Tag: kettlebell
Kettlebell Workouts for Functional Fitness
When it comes to working out, there are many variables. Should you use a high or low rep range? Is a fast or slow training tempo best? Should you focus on compound or isolation exercises? Your training goals will largely determine the answers to these questions.
If your goal is to develop a beach-ready muscular physique, then training individual muscle groups is the way to go. But if you want to build a leaner, fitter, more athletic body that you can use in the real world, you should incorporate functional fitness into your workouts.
When it comes to functional fitness exercises, kettlebells are an excellent choice. Kettlebells challenge your body in ways that replicate real-world movements to improve your functional strength, stability, and coordination. In this article, we lay out eight fantastic kettlebell functional fitness exercises and then program them into three super-effective workouts you can alternate between to build a functionally fit physique.
What is Functional Muscle Training?
Workouts consisting of exercises that stimulate multiple muscles rather than isolating particular muscles are called functional training workouts. These types of exercises force your muscles to work together and move through multiple joints. This improves neuromuscular control and coordination.
Functional muscle training enhances our capacity to carry out everyday tasks like getting out of a chair or carrying a sack of potatoes.
Any exercise that will help you operate better by strengthening your heart, lungs, or muscles can be categorized as a functional exercise. However, there is a range of functionality for how effective an activity will be.
Exercises that isolate muscles, like the seated leg extension, are at the lowest end of that spectrum. Movements like the squat that imitate our everyday actions are at the other end of the spectrum. We all squat down frequently throughout the day, whether it’s to use the restroom or sit in a chair. Exercises like this that mimic practical movement patterns will improve a person’s flexibility, balance, and coordination.
Enhanced Movement Patterns
Rather than being based on isolated muscle movement, functional training is based on movement patterns. That’s the way that our bodies were made to work. We operate best when we are in an upright position with our feet set on the ground.
In this position, we can execute the following movement patterns:
Squat
Hinge
Lunge
Overhead Press
Chest Press
Core Rotation
Functional movements that mimic these movement patterns should form the basis of any functional fitness workouts. Doing such exercises will improve your strength and performance through the movement pattern you are performing.
Why Use Kettlebells for Functional Fitness?
Kettlebells have come out of the corners of the gym in recent years and entered center stage. That’s because people have become educated on how these strangely shaped weights can improve their workouts. They are especially good for functional training. Here are three reasons why kettlebells deserve a key role in your functional fitness program:
Offset Center of Gravity
The offset center of gravity of the weight is one of the key characteristics distinguishing kettlebells from dumbbells. That’s because when you grab a kettlebell’s handle, its center of gravity is about 6 to 8 inches away from your hand. That makes the weight harder to handle.
This is why every exercise you perform, from standard strength exercises to more difficult kettlebell moves like swings, calls for precise technique and greater muscle stimulation than you can get with dumbbells.
Greater Core Involvement
The instability of a kettlebell means that your core muscles have to be constantly working to maintain your posture and balance. You need to keep your core tight and engaged far more than if you were using a barbell or dumbbells. This core engagement will strengthen your abs, erector spinae, obliques, and intercostals.
Improved Athleticism
Developing your grip strength is one of the key benefits of including kettlebells in your workout program. That’s because the handle thickness and weight displacement require your fingers, hands, and forearms to provide perfect control.
Kettlebell training will also improve your cardio endurance. Most kettlebell exercises are compound, multi-joint moves that require a lot of energy to complete. They’ll tax your heart and lungs as they demand more oxygen. As a result, your muscular and cardiovascular endurance will both increase.
Dynamic kettlebell exercises like swings, snatches, and cleans develop explosive strength. This is an essential requirement for athletes, whether they’re smashing into an opponent on the football field or scrapping for a rebound on a basketball court.
8 Key Kettlebell Moves
Here are the fundamental kettlebell exercises that should feature in functional fitness workouts:
1. Kettlebell Swing
The kettlebell swing burns a ton of calories as it helps develop explosive power. Power largely emanates from the ability to execute a strong hip thrust, which is the key motion involved in this exercise.
Muscles Worked:
Glutes
Hamstrings
Quadriceps
Core
Back
Shoulders
Step-by-Step Guide:
Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, with your weight on your heels.
Rest the kettlebell on the floor between your feet.
Look down at the ground six feet in front of you.
Sit back into your hips and reach down to grab the handle with both hands in an overhand grip.
Swing the bell behind you, then aggressively snap your hips forward as you stand up. As you do this, extend your spine and squeeze your butt.
Bring your arms up to chest level.
Immediately return to the bottom hike position and move into the next rep.
2. Goblet Squat
The kettlebell goblet squat helps you to maintain an upright stance by placing the weight in front of your body. To keep the weight centered over your feet, you have to keep your core tight, your lower back pulled in, and your chest up.
Muscles Worked:
Quadriceps
Glutes
Hamstrings
Core
Step-by-Step Guide:
Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart with your toes slightly pointed outward.
Hold a kettlebell with both hands hard up against your chest.
Hinge at the hips to go down into a full squat position, maintaining a neutral spine and keeping your chest up.
Push the heels into the floor to come back to an upright position.
3. Roll Up, Roll Down
The roll up, roll down is a dynamic, explosive exercise that combines hip and torso extension with multiplanar movement and ballistic strength. Start with a lighter kettlebell until you get comfortable with the actions involved.
Muscles Worked:
Abdominals
Lower back
Hip flexors
Shoulders
Forearms
Step-by-Step Guide:
Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart in front of an exercise mat. Hold a kettlebell at arm’s length in front of you with both hands.
Hinge at the hips to descend into a deep squat.
Continue going down until your butt is sitting on the mat.
Roll back as you bring the weight up and over your head.
Now reverse the direction to roll back forward as you bring the weight back overhead and down.
Use the forward momentum to drive yourself back up to a standing position.
4. Two-Handed Overhead Squat
The overhead kettlebell squat fully engages the back extensor and scapular muscles while also working the lower body. That is going to improve your performance of propulsions movements like sprinting, kicking, jumping, or running.
The overhead squat is a challenging exercise that requires quite a lot of balance and coordination. I recommend working up to it by starting with bodyweight squats with your hands extended overhead. Then advance to doing the exercise with a single kettlebell held with both hands overhead. Only when you’re comfortable with that exercise should you advance to the two-handed overhead squat.
Muscles Worked:
Quadriceps
Glutes
Hamstrings
Core
Shoulders
Triceps
Forearms
Step-By-Step Guide:
Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and slightly turned out and a pair of kettlebells extended overhead in a lockout position. Keep your arms close to your head and your palms facing forward.
Maintaining an upright body and neutral spine, hinge at the hips to lower to a full squat position. Keep your arms locked out throughout the entire motion.
Push through your heels to return to the start position.
5. Overhead Walking Lunge
This exercise represents the ideal functional lower-body exercise. That’s because it combines flexion, extension, and propulsion all in one dynamic movement. Then there’s the overhead part of the movement, which improves posture and increases core stability. Moving forward with an asymmetrical load also strongly engages the obliques.
Muscles Worked:
Quadriceps
Glutes
Hamstrings
Core
Shoulders
Triceps
Forearms
Step-by-Step Guide:
Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and a kettlebell held in each arm at your sides. Maintain an upright posture with your chest up and core tight.
Bring your right arm up above your head, locking out the elbow. The left arm should remain at your side.
Take a large step forward with your left leg and lunge down to bring the rear knee toward the floor.
Now follow through with the right leg to take another forward step.
Continue this forward motion for five steps, then turn around and return to the start position.
On the next set, raise your left arm overhead.
6. Squat & Press
The squat and press is a great functional exercise that forces your lower body, core, and upper body to work together to execute the movement. If you’re a rugby player, a martial artist, a basketballer, or a track athlete, this exercise is an absolute must to boost your functional fitness.
Muscles Worked:
Quadriceps
Glutes
Hamstrings
Core
Shoulders
Triceps
Forearms
Step-by-Step Guide:
Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and a kettlebell in your right hand at your side. Another kettlebell should be on the floor on the inside of your left foot.
Now raise your right arm overhead and lock out your elbow.
Turn both feet to the left and look up at the kettlebell above your head.
Keeping your torso facing forward, press your right hip back as you lean down to grab the other kettlebell with your left hand.
Come back to an upright position. Now your right arm will still be above your head with your left arm at your side.
Perform all your reps on one side, then repeat with the left arm extended overhead.
7. Kettlebell Deadlift
While the kettlebell deadlift won’t allow you to lift as much weight as a standard barbell version of the exercise, it does allow you to achieve a fuller range of movement. The kettlebell can travel well beyond the tibiae, towards the heels, whereas the barbell presses against and stops at the tibiae. This allows you to extend the hip extensor chain more effectively.
Muscles Worked:
Glutes
Hamstrings
Quadriceps
Core
Back
Forearms
Step-by-Step Guide:
With your legs bent, sit back into a half-squat as though you were going to jump up. The chest should be up with the shoulder blades squeezed together. Your back should be naturally arched. The kettlebell should be held with your arms extended and level with your heels.
Extend the pelvis up and forward while keeping the scapulae together until you are upright.
Slowly return to the half-squat position so that the kettlebells end up at floor level. Maintain an upright posture with natural back curvature.
8. Renegade Row
The renegade row is a combination of a plank and a row. As such, it does a great job of working both the lats and the core muscles. Every time you bring an arm off the floor, you will engage the entire core area as it balances, stabilizes, and supports your body. This is an all-encompassing exercise that serves as the foundation for athletic training in all activities that place significant stress on the core, including combat sports, martial arts, wrestling, judo, rugby, American football, tennis, and baseball.
Muscle worked:
Latissimus dorsi
Rhomboids
Trapezius
Biceps
Triceps
Shoulders
Core
Step-by-Step Guide:
Get down in the high push-up position with kettlebells in your hands. Your feet should be shoulder-width apart, arms fully extended, and shoulders directly above the kettlebells.
Row the right hand kettlebell up toward your ribcage.
Lower back to the start position under control.
Repeat with the left hand kettlebell.
Continue alternating sides to complete your rep count.
Functional Fitness Kettlebell Workouts
Now that we know how to do the eight key fundamental kettlebell exercises for functional fitness, let’s put them together in the form of three workouts that you can alternate over the course of your workout week.
Workout A: Kettlebell HIIT Functional Fitness Circuit
Method: Perform each exercise for 40 seconds. Then rest for exactly 20 seconds before beginning the next exercise. Complete all eight exercises in eight minutes, then rest for exactly two minutes. Work up to doing four rounds of this HIIT circuit.
Warm-Up: Three minutes of medium intensity on a rowing machine.
Kettlebell Swing
Goblet Squat
Roll Up, Roll Down
Two-Handed Overhead Squat
Overhead Walking Lunge
Squat & Press
Kettlebell Deadlift
Renegade Row
Cool-Down: Three minutes of medium intensity on a rowing machine.
Workout B: EMOM Kettlebell Functional Fitness Workout
EMOM stands for every minute on the minute. It involves starting an exercise at the start of every new minute and then resting for any remaining time within the minute once your reps are complete. So, you begin by doing 15 reps of kettlebell swings, which takes 48 seconds. That leaves you with 12 seconds to recover before going into the next exercise when 60 seconds is up. You continue this pattern to complete all five exercises.
At the end of the round, rest for two minutes. Work up to completing eight rounds.
Warm-Up: Three minutes of medium intensity on a rowing machine.
Kettlebell Swing: 15 reps
Goblet Squat: 10 reps
Two-Handed Overhead Squat: 8 reps
Renegade Row: 6 reps (per arm)
Squat & Press: 5 reps
Cool-Down: Three minutes of medium intensity on a rowing machine.
Workout C: Straight Sets Kettlebell Functional Fitness Workout
You should rest 45-60 seconds between each set for this straight-set workout.
Warm-Up: Three minutes of medium intensity on a rowing machine.
Kettlebell Deadlift: 3 sets of 15 reps
Kettlebell Swings: 3 sets of 20 reps
Renegade Row: 3 sets of 12 reps (each arm)
Squat & Press: 3 sets of 12 reps
Roll Up, Roll Down: 3 sets of 8 reps
Overhead Walking Lunge: 3 sets of 10 forward steps
Cool-Down: Three minutes of medium intensity on a rowing machine.
Wrap Up
Kettlebells are perfect for functional fitness. You now have a list of eight of the best functional fitness kettlebell exercises, along with three challenging workouts to effectively work your entire body. Take the time to learn how to do the exercises well, and then add these functional fitness workouts to your schedule. Begin with one per week, gradually increasing to three sessions, spaced at least a day apart. You’ll soon be rewarded with a healthier, functional, and athletic body.
Best 4 Kettlebell Exercises To Boost Fat Loss & Shred Down
Work to lose fat with these top kettlebell exercises.
Working with kettlebells allows us the opportunity to see great gains when it comes to those effective kettlebell exercises. As a worthwhile fitness tools to have in our routine, the ability to increase strength, enhance stability, and see full body progress is important. However, with kettlebells, the ability to tackle intense workouts can lead to fat loss and help us as we seek to shred down.
Combining strength training with higher intensity work is a great way to burn fat for it allows us to put on muscle, shed calories, and change our body composition for the better. Often times, equipment like dumbbells and barbells can seem challenging to use, especially with higher intensity work. But what you will find with kettlebells are easy to hold options that work effectively so you can tackle those fat loss gains with ease.
We’ll show you some top kettlebell exercises to burn fat and shred down as you seek that desired physique. Kettlebells are great fitness tools to enhance your workouts and with the right kettlebell product, you can achieve these goals with no problem.
Benefits Of Kettlebells
Kettlebells offer great benefits and can work to shape your routine for the better. With an influence on training and performance, knowing the benefits will make you want to put kettlebell exercises into your routine.
Benefits of kettlebells include:
Full body workout: Kettlebells target many muscle groups and increase strength, endurance, and flexibility to provide for a full body workout to save you time and get the most out each session (1).
Promote strength & power: Improved power output at an intense pace for increased lean muscle mass will allow gains for other powerful movements for either sport specific or functional movements (2).
Improved balance, stability, & coordination: Enhance mind-muscle connection and work to improve technique and form so you stay more balanced and stable and keep your body working as one unit.
Burn fat and tone: Easy to use and functional pieces of equipment allow us to burn fat and tone our physiques with things like HIIT.
Best 4 Kettlebell Exercises For Burning Fat
Let’s take a look at 4 fat burning exercises that can work to shed calories, tone us out, and aid in that desired physique. Adding these to our routine can work to enhance any training session for that extra layer of fat burn.
1. Kettlebell Squat & Press
What you will find with the kettlebell squat and press is an exercise that works to target your lower body and upper body. The squat portion allows for your legs to get some work done and the press will increase strength and stability in those shoulders.
How To: With your feet about hip-width apart, hold the kettlebell firm and bend down into a squat. Once you reach your max range of motion, drive up from the squat and push the kettlebell overhead into a press. In a controlled motion, lower the kettlebell and repeat for your desired number of sets and reps.
2. Kettlebell Swings
This compound movement offers a total body workout to increase strength and size while also getting your heart rate up. An intense movement, this is a nice fat burning exercise and fits well into any HIIT training routine.
How To: Stand with your feet shoulder width apart and let the kettlebell hang with your arms extended down. Starting in a semi squat position, keep your core tight and move the kettlebell through your legs to around chest level. Continue this movement at a good pace for your desired number of sets and reps.
3. Kettlebell High Pull
The kettlebell high pull is a good exercise to improve strength and power and the nature of the movement at a faster pace will get your heart rate going so you burn some calories. With a similar movement to kettlebell swings, you will see the connection if both are in your routine.
How To: Hold the kettlebell in front of you and with a neutral spine and tight core, swing the kettlebell through your legs, similar to kettlebell swings, but once at the top, give it a pull up towards your shoulders. Keep up this movement for your desired number of sets and reps.
4. Kettlebell Goblet Lunges
Kettlebell goblet lunges are great for evening out your lower body and the continuous movement makes this efficient at burning calories. For your lower body routines, this is definitely one to consider.
How To: Hold the kettlebell with both hands under your chin. Your feet will be together and you will engage your core. Step one foot out in front of the other and bend at the knee. Step that leg back and repeat with the other. Continue switching legs for your desired number of sets and reps.
Why Kettlebells Are Great Workout Tools
Kettlebells are great workout tools because they are easy to use. The handle and design of a kettlebell allows you to hold and move with any workout. Anything that can be cumbersome to move with just won’t cut it so having a quality piece of fitness equipment is exactly what you need to see the best gains.
Also, kettlebells come in many different weights which allow you to change as you increase strength and build more muscle. The downside to kettlebells is that in order to have different weight options you need to own a variety of kettlebells which can just add up. However, some companies are creating adjustable kettlebells, similar to adjustable dumbbells, to alleviate the hassle of paying for more kettlebells and taking up space.
Check out our list of the Best Kettlebells for more great fitness products!
Wrap Up
Kettlebells are great pieces of fitness equipment and can work to burn fat so you see great results to your physique. As convenient and versatile pieces of equipment, you will find that kettlebells will help you move with ease and work to capitalize on those goals as effectively as possible. Give yourself the benefit of a great fat burning workout with kettlebells today.
Let us know what you think in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
*Images courtesy of Envato
References
Kravitz, Len. “Kettlebell Research Update”. (source)
Beardsley, Chris; Contreras, Bret (2014). “The Role of Kettlebells in Strength and Conditioning: A Review of the Literature”. (source)
Kettlebells Vs. Dumbbells: Benefits, Differences & More
Get the most out of this kettlebells vs. dumbbells debate!
Exploring kettlebells vs. dumbbells as we look to get the most out of our workouts is a worthwhile venture. Many of us may use both kettlebells and dumbbells to enhance our gains, but do we really know the differences and what lies under the kettlebells vs. dumbbells debate? What you will find when using both of these pieces of fitness equipment are they will offer strength, can build muscle, and enhance some cardio needs as you see fit.
But when it comes to boosting all of our gains and seeing the most effective growth, we don’t just want to flounder around and make do with what we can. We want a targeted approach to all things gains and knowing whether to use a kettlebell, dumbbell, or any other piece of equipment can be a game changer. All in all, the right approach can increase training and performance for the best results.
Let’s jump into this and see why the kettlebells vs. dumbbells debate actually exists. Knowing what equipment to use can make or break those gains and you may be surprised once you change things up a bit. With so many options to choose from when deciding on fitness equipment, knowing what each can do will give you a better chance at seeing real success.
Kettlebells: What They Are, Benefits & More
Kettlebells are functional pieces of equipment designed to increase strength and power, and enhance cardio movements. Given the design and handle shape, a kettlebell is easy to use when it comes to higher intensity and more explosive movements. Great for a host of exercises, kettlebells can work for both compound and isolation exercises and will round out any well-structured training program. With a relaxed grip and the right size kettlebell, you will have game changing workouts.
Related: Best Kettlebell Exercises For A Massive Full Body Workout
Benefits of kettlebells include:
Full body workout: Targets many muscle groups and increases strength, endurance, and flexibility for compound movements (1).
Better strength & power: Improve power output for increased lean muscle mass and work on building the base for more explosive movements (2).
Improve balance, stability, & coordination: Enhance mind-muscle connection and improve technique and form to aid in stability and better balance, especially for those bigger lifts.
You will find kettlebells are more versatile and will promote strength and power by optimizing all your movements and giving you the most effective lifts as well.
Check out our list of the Best Kettlebells for more great strength building and endurance enhancing products!
Dumbbells: What They Are, Benefits & More
We all know what dumbbells can do and we use them potentially the most out of all our equipment. Dumbbells work really well for isolation exercises, although they can promote compound movements as well. What you will find with dumbbells is that you can substitute out a barbell exercise easily for a versatile variation that still promotes gains. Easy to grip and build grip strength, while working to build as much strength as possible, dumbbells are a great piece of fitness equipment to try.
Related: Best Dumbbell Exercises For Building Muscle & Toning
Benefits of dumbbells include:
Safe and effective exercise: Dumbbells ensure a safe and effective exercise by allowing you to maintain proper form without too much weight. You still need to focus on technique but these do offer a safe piece of equipment.
Perfect for muscle growth: Work to increase muscle growth by creating time under tension and adding nice resistance to your workouts (3).
Adjust for strength and symmetry: You can work one arm or one leg at a time and work to sculpt a symmetrical physique for all things gains (4).
For dumbbells, you will find these can greatly enhance compound and isolation movements and work to give you the best and most convenient gains possible.
Check out our list of the Best Dumbbells for more great muscle building and toning products!
Kettlebells Vs. Dumbbells: What Are The Differences?
There are plenty of similarities with kettlebells and dumbbells but the slight differences may impact you more than you think. It should be said that these can also be used interchangeably for a number of exercises and what you will target are grip and muscle engagement. Other than that, most of it is similar.
Kettlebells will give you an easy to grip piece of equipment perfect for versatile and functional movements that improve strength and power. Given the nature of a kettlebell design, this piece of equipment can be used for a variety of exercises used to give you the best benefits possible.
As for dumbbells, these are great for working to build muscle and enhance mind-muscle connection. While they are easy to grip, the nature of a dumbbell design makes it more difficult to perform some of those same movements as with kettlebells. Dumbbells will give you great gains to isolation exercises as you can target the muscle specifically, as well as gains to compound exercises since you can go higher in weight, however, keep it controlled as well.
The choice is up to you. Both kettlebells and dumbbells have the ability to increase your gains and allow for the best when it comes to building muscle and sculpting a physique. You need to know your goals and tailor your workouts and your equipment to that. At the end of the day, use both kettlebells and dumbbells in your routine for this will complete and round out a well-structured training plan perfect for gains. Plus, you won’t have to worry about answering the kettlebells vs. dumbbells debate.
Wrap Up
For our lifting goals, kettlebells vs. dumbbells may as well not exist. Both pieces of equipment are great for gains and can enhance our goals for the better. Whether you are looking to improve power, strength, explosivity, or endurance, both kettlebells and dumbbells can help with this one way or another. Give yourself the best chance at success and use both of these pieces of equipment, settling the kettlebells vs. dumbbells debate once and for all.
Let us know what you think in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
*Images courtesy of Envato
References
Kravitz, Len. “Kettlebell Research Update”. (source)
Beardsley, Chris; Contreras, Bret (2014). “The Role of Kettlebells in Strength and Conditioning: A Review of the Literature”. (source)
Saeterbakken, A.; Tillaar, R.; Fimland, M. (2011). “A comparison of muscle activity and 1-RM strength of three chest-press exercises with different stability requirements”. (source)
Franettovich, M.; Hides, J.; Mendis, M.; Littleworth, H. (2011). “Muscle imbalance among elite athletes”. (source)
Best Kettlebell Exercises For A Massive Full Body Workout
Try these kettlebell exercises to beef up all of those full body workouts.
When we look to kettlebell exercises, there are a few that stand out. However, there are so many out there, and many including variations of traditional ones, that it is a huge disservice to neglect them. When it comes to our full body gains, sure, there are plenty of workouts available. However, it should be said that we can’t just settle for any old exercises and expect to see the best growth.
So much equipment exists that it can be hard to know what to use, and if you are working on a home gym, what to buy. But going through a bit of an inventory can be helpful as we navigate what we really need versus what we don’t. And when it comes to kettlebells, we can’t ignore what these can do.
Kettlebells are interesting for they offer a unique grip perfect for strength building and high-intensity exercise. Why this is great is it gives us a chance to enhance all areas of our gains with a versatile and convenient piece of equipment.
Let’s take a look at some of the best kettlebell exercises for each muscle group so you know how to enhance your workouts and see full body gains. We will get into the benefits of kettlebells and break down an exercise for each body part so you know exactly how best to tackle those full body gains.
Benefits Of Kettlebells
When looking at kettlebells, it is important to note the powerful benefits associated with this fitness equipment. Knowing what kettlebells can do will make you want to include them into your workouts.
Full body workout: Targets many muscle groups and increases strength, endurance, and flexibility for the best overall gains (1). With variations for each exercise, you can work for sport specific and functional results.
Promote strength & power: Improved power output for increased explosivity and increased lean muscle mass (2,3). This will enhance those other bigger lifts that require such power to complete.
Improved balance, stability, & coordination: Enhance mind-muscle connection and work to improve technique and form for enhanced coordination and stability. This doesn’t only affect our training and performance, but also every day life as well.
Simple & convenient tools: No changing weights and easy to learn for great workouts and added versatility to increase your results. As you build strength, you can start to put together a full rack of different kettlebells for a wide array come future workouts.
Best Kettlebell Exercises For Full Body Workouts
These exercises for each muscle group will provide for a well-rounded workout to increase full body gains and give you the best chance at seeing success. With kettlebells, it is important to know that variations of these exercises to exist, so if an exercise looks familiar, know that a kettlebell can make a difference in the long run.
Chest: Kettlebell Push-Ups
Kettlebell push-ups will work to challenge your grip, giving your chest a different workout while still increase strength and size. Typically what you will find are your hands spread out on the floor for better support when performing a traditional push-up. But with a kettlebell, your grip is more narrow thus working your muscles differently.
Back: Kettlebell Renegade Rows
Renegade rows with kettlebells are a great way to challenge your body when it comes to strength, stabilization, and posture. The movement of this exercise will build strength while your core needs to be braced to enhance stability. Plus, you will have the ability to press and pull better with more support for other big lifts.
Shoulders: Kettlebell Shoulder Press
The shoulder press is obviously a staple in a shoulder day routine and while this can be done with a barbell or dumbbells, it is important to know this can also be done with kettlebells. All this will do is offer a nice variation while building shoulder strength and size and enhancing your arm definition.
Biceps: Kettlebell Bicep Curl
By curling with kettlebells, you challenge your grip and develop your biceps differently. A versatile variation of the traditional bicep curl, you will find this works well to switch off sets with dumbbells for that added challenge and substantial muscle growth.
Triceps: Kettlebell Skullcrusher
This exercise variation may be unknown to you, but yes, you can perform the skullcrusher exercise with kettlebells. While this is often done with an EZ bar or a barbell, kettlebells simply give you another form of weight to try and challenge those triceps to grow.
Quads: Goblet Squat
The goblet squat is a real quad builder, but also enhances other lower body muscles as well. The kettlebell allows you to comfortably hold the weight while increasing time under tension for real growth to take place. You also start to build better mechanics for those bigger lifts as well.
Hamstrings: Kettlebell Romanian Deadlift
Romanian deadlifts are nice for building sport specific and functional movements to really fire up those hamstrings. Required with this movement is core engagement for stability and the kettlebell offers a nice grip so you can move with ease and take advantage of a full range of motion.
Core: Russian Twists
We can’t leave out Russian twists for a core exercise for these work those middle abdominals and obliques. Using a kettlebell allows you to hold weight easily while still challenging those core muscles to grow.
Check out our list of the Best Kettlebells for more great lifting and fitness products!
Wrap Up
These best kettlebell exercises will offer a great base for a full body workout and gains while taking full advantage of what a kettlebell can do for you. Using a kettlebell is a great piece of equipment to enhance gains while building both sport specific and functional movements. What you will find with these exercises are many of the traditional ones with a kettlebell twist for a worthwhile variation. Give these kettlebell exercises a try and see what they can do for all your goals today.
Let us know what you think in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
*Images courtesy of Envato
References
Kravitz, Len. “Kettlebell Research Update”. (source)
Beardsley, Chris; Contreras, Bret (2014). “The Role of Kettlebells in Strength and Conditioning: A Review of the Literature”. (source)
Manocchia, P.; et al. (2013). “Transference of Kettlebell Training to Strength, Power, and Endurance”. (source)
Top 5 Tips For Keeping Up With Your Cardio Indoors
There are ways to keep up with your cardio while working out at home.
Cardio might not be the most appealing type of exercise in the world, but it’s an important part of a healthy and well-rounded exercise routine. Keeping with your cardio can be a burden, but there are ways you can incorporate it into your daily workouts to make it more manageable.
If you’re still working from home, this is a great time to think about how you could incorporate exercise throughout the day since you no longer have going to the office taking up so much of your time.
Tip #1: The kettlebell is your friend.
Weight is your best friend when it comes to doing indoor cardio. Since you don’t have that much space to move around, the best trick is to utilize weights to force your body to break a sweat. The kettlebell is one of the best workout tools in this respect. You can do rapid kettlebell swings to get your heart rate up while standing in living room watching TV or on a Zoom call.
Doing twists while holding a kettlebell, when done rapidly, can also increase your cardio and help you lose weight! If you want to get serious about doing indoor cardio, definitely make sure you have one of these on hand, or an equivalent weighted tool you prefer like a medicine ball.
Tip #2: Sneak cardio into your strength training.
If you’re one of those people that absolutely dreads doing cardio, there are ways you can sneak cardio exercises into your strength training workouts. Simple modifications to common workouts are key. You could try doing five minutes of HIIT in between exercises as a way of getting cardio in while continuing to do whatever workout you normally do and enjoy.
Tip #3: Try jumping jacks, jump rope, and other ways of working out that don’t use equipment.
One of the biggest challenges of doing cardio at home is that — if you don’t have a home gym — you don’t have access to any of the fitness equipment like treadmills or rowing machines that make indoor cardio a breeze. You can still get cardio in at home with some tried and true classics like the jump rope.
Make a commitment to do fifteen minutes of jumping jacks before you start your day or before you go to bed. A jump rope is a cheap and easy way to do cardio in your house whenever you have the time. Remember, it’s the man that makes the workout, not the equipment.
Tip #4: High knees will help you break a sweat.
High knees are a cardio fundamental. It gets the blood pumping and you can do it pretty much anywhere. Plus, it burns fat in a pretty fast amount of time, so as long as you do it rapidly and with intensity you don’t even have to do it that long. Better yet, do it in small but intense bursts throughout the day to burn the most fat.
Tip #5: Don’t rely too much on HIIT for cardio, since it will disrupt your gains in strength training.
Lots of people choose HIIT as their weapon of choice when it comes to getting cardio in and it’s easy to see why. It’s quick, effective, and it gets the job done. But HIIT workouts can actually slim you down and decrease your gains from strength training since the exercises are designed to make your body more lean. If you’re trying to do cardio without sacrificing gains, make sure to not overdose on HIIT.
Kettlebell Sumo High Pull — How To, Variations and Muscles Worked
The kettlebell sumo high pull (or kettlebell sumo deadlift high pull) is a functional exercise that also builds strength and muscle throughout the entire body. It combines a deadlift and upright row, and, therefore isn’t just a simple movement which is why it’s so effective. Consequently, it’s not the best option for beginners to try…
7 Kettlebell Exercises For a Nice Butt
Kettlebell exercises can help build up many areas!
Kettlebells are all the rage these days. Many people consider kettlebell exercises to have better functional value than dumbbells, and for that reason, it is drawing a cult following. Heck, we even have kettlebells that look like chimps, orangutans, Bigfoot, and even Darth Vader.
While kettlebells provide the convenient size and portability of a dumbbell, they have a unique impact on your muscles. The spherical weight of a kettlebell can be anywhere between six to eight inches from your hands, which adds an unparalleled challenge for core stability and stabilizer muscles.
Kettlebell exercises usually involve several muscle groups at once, making them a potent compound lift-focused training tool. The versatile tool that they are, kettlebells can be used for a variety of exercises that improve both your strength and cardiovascular fitness.
Check Out: Best Kettlebells For Durability & Versatility (Updated 2021)
Origin of The Kettlebell
Before we get to the exercises which will transform your rear forever, let us talk about how the weird-looking training equipment came to be.
Kettlebells were developed by Russian strongmen in the 1700s.
Interestingly, in the 18th century, the girya (as the kettlebells are called in Russia) were primarily used to weight crops until some burly Russians started lifting them for building strength and endurance.
Russians and their awkward inventions, right?
The cannonball resembling training equipment began to be used for recreational and competition strength athletics in Russia and Europe in the late 19th century.
Trivia: The English term kettlebell has been in use since the early 20th century.
Kettlebells are usually made of iron or steel and are sometimes covered in colorful vinyl with a comfortable handle grip.
Must Read: The Most Effective Compound Exercises For All Levels of Experience
Benefits of Kettlebell Training
So, you are wondering why bother with the kettlebells and not just use dumbbells instead? Here are the benefits of using kettlebells in your workouts:
1. Helps Develop Explosive Hip Strength and Speed
You cannot go wrong with kettlebells if your goal is to build explosive hip strength. Don’t worry. We won’t ask you what you need the explosive hip strength for in the first place.
Kettlebell swings are one of the most common and effective kettlebell exercises. They are also efficient at training your glutes for strength and speed.
But why is hip strength so important, you ask?
Hip strength can help improve your overall stability and can prevent injuries. Also, hip strength and speed play an important role in many athletic movements, such as jumping, sprinting, and squatting.
Related: Fifteen Essential Lower Body Exercises To Add To Your Training
2. Improves Core Strength and Stability
Most kettlebell movements are a form of ballistic training. Ballistic training improves explosive power by maximizing acceleration and minimizing deceleration. These explosive lifts activate the abdominal muscles and require core contraction and coordinated breathing. This process results in an improvement in core strength.
On top of this, kettlebell exercises are multiplanar, meaning – you will be training your core from all directions. It helps with building overall core strength.
3. Increases Range of Motion
Most kettlebell exercises are compound movements that require you to move through multiple planes of motion. Explosive movements through these planes, over time, results in improved flexibility, mobility, and as a result – a better range of motion.
Related: Full Range Of Motion Vs Partials: Which Is The Way To Go?
4. A Total Body Conditioning Tool
Don’t let the little friendly-looking weight training equipment fool you. They can cause total body annihilating in no time. Maybe there is a reason why some brands make them in the Primal shape.
Kettlebells are great at all the four aspects of fitness – strength, endurance, flexibility, and balance training. No matter how packed your schedule, you can always fit a 20-minute kettlebell routine into your day. The best part? You do not need to hit the gym to complete a kettlebell circuit, you could do it from the comfort of your living room or your garage.
Next Read: At Home Workouts With A Single Kettlebell
5. Facilitates Fat Torching Workouts
Kettlebell training circuits are nothing less than fat-burning fests. According to a study, swinging a kettlebell burns as many as 20 calories per minute. For people too lazy to do the math, that’s 400 calories for a 20-minute workout.
Better yet, kettlebell training often results in EPOC (express post-exercise oxygen consumption). Before you freak out – this is a good thing. It means that you would still be burning calories throughout the day after you are done with your kettlebell workout.
6. Improves Balance
Unlike while training with machines, you need to control your movement path while working with kettlebells. Since kettlebell movements have no predetermined movement paths, it requires your stabilizers to work extra hard, and over time results in their strengthening and improvement in overall body balance.
7. Develops a Stronger Posterior Chain and Improves Posture
Most kettlebell exercises are great for your posterior chain as they target your entire backside. Ballistic exercises like Kettlebell Swings help develop explosive strength in your glutes, hamstrings, lower and middle back, and traps.
Your newfound posterior chain strength will aid in jumping higher, running faster, and kicking harder. Not to mention, strong posterior muscles result in a better posture. Goodbye, slouching.
Must Read: Improve Hip Mobility to Boost Lower Body Power
8. Improves Muscles Imbalances
Since many of the kettlebell exercises involve unilateral movements, they help nail down muscle weakness and imbalances. While performing a kettlebell exercise, you might notice that your right side is weaker than the left on a specific lift.
With this information, you can re-design your training program to fix these discrepancies. If you have been training with barbells and machines for a long time, add kettlebell training to your regimen, and you will notice an improvement in muscle imbalances and symmetry.
Check Out: The Benefits Of Unilateral Training & Why It Matters
9. Enhances Muscle Coordination
Unlike the linear movement pattern of barbells and machines, the dynamic nature of kettlebell training forces you to focus on the movement and have a sharp mind-muscle connection. This leads to improved muscle coordination.
Read: 6 Ways To Improve Your Mind-Muscle Connection
10. Builds Lean Muscle Mass
Although kettlebell training alone does not build crazy muscle mass, it increases the amount of lean muscle tissue. If you are a fan of ripped physiques, kettlebell workouts can help you achieve the conditioning you are after.
Not only does kettlebell training help build lean muscle mass, but it also helps in staying agile, athletic and improves mobility, flexibility, and range of motion. What else could you ask for?
7 Kettlebell Exercises For a Pear Shaped Rear
Contrary to popular opinion, you do not need barbells and dumbbells to build shredded wheels. The cannonball with handles is quite a powerful tool when it comes to building strength, conditioning, and mobility. So, grab a kettlebell and start carving legs that Greek gods would approve.
1. Kettlebell Goblet Squat
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Goblet squat is one of the most versatile kettlebell leg-building exercises. Holding a kettlebell in front of your chest allows you to squat deep while minimizing the risk of an injury. Goblet squat also activates the highest number of muscle fibers in your glutes because you are holding the weight in the front and are hinging and leaning slightly forward.
Steps:
Stand upright with a shoulder-width stance, and your toes pointed slightly outwards.
Hold a heavy dumbbell (as per your strength level) in front of your chest. You could either hold the kettlebell upside down or hold the horns with both your hands.
Pull your elbows in towards your sides and maintain this position throughout the exercise.
While keeping your chest lifted, squat down as deep as you can comfortably.
The kettlebell and your arms should stay inside of your legs and close to your body at all times.
Return to the starting position explosively.
Pause and contract your glutes at the top of the movement.
Repeat for recommended repetitions.
Related: How to Perfect the Goblet Squat
2. Kettlebell Swing
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Kettlebell swings are a popular cannonball exercise. It is an incredibly effective exercise for building hip power and explosiveness. This high-intensity exercise will also help burn off excess body fat.
Steps:
Hold a kettlebell with both hands by the flat, top handle.
Stand with a slightly wider than shoulder-width stance and let the kettlebell hang between your legs.
At the starting position, keep your torso upright and brace your core.
Bend at your knees as you push your glutes back, and lower the kettlebell straight towards the floor.
Keep your arms straight and elbows locked out throughout the movement.
Thrust your hips forward explosively and raise the kettlebell until your arms are parallel to the floor.
Squeeze your glutes, core, and quads at the top of the movement.
Hinge forward at your hips and push your butt back again, letting the bell drop on its own as you do.
Keep a neutral spine throughout the exercise.
Repeat for reps.
3. Bulgarian Split-Squat with Kettlebell (in racked position)
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Kettlebell Bulgarian split-squat will set your glutes and hamstrings on fire. The racked position (in front of your chest) will help strengthen your core and stabilizers.
Steps:
Grab a kettlebell in your right hand and hold it in front of your chest.
Drape your left foot on a flat bench as you firmly plant the right on the floor.
Make sure your right foot is out far enough so that when you lower your hips, your knee stays directly over your ankle.
Bend your right knee and lower your body until your left knee is a few inches off the floor.
Return to the starting position explosively and squeeze the life out of your right hamstring and glute.
Complete the recommended reps on the right side before switching sides.
4. Overhead Kettlebell Lunge
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This is probably the hardest exercise on the list. Overhead lunge forces your glutes and hamstrings to work on full throttle to stabilize the lunge. It also requires good shoulder and traps strength and stability.
Steps:
Grab a kettlebell in one hand and press it overhead. Keep your arm straight and elbow locked out throughout the exercise. Your overhead arm should be perpendicular to the floor for the entire duration of the lift.
Drop into a reverse-lunge by extending the leg opposite to the arm holding the weight.
Bend your rear knee and lower your body until your knee is a few inches off the floor.
Push with your rear foot and return to the starting position explosively.
Complete the recommended reps on one leg before switching sides.
5. Single-Arm Racked Curtsy Lunge
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You probably have seen the curtsy lunges on Instagram. Confused? These are a #FitGirl favorite, and hey, we are not complaining. Curtsy lunges are a god-send for glute development.
Steps:
Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and your left hand on your left hip.
Hold a kettlebell in your right hand in the racked position at your shoulder. Let the cannonball rest on your shoulder for the duration of the exercise.
Step your left foot diagonally behind you and lower your left knee until it almost touches the floor.
Your right knee should bend to about 90-degrees at the bottom of the movement.
Drive through your right heel to return to the starting position.
Pause and squeeze the life out of your glutes and hams at the top of the movement.
Do all your reps on one leg before switching sides.
6. Single-Leg Kettlebell Deadlift
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Single-leg kettlebell deadlift is an incredibly effective kettlebell exercise for isolating your glutes.
Steps:
Hold a kettlebell in your right hand, and lift your left foot slightly off the ground.
While keeping your back and head neutral, lean forward by hinging at your hips.
Raise your left leg off the floor slowly while keeping it in line with your body.
Lower the kettlebell until it almost touches the floor.
Keep your left shoulder blade pulled down your back.
Slowly return to the starting position, and contract your glutes. Make the most of the move by keeping your rear foot off the floor as you go through the reps.
Repeat for recommended repetitions before switching sides.
7. Kettlebell Squat and Clean
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There is some learning curve to this exercise. Make sure you are not going too easy on yourself by using lighters kettlebells. Use a weight that puts a strain on your glutes from the first rep.
Steps:
Stand with an upright torso and your feet placed shoulder-width apart.
Bend at your knees and push your hips back to lower yourself and grab a kettlebell with both hands by the top of the handle.
Drive through your heels to stand up as you pull the weight up to your chest.
During the upward movement, quickly swap your hands from the handles to the cannonball.
Lower into a squat, shifting your weight into your heels and pushing your hips back as you bend your knees.
Drive your body up explosively and squeeze your glutes at the top of the movement.
Reverse the movement by switching your hands back to the kettlebell handle and lowering the weight back down to the floor, bending your knees and pushing your hips back to keep your spine straight.
Repeat for recommended repetitions.
Conclusion
You could perform all these exercises in a single leg workout or use some of them in separate routines to make the most of your glute training. After you see the results, kettlebells will become an indispensable part of your leg training regimen.
Which is your favorite kettlebell exercise? Let us know in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
How Kettlebell Rows Work To Optimize Pulling Movements
Give your lats a great workout with kettlebell rows.
Working our back muscles can be hard, but absolutely possible with great exercises like kettlebell rows. While it can be easy to want to perform a haphazard back day routine, the benefits to having a strong back can prove to be unmatched. Working for better posture, increasing strength and size, and optimizing any pulling movements, a strong back is essential for those functional and sport specific movements. Plus, you will only add to your physique as your lats will certainly pop.
Kettlebells are effective pieces of workout equipment and can provide for compound movements to work many muscles, as well as offer the ability to perform isolation exercises as you seek to build up one specific muscle. Convenient and versatile, kettlebells are definitely something to have in your home gym or gym routine and kettlebell rows are the perfect exercise to see gains.
Let’s take a look at kettlebell rows and see what makes this workout so great for increasing strength and size while also optimizing those pulling movements. From what it is, to muscles worked, the many benefits of doing it, and how to perform it, you will have a solid foundation for seeing gains and taking advantage of kettlebell rows.
What Are Kettlebell Rows?
Kettlebell rows are a compound pulling movement designed to increase strength in your back while also building muscle in other areas as well. A test of balance, coordination, strength, and pulling ability, the benefits of what this exercise can do are unmatched. Perfect for athletes who require pulling movements for their sport, or for those who want to better their functional pulling strength, this exercise is not hard to perform once you nail down the proper form (1).
Check out our list of the Best Kettlebells for some amazing lifting products!
Muscles Worked
Kettlebell rows work many muscles as this exercise will prove to be a great workout. This exercise focuses mainly on your lats, but what you will find is that your delts, traps, and biceps all play a major role in the actual engagement of the entire movement, thus assisting with either stabilizing or pulling. For balance and stabilization of your entire body, your hips, core, glutes, and hamstrings will work to keep you grounded so you can efficiently complete the exercise without a risk of injury or an imbalance.
Benefits Of Kettlebell Rows
The benefits of kettlebell rows are hard to ignore and can greatly affect all your gains. For those looking to give themselves the best chance at success, definitely consider what this exercise can do.
Benefits of kettlebell rows include:
Increase lat strength: As an effective pulling movement, this will work to build strength and size in your lats so you see only the best gains (2).
Full body exercise: This exercise is one of those compound exercises that will work many muscle groups and can be a full body strengthener.
Core and stability: By relying on your core to stay stable, this will work to build better balance and stability as you enhance mind-muscle connection and overall technique (3).
Reduce injury: With your muscles all working together, this exercise can build better connection throughout your body allowing it to work in unison and reduce the overall risk of injury.
Just a kettlebell: The nice part about this exercise is that you only need a kettlebell for equipment, thus allowing this to be a fairly versatile exercise.
Many variations: Other alternative exercises work to mimic what kettlebell rows can do so you have the opportunity to shake things up and add variety to your workouts.
How To Perform It
Here are the steps for performing kettlebell rows:
Choose your desired kettlebell and place it on the floor in front of you.
Step one leg back and bend over at your hips so your torso is parallel to the ground. From here, reach down and grab the kettlebell with the hand of the leg that is stepped backwards. A neutral grip is fine.
To start the movement, engage you core and lift through your elbow in a pulling motion until the kettlebell reaches your body.
Once at the top, give a good squeeze before lowering back to the ground in a controlled motion.
Repeat for your desired number of reps and sets.
Kettlebell Row Variations
This exercise is great for it has many variations that can greatly affect your workouts and gains for the better. With so many alternative exercises to try, what you really get with this is the ability to try your hand at different exercises while also working to confuse your muscles so they have no choice but to grow.
Alternative exercises for kettlebell rows include:
Staggered Stance Row
Lateral Row
Clean Row
Bent Over Row
Half-Kneeling Row
Kettlebell Plank Row On Bench
Kettlebell Renegade Row
Best Supplements To Take With Kettlebell Rows
With an exercise like kettlebell rows, having the right supplements can work to give your body those nutrients it needs to see gains. Taking a pre-workout supplement will give you energy and allow for better blood flow, allowing you to better perform the exercise. For those post-workout gains, a protein powder will prove to be imperative as this will pump you with that vital protein for increased muscle growth, enhanced recovery, and overall better weight loss or management (4). Also, taking something like creatine or a mass gainer can really give you a boost to increased strength, size, and overall mass.
Wrap Up
Kettlebell rows have the ability to give us great gains when it comes to strength, size, power, pulling, and stabilization. A well-rounded exercise working many muscles, this is what you need to thrive both with sport specific movements and those more functional ones. Give kettlebell rows a try and work to optimize those pulling motions for whatever your sport specific or functional needs may be.
Let us know what you think in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
*Images courtesy of Envato
References
Manocchia, P.; et al. (2013). “Transference of Kettlebell Training to Strength, Power, and Endurance”. (source)
Beardsley, C.; et al. (2014). “The Role of Kettlebells in Strength and Conditioning”. (source)
Meigh, N.; et al. (2019). “Kettlebell training in clinical practice: a scoping review”. (source)
Pasiakos, S.; et al. (2015). “The effects of protein supplements on muscle mass, strength, and aerobic and anaerobic power in healthy adults: a systematic review”. (source)
At Home Workouts With A Single Kettlebell
Ten Circuits That Build Full-Body Strength and Fitness
There has been a large spike in the number of people purchasing home gym equipment over the past few months as many gyms have been closed due to COVID-19.
As a result, people have had to think outside the box when it comes to home workouts. This is particularly true for those who only have access to a minimal amount of kit.
However, even without specific equipment, it is entirely possible to make large advancements in your fitness.
This article will begin by considering the kettlebell and the benefits of using one. It will then go on to provide ten highly effective single-kettlebell workouts that you can do at home.
Kettlebell Training At Home
The kettlebell is one of the most versatile pieces of fitness equipment that money can buy. In fact, It is so versatile that you only really need one kettlebell to enjoy a great workout.
It is an all-in-one conditioning tool that allows you to effectively work a variety of different fitness components including strength, balance, aerobic capacity, endurance, and flexibility (1).
In addition, it is also commonly used as an effective alternative to steady-state cardio. If you’ve attended any gym circuits class before you’ll likely be well acquainted with the kettlebell.
If your goal relates to muscular strength or size, the kettlebell is also an excellent tool. There are a vast number of kettlebell exercises to choose from which makes it easy to target specific muscles.
Furthermore, while there are a handful of more complicated exercises, the majority of kettlebell exercises are very straightforward and accessible for all skill levels.
Finally, unlike a number of other pieces of fitness equipment, kettlebells do not take up a vast amount of space and you will only require a small area to perform a workout.
The Ten Workouts
This section will provide ten different single kettlebell workouts that focus on developing specific fitness components or work towards particular health and fitness goals.
Pay particular attention to the recommended number of rounds and ensure to take a minute or two to rest between rounds.
1) Every Minute On The Minute
EMOM’s are a very straightforward yet highly effective workout structure that involves performing two exercises on designated minutes.For this workout, on the even minutes, you are to perform 20 alternating kettlebell swings. On the odd minutes, you are to perform alternating KB clean and presses.
If you complete the prescribed number of reps before the minute is finished, use the remaining time to rest and recover.
Exercise
Volume
Even Minutes: Alternating Kettlebell Swings
20 reps
Odd Minutes: Alternating KB Clean and Press
10 reps
2) Advanced Kettlebell Workout
For those who are highly conditioned or have lots of experience with kettlebells, the following advanced workout is recommended.
It involves a number of more complex moves such as the kettlebell high pull, lateral swing, and Turkish Get Up.
Simply work through the following session taking as little rest as possible between exercises. It is recommended to complete the circuit for three to five rounds.
Exercise
Volume
Kettlebell Clean and Press
10 reps (per side)
KB High Pulls
10 reps (per side)
KB Snatch
10 reps (per side)
KB Lateral Swings
10 reps (per side)
KB Turkish Get Up
2 reps (per side)
3) Balance and Strength Workout
By using just one kettlebell, you remove counterbalancing. When using two kettlebells simultaneously the weights counterbalance each other which enhances stability.
However, by removing one kettlebell from the equation, the exercise suddenly feels a lot less stable. Therefore, the core muscles must engage to a greater degree to promote stability.
The following workout utilizes all single-sided exercises to reduce stability to really challenge your balance and strength. For this workout, perform a minimum of three rounds.
Exercise
Volume
Front Rack Kettlebell Squat
10 reps (per side)
Heavy KB Suitcase Carry
20 meters (per side)
KB Single-Leg Deadlift
10 reps (per side)
KB Overhead Carry
20 meters (per side)
KB Windmill
10 reps (per side)
Plank with KB Pull Through
20 reps
4) Leg Burner Workout
For those looking to develop lower extremity strength and definition, the leg burner workout is the perfect choice.
The circuit incorporates an array of highly effective lower body resistance exercises in order to develop the glutes, quads, hamstrings, and calves.
With such a high number of reps, the legs will build significant fatigue, therefore, perform only two or three rounds of this workout.
Exercise
Volume
Kettlebell Goblet Squats
20 reps
Offset KB Walking Lunges
10 reps (per side)
KB Deadlift
20 reps
KB Goblet Lateral Lunges
10 reps (per side)
KB Good Morning
20 reps
KB Calf Raises
20 reps
5) Upper Body Strength
When it comes to maximizing strength, a lower rep range appears to be more beneficial than a high one (#). Therefore, the following workout utilizes a lower rep range than other workouts.
This workout has been designed for those who aspire to improve their upper body strength and general fitness and uses a combination of bilateral and unilateral exercise.Complete three to five rounds of this circuit. If needed, take additional rest periods between exercises to ensure good form is maintained.
Exercise
Volume
Single-Arm KB Floor Press
6 reps (per side)
KB Floor Pullover
12 reps
Single-Arm KB Bent Row
6 reps (per side)
KB Front Raise
12 reps
Single-Arm KB Overhead Press
6 reps (per side)
KB Upright Row
12 reps
6) Full Body Strength
In a similar fashion to the previous workout, the full body strength kettlebell workout also uses a lower rep range to optimize strength development.
Every exercise selected in this workout recruits a variety of muscle groups the length and breadth of the body.
Once again, good technique should be a top priority, therefore, take additional rest periods where required. This workout should be repeated three to five times.
Exercise
Volume
Kettlebell Goblet Squat
12 reps
Single-Arm KB Push Press
6 reps (per side)
Kettlebell Sumo Deadlift
12 reps
KB Single-Arm Renegade Row
6 reps (per side)
Single-Arm KB Overhead Lunges
6 reps (per side)
Heavy KB Suitcase Carry
20 meters
7) Deep Core Workout
Building core strength can have an array of benefits on strength, stability, movement, proprioception, and injury prevention (3).The exercises included in this workout incorporate a variety of different movements and challenge full body stability to most effectively work the deep core muscles.
It is recommended to complete this workout for a minimum of three rounds. Additional rounds can be added to increase intensity and challenge.
Exercise
Volume
KB Turkish Get Up
2 reps (per side)
Plank with KB Row
5 reps (per side)
KB Windmills
5 reps (per side)
KB Slingshot
10 reps
KB Russian Twists
10 reps
KB Sit and Press
10 reps
8) Fat Burning Workout
Fat loss is one of the most popular health and fitness goals. Although nutrition plays a massive part in fat loss, exercise can facilitate weight loss.
By performing high-intensity exercise and burning a great number of calories, the body will be forced to break down body fat stores.
This workout uses a descending pyramid training structure beginning with 40 reps and working down to 10 reps. Work through each exercise taking as little rest as possible.
Complete the following for three to five rounds.
Exercise
Volume
Kettlebell Swings
40 reps
KB Snatch
15 reps (per side)
Alternating KB Swings
10 reps (per side)
KB Clean and Press
5 (per side)
9) Swing Only Workout
The kettlebell swing is seen as the ultimate kettlebell exercise. It develops strength, speed, power, and burns a high number of calories.
One of the best things about the kettlebell swing is the fact that there are a number of swing variations. Each variation has its unique characteristics and works the body in a slightly different way.
The following workout incorporates four swing variations – the American swing, lateral swing, rotational swing, and Russian swing.
It is recommended to perform the circuit a minimum of three times. However, additional rounds can be added if desired.
Exercise
Volume
American Kettlebell Swings
30 reps
KB Lateral Swings
15 reps (per side)
One-Arm KB Swing with Rotation
15 reps (per side)
Russian KB Swings
30 reps
10) Explosive Power Workout
Leading on from the previous workout, the kettlebell swing is especially great for developing the amount of power the posterior chain can generate.
This final workout incorporates two basic plyometric exercises in conjunction with the kettlebell swing to develop explosiveness and general athleticism.
Perform this circuit three to five times. Be aware that a greater period of rest between rounds is needed for this particular workout in comparison to the others. Look to take a minimum of three minutes.
Exercise
Volume
Kettlebell Swings
20 reps
Tuck Jumps
10 reps
KB Swings
20 reps
Lateral Skater Jumps
10 reps
Final Word
Training without the use of a gym or with only minimal equipment can be challenging, however, it is by no means impossible.
As the aforementioned ten single kettlebell workouts demonstrate, it is very possible to make training enjoyable, varied, and effective, without having a lot of equipment.
References:
1 – Vancini, Rodrigo Luiz; Andrade, Marília Santos; Rufo-Tavares, Weverton; Zimerer, Carla; Nikolaidis, Pantelis Theodoros; de Lira, Claudio Andre Barbosa (2019-03-27). “Kettlebell Exercise as an Alternative to Improve Aerobic Power and Muscle Strength”. Journal of Human Kinetics. 66: 5–6. doi:10.2478/hukin-2018-0062. ISSN 1640-5544. PMC 6458586. PMID 30988835.
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