletes cannot compete barefoot or in open-toed shoes. Appropriate closed-toe footwear required.
Athletes cannot wear long pants. Shorts must be above the knee.
Shirt sleeves must not cover the elbows. Athletes cannot wear long-sleeved tops.
Athletes may use wrist guards no wider than 12 cm.
Competition kettlebell colors: Pink (8kg), Blue (12kg), Yellow (16kg), Purple (20kg), Green (24kg), Orange (28kg), Red (32kg), Grey (36kg), White (40kg), Silver (44kg), Gold (48kg). Odd weights (10, 14, 18, 22, 26, 30, 34 kg) use the same color as th...
All competition kettlebells have the same external dimensions regardless of weight. Handle diameter: 35mm +/- 1mm. Ball diameter: 210mm +/- 2mm. Height: 280mm +/- 2mm.
Competition kettlebells must maintain +/- 1% weight tolerance.
Competition platforms must be a minimum of 1.15m x 1.15m with at least 1 meter of space between each platform for safety. Kettlebells must be prepared behind the platforms and not be transported to the warm-up area.
Alignment is reached when the lifter is standing up straight (legs, hips and arm(s) in full extension), squared up and the kettlebell(s) is/are directly over or behind the shoulder. There must be no excessive side lean or rotation. Shoulders, hips an...
The bell must be lifted in a continuous manner without stopping or adding an additional press.
Fixation is when the lifter and kettlebell completely stop all movement at the completion of a repetition. It is a complete and visible stop of the kettlebell at the end of every repetition (momentary pause of approximately 1 second). Fixation is the...
No-count is issued for: (1) No fixation — lifter and kettlebell do not become motionless, (2) No alignment — excessive lean, rotation, incomplete extension, (3) Free hand assist — using free hand to support or stabilize the kettlebell, (4) No arm loc...
If the lifter's legs do not straighten before the first knee dip to initiate the Jerk, a technical foul may be called.
A valid jerk rep: kettlebell(s) driven from rack position to overhead lockout with fixation. Legs, hips, and arms in full extension. KB directly over or behind shoulder. Complete momentary pause. Phases: first dip (bend knees, hips forward), bump/tri...
Long Cycle (Clean and Jerk): Two kettlebells (men) or one kettlebell (women) are cleaned from knee level to chest level (rack), then jerked to above the head. The full clean-to-overhead sequence counts as 1 repetition.
Kettlebells cannot be stopped at the bottom of the swing in Long Cycle. They can only be held motionless at rack position and top (overhead) fixation position.
A single kettlebell is swung using one hand from between the knees to above the head in a single motion, achieving overhead lockout with fixation.
In snatch (10-minute set), only one arm switch is allowed during the set. The switch can be made at any time. Switching sides can only be done with a single hand-to-hand swing.
To rest in any type of rack position in snatch, including on the shoulder or doing a half snatch, is prohibited. In case of a violation, a no-count warning and -1 will be issued for the first offence only.
Biathlon consists of a set of jerks for 10 minutes, followed by at least 1 hour rest, then a set of snatches for 10 minutes.
IKO Biathlon = Jerk + 1/2 Snatch. Jerk reps count as 1 point each. Snatch reps count as 0.5 points each. Example: 100 jerks + 80 snatches = 100 + 40 = 140 points.
Futures (youth) athletes can achieve Rank I, Rank II, and Rank III only (no CMS/MS/MSIC). Futures divisions: Under 16 (boys/girls use 12kg/6kg) and Under 12 (boys/girls use 8kg/4kg).
IKO ranking tiers from highest to lowest: MSIC (Master of Sport International Class) — permanent, valid for life; MS (Master of Sport); CMS (Candidate Master of Sport); Rank I (Sport Rank 1); Rank II (Sport Rank 2); Rank III (Sport Rank 3). MSIC is a...
The first IKO Kettlebell Sport Ranking Tables were created in 2018 based on mathematical analytics of international competition results from 2011-2017. 2nd edition published 2019. Double Half Snatch ranking added 2024.
Official website: https://www.kettlebellworld.org