Kettlebell

[dtmpower]

I want to get a kettlebell for some home weight training. 20kg seems to be a good start.

What's the best type to get - solid cast or plastic coated ?

Can anyone suggest some good exercise plans ?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_trkparms=65%253A...

[BenM77]

Hi mate, you say you are going for a 20kg so I take it you weight train ?

Check wolverson fitness on eBay as you can pick up a good deal, it is ok to have a coated body but not the handle or you will rip your hands up.

As for routines, Pavel's Enter the Kettlebell is a good book.

Basic exercises
Swings
Clean and press
Snatch
Cleans
Turkish get up

And about a million more

[dtmpower]

BenM77 said:

Hi mate, you say you are going for a 20kg so I take it you weight train ?

Check wolverson fitness on eBay as you can pick up a good deal, it is ok to have a coated body but not the handle or you will rip your hands up.

As for routines, Pavel's Enter the Kettlebell is a good book.

Basic exercises
Swings
Clean and press
Snatch
Cleans
Turkish get up

And about a million more

Is 20kg too heavy to start off then ? I used to do some weights but not for ages.

[Hoofy]

I don't know much about it but from my experiences, I'd get a lighter one first eg 10kg. Stuff like the Turkish get up are piss easy to do once but after the 10th rep even with a lightish weight, it can be a bit of a workout.

[Xaero]

I do 2 handed swings with mine, which is 24kg, I couldn't do a turkish get up with it though.

[Mojooo]

I bought a 16kg kettlebell from wolverson fitnes - happy with it.

I saw a kettlebell teacher and she gave me quite a few hints and tips on the swing as I wasn't doing it properly - obviously it is the kind of move you dont want to be doing wrong over and over.

I was playing with 10s and 12s at that time but she suggested I go higher because the lower weights would quickly becomes too easy.

you can get 'standard' ones and 'competition' ones. The competition onces are made to a certain standard guidlines so worth gettign once because they stay the same shape as the weights go up - whereas standard ones will changesize with weight and vary across manufacturer.

steve cotter does some detailed instructional videos too.

[BenM77]

dtmpower said:

Is 20kg too heavy to start off then ? I used to do some weights but not for ages.

20kg for one hand moves like snatch and c&p will be heavy for anyone who isn't fairly strong IMO.

I bought a 20kg as my first k/bell based on being able to shoulder press 28kg dbs, although I was able to do snatches, c&p and TGU I will happily admit I should have got a 16kg to start.

If you are near a Fitness Superstore then I would recommend going in and trying some different weights, see what suits you best.

[PaulB81]

Ive started doing this recently too. I hadnt trained for 2-3 years and I'm puny so I bought 8 / 10 / 12KG kettlebells

Im just using the 8KG at the moment to get my form right. Also, doing clean and press etc with more than 8KG for lots of reps starts to get tiring. Its my fitness letting me down more than strength. I bought this IPAD app that has realtime kettlebell workouts on it, its really good but even doing the beginner ones (15 min long) im fooked

[dtmpower]

Bit of an update. Have been mostly rowing at the gym. But use the kettles 8kg and 20kg at home. 20kg is the limit really for me doing one arm. I can do two arm exercise quite happily with it.

[BenM77]

dtmpower said:

Bit of an update. Have been mostly rowing at the gym. But use the kettles 8kg and 20kg at home. 20kg is the limit really for me doing one arm. I can do two arm exercise quite happily with it.

Try this circuit with the 20kg bell. 6 rounds at reps 25,21,18,15,12,9. No rest between exercises but you will need rest between rounds

Goblet squat
Push ups
Sumo deadlift high pull
Swing

I find circuits for reps make you work harder, this 400 rep circuit is a good one

Ben

[honest_delboy]

I started off with a 12kg in class but just couldn't keep the reps going, went down to a 10kg and been ok since. Gods knows how many reps she makes us do but it feels like about 10,000.

In the gym i do alot less reps and up the weight to 12 - 16 - 20 - 26 depending on what exercise i'm doing.

Its really improved my lower back strength which i found was pretty weak, this has sucked in my gut i think. I also feel a bit leaner.

I found doing it in front of the mirror down the gym makes it easier to spot poor form (obviously) the downside is you look like a vain poser !

[Hoofy]

That's the thing - the weight really depends on your goals. If you're using it for cardio purposes then hefting a 20kg kettlebell about may make you feel like a hero but you won't do much cardio before you collapse in a sweaty mess.

For building muscle, I just use normal weights. I use my kettlebell for cardio when I fancy a change from using the gym bike.

[BenM77]

Hoofy said:

That's the thing - the weight really depends on your goals. If you're using it for cardio purposes then hefting a 20kg kettlebell about may make you feel like a hero but you won't do much cardio before you collapse in a sweaty mess.

For building muscle, I just use normal weights. I use my kettlebell for cardio when I fancy a change from using the gym bike.

what size bell do you have?

[Halb]

Bit personal that.



As Ben stated above, the Pavel stuff is good place to start...and there may never be any need to do anything else. Pavel advises for a normal man to start with a 16kg, 20kg if you are exceptionally strong.

I bought a hollow 16kg KB with shot, and filled it. Currently got it at 24kg. But I tend to use the gym KBs now. My own is great because it looks huge (hollow) and because I have sanded down the handle so snatches and cleans are slick. I don't do snatches with the gym KBs because the handles make it too awkward. But swings which are the staple of any KB routine are fine.

[BenM77]

Halb said:

Bit personal that.

Any sign of the 32kg yet ?

[Halb]

BenM77 said:

Any sign of the 32kg yet ?

Haven't been in, had an alien like stomach bug at the weekend and then events have conspired to keep me out, so going in today to see.

[BenM77]

Halb said:

Haven't been in, had an alien like stomach bug at the weekend and then events have conspired to keep me out, so going in today to see.

sounds nice, bugs through my house messed up my training for a month but i am getting back to it now. don't go smashing my time on your first try

[Hoofy]

I was given an 8kg one. As I say, I use it for cardio work. Just do hundreds of reps. I use it to punch with, clean and presses, hooks etc. I also use a 10kg plate weight to throw and catch in one hand (there's a 2mm ridge round the edge that provides purchase for my finger tips). Great for training grip although scares people standing too close.

[BenM77]

Hoofy said:

I was given an 8kg one. As I say, I use it for cardio work. Just do hundreds of reps. I use it to punch with, clean and presses, hooks etc. I also use a 10kg plate weight to throw and catch in one hand (there's a 2mm ridge round the edge that provides purchase for my finger tips). Great for training grip although scares people standing too close.

High reps works well swapping hands, this is what i used to do with the 20kg. I changed to a higher weight for a harder cardio workout with the two handed exercises. I like the 10kg plate juggling idea, ninja grip strength

[Hoofy]

BenM77 said:

High reps works well swapping hands, this is what i used to do with the 20kg. I changed to a higher weight for a harder cardio workout with the two handed exercises. I like the 10kg plate juggling idea, ninja grip strength

Aye! Or buggered toes.