Ok, it's no surprise that I'm a big fan of kettlebells. After all, they've become my business and helped me get into the best shape of my life. (I'm a bit rusty at the moment but I'm getting back into it)
Here's what I like most about kettlebells and kettlebell training:
- The workouts are fast: Train the whole body with the one tool. You can wipe yourself out (if you choose to) in an express 10 minute workout.
- I can do them anywhere. There is too much down time going to the gym. With kettlebells I can do a workout anywhere and anytime. Just give me a two square metres- outside in the fresh air preferably, and my kettlebell and I'm set.
- Fun. There's so many exercises that I can do with kettlebells I never get bored. Kettlebells are so much more interesting than traditional forms of exercise that I'll never go back. There is a real 'skill' to lifting them.
- Natural progression. When I feel I have mastered an exercise there's always another drill or heavier weight that can push me to the limit. This keeps me motivated and moving forward with my fitness.
Tell me what you like
I'd like to hear what you think about kettlebells. Don't hold back. Tell me your likes and dislikes. Share your favourite exercises and anything else you'd like to get off your chest.
I'm interested in hearing your opinions - whatever they may be.
Place your comments/questions below.
Over and out,
Rick
after a cpl of years of depression and barely even being able to lift a small pot of food to the stove to eat. One day while just running around the web i came across these kettlebell thingies. read about how they were good for your back, checked out some small clips on youtube of how to do the exercise and ordered a 16kb from rick after coming across his website. prior to this i had started working out with 2kilo dumbell to form my own rehab after lack of help elsewhere. I had gotten up to 8kg and my back started to improve but i also rehurt it in random occasions using both the bumbell and the the kb to which was due to my back just being messed up and most likely incorrect form aswell. bit more learning and i came across a video clip of this Rif guy with the foam roller. i was still having issues with the kbells and my back. it had been about 4 months since i used the KB as i got a bit disheartened i kept hurting my back here and there and spent that time using the roam roller
for the past 4 months i hit the foam roller every night for close to 2 hours sometimes even more. going over my whole body. Then i heard steve cotter was coming to town and i told my wife that i love her but i really need to spend $250 and see this guy. I think he will be able to help me. So here i am 4 months not using the KB and i did get some improvements from the KB dramatically as i could get around now but i was just constantly hurting myself really easily still during KB lifting and jsut my day to day work. The foam roller over that 4 months gave me a great deal of help also ironing out my muscle fascia.
so here we are the day before steve cotter arrives. i pull out the 16kg KB
and do a bit of arm swings for a warm up and 20 kb swings.
I then did 10 nervous snatches per arm. survived, phew. put the bells in the car in preperation for tomorrow. Before going to the seminar i spend 20 mins on the roller as neck a little stiff and was just super scared id hurt myslef and be embarrassed as
the seminar was amazing. steves warmup really helped me out.
so we start the workout and straight away from steves instruction i saw what i was not doing so well with my swing and it improved dramatically. shocked i managed to do them for 7 mins.
then we did the presses and im still surviving. when we got to the push press on the 3rd press i really concentrated on being explosive with it and i got a pain right on the primary spot of my back and you can imageine the word(s) that quickly hit my mind. however for the first time it instantly went away. usually ill be close to agony by now and cannot rotate my thorasic at all. im shocked and push out another push press. to cut the rest of the story short i survived teh rest of the day in disbelief and complete joy. Today im sore as hell. i feel teh sorness deep in my back and also deep within my lower back ( and arms n everywhere else ) but not like i have experienced before. I also feel stronger and more stable from that 1 training session with steve yesterday and i feel more mobile today soreness aside and have a feeling of less suceptible to hurting myself today. Steve has almost put a grown mant o tears here as his session yesterday has almost put me to tears as for the first time i see the light at the end of the tunnel to not have to cotton wool myself everyday and that i can enjoy the existance i want.
tomorrow im ready to hit the bells again with renewed confidence that i now have the more precise skill to perform them correctly which will lead to the return of my functionality and a happy future.
i will attempt a short list of the benefits i have received from using kettlebells.
massive increase in cardio fitness (from 10 snatches with a 16, to 200 with a 24) also add to that the mental toughness to get through without dropping the bell
a large increase in strength (from struggling to press the 16, to multiple push presses with the 48) *please note that this is "functional"real world strength so i can also carry many bags of groceries for my lovely wife, and throw young children hiiiigh into the air.........and often catch them.
i hve had a dramatic decrease in body fat, (from an impressive keg to almost a 6 pak now...almost)
increased energy levels
clearer thoughts
more motivation
even more verille! i had 3 kids before discovering k.bs and since using them i have doubled that no. of children. (i expect after another year or two of training i will be able to conceive children with nothing more than a amorous glance at my wife.)
the ability to run again, even though i despise running (a long story)
the benefits are many and varried, among them the oppertunity to meet, train and talk with Steve Cotter yesterday. now if anyone is in doubt about the worth of kettlebells, and practicing with them, i hope this post has made it clear, that kettlebells are "the buisness"
and for those of us who look at training as a long term thing... expect mishaps and delays, but dont be dismayed, dust yourself off and keep on going, remind yourself "its direction, not perfection"
merry Christmas to all, and heres hoping that we all get a 32kg pro grade in our stocking from santa (or for those who werent nice, a 100kg lump of coal!)
jason little
Incredi-Bell Fitness (website non existent at this stage)
I have recently (12 month ago) purchased a starter kit with 2 kettelbells & a DVD.I found the dvd was great easy to watch plenty of stuff to learn .After watching the DVD picked up the kettelbell and got straight into it .I found them easy to use and easy to learn most lift and swings. After using them for 3 month I was hooked I got straight on the phone and order a whole set .After a little time………………. Waiting ………..Well they all arrived safely .I was very excited when I seen all the boxes here. opened them all up and there they were all looking at me waiting to get picked up to get ,swung, cleaned, pressed, juggled, chucked .You just can’t hurt the little buggers. Anyway when I seen the MONSTER of all Kettelbells I thought to myself what am I going to do with this one ,well I have finally started using it. Just like to say your service is great Rick .I had problem with the handle of one Kettelbell when I received them .I rang Rick explained the problem and there was no question asked, there was new one sitting on my door step in a couple of days Thanks Rick .
Just like to say that keetelbells are great.
You can use them anywhere
You don’t need much space to train
You don,t need much space to store them
You don,t need much time to clean them
You can do so many different exercise with them
You can do Cadio
You can do Strength training
You can do Endurance training
You can test your Mental toughest
You can do just about anything with them
Walter
One of the great things I love about working out with my kettlebell is how quickly it has transformed my body. I have been running for a while now, but the kettlebell has really started to build muscle definition. My husband laughs at me everytime I excitingly show him a new bulging muscle that I have recently descovered. I guess blokes are used to having that kind of muscle definition, but for me, it's amazingly exciting to see my body transforming like that right before my eyes!
My husband and I are planning on travelling around Australia next year and the first thing I will pack on board our caravan will be my kettlebell. You just can't beat it for it's portability and all over strength workout. I can't wait to work out with it in the great australian outback and look forward to exposing it to more fellow travellers.
Jeannie