New to the world of kettlebell training? Click here now to check out our 'Introduction to Kettlebells' article!

Kettlebell basics

April 1, 2009 by Aamir
Filed under: kettlebell 

Basic kettlebell drills that can be done anywhere. 

Comments

25 Comments on Kettlebell basics

  1. keeganz1 on Wed, 1st Apr 2009 6:24 am
  2. Looks like 55lb, 24KG.

  3. parkerdirk on Wed, 1st Apr 2009 6:24 am
  4. i would guess about 24kg

  5. BodyByDesign on Wed, 1st Apr 2009 6:24 am
  6. Nice vid… thanks for sharing

  7. EZrussian on Wed, 1st Apr 2009 6:24 am
  8. I must add , kettlebell is addictive cant wait to do more. Bye.

  9. EZrussian on Wed, 1st Apr 2009 6:24 am
  10. Thanks for the video. I just recieved mine kettlebell 20kg, i try to do cleans and kettle bell hits my hand pretty hard – between wrist and elbow closer to wrist. Is it my technique garbage? Or it will always will slam my hand?
    While doing press i noticed my shoulder almost twisted to the side. Anyway cant wait to master it.

  11. jocktherockinza on Wed, 1st Apr 2009 6:24 am
  12. 24kg

  13. wchart on Wed, 1st Apr 2009 6:24 am
  14. the thing about kettlebells is that the leverage is different. at the top off a movement their is little resistance with a dumbbell. with a kettlebell there is always resistance. it’s surprisingly different and more productive.

  15. liftingguide on Wed, 1st Apr 2009 6:24 am
  16. Anyone know what size KB’s are being used in this video?

  17. Tulare74 on Wed, 1st Apr 2009 6:24 am
  18. Thank you for posting the video, I am pretty new to kettlebells.

  19. ams914 on Wed, 1st Apr 2009 6:24 am
  20. until you use one, you won’t understand. it’s like magic.

  21. colsartoris on Wed, 1st Apr 2009 6:24 am
  22. It’s a great drill with a dumbell!

    It’s far more evil with girya!

    1. The pendulum is longer, increasing the efective weight (force=mass*acceleration).
    2. The handle in hand creates an artiulated joint, just like a spear-throwing devide used by the Polynesians and Eskinos. This forces the stablizer muscles in the arm as well as the back to compensate, over 60% of muscle mass is used as stablizer, not as prime mover.
    3. The brain’s stimulated, recalculating balance, etc.

    Try It! You’ll like it

  23. gojuryudan on Wed, 1st Apr 2009 6:24 am
  24. Rubbish! before I got a kettle bell I used to do swings, clean and press with a 16kg dumbell and thought the same as you! Then I got a 16kg KB and its alot harder, contoling the swing and general movement is much harder than with a dumbell. The above video is an excellent reference. Also you should read enter the kettle bell by Pavel. Finally, if you still think its easy get a KB (not a dumbell) and see if you can do one handed swings for 5min on both arms, then come back, video it for proof!

  25. jordanvezina on Wed, 1st Apr 2009 6:24 am
  26. I’m not really down for getting my training right ‘most of the time’. Think I’ll stick with my kettlebells. Since youtube has been posting everything at the top, this is a response to thinkdeeper.

  27. turbalejo41 on Wed, 1st Apr 2009 6:24 am
  28. what is the weight of the kb used?

  29. madics12 on Wed, 1st Apr 2009 6:24 am
  30. Great Vid!!! Thanks for showing the front and side views!!!

  31. cervelo1980 on Wed, 1st Apr 2009 6:24 am
  32. The swing is a power exercise, similar to a squat. The arm swing does increase the weight of the kettlebell as it accelerates to the ground, making the exercise more challenging. However, beginners should be aware that there of the force pulling down on the shoulder joint capsule as the kettlebell is falling towards the ground, so start off with a light weight with fewer reps per set. Otherwise, it is a safe and effective exercise working many major muscle groups simultaneously.

  33. thinkdeeper on Wed, 1st Apr 2009 6:24 am
  34. I agree! i do this with my dumbell and it worx fine most of the time.

  35. Cassyan on Wed, 1st Apr 2009 6:24 am
  36. I don’t want to be negativistic, but I don’t get it: what’s all the fuss with kettlebells? Most of those exercises can be done with a simple dumbbell.

  37. arosch1980 on Wed, 1st Apr 2009 6:24 am
  38. Nice video…good stuff

  39. xcoastie99 on Wed, 1st Apr 2009 6:24 am
  40. Great video, very inspiring ( I am looking online to buy a kettlebell now). Don’t pay any attention to the “experts” telling you how to workout, they can post their own video if they like.

  41. penguinsandwich on Wed, 1st Apr 2009 6:24 am
  42. Looks great to me! About half of the KB stuff you see here shows people doing explosive (or even not-so-explosive) SLDL with KBs. So many people are afraid to sit back both in the squat and with KBs that it leads to this, I guess. Personally, I’ll risk my knees before I risk my lower back (not that I think you’re doing either here).

  43. kettlebellinstructor on Wed, 1st Apr 2009 6:24 am
  44. I’m RKC certified and agree with wolfram and iceman. The knees should lock out during the KB swing, but as a result of the hip pop, rather than the hips locking out as a result of the knee lockout. The power for the swing should come from the hips, glutes, hamstrings, and hip flexor. mstehle could easily fix this by starting out with his hips higher – in fact, he may have tight hamstrings, which are limiting the power in his swing.

  45. kettlebellinstructor on Wed, 1st Apr 2009 6:24 am
  46. I’m RKC certified and agree with wolfram and iceman. The knees should lock out during the KB swing, but as a result of the hip pop, rather than the hips locking out as a result of the knee lockout. The power for the swing should come from the hips, glutes, hamstrings, and hip flexor. mstehle could easily fix this by starting out with his hips higher – in fact, he may have tight hamstrings, which are limiting his movement.

  47. kettlebellinstructor on Wed, 1st Apr 2009 6:24 am
  48. I’m RKC certified and agree with wolfram and iceman. The knees should lock out, but as a result of the hip pop, not as a result of

  49. gaucoin13 on Wed, 1st Apr 2009 6:24 am
  50. Oh great, Wolfram49 sounds like he really knows his stuff. Old-school squat technique is not the way to do things, it’s perfectly okay to have the knees travel past the toes as long as your heels are planted and your form is good. There’s also no reason he shouldn’t lock his knees at the top of the motion as well, this is just old information that became gospel in any gym and it has no place in the real world especially when you consider more funtional movements.

Tell me what you're thinking...
and oh, if you want a pic to show with your comment, go get a gravatar!





Fat Loss

Kettlebell exercises