Kettlebells are a unique piece of fitness equipment that have been used for hundreds of years. Originally, they were created in the middle of the nineteenth century as a replacement for the heavy iron and wooden dumbbells that previously were the mainstay of fitness routines. The kettlebell is basically a cast iron or steel ball with a handles attached to the side. They are primarily used to do various forms of traditional exercises, which include free-weights exercises that combine strength, cardiovascular and flexibility training into one complete exercise. Although, this form of exercise has been around much longer than you might think, it’s still extremely popular in modern fitness circles. I have personally developed my own set of standard exercises using kettlebells.
Although kettlebells look and feel like a simple weight tool, you cannot underestimate their true potential as a single fitness device. If you want to develop great kettlebell movements, there are a few key things that you should know. By the time you’re finished reading this article, you will be able to quickly identify the most effective kettlebell movements for your whole body and lower body strength training.
One of the main reasons why kettlebells are so useful for your strength and conditioning routine is because of the dynamic nature of the weights themselves. Just as when you perform a standard weight lifting routine, kettlebell swings require both upper and lower body strength. You require fast muscle contractions in order to swing the weight around your body. But, the strength required is far less than what you would experience if you were using a standard barbell. That is because your body does not have to carry out the full range of motion associated with standard weights.
Kettlebells make use of a swinging motion similar to that of a pendulum. This means that not only do you need great upper and lower body strength, but you also rely on quick hip movement. The strength of the hips is not the only thing that helps you execute kettlebell swings. You also need explosive power from your legs in order to successfully swing the weight.
When it comes to Kettlebells, one of the best features is the fact that they allow you to get a full workout for your whole body. That means that you can train your legs, back, abdominals, shoulders, and even your wrists and forearms. Once you learn the proper form, you can begin to use the handles of the kettlebells for a wide variety of single-handed and multi-handed exercises.
Kettlebells are great for building strength, but they also have a couple of other amazing benefits as well. Since kettlebells allow you to use both hands for kettlebells movements, you can easily balance the weights for both single-handed and multi-handed lifts. This will ensure that you get a great cardio workout while developing your core muscles at the same time.
Want to look like you belong to the Russian mob? You can easily do so by using kettlebells. While there aren’t many similarities between the handle of a traditional Russian kettlebell and that of a fitness ball, you can still mimic the shape of Russian kettlebells by holding the weight in the palms of your hands. When you swing the bell back and forth, you will appear like you are part of a street fight. Try swinging your arms from your sides and you will see just how easy it is to swing like a Russian!
Kettlebells aren’t just for fighters and wrestlers. If your goal is to increase your cardiovascular fitness, develop core strength, and bulk up, then kettlebell exercises are the perfect solution. They will give you a workout that you can perform no matter where you work out. Don’t waste your time and money on free weights that don’t offer the benefits you need. Grab a pair of kettlebells and start sculpting your body!