Kettle Bells

I

ian

New Member
What do people think on the use of kettle bells?

I've just been in the gym and a personal trainer was teaching some guy how to use kettle bells. The trainer guy looked amazing, he worked really hard and the guy he was training seemed to enjoy it. The personal trainer put it all down to kettle bells and started slagging off weights.

I think this guy looked well because he trained hard and ate well and honestly don't see how kettle bells can be considered better than weights? They're basically the same thing, yet some people have them down as some sort of holy grail. In my opinion virtually every excersie he did (all compound) could have been done with less chance of injury with a dumbbell.

Any thoughts?
 
I have been using kettlebells for quite some time.

One thing I really like about them is the fact that you have to 'control' (explained below) the kettlebell.  Which is what most people don't get when the start.  And it does wonders for grip and functional strength.  

That being said I don't see any advantage to using them over regular free weights for lifting or strength training.

But I will say that they do have a somewhat cardioish thing to them that I really like.  I use them as to more of a cardio (tabata) sense then a weight training.  Though I will tell you it is still pretty damn hard.

Control explained.
Most people make the mistake that they have to 'lift' the kettlebell only and that the kettlebell moves around your hand. They don't realize that it is your hand that moves around the kettlebell.  And you can not be 'passive' when performing the exercise. Each movement is 'explosive' to put in easy terms.

Most of the exercises have to be done this way for them to be 'effective' these  video 1 and Video 2 both by Jason Brown on the snatch demonstrate what I mean.

By the way great sites for Kettlebell
http://www.liftkettlebells.com
http://www.kettlebellchannel.com
 
A few months ago I was going to buy a couple of kettlebels until I saw the prices.
sad.gif
   After doing quite a bit of reading and watching videos, I've come to the conclusion that they'd be a very nice thing to have, but are not essential. I agree with Ian that there's almost nothing that can be done with a kettlebell that can't be done with a dumbbell, but I don't agree that DB's would be any safer.  However, I do think some of those exercises would be a bit more fun with kettlebells and they would be a nice change from your standard routine. So, if you can afford them, go for it.
 
There are some handles that you can buy to convert dumbbells to kettlebells but I can't seem to find the link.

If memory serves they were about $25 USD.  Not sure how effective they are.

Also, Macebells are an awesome training implement as well.  Although they are extremely expensive for my liking but I made one following these instructions.  There are tonnes of videos on youtube regarding macebell training. I think the most popular one is this featuring Karl Gotch.

On the Karl Gotch subject I tried doing these the other day and holy crap are they hard!  Combining a hybrid pull up and push up with a leg raise.
 
<div>
(AKUFADUM @ Aug. 15 2008,8:51)</div><div id="QUOTEHEAD">QUOTE</div><div id="QUOTE">On the Karl Gotch subject I tried doing these the other day and holy crap are they hard! Combining a hybrid pull up and push up with a leg raise.</div>
That looks like a killer exercise. In concept it looks similar to a muscle up on rings. There are definitely some body weight exercises that require a lot of strength to perform.

Also, I'd never heard of a macebell before. It looks interesting. I wonder if this, like the kettlebell, was something they used in the old days and is now making a comeback.
 
<div>
(EL_VIEJO @ Aug. 15 2008,7:32)</div><div id="QUOTEHEAD">QUOTE</div><div id="QUOTE"><div>
(AKUFADUM @ Aug. 15 2008,8:51)</div><div id="QUOTEHEAD">QUOTE</div><div id="QUOTE">On the Karl Gotch subject I tried doing these the other day and holy crap are they hard!  Combining a hybrid pull up and push up with a leg raise.</div>
That looks like a killer exercise.  In concept it looks similar to a muscle up on rings.  There are definitely some body weight exercises that require a lot of strength to perform.

Also, I'd never heard of a macebell before. It looks interesting. I wonder if this, like the kettlebell, was something they used in the old days and is now making a comeback.</div>
It most certainly is...

Just like clubbells
biggrin.gif


A lot of these tools are really good for functional strength

I remember the first time I tried a Macebell swing I whacked myself on lower back. It is a lot harder than it looks.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top