KETTLEBELL / ГИРЯ: Personal Kettlebell Workout Guide Part 1

http://www.fitandwrite.com/ultimate-kettlebell-workout-guide-part-1/

I’ve been using a pair of Kettlebells for years now and I think it’s time I write my review at the same time my own guide for those who may be interested. First off, what exactly is a #kettlebell? Well for starters it’s basically a bowling ball with a handle. History says it hails from Russian farms and was used as a weight-thing.

Kettlebell Training was first taken as an alternative to conventional weight training. We can’t blame them for it. Many were to fixated on barbell and dumbbell use that no one really thought a bowling ball with a handle can take their place. But they were wrong. In fact, there have been multiple studies surrounding kettlebell training benefits. Some of those studies even claim that training with a kettlebell can do better than traditional exercises.

This is Part 2 of the Kettlebell Workout Guide

Here would be questions you may be wondering right now:

Is this good in losing weight/burning fat?

A most definite yes. Kettlebells promote aerobic and anaerobic activity in just a few minutes and yes it also burns fat at a more rapid rate than most traditional training. Kettlebells offer a variety of exercises, sets, and a bunch of circuits which can also be paired with non-kettlebell training but is also just as good on its own.

And as a testimony, kettlebell training helped me not only to lose weight (with a dedicated healthy diet), but to burn the unnecessary fat in my #body therefore converting them to muscle. I have a friend who’s pretty heavy with a big fat belly and he was shocked to find out that we weigh the same (80 kg). How can he look so BIG and me so lean? Fat is lighter than muscle and is more voluminous. Its density is less than muscle tissue which makes really fat people look like giant balls of lard. I’m not saying he’s one but a few more of those quarter-pounders and he may well be on his way.

Why would I use a pair of kettlebells over pairs of dumbbells or the barbell?

Kettlebells train the body in a holistic manner meaning most of its exercises utilizes more than three muscle groups at a time. Form this point on, I’d like to say the dumbbell is the easier version of a kettlebell and the barbell a somewhat distant cousin.

Why is the dumbbell easier? A basic dumbbell is balanced on two sides while a kettlebell is typically heavy on one end. Dumbbells and kettlebells share similar exercises but overall, the kettlebell takes the cake if we are to go for difficulty and results. Because the kettlebell’s weight is not equally distributed, it takes more effort at controlling or carrying it therefore making the hand, grip, and forearm already stronger than they would be if you used a dumbbell of the same weight.

Barbells and Kettlebells are both good at #strength training but in terms of muscle building, in all honesty, barbells take the lead. Barbells were simply made for muscle building. And as for fat burning and metabolic training, training that enhances the metabolism in a short period of time, kettlebells win it. Kettlebells combine aerobic and anaerobic exercises which can be attributed to HIIT or High Intensity Interval Training. Kettlebell training also mimic everyday movements which benefits you even more functionally than a dumbbell or a barbell could.

And oh, I’ve compared and I find kettlebell training much more fun than the other two.

I’m a beginner and I want to try. How heavy should I go for?

It all depends on how much you can carry, really. For starters, don’t use a pair. Just master one kettlebell at first. A good starting weight for men would be 16 kg or roughly 35 lb while women may start with around 10 kg or roughly 22 lb. It’s all about feeling comfortable with the weight. Too light may mean little benefits and too heavy may mean serious injuries. It’s like regular lifting where your aim is either to get stronger or simply burn excess fat. In a nutshell, a light pair for extended periods of time is more on fat burning while a heavy pair with short repetitions is for strength training (and of course, fat burning).

Will they fit inside my room?

Kettlebells aren’t all that big and the weight variances aren’t so huge that they would be larger than car wheels (regular sedans, not monster trucks). They’re just like bigger versions of dumbbells. And they don’t need any accessory to use them unlike the barbell which needs an oly bar.

What exercises should I do?

Here is the fun part. I’ll tell you a bunch of basic moves coupled with videos so it won’t be that hard to imagine how they’re done. Before I get started, let me remind you that PROPER FORM is of utmost importance. A wrong form can mean either a little muscle strain or the end of a normal life. I kid you not.

The Basics

In this part here I’ll discuss with you examples of basic exercises that you can use with a single or a pair of kettlebells. Remember that you must master the one-handed kettlebell exercise before using two. Using two kettlebells require double of everything: Effort, discipline, energy, and pain threshold. And as with everything else, even the danger or risk of injury not just to self but to others are also doubled. Mind your surroundings.

1. The Swing

1.1. One Kettlebell

A. Two-Handed Swing

When you ask a kettlebell enthusiast which exercise is a staple for the kettlebell, they will most likely say the Swing. Let’s start with the two-handed Swing:

A few reminders on the Two-handed Swing:

1. Spine has to be straight NOT vertical, straight.

2. Inhale before you lift then exhale when it reaches the max height (should be chest-level).

3. Your lower body is the source of the lifting energy i.e. pelvic thrusts

4. Your arms shouldn’t do anything beside holding the Kettlebell. Let them “hang” while your pelvis does all the work.

B. One-Handed Swing

Almost the same with the Two-Handed swing, the One-Handed swing is simply a swing using one hand alternating with the other.

There’s a variation for this Swing. It’s a bit more difficult because you let go of the kettlebell mid-air which therefore requires more concentration and muscle work.

1.2. Two Kettlebells

2. The High Pull

1.1. One Kettlebell

The second level of the Swing, the high pull aims to lift the kettlebell overhead in momentum.

2.2. Two Kettlebells

Once you master this, you can go and do the Snatch.

3. The Snatch

3.1. One Kettlebell

They say the Snatch is the ultimate and at the same time one of the very basic kettlebell exercises. It’s an advanced form which stemmed from the basic swing. It’s the best exercise in working your whole body and has been credited as the “Czar” of kettlebell exercises.

3.2. Two Kettlebells

Two variations.

This is the basic and should be mastered before doing the other form.

Now I myself don’t really like this version because it feels unsafe but to each their own, I guess.

4. The Squat

4.1. One Kettlebell

The squat is a known workout for barbell and dumbbell enthusiasts alike. It’s a pretty common exercise which brings no surprise as to why even kettlebells have it. Aside from being basic, it’s one of the most holistic exercises involved specially in the world of barbells. It’s an effective fat burner if done repetitively at a rapid rate in the shortest amount of time.