Articles

Different Kettlebell Grips for Different Drills

(an Excerpt from Return of the Kettlebell)
In any overhead kettlebell exercise you should position the handle in such a way that the heel of your palm under your pinky is loaded and your wrist is not bent back. Once that is taken care of you have two different grips, parallel and diagonal, to choose [...]

If You Aren’t Kettlebelling, You Aren’t Training

Power by Pavel: “Greasing the Groove” for the Fighting Man
Whether you are a gun carrying professional or a martial artist, the following approach to “Greasing the Groove” (a strength building technique from the Naked Warrior) will benefit you greatly.
Run. At intervals you have set for yourself—so many minutes or so many phone poles—stop and [...]

U.S. Army Handbook Includes Kettlebell Exercises

The new US Army Small Unit Operations in Afghanistan Handbook, CALL publication 09-37, features duffle bag get-ups and swings, the Enter the Kettlebell! Program Minimum exercises.

Pavel Tsatsouline got a letter from one of our special operators in Iraq, near Fallujah:
“Pavel, this is a photo from my “courage corner” here in Iraq. ETK presses, pullups, [...]

Which muscles are worked in the kettlebell snatch?

Could you please list the muscles that are worked by the kettlebell snatch? Is it truly a total body workout?

The Importance of Taking Time Off From Your Kettlebells!

Probably one of the first things you might NOT expect to see in an article about kettlebells training is the importance of taking time off from your kettlebell training in order to achieve your best results. Kettle bell training is a kick butt, extreme form of physical conditioning, and the thought of even thinking about [...]

Getting Results With Kettlebells

There are as many different workouts designed to get results with kettlebells as there are stars in the sky but for you there is only one right one. Here we'll look into some of the things necessary to get the best results possible with your kettlebell training, and in the shortest amount of time possible. [...]

Kettlebell Routines To Get You Ripped!

There are many different kettlebell exercises that one could incorporate into a routine, and you'll probably run into most of these along the way, however for someone who is new to kettlebell training it's wise to focus on a few basic exercises to make up a basic routine. This will give you the advantage of [...]

Safe Kettlebell Techniques For The Beginner

Employing safe, sane technique when starting out as a beginner with kettlebells can ensure a lifetime of development and enjoyment with this fantastic training method. Conversely, if you start out with improper, unsafe and foolhardy practices you'll soon find yourself, hurt, disillusioned, and ready to use your kettlebells as overgrown paperweights! Let's look at some [...]

First Impressions – Kettlebell conditioning kicks a$$!

I received my kettlebell last week (16kg) and started with two arm swings for 10 reps then to one arm swings for 10 reps each. Already I was breathing hard. When I did snatches (10 reps each arm) I was pretty whipped.

Kettlebell Training For Firefighters

I don't have to tell you the demands firefighting can put on one's body. The physical endurance, strength, intense heat and cramped quarters can make for a very difficult working environment! That said, there is perhaps no exercise regimen better suited to the demands of firefighters than kettlebell training. The combination of explosive strength, high [...]

Kettlebell Swings – Proper Technique and Use

The kettlebell swings may be the very foundation of training with kettlebells. They certainly predate many of the other exercises, practical applications and uses. The various swing movements have proven their usefulness time and time again. If you're new to kettlebell training, this is perhaps one of the first exercises you should bring into your [...]

Kettlebell Workouts – Sensible Plans To Help You Reach Your Goals

Coming up with just the right workout to get started with kettlebells can be a challenge in and of itself. With a bewildering (at first) array of exercises and routines out there to choose from, what constitutes just the right blend for you to follow and how can you fashion a routine that will get [...]

Kettlebell Training – How Young Can You Start?

At first glance kettlebell training may not seem appropriate for teenagers, but upon closer examination, there can be a case made for several points of view. Kettlebell training is without a doubt, one of the most demanding, heart-pounding, and fastest results workout programs you can find today. There is no question that kettlebells can deliver [...]

Seven Kettlebell Training Mistakes and How To Avoid Them

Whether you're just started out in training with kettlebells or have been at it for some time, you need to understand that mistakes in form and function can not only hamper your training progress, but can actually derail your training, either injuring you or forcing you to spend much more time retraining yourself from bad [...]

Kettlebell Snatch Plateau: Breaking Through To The Next Level

At any Russian Kettlebell Certification course the typical failure rate is 20-35%. One of the main reasons for failure is not being able to pass the kettlebell snatch test. The following snatch variation (which is popular in Russia) may just be the thing to help you get bust out of your snatch plateau and hit [...]

Double Kettlebell Snatch: From Basic to Advanced

There is more than one way to do a double kettlebell snatch.
Mike Mahler's technique (Mike is a Senior Certified Kettlebell Instructor) is similar to that used by Olympic weightlifters. Mike extends his body and drives his elbows back in order to pull the kettlebells closer once they are level with his head. This kind of [...]

5 Hours Left for 25% Discount On Kettlebells!

Until midnight Pacific Daylight Time on April 26th you can purchase kettlebells for 25% of the regular price. This is the FIRST time I have ever seen kettlebells on sale at Dragondoor.com. Ever.

Injuries: Kettlebells vs Bodybuilding

Lately I've been experimenting with a mix of traditional kettlebell exercises (swings, snatches) and bodybuilding exercises (military presses, curls, etc.) and I think that overall it's easier to injure yourself with traditional bodybuilding type exercises.
With many kettlebell exercises, you are not isolating parts of the body the way you do with bodybuilding workouts. A swing [...]

Grip Failure in Kettlebell Training

I am getting frustrated by a seeming physical limitation in my left hand grip while swinging and jerking kettlebells. The third and fourth fingers of the left hand always give out before I do, and I have to stop before I lose control of the kettlebell.

The Role of Grip in Kettlebell Lifting

Should you squeeze the kettlebell handle as tightly as you'd squeeze a bar when lifting PTP style? I was really banging up my forearms with the cleans and snatches, but when I started crushing the handle as hard as I could, my form improved and the KB started dropping against the forearm much more gently.