Kettlebells..? Am I just too old school..?

sallymason88 wrote: »

Bob Harper has a good kettlebell dvd, and there are any other around. cheap enough on amazon.

Actually I gotta advise against Bob Harper's kettlebell DVD-it's not awful, but last I checked (someone please correct me if I'm wrong) I don't believe he's actually RKC trained. Better off with the other DVD recommendations.

And please, PLEASE, stay away from Jillian Michael's kettlebell DVD. It truely IS awful.

MSH2930 wrote: »

Some really great replies here and great info, thanks all!!
As for those asking about my wrist/grip strength, my wrists are shot due to being a hairstylist for almost 30 years. Had surgery on the one back in 2004. I sometimes feel like I can't hold onto things (like a pot of water) and have actually dropped an item or two over the years. But I definitely agree I need to work on grip strength as well. *sigh* Lots of work to do!!

I hear ya about the grip strength. I don't have wrist injuries, but I've often thought that I could lift more weight if my grip strength was better. I fear the flying kettlebell. I second the farmers' walks, I do them with my pair of 20s, but might try going heavier with dumbells at the gym.

htimpaired wrote: »

sallymason88 wrote: »

Bob Harper has a good kettlebell dvd, and there are any other around. cheap enough on amazon.

Actually I gotta advise against Bob Harper's kettlebell DVD-it's not awful, but last I checked (someone please correct me if I'm wrong) I don't believe he's actually RKC trained. Better off with the other DVD recommendations.

And please, PLEASE, stay away from Jillian Michael's kettlebell DVD. It truely IS awful.

Doesn't Bob Harper actually do the TGU backward? I think I saw that clip on Youtube.

I love him but dude is not a kettlebell instructor.

There's nothing older school than kettlebells, actually. They've been a part of strength training basically since it's inception.

I think the kettlebell only video workouts and weird new kettlebell movements and itty bitty brightly colored 5lb kettle bells at target are just a trend. However, kettlebell swings and snatches will always be a part of a solid resistance training program.

If you're serious about improving your strength and power, say yes to the kettlebell and learn how to use it correctly. If you just want a 15-minute Body Toning Workout (tm), don't bother.

Older thread I know but I'll chime in..check out RKC (dragondoor) and StrongFirst. Also, you could google Pavel Tsatsouline who is essentially the godfather of contemporary kettlebell and was originally part of DragonDoor but now founded StrongFirst. Pavel has a couple books that are available on Kindle like 'Simple and Sinister' (I think someone else posted a link) which give lots of information about proper form as well as warm-ups and warnings. With his older books like 'Enter the Kettlebell' you'll have to put up with a lot of USSR/comrade shtick but, if you're able to look past that there's a ton of great information to be found. I supplement Pavel's books with YouTube videos of people demonstrating proper form for various exercises. Of course you should watch a few different ones because not everyone on YouTube has the same standards.

Start with lower weights. Perfect your form. Slowly go to heavier bells. Kettlebells are no joke; you can get some seriously good workouts in with nothing else but, like any other weight lifting endeavor, it's not too difficult to get hurt if you do it wrong.


I'd also point out in response to an earlier post that nobody NEEDS kettlebells but they do have some great applications and advantages. One advantage that I like is that because I live in a very expensive part of California I can't afford space for very much equipment and there's almost no room in my house to work out. But I can go swing a kettlebell in my driveway or go to a park, do some Turkish get ups and swings, and get an amazing workout on those days when I can't make it to the gym. I also know people who travel with them because they are so versatile.

mjwandssw wrote: »

You probably don't need to have kettle bells unless you intend to do a Crossfit type exercise workout. If you do, if used properly, they can provide a great workout.

I don't agree with this as far as Kettlebells and Crossfit. They are at every gym I belong to, 24, my work and my athlete based gym. I don't belong to F45 but I took a class there and they were also part of the workout. I used to belong to a gym here that offered a variety of KB classes, traditional and non traditional. A competition KB gym just opened a couple months ago.

For me personally it's not something I would do at home because I like having instruction like I can get at a KB only gym. But for non traditional stuff we use them in circuit classes I take and occasionally I will incorporated them on my lifting days.

I'm sad that my gym only has up to a 60 lbs kettlebell as I can swing it 5x15. I know I can crank out more reps but I want to try a heavier one

I'm glad I chose to read all the responses. OP this was a great question and I learned a lot by following up!

Lydilod wrote: »

Reading all the comments regarding how heavy a kettlebell your should use has got me a bit worried, the heaviest I can swing is a 6kg, I mostly use a 4kg and if it involves any wrist movement then I've got to use no more that a 3kg, my wrist can't cope with the weight.

No reason to worry. It's too bad when people say "everyone should be able to..,". This rarely applies to me. Everyone is different with different abilities, different limitations, and different preferances. Do what is challenging to YOU then progress from there. If you don't like it or can't do it, then find something that suits you better.all that matters is that we progress as individuals. It has taken me awhile to accept this, but it's the only way I can survive in the fitness world.

I don't know how heavy my first KB swing was, but likely 15 lbs. now I'm up to 35, soon 40 I hope. My trainer was pleased when I got to 35 and said most of his clients can't swing that.