The Perfect Compliment

     To anyone who has read my posts or heard me speak on fitness, you all know that there is a bit of a strength bias at C. Fluck Training. Strength is the glass and the bigger the glass, the more you can fill that glass with other skills. Because of that, I place an emphasis on old fashioned strength training. A few months ago I began searching for something new to compliment my training program. The more I read, there was one implement that kept coming up over and over. That tool was the kettlebell.

     The kettlebell was developed by Russian strongmen in the 1700's. It hasn't been a huge part in American training until recently, where now the kettlebell is one of the trendiest things in fitness since the protein shake. Why is the kettlebell so great? How much time do you have? For one, the KB amplifies your power endurance. This is your ability to produce power movements over an extended period of time. With proper weight, these fast muscular contractions will make your heart feel like it wants to jump out of your chest. Because of the time component performing the exercise, your grip and forearm strength will be challenged. Add in the odd design of the bell and your body has to contend with a constantly changing center of gravity. When you mix all this up in a pot, you are able to reduce your overall training time, improves cardio-respiratory fitness, and bridge the gap between strength training and conditioning. (One study revealed that a 20 minute workout performing kettlebell swings will burn 20.2 calories per minute. That is equal to running a 6 minute mile pace!)

     That is all fine and dandy but how are you supposed to know how to use these odd bells? Technique is number one if you intend on maximizing your training and saving your body from injury. Search the internet and you can find terrible technique by "fitness experts" explaining the benefits of the KB. So if you plan on doing it on your own, be careful. Get quality advice whenever you have a chance. If you want to perform these moves under the guidance of a professional, I run classes every week. Feel free to join anytime. Bottom line is this: kettlebells provide one helluva workout. If your goal is to burn fat, increase power endurance, and get strong, then the kettlebell is for you!

Chris Fluck, CSCS