I love them. Bought a couple of adjustable bells (16 - 36 lbs) and a kettle clamp that turns any dumbbell into a kettlebell.

My thoughts are that they are just a new type of dumbell with a different way to hold them.

My gym doesn't have them and if they did I'm not sure I would use them - I can just see myself throwing one through a window or smacking myself on the head. Not a good idea. I just stick to the usual stuff - plates, dumbells, barbells and body weight exercises. Plus a bit of HIIT and walking. Works for me.

But - whatever floats your boat!! If you enjoy it and are safe, then go for it

I recently switched from stronglifts to a KB routine. I like them a lot better... Just more fun to me. It surprised me how hard they are. I do KBs 3 times a week. It is a routine that builds in a progression to get harder. I also do HIIT 3 times a week and try to fit in 2 to 3 walks. I continue to lose weight & inches at the same rate as when I did stronglifts, but people have been noticing more since I switched.

I do kettlebell DVDs for cardio 2 days a week and LOVE them. I still lift 3 days a week in addition.

What DVD is it? If you are doing it for cardio are the weights lower?

Love KB's! Them and kickboxing are my main forms of cardio (with a mix of resistance training). I am a powerlifter who also likes to look half decent.

I use heavy KB's for a few sets of 15 swings. Never use anything heavier than a 15rm as it's too risky IMO. I use my 64kg for this.

Then I will do conditioning stuff e.g. sledge hammer into tyre ss with 32kg KB swings.

I then drop down to my 16kg KB for when I want to do complexes. Typically these involve, one arm swings, C&P, snatch, rows and curls. If I had more room I would include Turkish getups also.

I can't stress how VITAL it is to get taught correct form. I don't know if I'm lucky or what but I picked up all the movements relatively well (except I totally suck at jerks so I don't do them, lacking in ankly and thoracic spine mobility) but I've taught a few people and you REALLY need to practice your hip hinge and neutral lumbar spine. Don't squat it, soft knees, hips back, then forward.

And please don't do the American swing above your head, it's asking for trouble and not what KB's were designed for.

Hope that helps
Chris

I was stupid enough to buy the Kettleworx DVDs. They are very poorly made (no pauses to change sides, more of an exercise on one side than the other, etc) though the exercises make sense and the workouts seem good enough as cardio and completely kill me :laugh:

Overhead swings are OK if you do them with correct technique!

You reckon?

At the iron edge course, they basically said that as the KB swing is predominantly a glute/hamstring exercise that if you can swing a KB over your head the KB is too light for the main purpose of a swing.

As well as that, I think that a fair few people will have issues with thoracic spine and shoulder mobility to get into an overhead position with a narrow grip without compensating in the spine elsewhere.

Thoughts?

Yep, don't disagree with that. Although, an overhead swing is still a glute, hamstring exercise but clearly more cardio/endurance oriented than heavy KB swings.

Absolutely, if there are pre-existing conditions like shoulder or thoracic spine injuries or mobility issues then it's not recommended.

yes you obviously would use a lighter KB (I never use anything more than a 12kg for overhead).
But performed correctly (and if all OK otherwise), it makes for a good endurance exercise.

honestly, I tend to mostly do heavy KB swings, because they suit my purpose. But I occasionally do the all out interval stuff with the overheads. A lot of girevoy sport moves are overhead moves. All of them have potential issues if there is poor form or a pre-existing reason to avoid them. But with good form, I am not sure that an overhead swing is any worse than doing snatches.

Just based on my own experience and what I've learned in my training to date.

I'm of the Russian school obviously