Kettlebells
It seems that many of my clients and readers of my Blog don’t quite understand kettlebells…MANY don’t even know what they are! So I mad a promise to one of my Adventure Boot Campers to take care of that today;-) Now It is 430 PM as I am writing this and I was up working on a new program at 330 AM today (not a nap anywhere), so if you catch any mistakes or just stupid stuff…FORGIVE ME…I”M DUSTED:-)
OK, Russian Kettlebells:
have actually been around in one form or another since…oh, say the 1700′s. They are basically a form of dumbbell, except the handle is on top rather than in the center. They are different from normal dumbbells in that they are not so much for lifting as throwing. Now that does not mean that you actually let go and throw the things because that could kill someone! Rather Russian Kettlebells are used for swinging.
Why use these goofy looking things? Well, actually that is quite simple…they can provide the user with a workout that covers every energy system. What does that mean to you? Simple: proper kettlebell training will kick your butt!
Details? OK…Let’s start off with simple life. I’ve been working for about 12-13 hours, almost the whole time. You probably do close to the same thing, especially if you live in California. It is tough to get in a workout due to time alone! (Though I did get a workout in during my morning;-) So with time being a factor, what if I told you that I can put you through a 20 minute kettlebell training routine that will do all of the following:
*Provide a warm up
*Loosen the muscles up
*Flexibility
*Cardiovascular exercise WHILE lifting heavy weights
*Strength building
*Muscle building
*Abdominal work
*Toning the:
-Stomach or tummy/mid-section
-Butt
-Thighs
-Hips
-Arms
-The whole body!
*AND a cool down! All in 20 minutes!
Would that interest you? YOU BET!
Now if that does not interest you, then you are already in such great shape that you should come teach Boot Camp;-) OR you need to get your lazy butt off the couch! Move it!
Think about it, 20 minutes and you are done for the day…and you will feel it tomorrow!
Now this is just one workout style. With Russian Kettlebells you can also build massive strength, if that is your goal…I kind of like that aspect;-) Total core strength will come along with flattening the midsection.
Do you have bad shoulders? Most guys have terrible shoulders from years of trying to be the gym stud with the big bench press…pffftttt! That was the sound of my thought about being the strong bench presser AND of the shoulder as it tears to shreds doing that damn exercise! Kettlebell training, proper kettlebell training, allows the shoulder to move through a huge range of motion and actually has the ability to heal the shoulder issues.
Want an example? For years I have had shoulder pain. I have even had surgery! I have always liked to do dips, but the pain from dips (not bench dips, but full depth bar dips) is excruciating! So I always stop after a few days of trying. After extensive training with Russian Kettlebells I am ecstatic to tell you that I did 3 sets of 10 repetitions of FULL PARALLEL BAR DIPS this morning! I have worked on this exercise for the past 3 weeks, 2-3 days per week…I started only being able to barely squeeze 3 sets of 4 ugly reps. Do my shoulders hurt? NO! I love it!
Bottom line: Russian Kettlebells are a damn good training tool. You still need a well balanced program…everyone knows how I feel about that, and if not: Every training style has good points. There is NO single training style that is the end all of exercises. Than means that we need a variety in our exercise program. For example, I jogged to the park to do the dips and jogged back home. Simple road work. Prior to that I had trained on the Precor EFX. I did not lift any kettlebells today because I am still too sore from Sunday’s training…OH YEA! I did not tell you about that! I will write a whole Blog about that tomorrow, but I’ll tell you a bit real quick:
Sunday I had a special meeting at Prime Physique with Mr. Steve Maxwell, one of the pioneers of Russian Kettlebells in the United States. Now Steve actually built what was possibly the first set of kettlebells used in the US. He is a Master Trainer, and a major contributor to some of the top Russian Kettlebell Certifications in the country…a MAJOR contributor. He is extremely well respected in the international kettlebell community and teaches across the world.
Well this was not just a meeting or a workout…Steve camp out to San Jose to certify me as a Kettlebell Instructor. So I am proud to say that I passed his program and am now one of the few Certified Russian Kettlebell Instructors in the Bay Area, and there are not many of us! 
I am very stoked, and still sore;-)
This training in kettlebells will be put to immediate use in my new Boot Camps for Men! Check it out at www.AmericasBootCamp.com or www.MrBootCamp.com…they are live! On Friday I took delivery of about 50 kettlebells so that I can work with my clients and will be offering Russian Kettlebell instruction at Prime Physique along with an indoor Co-Ed Boot Camp Program.
Well, that is enough for today. Now I am off to take Bacchus to dog training…woopppiiie!
Let me know if you have any questions or need any help learning how to use Russian Kettlebells. Classes will open soon at Prime Physique, and I will be working with a few clients 1:1 to learn this great exercise method!
Now Go Workout!
Your Personal Trainer,
Brett A. Riesenhuber
Mr. Boot Camp and Americas Boot Camp
©2008 Prime Physique, LLC.
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