6 Kettlebells Moves That Work Your Core

I wrote a post a little while back about the usefulness of kettlebell training when used with good form and technique coupled with intelligent programming. (To read it click here.) In light of how well that post did, ( thank you) I decided to continue with the same premise and break down a bit more how kettlebell and its movements can and will train your core.

Before we begin the practical part of this post, I think it is important to realize exactly what the core is. One simple way to understand exactly what our core is as humans is the saying, “that if I cut off my arms, head and lower leg, there is my core.” So you see our middle as humans is more than just the abs and obliques. (To learn more about this subject, click here.)

Now that we have that out-of-the-way let’s get to the topic at hand: 6 Ways kettlebells can work your core.

The swing works the core:
It is a well-known and accepted fact that the kettlebell swing works the glutes and hamstrings. However, it does even more than that in its proper execution, those two other aspects as I stated earlier are part of your middle. Yet, the swing when done in the hard-style format will also train your abs. In order to make this happen one must brace the abs as if they were going to get punched on the top of the swing. This also serves as a veritable brake to stop the low back from hyper extending at the lockout of the swing.

The Overhead Press works the core:
The body has a highway of sorts on which we transfer energy from the floor into a movement. The overhead press is a perfect example of the concept, in which we wedge ourselves between the floor and the kettlebell that you desire to press. The glutes, abs, lats, diaphragm and so on are activated in order to achieve the overhead move in a way that is safe and strong.

The Kettlebell front squat trains the core:
The kettlebell racked squat is both an anti-rotational drill when done with one bell and a heck of an abs exercise when done with two. It once again hits the glutes as we hip extend, trains the pelvic floor, (more on that in the future) diaphragm when we use proper breathing patterns and so much more. This move is also a great one to teach a lifter good technique to begin to train the squat with barbells.

The Turkish Get-up works the core:
The Get-up is an awesome exercise. It teaches the practitioner to stabilize their shoulder and to move at the same time. It also works hip mobility, and shoulder mobility. But for the sake of this post it has been shown by E.M.G. to work all of the muscles of the core throughout the movement. It has built into a rolling pattern, spinal stability/shoulder stability and so-on. It is safe to say that the Get-up is an awesome exercise that saves time and trains multiple movements at the same time!

The Single leg deadlift works the core:
This move is both a stability and strength exercise. It is also anti-rotational exercise depending on where you place the bell in correlation to the move. This exercise when coupled with the right loading will lead to you having to use an abs brace to produce the force needed to lift the loading that you are using off the floor. Give it a shot and see!

Carries work your core:
Loaded carries can be like magic to those who never do them. These moves when used appropriately can bring balance to your muscles in patterns. Train shoulder stability, anti-rotation, build strength and just make you feel plain great! Click on the link above to learn more about them and to learn how to do most of the variations.

When most people think of the core they think abs and having a “six-pack.” I hope that after you read this post that there is much more than that to it than just a muscle and a look. Your core being balanced and things working well can lead to less pain in your low back and many other issues; it is also important for your performance as a fit person and or if you are an athlete.

So if you aren’t begin to train these moves and if you don’t know how, learn from a qualified, certified instructor in order to get all of the benefits that come training with kettlebells with good form and intelligent programming

Weekly Kettlebell Workout: A Snatch, Windmill and a Squat walk into a Gym.

Can you train multiple plains of motion in one workout? Yes, if a snatch, windmill and a squat walk into a gym together and combine forces to get you torching fat, moving better and feeling great,  you can!

That is what happened with this week’s workout, all of these kettlebell movements were placed together in what is a medley of intense fat burning and fun heart bursting conditioning!

Enjoy and check out the video below to learn how to do it.

 

 

 

 

ONCE AGAIN WE HAVE YOUR GUIDELINES FOR SUCCESS.

• Do all of your sets and reps with quality form. Crap only produces crap!
• Breathe by matching your breathing with each pattern
• Rest as much as you need to and no more.
• Tough it out while working out ( keep in mind the results)
• Enjoy the fat blasting effect  and raised metabolism.
  

My Online coaching program is back, Click here to see if you are candidate for it.

Weekly kettlebell workout: Keep Swingin’

 

I teach four classes a week at the gym that I work at and no one ever ends up disappointed when I use the kettlebell swing to give them a challenging workout. Sometimes the move is at the end of the class as a finisher. Other times it is placed during the class as a strength move or as a part of a complex and so-on.

 

This week’s workout is based solely on the kettlebell swing and will challenge during, then make you feel successful as on who has overcome the adversity of training.
 

Watch the video below to learn how to do it, (it is under two minutes) then get to it!

 

 

 

 

 

The guidelines are:

 

1. Safety first- Always value proper form and movement above all. Do as many Quality reps as possible.
2. Breathe– As always match up your breathing to your movements (In on the bottom of the swing and out on top).

Also as a gift to you; I want to share with you my free videos series on how to do the kettlebell swing properly for strength and conditioning,  Click here for it.

Weekly Kettlebell Workout: A Super Intense Kettlebell Complex

 Warning

 

This week’s workout is an intense one that involves advanced movements. So make sure that you have spent adequate time on the basics of these exercises before you dive in full on and get busy blasting fat with this intense complex.

For those who have been following this blog for awhile know that I enjoy kettlebell complexes and advanced kb moves.

This week’s workout is an advanced kettlebell complex involving: Gorilla Cleans, Renegade rows and pushups.

The rep ranges for these moves are: 10, 5, 5 and rest a while after because this particular complex should be done with pretty heavy weight for you!

 

 

ONCE AGAIN WE HAVE YOUR GUIDELINES FOR SUCCESS.

• Do all of your sets and reps with quality form. Crap only produces crap!
• Breathe by matching your breathing with each pattern
• Rest as much as you need to and no more.
• Tough it out while working out ( keep in mind the results)
• Enjoy the fat blasting effect  and raised metabolism.
  

My Online coaching program is back, Click here to see if you are candidate for it.

Weekly Kettlebell workout: Some Stupendous Swing Workouts

Sometimes simple is better. Don’t get me wrong, I love complexes, difficult moves that I need to learn to master and so-on. However, there are days that it just isn’t there and I need something that is challenging, helps me burn calories and is fun to do. That is where the kettlebell swing comes into play. It is probably the easiest to perform but an extremely effective move that gets the job done on those days.

 

 

 

This week’s workout is a few different ones all based on that move, so enjoy and get workin’!

The Walker Swing workout:

 

 

Choose your level and have fun with this awesome workout.

 

 

The I walk the line workout:

 

If you have 2 kettlebells this will  turn you into a torch of calorie crushing goodness!

The undertaker Kettlebell swing workout:

This one is still one of my favorites, enjoy it !

ONCE AGAIN WE HAVE YOUR GUIDELINES FOR SUCCESS.

• Do all of your sets and reps with quality form. Crap only produces crap!
• Breathe by matching your breathing with each pattern
• Rest as much as you need to and no more.
• Tough it out while working out ( keep in mind the results)
• Enjoy the fat blasting effect  and raised metabolism.
  

My Online coaching program is back, Click here to see if you are candidate for it.

Weekly Kettlebell Workout: A Complex, Complex Part 2

Kettlebells are a very useful fitness tool to help someone achieve higher levels of fitness, movement quality and many other fitness related qualities. Now there are some drawbacks to using kettlebells.

 

 

One of them is if you are a person that doesn’t have the discipline to pay attention to your technique as you workout, they will end up possibly exposing your issues with movement by pulling you around.

 

Lately I have been using moves and complexes that demand good movement with those who can do so as well as my own training and the results have been phenomenal!

 

 

 

This week’s complex is one of those ones that I put together and now it is your turn to try it out, if you dare!

 

 

 

Weekly Kettlebell Workout: A Complex, Complex Part 2

 

 

 

Check out the video below for and explanation and demonstration:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ONCE AGAIN WE HAVE YOUR GUIDELINES FOR SUCCESS.

 

 

• Do all of your sets and reps with quality form. Crap only produces crap!
• Breathe by matching your breathing with each pattern
• Rest as much as you need to and no more.
• Tough it out while working out ( keep in mind the results)
• Enjoy the fat blasting effect  and raised metabolism.
  

My Online coaching program is back, Click here to see if you are candidate for it.

 

Intense Weekly Kettlebell workout : The Back in Action.

 

 

 

 

It has been awhile since I have done one of these posts and I hope that our separation did not cause too severe of an anxiety for you. However,  as AC/DC once sung, I am “back in the saddle again” and I am bringing with me an intense kettlebell complex!

 

 

 

 

 

Learn how to do this workout and see an example by yours truly in the video below:

ONCE AGAIN WE HAVE YOUR GUIDELINES FOR SUCCESS.

 

 

 

• Do all of your sets and reps with quality form. Crap only produces crap!
• Breathe by matching your breathing with each pattern
• Rest as much as you need to and no more.
• Tough it out while working out ( keep in mind the results)
• Enjoy the fat blasting effect  and raised metabolism.
  

My Online coaching program is back, Click here to see if you are candidate for it.

 

The Coach’s desk Part 2: Building Muscle

 

Muscle, glorious muscle. This goal seems to be an important one to many who have been bit by the iron bug. Yet, it seems as though a multitude of those “afflicted” with this desirable problem don’t ever make much progress in their developmental goals.

Thankfully. the answer is simple and is given to you in the video below in the second part of my  vlog series, The Coach’s desk.

 

 

So take a second to listen and pass it on!

 

Weekly Workout: The Kettlebell Movement

In the last 15 years ago or so kettlebell as an effective have grown in popularity. I have been fortunate to have found them in that time period and my life and my client’s lives are much better a result of adding this implement to our workouts and programs.

As a means to give back and to help, I have endeavored over the last three years by this blog to bring simple but not easy workouts that they can do and enjoy. This series is my utter joy and I am thankful for every view, comment, Facebook message and follower that has come through this blog. Thank you each and every one of you for your continued support and for making this series a success!

Now enough with the mushy stuff let’s workout!

 

This week’s movement based flow or complex is one that you all will enjoy and is down by doing:

A lateral lunge to snatch for 10 reps each round per side.
Followed by 5 overhead squats
Lastly, three overhead presses

Do it for about 10 to 20 minutes, pick a challenging weight and go to town.

This workout will have you moving better, burning fat , working your heart and building strength.

Check out the video below to learn how to do it:

 

 

 

 

ONCE AGAIN WE HAVE YOUR GUIDELINES FOR SUCCESS.

• Do all of your sets and reps with quality form. Crap only produces crap!
• Breathe by matching your breathing with each pattern
• Rest as much as you need to and no more.
• Tough it out while working out ( keep in mind the results)
• Enjoy the fat blasting effect  and raised metabolism.
  

My Online coaching program is back, Click here to see if you are candidate for it.

 

Weekly Kettlebell Workout: The Leg Smasher

I have a friend that trains with me at my house and he was pressed for time two sessions ago; however there are some drills that he needs to before each session to prepare for the upcoming onslaught of fitness progress.

So being the nice fellow that I am I decided to put together a workout that is all low body and will develop an anaerobic work capacity for him. As a result of those circumstances and my kind side, I decided to develop this workout worthy of the hulk that ends in about 20 minutes and is and was extremely effective to produce results.

This Workout is done by doing:

8 full pistols a side or wherever you are at in it’s progression (a box etc.)

Then you grab a moderate size bell and do 20 swings.

Try to get in as many as possible in 20 minutes but rest anywhere from a minute to 3 depending on how hard both drills are for you.|

That is it, it is a very simple workout, I will concede. But don’t let its simplicity fool you. After all it is the leg smasher!

Check out the video below to see it done.

 

 

ONCE AGAIN WE HAVE YOUR GUIDELINES FOR SUCCESS.

• Do all of your sets and reps with quality form. Crap only produces crap!
• Breathe by matching your breathing with each pattern
• Rest as much as you need to and no more.
• Tough it out while working out ( keep in mind the results)
• Enjoy the fat blasting effect  and raised metabolism.
  

My Online coaching program is back, Click here to see if you are candidate for it.