Tag: Strength & Conditioning

Why I’m Focused On The Kettlebell Snatch

And why you might want to be too.

While the kettlebell swing is the workhorse of kettlebell training, the snatch is definitely the king.

Multiple studies have shown that for cardiovascular capacity, the kettlebell snatch is the big boy on the block. Nothing really compares with it, especially in the kettlebell world.

Unfortunately, it’s also a very technical movement. While it’s easier to learn than a barbell snatch such as they do at the Olympics, it’s still not exactly a “Day One” movement.

But why am I spending the next little while focused on the kettlebell snatch above all other movements?

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What To Look For In Training Modalities

Everyone needs to train. In my not so humble opinion, everyone needs to get off their butts and do some kind of training.

But the problem is that there are a lot of different ways to train, and most people don’t really have a clue how to deal with the plethora of options. Especially when there are so many scams floating around in the fitness world.

So what do you do? Luckily, I’ve done some thinking on the topic.

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Why We Shouldn’t Forget Conventional Training Methods

Traditional lifts are often traditional for a reason.

I’ve written a lot here in the last few weeks about unconventional training methods. I’ve had a love affair with them before, but I got in my head that what I needed was pure, raw strength, so I turned to the barbell for that.

Now, fate has returned me to the loving embrace of things like kettlebells and sledgehammers (which is now my new band name).

But I’ve also come to realize something very important, and that’s how we probably shouldn’t turn our backs on conventional training methods.

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A Scientific Look At Tabata Training

People today are busy. I get that. While I have more flexibility built into my day than most people, I’m fairly business too. I have a day job, here, and some other projects that I’m working on.

Because of that busy nature we all exist in, it’s important that we make the most out of our training time. That means we want the best bang for our buck.

That means you may want to look at Tabata training.

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Style And Substance

Why Fitness Equipment Should Be More Than Just Functional

Do you want to know one of the things I like best about kettlebells? What I like is that you’re far more likely to find kettlebells that don’t look the same as everyone else’s.

You see, kettlebell makers–especially smaller operations–are willing to look at the kettlebell a little differently. They’re willing to take a look at the implement and think, “How can I make this bad boy even cooler.”

This weekend, the Arnold Fitness Festival is taking place in Columbus, Ohio, and earlier today the strongman competition athletes went toe-to-toe with a piece of equipment that is both style and substance, and it made me wonder why we don’t see more of that kind of thing.

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One-Arm Or Two-Arm Swings: Which Is Better?

For kettlebell practitioners, there are two types of swings. The two-arm is sort of the entry-level swing while the one-handed is the more advanced move.

However, many people who use a kettlebell never seem to progress beyond the two-handed stage. After all, the one-handed swing is a logical progression if you’re looking to do cleans, snatches, high pulls, or any number of other exercises.

If you’re just looking to get fit, though, is one better than the other?

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Picking Up The Kettlebell Again

When it comes to fitness, I’m far from monogamous. In my lifetime, I’ve had a lot of different training modalities throughout the years. I used to run way back when. I’ve lifted weights. I’ve even tried various video workout systems.

One thing that’s always intrigued me is kettlebells.

Perhaps that’s what I turned back to them on Monday when I was going to start full-body training?

Let me explain.

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How Should We Train?

A short while ago, I posited the idea that we’ve been training wrong. I argued that we’re capable of more regular training than we currently do. I stand by that.

However, after discussing it with some other folks, I took a step back and reevaluated a few of my assumptions and how that may impact things.

With that, I think I have a better idea of just what form training should take going forward, at least for me.

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Trying To Find One’s Way

In the time that this site has existed, it’s been both a masculinity blog built in part to support a book I wrote on the subject and it’s been a blog dedicated to all aspects of personal defense.

In each case, I’ve intentionally created what the goal is to be. I’ve decided I would write on X topic and only X topic here at the site. This is the standard operating procedure for blogs. It’s what I’d done in the past to varying degrees of success and it’s what all the advice posts on starting a blog tell you to do.

Yet, in the year since I refocused this site, I’ve noticed something. I’ve noticed that I’m not talking nearly as much about some stuff as I thought I would.

Which means that I’m not actually creating the site I intended.

The question is, is that good or is that bad?

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Thursday Thoughts: The Flexibility of Strength

What follows is my attempt to create some order out of the chaos that is this site. Things are kind of haphazard as to what gets posted when, and so I came up with the idea of a few specific days covering certain kinds of posts. “Thursday Thoughts” will most likely center on the more cerebral side of this approach I’m urging people to follow.

When people think of strong people, they don’t think of flexibility.

I’m not talking about the kind of flexibility that would make a world-class powerlifter moonlight as a contortionist, though that’s probably would people would imagine in the above sentence. Though, admittedly, now that I bring up that image, I’m pretty sure no one would think that about strong people either.

What I’m talking about is “flexibility” as meaning an ability to adapt to different situations. Continue reading “Thursday Thoughts: The Flexibility of Strength”