Showing posts with label kettlebells. Show all posts
Showing posts with label kettlebells. Show all posts

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

The Kettlebell, Muscles, Fat-Loss, and Turning Your Body Into a Work of Art!

I'm going to inform you of a way that you can transform your body into a fitness work of art! People always have questions for me about training. What is the best way to train? What is best for packing on muscle? What is the best way for me to get super-human strength? What can I do to look like Uma Thurmond or Brad Pitt? Well, I can't help you with that last one, but I can tell you what to do for you to make improvements from the neck down!

To speed up fat-loss and weight-loss you've got to build lean muscle mass. To build lean muscle mass you have to implement some level of relatively intense resistance training or strength training. The key is to do this in such a fashion as to yield an increased level of your perceived exertion. This is done by basically structuring your workouts to combine both traits of strength training and your conditioning.

To make this even easier the beautiful invention of an ancient device called the kettlebell makes this convenient. Everything that is involved with training with the kettlebell consist of many resisted movement-based lifts. This allows you to obtain the lean muscle mass, the cardiovascular conditioning, the fat-loss, and to help you transform your body into that desired work of art.

If you are waiting on something better then I will tell you that you will be waiting for a long long time. Stop wasting time and get your strength and conditioning program into gear now!

To learn more about Kettlebells, Fitness, and achieving Total Mind-Blowing Strength come and visit me at: http://www.efandps.com
To be one of my members and to receive more tips on INSANE BODY CONSTRUCTION please visit me at:http://www.efandps.com/www.efandps.com/Brandons_Members_Newsletter.html
I'm Brandon Richey the Strength and Conditioning Pro!


Thursday, March 4, 2010

Kettlebells - The Ultimate Strength Training Device For Fighters!

Greg Nagy vs Herschel Walker by Esther Lin • all elbowsGreg Nagy vs Herschel Walker by Esther Lin • all elbows

Kettlebells are no doubt one of the most dynamic methods of training. It is a device designed so that you have to implement a workout consistent with a lot of dynamic movement. All of this movement is consistent with the athlete or fighter's sport. This is where you will gain the edge over your competition!

You see as a strength and conditioning specialist I understand that it is one thing to be strong in a "specific" movement or lift, but to have true athletic advantage the athlete should be strong, forceful, and powerful during movement! This is the key to having superior athletic performance. I always tell my athletes and clients to think of the phrase "athletic performance" as a broad spectrum that is made up of multiple characteristics that define the whole. Each one of these characteristics range from strength, endurance, power, speed, agility, and resiliency.

The last trait of resiliency is pretty much like putting the "cherry" on top of the cake, because this is what toughens your body thereby reducing your risk of injury and better allowing you to take a hit! As a fighter you can't ask for a better thing to gain from your kettlebell. If you are a fighter that is serious about taking your ability to another level then I would highly recommend that you include this device into your personal program if you haven't already.

Remember that the key to success in your training isn't about how much you do, its about how smart you train! Work hard and train smart my friend.

To learn more about Kettlebells, Fitness, and achieving Total Mind-Blowing Strength come and visit me at: http://www.efandps.com
To be one of my members and to receive more tips on INSANE BODY CONSTRUCTION please visit me at:http://www.efandps.com/www.efandps.com/Brandons_Members_Newsletter.html
I'm Brandon Richey the Strength and Conditioning Pro!


Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Power Up With Kettlebells!

Kettlebell workshop by mamba909

Kettlebells are a fantastic and unique style of training to add an entirely different dynamic to your personal program that I guarantee you are lacking. Whether you are a powerlifter, competitive athlete, or serious fitness enthusiast the kettlebell is your answer in the attempt for you to achieve real hard-body fitness!

The beauty of training with this ancient device is that it promotes a movement based style of training that will compliment your physical abilities in every way. The key to your training success has to involve a healthy dose of both strength and conditioning related elements. The kettlebell offers both of these elements in the unique style of training that you incorporate with this versatile hand held gym.

The good news is that it is only a single piece of equipment that requires no warranty purchase and is very easy to store away. Trust me, you are more than likely not going to lose it or break it. Its a cast iron ball with a handle attached to it. Its perfect to be either a primary source of your fitness and strength program, or it can certainly be an entirely different part of your own program altogether. Take the time to learn more about this awesome device if you haven't already. Feel free to access all of my articles for free to get all the information that you need.

Just remember that if you want a powerful fitness and strength program then kettlebells should be your first option. This device has nurtured strongmen and athletes for centuries, so there should be no problem here with it adding to your program as well!

To learn more about Kettlebells, Fitness, and achieving Total Mind-Blowing Strength come and visit me at http://www.efandps.com
To be one of my members and to receive more tips on INSANE BODY CONSTRUCTION please visit me at:http://www.efandps.com/www.efandps.com/Brandons_Members_Newsletter.html
I'm Brandon Richey the Strength and Conditioning Pro!


Wednesday, December 23, 2009

The Kettlebell - A Great Supplemental Tool For the Powerlifter!

Powerlifters are strong, but not the most ripped... by Travis K.Muscle woman by amproshoot

Most of the powerlifters that I have spoken to primarily include 3 big lifts into their program. The usual bench-press, back-squat, and deadlift are all 3 staples of the powerlifting culture. They may include other side or additional lifts like RDL's and pull-ups, but they generally have a fix on the main 3.

If you are a powerlifter and are curious about what a kettlebell is then I will explain. It is basically a cast-iron cannonball with a metal handle attached to it. They come in many sizes ranging from 8.8 lbs. all the way to 105lbs.! The bell is a great tool for building strength due to its unique shape. The shape of the bell causes your body to counter-react to it in order to stabilize the bell because it is always pulling away from your body. This stabilization is quickly amplified when utilizing this tool in certain lifts that really challenge your body causing it to adapt quickly.

The bell can readily be incorporated into your program and the technique of some primary lifts can be learned quickly. Its a very dynamic way to train the body and certain lifts are quicker and more explosive type lifts to execute when using the bell. This is also a benefit because it not only assist you with tremendous strength from stimulating the stabilizer muscles, but it also helps by increasing your range of motion and flexibility! The bell is also very hard to handle because of its shape. You will quickly find that by using the same weight kettlebell at the same weight as you may use a dumbell is completely different. The kettlebell is much harder to handle than the dumbell even at the same weight.

To further enhance your powerlifting program include the kettlebell into your program before your next event. This is a device that will absolutely make the difference in your program. Don't wait, learn and apply!

To learn more about Kettlebells, Fitness, and achieving Total Mind-Blowing Strength come and visit me at http://www.efandps.com

To be one of my members and to receive more tips on INSANE BODY CONSTRUCTION please visit me at:http://www.efandps.com/www.efandps.com/Brandons_Members_Newsletter.html

I'm Brandon Richey the Strength and Conditioning Pro!


What Kettlebell Training Does For Your Body is Worth the Investment!

Kettlebell training has been around for centuries. The reason that you may not have heard of it though is because it originated in Russia and was really more prevalent among strong men and olympic athletes in that region. The good news is that they are making there way here to the U.S. and spreading like wildfire across the globe. I have implemented this style of training among all of my clientele which ranges from athletes to regular fitness enthusiast ranging in ages from 13 years of age to 60+years old!

So what does this odd device and ancient form of training do for the body? Well, the better question is what does it not do? You see every hope of success in training the human body to be fit and strong requires the act of muscular tension. This tension can be applied through the resistance of your own body-weight or by adding an additional load or weight such as a kettlebell. The beauty of training with the bell is that the style of training that is associated with this device incorporates hundreds of muscles at once with the use of simple and natural body movements!

This in turn results in your body eliminating the unwanted fat while promoting superior weight-loss and helping you to build lean muscle mass. This also drastically improves what I like to call your interior numbers that have to do with your blood pressure, cholesterol, and resting heart rate. Kettlebells also forge your body into being tough and resilient so you can bounce back, recover quicker from an intense workout, and also are more able to withstand a hit or impact! To me this taps into what are bodies are really all about.

If you are considering starting with kettlebells then consider no longer, get started now! All you have to lose is time by waiting around thinking about it. Start now and get the benefits!

To learn more about Kettlebells, Fitness, and achieving Total Mind-Blowing Strength come and visit me at: http://www.efandps.com
To be one of my members and to receive more tips on INSANE BODY CONSTRUCTION please visit me at:http://www.efandps.com/www.efandps.com/Brandons_Members_Newsletter.html
I'm Brandon Richey the Strength and Conditioning Pro!


Thursday, November 19, 2009

Kettlebells - The Frankenstein of Fitness, Bringing Your Dead Workouts to Life!

I like to refer to the kettlebell as the "Frankenstein of Fitness" because it will bring your dead workouts to life! You are probably wondering what is a kettlebell? Well, a kettlebell is a strength training device that resembles a cannonball with a handle attached to it. It originated in Russia and has been around for centuries. This is my fitness tool of choice when it comes to down right hard-body results because the benefits of kettlebell training are endless. The good news is that now they are becoming more popular here in the U.S. and I am here to say that it is a tool that will transform your workouts and your body forever.




FRANKENSTEIN by popartdksKettlebells by robinslomkowski



To begin, kettlebell exercises are a very dynamic and different way to train your body. There are many different types of kettlebell lifts that can be executed with the kettlebell to strengthen the body as a whole. When working out with this tool you can pretty much throw the isolated or single-joint movements out the window. For me this is why this gruesome fat destroying weapon is so effective in building total-body strength and fitness. It can be utilized to integrate push and pull type movements which are the basis of human function.

For the sake of time I want to discuss two basic lifts that cover the push and pull dynamic. I'll start with the big pull movement. The first of these are the double-arm kettlebell swings. This is a movement that basically involves picking the bell up from the floor from between your legs. After you pick up the bell your feet should be about slightly wider than shoulder width with complete extension of your knees and hips. The bell should be hanging in front of you slightly below your hips and in front of your groin area. From this point you want to sit your hips back with about a quarter-squat and have a slight bend of the knees. At this stage you should have a slight bend of both the knees and hips. In a continuous back and forth movement you want to extend the knees and hips allowing the kettlebell to build momentum as it swings back and forth between your legs. Make sure you are continuing to flex and extend the knees and hips to build the swinging momentum of the bell. When finished you want to utilize a proper squat to lower the kettlebell back to the ground between your feet from where you started.

The second lift I want to discuss involves a push exercise of the kettlebell. The lift to which I am going refer is the overhead static press and walk. To begin this exercise you must first execute a proper clean lift to get the bell from the floor to chest level. The "Clean" is a term that weightlifters use that means to lift the weight from the floor to chest level in one single "Clean" movement. This is done by starting with the bell on the floor in the same manner as the swing lift. You must then execute a proper squat and grab the bell using one arm. From the floor then lift the kettlebell using your hips. Simultaneously pulling it up and corkscrewing your arm to allow the bell to come to a rest on the outside of your forearm. From this standing position with your arm and kettlebell resting in front and against your body then press the bell overhead. Once you lock your shoulder and elbow into place with the bell straight overhead then simply walk on a flat surface at a desired distance. When you are done then follow the steps in reverse from lifting the bell to putting it safely back on the floor. From here just switch arms and repeat the lift.

To put it mildly your workouts have been dead until now! Learn how to utilize the power of this tool of muscle construction to kickstart your workouts. Remember that the kettlebell is a different way to train and you shouldn't try anything unless you are confident in your technique. From here watch your results explode from the intense kettlebell!

To learn more about Kettlebells, Fitness, and achieving Total Mind-Blowing Strength come and visit me at http://www.efandps.com
To be one of my members and to receive more tips on insane body construction please visit me at:http://www.efandps.com/www.efandps.com/Brandons_Members_Newsletter.html

I'm Brandon Richey the Strength and Conditioning Pro!

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

The Kettlebell - It's Not Just the Bomb, It's the Nuclear Bomb of Fitness!

A typical nuclear bomb being tested by BlatantNews.com24 Kg kettlebell by magicmitch

If you want to learn about the Nuclear Bomb of fitness then you have arrived at the right place! Kettlebells are the closest thing to "Nuclear" in terms of fitness that I know about. If you really want a piece of equipment that is practical, a money saving investment, doesn't take up an entire floor of your house, and can help you to achieve some seriously over the top results then the kettlebell is what you need. It isn't what you want, it is what you need!

There is no better tool in terms of developing overall significant results in strength and conditioning. Even purchasing a single kettlebell you have in essence purchased an entire gym! Thats right, a single kettlebell can train your body as well, if not better, than an entire gym. The nuclear bomb of fitness is bigger and better than any other piece of fitness equipment on the market because of its versatility. The only requirement from you is that you take the time to properly learn the technique that is involved with taming this iron tool of fat destruction.

The type of training involved with the kettlebell is very true to human function. When taming this ancient device you learn how to properly apply strength to movement. The element of "movement" is exactly what the human body is designed to do. Put two and two together. Movement when combined with the resistance of the iron bell you develop superior fitness! It is not hard to see why the kettlebell is the "Nuclear Bomb" of fitness.

I will even make it easy for you to learn as much as possible about how you can arm your strength and fitness program with the nuclear bomb. All you have to do is access the rest of my articles absolutely free! Train hard and give it a try!

To learn more about Kettlebells, Fitness, and achieving Total Mind-Blowing Strength come and visit me at: http://www.efandps.com
To be one of my members and to receive more tips on INSANE BODY CONSTRUCTION please visit me at:http://www.efandps.com/www.efandps.com/Brandons_Members_Newsletter.html
I'm Brandon Richey the Strength and Conditioning Pro!

Saturday, October 24, 2009

Kettlebells For Swimmers - 2 Drills to Transform the Swimmer Into a Torpedo in the Water!

daniel bell_swimmer_01_lo by jmfotoswimmer by Emad AL-Saif

Swimming is a highly demanding physical activity. As a serious swimmer looking to improve your time in the water you must seek out every available opportunity and resource in order to get the most out of your performance. I have included 2 land-based drills here in this article with kettlebells to increase your explosive ability in the pool and improve every aspect of your performance and ability in the water.

1. Single-Arm High Pull: This is a hell of a drill to perform for anyone, but for swimmers this is a golden exercise! To perform this drill, you must understand the dynamic and proper form behind the single-arm swing. This is done by you standing straight with the kettlebell in one hand. Allow the bell to hang straight down in front of your body at your groin. From here you will want to execute a staple technique involved in kettlebell training known as the hip snap. This is done by you flexing and extending at both your hips and knees back and forth and in a continuous and fluent motion.

This "hip snap" allows you to build momentum to allow the kettlebell to begin swinging in an arc back and forth from between your legs and up to your chest level. As you single-arm swing the bell make sure that you rotate your hand thumbs down at the bottom of the swing between your legs and rotate it back to a palms down position at the top of the swing. Now when you implement the high pull motion you simply want to allow the bell to come up lateral to and at your shoulder level at the top of the arc of the swing. You should pull the bell straight up by really engaging the hip snap to get the bell to come up lateral to your head and shoulder and simply descend back into the normal arc.

2. The Overhead Snatch: This is definitely one of the best drills a swimmer can perform in order to achieve superior core strength, an explosive core, amazing shoulder strength, and overall power! This is basically executed as the next step after the high pull. So to perform this drill you must be familiar with the single-arm swing and high pull first. To perform the snatch you simply execute the high pull, but instead of allowing the bell to descend from the high pull you will want to allow the bell to smoothly transition over and around the top of your wrist by "punching your palm" to the sky at the very end of the motion.

This allows you to lock the bell out overhead completing the snatch lift! This is a power move that is sure to help swimmers in the water. With so much shoulder and core movement that is required for you to swim in the water, this drill is sure to help you build the Herculean strength you need to abuse and move through the water like a torpedo!

To learn more about Kettlebells, Fitness, and achieving Total Mind-Blowing Strength come and visit me at http://www.efandps.com
To be one of my members and to receive more tips on INSANE BODY CONSTRUCTION please visit me at:http://www.efandps.com/www.efandps.com/Brandons_Members_Newsletter.html
I'm Brandon Richey the Strength and Conditioning Pro!

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

The Kettlebell - A Force of One!

The kettlebell is what I like to call a force of one! When I say this I am referring to the fact that this device is one of the most versatile pieces of equipment that you can use within the scope of an exercise program. Weight-loss, fat-loss, athletic performance, and building hard lean muscle mass are just a few examples of why this device can be a force of one.

If you want to improve on just about every level of fitness ranging from strength, endurance, flexibility, resiliency, and recovery you can achieve all of this through proper knowledge and application with the kettlebell. The ancient device is essentially a hand held gym that can tension your body for strength and easily be stored away behind your bedroom door when you are finished.

The investment in this device is sound and I promise you that it will never have to be replaced. No warranty is necessary and I guarantee it will outlast your treadmill. As a matter of fact, if there were a nuclear apocalypse the only thing left in the dust after the mayhem would be that kettlebell you purchased. An effective strength and conditioning program and tool should be capable of variety and this ancient tool certainly qualifies for that!

To be successful in any exercise program you have to always stay motivated and continue to expand your knowledge on what is effective. Your pursuit of this matches up perfectly in seeking out the proper way to train with kettlebells!

To learn more about Kettlebells, Fitness, and achieving Total Mind-Blowing Strength come and visit me at: http://www.efandps.com
To be one of my members and to receive more tips on INSANE BODY CONSTRUCTION please visit me at:http://www.efandps.com/www.efandps.com/Brandons_Members_Newsletter.html
I'm Brandon Richey the Strength and Conditioning Pro!

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Kettlebells and Sprinting!

Sprinter by sprintist86Vancouver, Canada  - The Sprinter by GlobeTrotter 2000

If you want to try an intense workout for you to gain superior sprinting power and to keep your body sharp then you need to find an open field and a kettlebell for this workout. This is a highly effective sprint training routine for developing both athleticism and promoting fat-loss.

To begin, you can mark off a distance of about 25 yards. Start at one end of the marker with your kettlebell. For optimal benefit you will want to use a kettlebell of moderately heavy resistance. I am an experienced professional and for this particular drill I like to utilize a 24kg (53 lb) kettlebell. From here you are going to execute four different kettlebell exercises and then immediately sprint for the 25 yard distance.

Now this sounds simple enough, right? Make sure you execute at least 30 repetitions of each kettlebell lift and then sprint the 25 yards. Pick four bell exercises. Execute one of the exercises then sprint. Next, after you recover execute the next exercise and then sprint. You see where I'm going with the pattern. Try to give yourself no more than 45 seconds rest between each lift and sprint combo. After you complete the 4 exercises you have completed one round. When you begin this workout try to execute at least 3 rounds. As you improve then either steadily add on bell lifts to each round or simply add more rounds!

To achieve total cardiovascular dominance you must maintain a steady regimen of total-body intensity. Forget about the stationary bike. All you are doing there is wasting your time pedaling to nowhere!

To learn more about Kettlebells, Fitness, and achieving Total Mind-Blowing Strength come and visit me at http://www.efandps.com
To be one of my members and to receive more tips on INSANE BODY CONSTRUCTION please visit me at:http://www.efandps.com/www.efandps.com/Brandons_Members_Newsletter.html
I'm Brandon Richey the Strength and Conditioning Pro!

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Building Speed With Kettlebells!

Kettlebell swings by adamstaneckiUS Speed Skating Championships-5 by socks57

Speed is a skill that can be built and fine-tuned just like any other athletic skill. Just like you practice shooting a basketball, catching a football, or hitting a baseball getting faster is also another skill that you can improve! Kettlebells are a great way to get an extra edge in terms of building speed.

If you want to build explosive athletic ability then you need to stimulate your nervous system. In order to stimulate the nervous system you have to participate in high intensity explosive bodily movements. This is what causes your nervous system to respond by causing your muscles to fire quickly and forcefully. Kettlebells are a great tool for you to utilize in order to stimulate the nervous system to build that explosive quality you need in order to build speed!

There are many lifts and exercises that you can utilize with the kettlebell in order to do so. The base lift of the kettlebell is known as the "swing." This is a great exercise to start in order to stimulate the glutes and hamstrings which are all part of the sprinting powerhouse of the human body. Of course, there are other more intense lifts such as the overhead snatch and single-arm swing that can strengthen your core and give you the edge you need for optimal performance.

If you are looking to take your athletic speed to new levels then you need to permit yourself the time to learn more and implement the bells into your program. Learn, practice flawlessly, and you won't be disappointed.

To learn more about Kettlebells, Fitness, and achieving Total Mind-Blowing Strength come and visit me at: http://www.efandps.com
To be one of my members and to receive more tips on INSANE BODY CONSTRUCTION please visit me at:http://www.efandps.com/www.efandps.com/Brandons_Members_Newsletter.html
I'm Brandon Richey the Strength and Conditioning Pro!

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Kettlebells For Hikers - A Great Way For the Avid Hiker to Include the Bell in Their Trek

If you want to step up your hiking ability to the point that you will eventually be able to complete walking through the Appalachian Trail then all you need are 4 things. Get yourself a watch (or timer), a sturdy and durable backpack, and 2 8kg kettlebells (17.6lbs each). Now all you need is a formidable hiking trail. Ok, maybe with the trail its technically 5 things.

To begin, simply find a hiking trail that has some steep terrain, but not so rough. Make sure there are hills, because this will intensify your trek. Next, stick the bells inside of your backpack and take off for your walk. Try to walk at a steady pace more so than your usual trekking pace. Now you want to use your watch or timer to notify you of specific intervals. You can set the timer to go off at the desired time because when it does you are going to stop and drop the backpack and take out the kettlebells to execute a kettlebell lift. It doesn't matter what lift you do, just choose a random lift at the end of every timed interval. Just make sure that the ground is somewhat level enough to perform the desired lift of choice when its time. The point of this training is to add stress to your journey by including the extra weight of the bells for you to haul around. Its also a great way to make you much more resilient as a hiker for those future adventures!

Give this a try and both your hiking and kettlbell training will transform completely!

To learn more about Kettlebells, Fitness, and achieving Total Mind-Blowing Strength come and visit me at http://www.efandps.com
To be one of my members and to receive more tips on INSANE BODY CONSTRUCTION please visit me at:http://www.efandps.com/www.efandps.com/Brandons_Members_Newsletter.html
I'm Brandon Richey the Strength and Conditioning Pro!

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Grip Strength - 2 Exercises to Give You a Herculean Grip!

The one thing that I have learned over the years in observing some of the most successful athletes and weightlifters is that they all have tremendous grip strength. I mean the kind of grip that can give them ultimate victory in any hand-shaking contest if there were any such of a thing. Below I will discuss 2 exercises that you can execute in order to achieve this kind of herculean status.

The Fingertip Push-up: This is just what it sounds like and there are a few variations of this exercise. The first is to simply get into an upright push-up position. Instead of your hands being flat you will only be bracing the weight of your body on your fingertips! From here simply execute a full push-up. Do as many as you can without going to failure. The second variation is the pop-up method. This is a bit more intense and I wouldn't attempt this until you have mastered the first method. For this one you want to start out in an upright push-up position with your hands normally braced on the floor as if you were doing a normal push-up. Next, execute the push-up and when you have fully ascended in the range of motion in one quick movement immediately pop-up onto your fingertips. From this position just as quickly pop down with your hands flat back into the start position. Repeat this process for every repetition.

The Kettlebell Bell Up Press: This particular one requires the use of some cold hard steel. The idea is pretty simple. You want to pick up the kettlebell with the bell part (round bottom portion) of the weight balanced in the up position and not against your forearm like it normally is in the holding position of the clean. There is no other part of your body touching the bell except your hand which is solidly embraced around the cold hard steel handle of the bell. From below your chin simply press the bell above your head and lower back.

You will no doubt develop a herculean grip when executing these exercises. Practice it flawlessly!

To learn more about Kettlebells, Fitness, and achieving Total Mind-Blowing Strength come and visit me at http://www.efandps.com
To be one of my members and to receive more tips on INSANE BODY CONSTRUCTION please visit me at:http://www.efandps.com/www.efandps.com/Brandons_Members_Newsletter.html

I'm Brandon Richey the Strength and Conditioning Pro!

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

The Kettlebell - My First Experience With This Tool of Fat Destruction and Muscle Construction

I have about as much of a qualified past as anyone when it comes to me lending my two-cents about anything that pertains to fitness or strength training. I am an ex-athlete and have always been very active in terms of training my body to pass the "eyeball test" ,as well as, being able to perform. I had the fortunate opportunity to serve on the football strength and conditioning staff at UGA under an outstanding program with great overall leadership. No, that is not a dig at other programs outside of UGA, but it is the truth.

With my athletic background I have always considered myself to be fairly fit and strong, but that was all quickly progressed even further when I got introduced to the kettlebell. The first one that I ever purchased was a 20kg (44lbs). I quickly learned how to execute the infamous "swing." I have always been able to execute Olympic style lifts but with the bell I had to continue to use my hips to snap and generate momentum to keep the bell moving. I quickly realized how exhausting this single lift was in my first attempt. From here it was all big progress!

I quickly moved on to the 24kg (53lbs) and further executed more intense lifts like the single-arm overhead snatch. My heart felt like it would beat out of my chest after executing 20-30 reps of these at one time. The conditioning was almost overwhelming and so was my excitement. I got even more fired up when I started doing one-arm push-ups and eventually one-arm one-legged push-ups! Now like athletes my body has a lot to do with my work, but I had not done things like this since I was in high school. Even being a strength specialist I still got impressed with this device quicker than anything else I have ever included in my personal programs.

Just like you it was all new to me at one time. I really wished that I could have had access to this gruesome tool when I was a teenager.

To learn more about Kettlebells, Fitness, and achieving Total Mind-Blowing Strength come and visit me at http://www.efandps.com
To be one of my members and to receive more tips on INSANE BODY CONSTRUCTION please visit me at:http://www.efandps.com/www.efandps.com/Brandons_Members_Newsletter.html

I'm Brandon Richey the Strength and Conditioning Pro!

Friday, July 10, 2009

The Kettlebell Snatch - 2 Huge Benefits of This Superior Lift!

You have probably realized by now that the kettlebell is about 95% of my client and personal strength program. It is a device that is superior to the rest in terms of overall strength, human performance, and lean muscle development.

To start, you are probably familiar with the kettlebell swing. The double-arm swing is challenging and the single-arm is even more challenging. Here I want to talk about the overhead snatch. You know that the snatch is an olympic lift and its singular form is similar, but varied when executed with the bell. For the purpose of this article I will be addressing the overall benefits of the single-arm overhead snatch with the bell.

First of all, when participating in a high intensity snatch it is a tremendous lift that can be utilized for explosive vertical power. Generating enough force to execute this overhead lift with a heavy bell not only adds tremendous shoulder stability, but incorporates many muscles of the core and hips to generate amazing vertical force. This is beneficial because it stimulates the nervous system to allow muscles to contract more forcefully. This immediately builds total-body power and resiliency! It hardens and toughens the body to withstand outside forces such as being able to take a hit and reducing the risk of injury.

Secondly, if you think that the double and single-arm swings are intense wait until you attempt this monster lift. Again you can engage in heavier bells to develop total power or a slightly lighter bell to build amazing conditioning. You see here the benefit of shoulder stability is still huge, but even by executing this lift with a lighter bell you will still generate cardiovascular conditioning that is unlike anything that you have ever experienced. The overall benefit is a win-win situation whether you are a regular Joe or a super athlete!

If you ask me, anyone that includes the kettlebell into their strength program isn't such an "average Joe!" Execute the overhead snatch frequently and flawlessly! Instantly engage in HARD BODY CONSTRUCTION!

To learn more about Kettlebells, Fitness, and achieving Total Mind-Blowing Strength come and visit me at http://www.efandps.com
To be one of my members and to receive more tips on INSANE BODY CONSTRUCTION please visit me at:http://www.efandps.com/www.efandps.com/Brandons_Members_Newsletter.htmlI'm Brandon Richey the Strength and Conditioning Pro!

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

The Test Run!

I'm about to go try a run. Pulled my calf muscle running last week and spent the whole weekend trying to nurse it back to health! Won't know until I go. Just my second week into running. Haven't ran in over a year until 2 weeks ago. Almost clocked a 7 1/2 minute mile until the flat tire (my calf) took me out of commission. If all of my kettlebell peeps want to pick running back up, you'll be amazed at how well the conditioning crosses over to the running! Give it a shot. Shout at you later. 

The Kettlebell Swing - Giant Cardio With a Single Exercise!

So do you want to know a simple method to train the body in order to gain serious fitness, conditioning, and huge cardiovascular benefit? Notice that I said that the method is simple, not the training!

The swing is one of the most, if not the most basic lift to execute with the kettlebell. This movement is one that you will figure out in a hurry involves about 75-80% of your body and hundreds of muscles! That is a workout my friends. If you don't believe me then do a couple of hundred continuous swings with the bell and you will find out really fast that there are really no areas of the body left untouched from this hard hitting exercise. As a matter of fact, you can really concentrate on tightening up your body for every repetition and you will notice that getting exhausted comes fast. Focus on every repetition by keeping a firm tight grip, tight abs, shoulders retracted, and constant hip drive throughout every swing. You can complete an entire workout around this single lift. You will no doubt be efficient with the time it takes to do the workout. You will also noticeably feel all the areas of impact from this single movement.

So if the idea is to make a time efficient workout with tremendous cardiovascular results then the swing should be your lift of choice. You will achieve a giant cardiovascular effect while optimizing your skeletal muscles for either rock hard fitness, performance, or to be resilient enough for athletic competition of any kind!

To learn more about Kettlebells, Fitness, and achieving Total Mind-Blowing Strength come and visit me at http://www.efandps.com

To be one of my members and to receive more tips on INSANE BODY CONSTRUCTION please visit me at:http://www.efandps.com/www.efandps.com/Brandons_Members_Newsletter.html

I'm Brandon Richey the Strength and Conditioning Pro!

Kettlebells - Supreme Cardiovascular Training For the Endurance Athlete

I want to talk about the most gruesome and sadistic strength training device known to man. A device that will make you wish you never competed in a sporting event or started working out because of its extreme ability to tax the body like nothing you've ever experienced. This tool of fat destruction and ultimate body construction that I am talking about is the kettlebell! I have worked in training many different populations of athletes, law enforcement, and average citizens to know that the one tool they all respect is the kettlebell.

To start, if you are any type of athlete this tool should be the staple of your program. However, in this article I am addressing the endurance athlete. Whether you are a marathoner, cyclist, swimmer, or triathlete this is a tool that I guarantee will improve your cardiovascular endurance, staying power, resiliency, and supreme total-body fitness. A learned and properly applied kettlebell program will allow the endurance athlete to compete at the highest level by not having to devote full time to practicing their specific athletic event. One particular basic kettlebell lift is the swing and it just about targets every major muscle that is utilized in every endurance event. The swing targets the shoulder girdle, abs, forearms, deltoids, traps, mid-back, low-back, glutes, hamstrings, hips, and most of all the heart! This is why a great deal of the training done with the bell translates over to athletic competition.

I want to make clear that I would not discourage you from practicing the event in which you are competing. However, with a kettlebell I wouldn't discourage cutting back on a good deal of your time devoted to practicing the event to replace it with a kettlebell program. Just make sure that you take the time to learn the most effective ways to manipulate your kettlebell program for you to achieve optimal fitness in your endurance training!

To learn more about Kettlebells, Fitness, and achieving Total Mind-Blowing Strength come and visit me at http://www.efandps.com.

To be one of my members and to receive more tips on INSANE BODY CONSTRUCTION please visit me at:http://www.efandps.com/www.efandps.com/Brandons_Members_Newsletter.html. I'm Brandon Richey the Strength and Conditioning Pro!

Athletic Fitness - 3 Ways to Construct an Athletically Fit and Athletically Functional Body!

I had a friend the other day that was just starting back into working out and he asked me "what is the best thing for me to do to get back into shape?" He is an ex-athlete like myself and I asked him if he remembered how hard his workouts were in college. He, of course, said yes and I proceeded to tell him that he needs to start training like an athlete again. Why, he asked? I followed up by asking him at what point in his life was he in the greatest shape and he replied "when I was doing preseason workouts for football in college." I rest my case. Most of the time people don't want to revert to doing what they used to because they have forgotten how, they are lazy, or maybe they have never had an effective training regimen in their life.

Step 1: The first step in building the ultimate greek-god or goddess-like body is to implement Olympic Lifting into your strength training program. The three main lifts that people are familiar with in olympic lifting are the snatch, clean, and jerk. All three lifts are incredible in developing explosive power, strength, and animal-like resiliency. By including these lifts and variations of them into your strength program you will find that you will get a much quicker workout because of the intensity of the lifts. Also, these lifts can be structured into your workouts as a primary lift which can be readily combined with the remaining lift and workout strategies I will explain in Steps 2 and 3.

Step 2: The second step in your journey for elite fitness status involves the inclusion of Kettlebells. Yes, kettlebells are a tremendous way to supplement your Olympic Lifts that you might execute with barbells and bumper plates, but with kettlebells, certain olympic lifts can be executed as well. Because of its shape and size many different lifts with different objectives can be executed readily with the bell. This allows you to bypass a normal training obstacle that occurs frequently with other free weights like having to slow down to change around weights, racking plates, and having to move to a different area for another lift. In other words, there is no interruption of your workout, therefore your intensity level stays in HIGH GEAR! The bell can be used for heavy explosive type lifts, conditioning-oriented lifts, and slower lifts that create tremendous muscular tension! All are effective for constructing your body and getting to greek-god status.

Step 3: The third step in getting ridiculously quick results in your program is making sure to add in Plyometrics. Plyometrics involve completing intense quick explosive movements that stretch and shorten the muscles rapidly. They stimulate the nervous system causing the muscles to react quicker so athletic movements like sprinting, jumping, and agility can be effectively executed. This is also a great way to gain tremendous conditioning and to reduce the risk of injury by stressing the body in this manner.

Remember that none of these three steps should be included into your program unless you are 100% confident in your technique. Don't be a knucklehead and do something that would injure you and put you out of commission. However, you should take the time to study, research, and flawlessly practice these steps. Once you do your INSANE BODY CONSTRUCTION PROJECT will be completed way before anyone else's deadline!

To learn more about Kettlebells, Fitness, and achieving Total Mind-Blowing Strength come and visit me at http://www.efandps.com
To be one of my members and to receive more tips on INSANE BODY CONSTRUCTION please visit me at:http://www.efandps.com/www.efandps.com/Brandons_Members_Newsletter.html
I'm Brandon Richey the Strength and Conditioning Pro!

Kettlebells - The Frankenstein of Fitness, Bringing Your Dead Workouts to Life!

I like to refer to the kettlebell as the "Frankenstein of Fitness" because it will bring your dead workouts to life! You are probably wondering what is a kettlebell? Well, a kettlebell is a strength training device that resembles a cannonball with a handle attached to it. It originated in Russia and has been around for centuries. This is my fitness tool of choice when it comes to down right hard-body results. The good news is that now they are becoming more popular here in the U.S. and I am here to say that it is a tool that will transform your workouts and your body forever.

To begin, the kettlebell is a very dynamic and different way to train your body. There are many different types of lifts that can be executed with the kettlebell to strengthen the body as a whole. When working out with this tool you can pretty much throw the isolated or single-joint movements out the window. For me this is why this gruesome fat destroying weapon is so effective in building total-body strength and fitness. It can be utilized to integrate push and pull type movements which are the basis of human function.

For the sake of time I want to discuss two basic lifts that cover the push and pull dynamic. I'll start with the big pull movement. The first of these is the double-arm swing. This is a movement that basically involves picking the bell up from the floor from between your legs. After you pick up the bell your feet should be about slightly wider than shoulder width with complete extension of your knees and hips. The bell should be hanging in front of you slightly below your hips and in front of your groin area. From this point you want to sit your hips back with about a quarter-squat and have a slight bend of the knees. At this stage you should have a slight bend of both the knees and hips. In a continuous back and forth movement you want to extend the knees and hips allowing the kettlebell to build momentum as it swings back and forth between your legs. Make sure you are continuing to flex and extend the knees and hips to build the swinging momentum of the bell. When finished you want to utilize a proper squat to lower the kettlebell back to the ground between your feet from where you started.

The second lift I want to discuss involves a push exercise of the kettlebell. The lift to which I am going refer is the overhead static press and walk. To begin this exercise you must first execute a proper clean lift to get the bell from the floor to chest level. The "Clean" is a term that weightlifters use that means to lift the weight from the floor to chest level in one single "Clean" movement. This is done by starting with the bell on the floor in the same manner as the swing lift. You must then execute a proper squat and grab the bell using one arm. From the floor then lift the kettlebell simultaneously pulling it up and corkscrewing your arm to allow the bell to come to a rest on the outside of your forearm. From this standing position with your arm and kettlebell resting in front and against your body then press the bell overhead. Once you lock your shoulder and elbow into place with the bell straight overhead then simply walk on a flat surface at a desired distance. When you are done then follow the steps in reverse from lifting the bell to putting it safely back on the floor. From here just switch arms and repeat the lift.

To put it mildly your workouts have been dead until now! Learn how to utilize the power of this tool of muscle construction to kickstart your workouts. Remember that the kettlebell is a different way to train and you shouldn't try anything unless you are confident in your technique. From here watch your results explode from the intense kettlebell!

To learn more about Kettlebells, Fitness, and achieving Total Mind-Blowing Strength come and visit me at http://www.efandps.com
To be one of my members and to receive more tips on insane body construction please visit me at:http://www.efandps.com/www.efandps.com/Brandons_Members_Newsletter.html

I'm Brandon Richey the Strength and Conditioning Pro!

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