Tag: kettlebells

Study Looks At Kettlebells And Strength Gains

Kettlebells and strength gains. That’s a really big question and it’s not discussed nearly as much as I think it should be. After all, while we have tons of studies about how dumbbells and barbells can increase strength, there aren’t quite as many dealing with kettlebells.

And, to be fair, some of the kettlebell studies are flawed. I took a look at several studies here, and a look at another one here.

All in all, it looks like one can gain strength with a kettlebell, which stands to reason.

However, the science is far from settled on the matter, which is why a new study from August, 2020 deserves some attention.

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Training Scars

tacofleur / Pixabay

Yesterday, I looked down at my palms and looked at the start of my training scars.

At least, that’s how I opted to look at the blister trying to form on the top of my palm. Calling them “training scars” makes me feel a bit better about what they actually are. Continue reading “Training Scars”

Essentials Of Strength Training

 

NeuPaddy / Pixabay

What are the essentials of strength training? What do you really need in order to get strong and fit?

Obviously, I’m biased, but what follows is my simple take on the absolute essentials to get strong. Bear in mind that this is just one take on what the essentials of strength training. It’s not intended to be the last word on the subject.

Plenty will disagree, but here is an exhaustive list on what are the absolute essentials.

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The Kettlebell Overhead Press

Is it the king of overhead pressing, or just a pretender?

The overhead press is one of the most important movements in resistance training. It doesn’t matter if you’re using a barbell, a dumbbell, a kettlebell, or a big old rock. It’s important.

Once upon a time, the measure of strength wasn’t the bench press, but the overhead press.

While it’s prominence has fallen in many ways, the overhead press is still pretty damn important. Even while focusing on the kettlebell snatch, I’m still making it a point to press with a kettlebell too.

There are a lot of people who claim that pressing with a kettlebell is the bee’s knees.

But is it?

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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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Soviet-Era Study On Kettlebells And Strength

While I spent a good bit of time looking at recent studies on strength, there was one that I wanted to find that I wasn’t having any luck on. You see, in Pavel Tsatouline’s books “Enter the Kettlebell” and “Return of the Kettlebell,” he makes reference to a soviet era study by a scientist named
Voropayev.

He uses the study a great deal to illustrate how kettlebells can be used to develop strength.

The question is, what does the study actually show? After all, Tsatouline doesn’t exactly quote it.

But it’s something that we kind of need to know, right?

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Initial Impressions Of Kettlebell Kings Powder-Coated Kettlebell

Is it really that much better than a cheap kettlebell?

Now that I have the nightmare of the site move over and done with, I can get back to work. Part of that work was in taking a look at the brand new kettlebell that arrived at my door yesterday.

You see, I’d always used fairly cheep kettlebells because, well, I was broke and I’m a cheap bastard. However, I’ve always appreciated finely made things.

Since I wasn’t completely broke, I decided to get a quality kettlebell and did some research. In a lot of people’s minds, the Kettlebell Kings bells are the cream of the crop.

But are they?

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Do Kettlebells Actually Help You Burn Body Fat?

Does it really do anything to help you burn fat? Or are the claims just hot air?

One of the many touted benefits of kettlebell training is that it can supposedly help you burn body fat, making you a weight loss machine.

However, we’ve already seen that the kettlebell will increase strength and is a good conditioning tool. It would seem that it would help you lose weight if matched with a proper diet, but does it?

Well, I decided to take a quick look at any studies I could find on the topic, and what I found was fascinating.

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Untraditional Training And The Barbarian Aesthetic

Why some who embrace the Barbarian idea also don’t hang out at the gym

Something I’ve seen is that when someone embraced the idea of being a Barbarian in our modern world, their mindsets often change as well. Not always, but often.

They begin to not just embrace the attitude of the Barbarian, but their sense of aesthetics starts to change. They come to value things we often associate with barbarians like Conan.

And when it comes to unconventional training, it really seems that kind of training is perfect for those wanting to embrace the aesthetic.

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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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