Results w/ Kettlebells

[jamsession888]

Hi guys!

I noticed that there are now kettlebells in the Philippines and that there are several posters here who have used them.

I'm just interested in knowing what benefits you have found in them, especially benefits that you didn't receive with other forms of training.

I bought my 20kg kettlebell from lifeline USA. My brother was a bit irritated because it's so heavy and expensive to ship to the Philippines. So far I've been very satisfied with it.

[blakedaddy]

They're tools... nothing extra special about them.

[swole_stevecc]

I do KB swings and KB wall squats. Helps me stretch and strengthen my hip flexors, adductors and hamstrings.

[jamsession888]

Hi Blakedaddy,

I agree kettlebells are nothing extra special. But each tool has their own specialty, e.g., barbells are the best when it comes to building muscle and absolute strength. I'm curious on what kettlebells specialty is...

[blakedaddy]

^ they all build muscle.

though kettlebells are my preference for some MMA circuits

[barbelladdict]

It's a piece of metal no different from a steel tube. Only heavier.

[jamsession888]

Blakedaddy,

They all build muscle? Kettlebells are rather limited in weight adjustments/increments that's why barbells are better for building muscle.


Barbelladdict,

Don't get your point.

[LifeBalance]

Hi all,

Am using the log in of my wife(will be using this one from now one). To lazy to open another one.

Glad this thread has started. I do agree as what everyone says that they are tools, but not just any tool. A tool that has many benefits which are hard, if not impossible to reach without the use of a Kettlebell.

Because of the nature of training, it's shape, and balistic nature of it's lifts, it will develop deep Neuromuscular foundations which are great for athletic performance, strenght and power. Not to dissregard the use of dumbells and barbells etc. Which all have their place in a proper strenght & conditioning program. lifting a Kettlebell involve different/more stabilisator muscles in the core. It's really kinda challenging to control that weight due to it's displaced center of gravity.

When training with a Kettlebell you will learn how to relax under load and develop tremendous work capacity and again due to the nature of balistic training you will develop endurance, , and agility by challenging the muscular and cardiovascular system at the same time. There are so many benefits that i could state but let's leave it at that for now.

Hope to hear some more inputs from other users.

All the best,
Kettlebell Fan.

[rob_mma]

ive been reading alot of kettlebell threads..it seems its the hottest thing for mma practitioners worldwide, from what ive read, it helps you with balistics specially when you need to explode...many people have experienced a great increase in their cardio and muscular endurance. these are just a few benefits of training with kettlebells.

But not too many people really realize that kettlebell training is a great way to pack strength and get big in size also.


i saw in facebook, some one is already selling the competition type kettlebells here in the phils. not the cheap ones that looks like it will easily break..was wondering where i can get those..

[blakedaddy]

They all build muscle? Kettlebells are rather limited in weight adjustments/increments that's why barbells are better for building muscle.

let's use some critical thinking here... Imagine you start out with a 12kg kettlebell... and ca clean and press it for 5 reps...

2 weeks later you can do 10 reps

another 2 weeks and you can do 15 reps...

then you move to a 16 kilo kettlebell..

now, imagine how much strength and muscle you have gained once you can do what you originally did for 15 reps with a 12 kilo kettlebell with a 16 or even 20 kilo kettlebell

[impaler1432]

ive been reading alot of kettlebell threads..it seems its the hottest thing for mma practitioners worldwide, from what ive read, it helps you with balistics specially when you need to explode...many people have experienced a great increase in their cardio and muscular endurance. these are just a few benefits of training with kettlebells.

But not too many people really realize that kettlebell training is a great way to pack strength and get big in size also.


i saw in facebook, some one is already selling the competition type kettlebells here in the phils. not the cheap ones that looks like it will easily break..was wondering where i can get those..

First of all, let me thank the topic starter. This thing has been waiting to blow up for quite some time now.

Rob, you are absolutely correct. It is the hottest thing right now, but this does not mean the KB is a new tool. It has been around for more than a century now. Russian strongmen used them as counter weights in the early 1900's.

You can buy quality KB's on ebay.ph or send me a PM and I can hook you up. Either way, let me know.

I'm glad that KB's are becoming popular in the Philippines these days.
Let's just hope that we get more certified trainers in the country to make sure that these tools are used correctly and benefits are maximized.

[brianpex]

ive been reading alot of kettlebell threads..it seems its the hottest thing for mma practitioners worldwide, from what ive read, it helps you with balistics specially when you need to explode

That sounds kinda scary.

But seriously, barbells can be used to develop explosive strength too. Haven't you seen those olympic lifters doing celebratory backflips after completing a lift?

[impaler1432]

That sounds kinda scary.

But seriously, barbells can be used to develop explosive strength too. Haven't you seen those olympic lifters doing celebratory backflips after completing a lift?

Barbells are still the standard in my opinion. A KB is a good tool to have, especially if you are a very busy person. They don't require much space too. I have been using KB's for almost 3 months now and I've seen great results.

[jamsession888]

Hi Blakedaddy,

I definitely agree kettlebells will build muscle but in my opinion barbells are just better for the job due to it being easily adjustable to a variety weights. Now if you're saying that they are equal than I guess I disagree with you then. Anyway I think your point is that it's not the tools that matter but how you use them will get you the results you want.

Thanks Lifebalance and Impaler for your comments.

Anyway for me here are the specific benefits I receive:
1. Achieved one arm pushup
2. Increased grip strength as evidence by being able to hang with one arm on a chin up bar and easier to open jars
3. Increased one legged squat personal record from 15 to 20 reps

NOTE: I think kettlebells are overrated by many. So I'm clarifying that I'm NOT saying that you can't achieve what I achieved with other tools just that for me since I'm just a recreational lifter I didn't know how to achieve the one arm pushup and I stagnated with one legged squats at 15 reps using other tools. Lots of people can do more than what I can do and they've never even heard of a kettlebell.

Still waiting for what other people's specific experience are...

[blakedaddy]

I definitely agree kettlebells will build muscle but in my opinion barbells are just better for the job due to it being easily adjustable to a variety weights. Now if you're saying that they are equal than I guess I disagree with you then. Anyway I think your point is that it's not the tools that matter but how you use them will get you the results you want.

no problem.. That's one draback of kettlebells is the weight increments... but, if you can get your hands on a plate-loaded kettlebell, problem solved

[LifeBalance]

Blackdaddy, What would be the drawback of a barbell?

Also do you think that a barbell is better suited for general fitness ,or that a kettlebell might be a more suitable device to get the job done for the average person who does not have the luxury of heading to the gym several times a week? I mean" which would have the most buck for our money?".

Thank you in advance for your advice.

[blakedaddy]

What would be the drawback of a barbell?

it occupies more space.

Also do you think that a barbell is better suited for general fitness ,or that a kettlebell might be a more suitable device to get the job done for the average person who does not have the luxury of heading to the gym several times a week? I mean" which would have the most buck for our money?".

either

[patrickt]

First of all i NEVER used KETTLEBELLS! NOT because i dont think they arent any good, but because i didnt have access to any at the time i needed them.

But inspite of my not having any experience with them, i would like to comment, since in the bigger scheme of training and training equipment and my experience in a variety of STRENGTH TRAINING regimens (ABSOLUTE strength, RELATIVE strength, STARTING strength,etc..) dependent on the requirements of the sport i was into (track & field, powerlifting, cycling), i think i can contribute something.

As BLAKEDDADY said, they are "just" tools, though as JAMSESSION88 said, each tool has their own SPECIALTY.

This is fortunately or unfortunately (depending on your inclination) where a little "geek power" helps.

Because of the LIMITED poundages available for kettlebells, it would NOT be the tool of choice for CONTINUED development of ABSOLUTE STRENGTH and SIZE because of the impracticality of increasing the poundage incrementally to an "unlimited" amount of weight when you get superstrong. But it can build some muscle and size to a LIMITED extent of course.

As for EXPLOSIVE STRENGTH/POWER, there is a STRENGTH-SPEED RATIO that one considers when comparing weightlifters to say gymnasts or fighters.

Weightlifters, by the very nature of their sport are speed-limited (RELATIVE to a gymnast or fighter) due to the super heavy load (barbell).

Gymnasts and fighters, by the very nature of their sport are strength-limited (RELATIVE to a weightlifter) due to the relatively light "loads" (their BODIES) being handled.

Kettlebells would then best be used for movements/sports requiring more speed than strength (hammer throw, discus, gymnastics, fighting sports,etc..).

This doesnt mean you cant use it for strength sports. It just means that this cant be the PRIMARY tool, but rather an "extra" say for Active off season conditioning for any athlete in general

LIFEBALANCE mentioned its displaced COG (center of gravity) making it harder to control and stabilize and thus forcing certain STABILIZER muscles to work harder.

A discussion on light tools (Kettlebell) vs heavy tools (Heavy barbells) i think wouldnt be complete without an understanding of at least a couple of concepts:

FORCE-VELOCITY CURVE- sometimes called a strength curve. It just says that the HEAVIER the resistance the muscle is against and obviously SLOWER movement, the GREATER force the muscle can or has to INTERNALLY generate. The LIGHTER the resistance the muscle is against and obviously FASTER movement, the LESS force the muscle can or has to INTERNALLY generate.

I emphasized INTERNAL so you hopefully will not confuse this CURVE as breaking the classic formula Force = Mass x Acceleration, coz it DOESNT. F=MxA applies to the force generated and exerted TO THE IMPLEMENT. The above CURVE law speaks about force generated by a muscle WITHIN the muscle (INTERNAL).

Principle of SPECIFICITY- just says that to be good at a movement, you have to do it repeatedly. Training wise you want to try to replicate the movement with as close to as possible the same speed and strength and technique of movement.

I have yet to see a REALLY ORIGINAL NEW training technology (must be the PACKAGING??). What with all the COMEBACKING of some OLD technology that has been around for a century (and some not as old...)

I wanted to say more but i gotta pick up my son. Maybe i`ll say more later.

Feel free to ask questions.
patrick

[LifeBalance]

Hi Patrick,

Thanks for the input. Anyway i do agree that for pure strength and hypertrophy, nothing can replace barbells and dumbbells.

But i also do think that for a general physical fitness and well being, in nowadays hectic lifestyle where time, space etc are a big factor. A Kettlebell would be a more appropriate solution to attain those. In my opinion this is one of the strongest assests of a Kettlebell. It's ability to do more, in less time.

Ps. If you ever feel like giving Kettlebells a shot feel free to contact me and it would be my pleasure.

Thank you again for your thorough review and hope to hear more from you(and others).

Regards.

[impaler1432]

Gymnasts and fighters, by the very nature of their sport are strength-limited (RELATIVE to a weightlifter) due to the relatively light "loads" (their BODIES) being handled.

Kettlebells would then best be used for movements/sports requiring more speed than strength (hammer throw, discus, gymnastics, fighting sports,etc..)

This is the main reason why I love KB's. I'm faster and more agile on the court these days.