Kettlebell Training for Fitness and Strength

Kettlebells seem to be everywhere these days, and many people are naturally a little suspicious about them. People ask if they work. The first response to this question must be, what are you trying to achieve? Whether you are looking to lose weight or tone up, or both, then kettlebells do work.

Kettlebell workouts fill the gap between pure cardio workouts and weight training workouts. Exercising with kettlebells quickly raises your heart rate and allows you to work up a sweat. In addition to this, they work the glutes and thighs, so make a great toning exercise as well as fat burner and muscle builder.

Great Workout For Powerful Legs

Many people make two false assumptions when they see kettlebells:

• They are only suitable for strong men
• They only work the upper body

A kettlebell workout is a great form of exercise for women. Why? Well, kettlebells work the glutes (butt muscles) and thighs. These are two areas which women are looking to tone up. They work the core muscles and hips as well as exercising shoulders and improving grip strength.

Kettlebell Workout

Before you start a kettlebell workout it is important to warm up. Start by doing around 50 bodyweight squats and a few gentle waist twists. This workout focuses on kettlebell swings and works the lower back, glutes and thighs.

This workout repeats the same set several times. Take it easy the first time to learn how to handle the kettlebell. Focus on building the momentum when swinging with your legs and hips and not by using your back and arms.

The exercise sequence works both your lower and upper body. The two hand swings to start help to get your warmed up , and work the thighs, glutes and hips, as well as lower back and arms. Then the rows give your legs a chance to recover. The single arm swings provide a much tougher workout and help to improve grip strength and coordination. The shoulder presses give your legs another rest before repeating the workout.

This is a simple routine that will get your heart rate raised and works the whole body. Keep your feet well planted, and make sure you have a safe space to exercise in. If you can repeat this workout 3 times without difficulty then you need a heavier kettlebell. This workout will burn fat and build powerful legs. Many martial artists use kettlebells to develop a strong stance.

Not a Fad

Kettlebells are not a fitness fad – they are a simple and effective tool for exercising at home. You can get a good workout which will burn more fat than an exercise bike. It will tone muscles better than a cross trainer. You only need enough space to stand in and swing the kettlebell between your legs. Their popularity is because no equipment is needed other than the kettlebells, and because they provide a more dynamic workout than standard free weights.

Many people like the kettlebell for its simplicity. The style of exercise performed with kettlebells more dynamic than standard free weights. Kettlebell workout programs are more explosive and develop more functional strength than traditional bodybuilding routines.

All Sizes Available

Kettlebells come in all sizes, so can be part if a cardio workout, or as part of a more serious strength training program.

The following videos show beginners kettlebells training, aerobic style workouts and more advanced, dynamic routines. The final videos demonstrate some specific movements, and the dynamic and explosive nature of kettlebell training.

This form of training can provide good results for martial artists, as timing and grip strength play an important role in the training. Kettlebells help you get toned and fit at home with limited space and equipment.

Kettlebell Basics – Introduction to the Kettlebell

This 10-minute video clip shows some simple exercises that are done with one kettlebell. The intro is pretty intense, the basic exercises are much easier. Well instructed by Steve Cotter.

Kettlebell Workouts – Basic Exercises and Progressions

This clip shows a series of kettlebell exercises. The exercises shown are clear and easy to follow. Exercises include the one handed swing with alternate hands; one handed clean; double cleans; bottoms up squat; one handed rack squat; two handed rack squat; plus some press variations.

Aerobic Kettlebell Workout on the Beach

Kettlebell training is not just for men. Here we provide a Women’s aerobic style kettlebell workout on the beach. Lighter kettlebells can be used for a better cardio / aerobic workout. This workout is lead by celebrity trainer Ryan Shanahan.

Kettlebell Training From Russia

This Russian kettlebell training video shows a dynamic and energetic kettlebell workout. This form of training develops functional, athletic strength.

Kettlebell Two Arm Swing Workout

This is a good tutorial for one of the basic kettlebell moves: the two arm swing. This exercises the hips, thighs, glutes, hamstrings, back and shoulders.

Concentrate on keeping the movements fluid and aim for perfect form all the time.

The power should come from the hips and waist and not the arms. If your shoulders get tired quickly, you need to use more hip movement to generate momentum.

The 1 Arm Kettlebell Training Deadlift

The deadlift is one of the foundation exercises for producing a solid core. The kettlebell exercise helps to strengthen the core and lower back.

Kettlebell Woodchop Instruction

The Woodchop is one of the best exercises for a dynamic and plyometric workout which builds athletic muscle. This movement requires a strong stance. It uses hip extensions and rotations with a large swinging motion.

The Turkish Get Up

The Turkish Get Up is a simple exercise that works the core muscles. It is almost impossible to explain how to do a Turkish Get Up. From lying down on your back your press a kettlebell upwards, then lift yourself up off the floor into a standing position. See, this explanation really does not help, so instead, here are some videos:

5 Drills to Breakdown to Turkish Get Up

This is one of the best videos. It provides some strength moves to work on the muscles you need to perform this. This tutorial is from The Art of Strength who specialize in kettlebell workouts.

Kettlebell Athletics Turkish Get Up

This tutorial shows Turkish get ups from a cage fighters perspective.

Jeff Martone Lifts A Woman (Ana Browne) with a Turkish Get Up

If you thought that you had to have a kettlebell to do a Turkish Get Up, think again. This video shows Jeff Martone lifting Ana Browne using the Turkish Get Up exercise.

Now it is your turn.

If you are new to this type of exercise start light. Practice many times without a weight, just keeping your arm help up straight the whole time. Then move on to kettlebells or dumbbells once you are confident with the movements.

Professional Kettlebell Instructors Explaining the Turkish Get Up

Jordan Vezina, a professional fitness instructor, talked to Bodybuilding.com about the Turkish Get Up exercise in 2008. He explains how to do a Turkish Get Up with a kettlebell, a barbell and a sandbag. His main tip is: “Whether this be a kettlebell, barbell, or dumbbell, be prepared to ‘ditch’ it if you start to lose control.” – always have an escape route planned! Read more: www.bodybuilding.com/fun/turkish_get_up_training.htm

Jordan Vezina runs www.averagetoelite.com where he showcases various exercises and also discusses various aspects of sports performance training.

Kettlebells are a great way to exercise. What makes them good is that you can exercise anywhere – at home, in the gym or even in the park. People of different strengths can train together easily by using different size kettlebells.

New kettlebell classes are springing up all the time and we recommend that you get some proper instruction before you start exercising on your own. Learn good form early on to avoid injuries and sprains. This form of exercise is very hard but also very rewarding.