Killer KettleBells!!! KAPOW!

Some of the basics...

By Underground Wellness

Before things got cold (again), and I had to put the radiators back on full blast at home; my Saturday was spent playing touch rugby in sweltering heat, and beautiful sunshine, along the breezy Hudson river @Pier 40, Manhattan. 3 hours, many bottles of water and running induced leg cramps later (not even the banana and Coconut water [Which incidentally has 15x the potassium than my measly musa!] was enough to stop my body seizing up!). So I dragged my way up 7th Ave. and side-stepped through a bustling market with the motivation to meet my partner Yacov, and taking a long shower and hot sauna at my local gym.

"Greg!"

"Hi David." (NYSC General Manager and fellow rugger!)

"You're just in time - You are the only person who turned up!"

"For what?"

"The KettleBell class!"

"?"

So - that's where I was: I 'remember' booking a class. But I just could not remember 'when'.

Alas - it was that day! I couldn't let my boy down. I signed in. Headed on down to the studio. Dumped my kit (already soaked with sweat) and prepared myself for the pain in store - I know this was gonna hurt. I just didn't know how much...

And so - already hot and sweaty from my marathon session that morning I headed into the class. Alone. Like a bad kid sent to the headmaster.

"So - where is everyone?" I ask half jokingly.

"Beats me - people just don't know about KettleBells." Richard Lehman. I guy full of energy, broad shouldered with a smile on his face. I felt instantly motivated to sweat it out. I tell him I had previously performed some basics with KettleBells and that I ONLY have 30min in me (due to my rugby heroics that morning). "Oh - I'm gonna make you suffer!"

"Yay(!?)"

And so this is my introduction to KettleBells - we both try and get some guys from the floor to join in the class, but no-one is interested. What are they afraid of? Well they are BIG guys - pumped and rippling. They don't want to show off? Or be shown up??? We were joined by a lady with pink hair and a nose ring; "Why not..." she says.

Adam Cronin - this guy makes it easy, but these moves are something incredible!

(And that ain't no feather he's holding either!)

So - The KettleBell is a cast iron weight looking somewhat like a cannonball with a handle. There are sizes that range from 5 lbs to 175 lbs. The traditional Russian KettleBell is usually one which weighs roughly 16kg / 35lbs. Yeah - I started with the 4kg and 8kg bells. And unlike traditional dumbbells, the KettleBell's center of mass is extended beyond the hand. This allows for swing movements not possible with dumbbells. Because more muscle groups are utilized in the swinging and movement of a KettleBell than during the lifting of dumbbells, a KettleBell workout is said to be more effective, and yields better results in less time (After 15min - I was on fire!) And because the center of mass on a KettleBell "swings", micro-muscles are needed to balance a KettleBell, more so than a dumbbell. The existence of a handle allows for "release moves" which are not available to a dumbbell.

We started with a 'warm-up'. Yeah - 'WARM-UP'(!) Squats with single, and double, -handed swings. We were advised on correct positioning: make sure as you swing into the upright position to push those hips forward, and REALLY clenched the butt - YOU WILL FEEL THE BURN!!! One of the biggest injuries from KettleBells are herniated discs from poor body position. keep the back straight. We did squats, snatch, clean, jerk, crunches, lunges - every move you can think of incorporating the KettleBells - reps to get the heart pumping, presses to get the muscles burning, burpies until you were breathing battery acid!

Many times I wanted to quit - but Richard kept us both going - and the bad hard-house he'd installed over the PA shouted out like an accusation - that if I stopped, it would continue to mock me with it's laughing heavy bass! Not on my work-out, baby! I stuck it out and it felt great. I WILL be doing this work-out again.

Richard has been pushing KettleBells in NYC for a while, and I strongly advise ANYONE to try them. Cardio, strength, rehabilitation, conditioning, power. Everything is covered through this work-out. KettleBells: I'm sold!

And for all you aspiring MMA fighters out there - make KettleBells a part of your training regimen.

PEACE