Kettlebells For Functional Fitness
Kettlebells For Functional Fitness
A new way of training has emerged that addresses the body as a functional whole rather than a collection of parts.
Instead of working individual muscles, functional training builds the movements and motor patterns that produce effective, real-world performance — and one tool leads the way.
From Aesthetics to Performance
In recent years, functional fitness has combined modern and ancient advances in physical conditioning with neuroscience. Rather than isolating muscles or muscle groups, today's programs train the movements and motor patterns that give us effective movement.
The Old Approach
The New Approach
Your Body Is a Kinetic Chain
Your body can be accurately described as a kinetic, or movement, chain. Like a chain, it consists of a series of interconnected links.
The functional fitness approach recognizes your body as an integrated whole, and its tools work your whole body — not just individual muscles.
The Tool That Leads the Way
It is an exciting time in fitness. Among the various tools and programs used in functional training, one tool shines the brightest as the single method that delivers the most bang for your buck.
Two Ways to Train With Kettlebells
Kettlebell training has two primary uses or goals.
Training for Fitness & Function
Use a wide variety of movements along different planes, with varied repetitions, working all body parts.
Offers an almost unlimited variety of movements and programs — and the duration can be as short or long as you prefer.
Training for Competition
Perform as many repetitions as possible in a fixed time frame.
Requires a high level of conditioning and well-rounded strength, aerobic capacity, and flexibility.
Traditional Competition Lifts
The classic kettlebell sport lifts:
- Jerk — with one or two kettlebells
- Snatch — with one kettlebell
- Long cycle (clean and jerk) — with one or two kettlebells
Competition Formats
Standard
Sprints
Marathons
Team Relays
What Are Kettlebells?
The kettlebell's unique design — a cast-iron ball with a handle and an offset center of mass — and its history from 18th-century Russian markets to a global fitness tool.
Why Kettlebells?
Seven reasons the kettlebell is the ideal fitness tool — practical, versatile, unique, inexpensive, fun, efficient, and athletic.