Adam T Glass 500 pound lift

Adam showing there seems to be no limits, still.

Adam makes easy work of a 500lb hand lift along with some hammer levering, farmers walk, short bending and a PR pinch grip with plates.

Amazing stuff!




Adam T Glass 500 pound lift

Card Tearing Ebook

Since getting my meat hooks on Jedd Johnson's card tearing ebook
I have been able to knock almost 1 minute off my card tear.

All because of the info in this book.

This may sound unreal but there is one sentence in this book that gave me the 'eureka' moment which made me realise where I was going wrong. I applied this and practiced a bit and started really getting through the cards much much quicker.

Here's my vid



I believe this book is one of it's kind with information you can't get elsewhere. Not only that but the exercises here are well worth it alone.

If you interested check out Cardtearing.com for more details



Card Tearing Ebook

Budd Jeffries Kettlebell Training

I'm big fan of Bud Jeffries, a couple of years or so ago I bought his ebooks Twisted Conditioning I & II and also how to Squat 900lbs (I never have squatted 900 yet since, but the book is jammed full of amazing training stuff). These books gave me so many ideas for training with kettlebells and weights together.



Bud has recently been working on the Kettlebell Swing and has put up the following PR's on his site:

* 24kg x 500 reps in 12 min: 13 sec
* 24kg x 1000 reps in 28 min: 30 sec
* 24kg x 2000 reps in 1 hour: 10 min
* 32kg x 1000 reps in 37 min
* 40kg x 1000 reps in 45 min
* 40kg x 1200 reps in 1 hour
* 48kg x 1000 reps in 1 hour

Wow that's some serious swinging.

Not only this but this has helped Bud lose 70lb's in bodyweight and will soon be letting us in on his kettlebell swing training

Bud now has his site back up at Strongerman.com


Check out this PDF article about why Bud trains with kettlebells


21 reasons to train with kettlebells

Budd Jeffries Kettlebells

Secret Service Snatch Test

Decided to lay off the 40kg snatching and try out the SSST instead today.

I hit 212 reps in 10 mins with the 24kg kettlebell, which is a personal best.

So I am happy with that.

However, I some how miss counted reps in the fifth minute and changed 3 reps early on the left. So I should really have hit 215.

This coming week I'll be working to hit 230 reps and will devise an exact strategy on how I will achieve this






Secret Service Snatch Test

Kettlebell Push Press Test 40kg kettlebell


Did this 5 min test last night and nearly blew up.

105 reps in 5 mins. This is part of my fitness training and kettlebell challenge.

Felt great afterwards and looking forward to more GPP with kettlebells and also in addition to this I'm also looking forward to receiving my Kenneth Jay Viking Warrior Conditioning Book from Dragondoor.com

This test was with the 40kg kettlebell (which incidently was 42.5kg when I weighed it)



I'm really working on my fitness conditioning as it feels like it is really lacking.

My nexy challenge is the 10min kettlebell snatch test with 40kg bell. Then 10 min SSST test.

Kettlebell Push Press Test

Wood Chop by Kettlebell Dogman

My good friend Stef AKA dogman dedicated this video to me.

Stef spent 6 hours cutting this massive log. I laughed my head off when I saw the video.

It's just crazy. 6 Hours................... what a workout!

Brilliant work Stef!



This is reall wood chopping and a little harder than the kettlebell wood chop

Wood Chop by Kettlebell Dogman

My Top Kettlebell Exercises For Core Strength

I can remember the first time I ever picked up a 56lb throwing weight and tried to swing it (the movement is very similar to the kettlebell swing) and remember the thought that this swinging motion was seriously gonna do some physical damage, rip something or maybe even dislodge a testicle string.

However, that was before I started swinging kettlebells which does seriously train your core.

Now I'm not really one for going of and doing some core training as it doesn't sound right. I can picture myself going and doing some squats on bosu or swiss fitness ball (these are fine pieces of equipment) but these won't help me throw a weight very far, so I'd rather pick up some heavy weights off the floor and call that core training instead.

Now, I don't honestly think anything really beats squats, deadlifts, snatches and clean and jerk with a barbell. After all this is what has built the greatest athletes in the world but kettlebells can also be used for core strength training.

So aside from the standard kettlebell swing and snatch. These are my favourite core exercises with kettlebells.

1. Double kettlebell swing - take two kettlebells in one hand (make sure it's heavier than a normal swing)aim to swing the 2 weights about eye height. Check out my double kettlebell swing

2. The kettlebell flip - kb flip adds an extra explosive dimension and shocks the core muscles. Again the heavier the better and higher the better. Here I do double kettlebell flips but gives you an idea

3. The kettlebell windmill - Steve Cotter explains this better than anyone



4. The BUP clean or and BUP press with kettlebell - the bottoms up clean and bottoms up press are magnificent kettlebell core exercises. Ensure you train both sides.



5. One handed kettlebell farmers walk - take one or two kettlebells in the same hand and set off walking for distance with them. Go as far as you can and then switch hands and try to make it back to the start. Repeat until your beaten.

6. Turkish Get UP (TGU) and TGU sit up - a great all round core exercise, not ballistic in nature but certainly excellent. TGU sit up is literally the bottom position to being sat up with the kettlbell above your shoulder



7. Kettlebell and towel hammer wind up great exercise for rotational core power wwhich mimics the hammer wind up.

Don't forget that kettlebell training can be greatly assisted by interval training and proper timing, check out my Gymboss Timer Review

Turkish Get Up Kettlebell Complex

Jonnywildboar has put up another great kettlebell video. The TGU kettlebell complex jonny has used involves kettlebell squat, kettlebell snatch and kettlebell press in between the TGU. great idea, great challenging complex. Jonny does 10 reps - which will be quite a workout.

Also sounds like Jonny has been checking out Dave Whitley's training DVD




Turkish Get Up Kettlebell Complex

Explosive Kettlebell Swings with Broad Jumps

Interesting stuff from getitdonefitness

I like this idea of combining plyos with kettlebell swings with some added cardio work. Would make a fun and also gruelling training session.

The thing to watch for here is ensuring there is plenty of hip drive on the upward swing




Explosive Kettlebell Swings

Cross World Girevoy Sport

Marko from Finnland was good enough to email me regarding the virtual kettlebell meet. So I have pasted in the guidelines of the competition below.

It's just a shame that it's only running for 7 more days. The format is split into 2 parts the first being strict girevoy format (whereby only one hand change is allowed) and the other where you can set the bell down and rest and pick it up and carry on. Like I did with my 10 min kettlebell clean and press test

Marko can be found at Marks Treeniloki or on youtube at Mark Youtube

Here's the info

Post from kahvakuula.fi.forum


The Cross World Girevoy Sport event is closing in on us!

From the 7th to the 29th of March, it's Super Tactical Athletic Girevoy Sport!! And also some fine lifts for beginners!!

Here's the Official info.

The event is organised by the Girevoy Sport Global Network.

First, here's a spreadsheet with all the results data, and the contact persons for live events:
http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key= ... HUZOTweeGA

Here's the available lifts and general rules:

Check out the lifts available! You won't believe your eyes!

Classic GS lifts:
2 KB jerk
2 KB lonc cycle (LC)
1 KB jerk
1 KB LC
snatch

For these, the standard GS ruless apply:
- 10 minutes time limit
- one hand switch in one armed lifts
- when the bell is set down, the lift is over

Special lifts:
Overhead anyhow (1 KB)
Overhead anyhow mini (1 KB)

These 2 lifts have the following exceptions to the standard GS rules:
Overhead anyhow is lifting the bell overhead from the rack position, a clean before each lift. So, it's an easy version of the classic clean & jerk.
- 10 minutes
- multiple hand switches
- put the bell down if desired
- Clean before a new lift always.

You can use push press, military press, jerk or something else. The rule is just to get a good lockout. This is for newcomers especially.

Overhead anyhow mini is the same as above but 5 minutes. Come on, you can do this even if you train with Kettlenetics bells!

A lifter can choose any combination of these lifts, and bell weight can be different in each lift. The possible bell weights are dependent on the equipment available, but generally here are the common alternatives:
8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 32, 40, 48

If you lift virtually, please send all the results to markosuomi@gmail.com before the 30th or March!

Here is Marko




Cross World Girevoy Sport

Sledge Hammer Training

Stef training with the 20kg Hammer

Great stuff, nice one Stef




Stef is a pocket rocket at only 70kg he shows great strength and endurance

Sledge Hammer Training 2.0

Clean and Press 10min Test 40kg Kettlebell



Stef(dogmandu69) from France has been egging me onto try out the 10 min clean and press test (in fact I think it's supposed to be jerk but overhead for me is good enough). Since I had a cold most of this week I decided to put it of till yesterday.

I hit 104 reps with the 40kg (I have no idea is this is any good) and will be onto this sort of thing more often as I feel awesome today after a great cardio kettlebell sesion.

There appears to be quite a few 10min test videos appearing on youtube at the moment, but I have no idea where the root of this is based (anyone?). Maybe it's just a ploy to get me to lose some weight.

Also, after the weekend and my 60kg BUP I wiped another goal from my kettlebell goals list.

I've missed my deadline on the remainder of my goals so will push these out another 4 weeks to 23rd April.

I'm still yet to do 40 swings with the 60kg and 60 with the 48kg beast (pretty sure I'll kill these off this week) not to mention 16 flips with the 60kg (this is really tough) and also 250 reps in the Secret Service Snatch Test (this is possible I think but not yet)



Clean and Press 10min Test

John Brookfield Training

Below you'll wil find some links to John Brookfield's training methods/ideas from Ironmind.com

There are some real gems here, some I've never heard of. I advise using some of these to add new zest to your training. They're some great grip and conditioning ideas here.

My favourite is 'Up the Down Staircase'. This can be done with 3 kettlebells of varying weights - simply clean and press the heaviest bell 5 times then with no rest move onto the lighter bell and do the same and then to the lighest and repeat again, with no rest work back upto the heaiest kettlebell. When you can do no more than 2 reps take a 5 min rest and then repeat. WHat a super conditioning session.

This will work with kettlebell snatch as well as clean and press/jerk just as well or even the kettlebell swing would make a good one!



Squat to Success

Up the Down Staircase

Towel Training for Power

Brookfield Sandbag Snatch Test

Pinch Grip Pick-up

Pinch Grip Drag

Sandbag Wrist Curls

Plate Turning

The Bucket Drill

Rope Hand-Over-Hand

Plate Seesaw

Back Pressure Breakthrough


Check out more stuff like this at Old School Strength Forum


John Brookfield Training

60kg Bottoms Up Kettlebell Press



I finally hit the 60kg BUP today, in fact I made the lift on 7 seperate reps trying to hit the double (which was not too far away)

After having a head/chest cold for the majority of this week so, I've laid off training almost all week. Since I've been hitting the kettlebells fairly hard recently this proved a good taper to hit the 60kg BUP.

Oh BTW I do actually train my left side as well(if anyone was wondering) and can BUP the beast on the left too (for a single). My left side is strong in standard pressing but just not co-ordinated enough to rep out on the heavier BUP's. WHich is incidently something I'll be working on.

Success in the BUP is down to hard work and the desire to do it. Training wise I've been doing ladders with the 24kg BUP from 5-10 on both sides and also singles, doubles and triples with the Beast 106lb kettlebell and 40kg bell too. Nothing technical, just resting when things feel like they're getting worn a bit.

If anything the lighter kettlebell BUP ladders have been key to get ready and controlled. There's a lot of grip work in the BUP and the 24kg kettlebell has helped a great deal.





Kettlebell Workouts

Jedd Johnson Card Tearing Book

As you may have seen previously I have attempted tearing a deck of cards in half. My first attempts were nothing to shout about but since then I have slowly being working on it alongside my other endeavours and have become better but still not a master of card tearing.

However, Jedd Johnson of the diesel crew has come to my rescue with his card tearing ebook

I bought Jedd Johnson's awesome Card Tearing Ebook yesterday. The ebook is fantastic and to my knowledge is "out there on it's own!". It's the kind of information I wish I'd had sooner.

Jedd runs through every style of card tearing there is and endless exercises for strengthening the grip and developing card tearing prowess. Not to mention which cards are easier and which are deemed hardest to tear.

Not only this but also equipment he uses to develop his grip, all of which can be easily made using stuff you find lying around the house. Superb!

Also, if you think that card tearing is too expensive then Jedd delivers many ideas for using other items for tearing. This section is entitled NO CARDS?NO PROBLEM

For the price Jedd is selling at it's well worth a read, it's not often I promote products but this is fantastic

Check out more at cardtearing.com



Technorati Tags: card tearing, grip strength


Jedd Johnson Card Tearing Book

Top 12 Exercises For Athletes Who Require Strength

Actually the article I'm about to show you is called the Top 11 Exercises for Athletes and was written by Steven Morris over at elitefts.com.

I fully agree with Steven on the exercises he has listed and reasons why, but have sneakily added on more to the end because I believe it deserves to be there.

Here's the list:

1. Deadlifts
2. Box squats
3. Clean and Jerk
4. Box Front Squats
5. Romanian Deadlift
6. Rows
7. Side Lunges
8. Dumbbell Inclines
9. Sandbags
10. Prowler
11. Snatch Grip Deadlift
12. Kettlebell Snatch (This is my addition as it deserves to be there)

I rate the Kettlebell Snatch as the top kettlebell exercise mainly because I feel it is the movement that gives me most power, strength and fitness without resorting to lots of other exercises to achieve the smae result - simplicity is it's beauty. Heavy snatches for reps, light snatches for time.... it can't be beaten.


Best Exercises For Athletes

Bottoms Up Kettlebell Training with 40kg Kettlebell

I've also spent some time training the BUP this weekend. Concentrating mainly on the 40kg kettlebell for reps. I used a 48kg beast kb on the opposite side to force the active side to work harder.



This straightens the body up and prevents too much leaning and side pressing (this can only be good).

I found with this that the working shoulder gets really pumped up as the rest of the body can't be brought into play. It's about as far as I will ever go with isolation movements.

Other BUP moves I have been doing are heavy BUP oneside and light press opposite side, now this is a great exercise and seriously makes the grip work over time.

As an example you would be BUP'ing a 40kg on the left and pressing a 20kg on the right. Give this a try out and you'll see what I mean.

It really feels like you're crushing the handle for everything you're worth.

I've been inspired by Brian Schoonveld's Arnold Classic Kettlebell Challenge win to get some more overheads done with the 60kg and practice my jerk technique.

Will post some footage later this week.




Bottoms Up Kettlebell Training

AKC 60kg Challenge at Arnold Classic

Brian Schoonveld won the American Kettlebell Challenge 60kg comp at this years Arnold Classic.



The challenge - Put the 60kg kettlebell above your head as many times as possible without putting it down! Jerk/press. Brian does a push press lift and makes the 60kg kettlebell look like a toy

I will try this later on this week and see how close I can get to the 30 reps that Brian SChoonvled did, Brian is a strongman competitor looking to get to WSM. Good luck Brian.

Here's a little BIO from Brian's site - brianschoonveld.tripod.com

Nickname: Schoonie

Born: March 8, 1974 in Valporaiso, Indiana

Resides: Demotte, Indiana

Schoonie is a man on a mission - A mission to win WSM. Here at Schoonie.com you will find out all about both the man and the mission. Where he started and how he got to where he is today, as well as what is next. You can also learn about the sport from the most active and as many say the top ranked Strongman in the US.

Measurements: Height 6'3'' (75in)

Weight 308 lbs (140kg)

Neck 19.5 in.

Chest 54in.

Forearm 16.5 in.





Arnold Classic Kettlebell Challeng

Sledgehammer Training 15.03.09



On the back of Dogmandu's heavy sledgehammer video I was inspired to get my tire and hammer out and do some sledgehammer training



Hitting a tire with a sledgehammer is such a basic but effective conditioning tool. The hammer I used was 16 lb's which is more than enough to give a great GPP session (which is something I admit to needing more of, GPP that is).

Sledgehammer training covers many bases, some of which are the grip, fitness, explosive qualities, great trunk/ab work. I must admit I thoroughly enjoy my session of 200 strikes in sets of 30-40 reps with some kettlebell and stone lifting thrown in for good measure.

The hammer I used in this video was from Screwfix.co.uk but is no longer available.
Alternatively go here to buy the same 16lb hammer if you're in the UK.

We must all be pretty scrawny here in the UK as it's really hard to find hammers above 14lb, in contrast look in the USA for a sledgehammer and there's no problem getting really big ones!

Here's a message from Dogmandu if anyone's interested in buying a hammer from him.

"I make my sledgehammer and I sell them. If you needs a sledgehammer the prices are as follows: 10kg = 65 euro, 15kg 85 euro, 20kg = 105 euro. All the sledgehammers are unique and I make them to order. Voila my friends. it is also possible to make a 40kg sledgehammer."

Sledgehammer Training

Rolling Thunder and Kettlebell Farmers Walk

Dominik from Naturtraining.blogspot.com has posted this interesting video of Farmers walk with 'Rolling Thunder Style sleeves with kettlebells providing the resistance.

Nice idea!

Add some stretch bands to this and you'd be in for a real treat!

Will post some interesting newstuff of my own this weekend so watch out!





Rolling Thunder Kettlebell Farmer

Kettlebell Snatch with Bands

From last weeks training sessions, the kettlebell snatch with stretch bands attached to the powerlifting belt.

The band really makes the hip flexors and lower back work overtime and the 48kg bell feel like a 60kg. If you try this method don't over do it as it really works you hard.




Kettlebell Snatch with Bands

60kg Kettlebell Swing with Bands

Peter Lakatos from RKC Hungary with his 60kg kettlebell swing with bands. Awesome show of strength and power at 78kg body weight.



60kg Kettlebell Swing with Bands

48kg Bottom Up Kettlebell Press

Have been working on this one for a few weeks now.

Got 4 full reps and a fifth that was a bit dodgy. Still felt good to hit it.

To really achieve anything with the Bottoms Up Press (BUP) you must really lock your body as tight as possible when you clean the kettlebell in to the shoulder. When I say 'tight' I mean 'extra tight' as if you were trying to suck the whole earth back up through your arse hole. Then grip for all you're worth and go for it!

Before each BUP session I've been getting warmed up on the 20kg kettlebell by doing ladders on both arms for 5 upto 10 reps. In fact this has been my staple.

Also, I've spent plenty of time working on the 40kg for 5's and lots of single, doubles and triples with the beast.



48kg Bottom Up Kettlebell Press

Explosive Kettlebell Swings with Bands

From today's kettlebell training session - Extreme Kettlebell Beast Swings with Bands

This movement is a combo using a Westside Barbell style band through the belt coupled with banded kettlebell swings.

The use of 2 lots of bands really forces the hips, back and legs to work extra hard to move the kettlebell forwards.



There are times when it takes something different to move through plateaus to the next level and kettlebells with bands are one of them. When more volume and more weight aren't enough it's neccessary to stress your system with soething new to adapt to.



Kettlebell Swing with Bands

Heavy Sledge Hammer Training 20kg

Kettlebell coach Dogman from Dogmandu69 has put up a great video of 50 reps with the 20kg sledgehammer. This is a great feat of fitness as he weighs in at 70kg, Great work!

The hammer is great conditioning tool and can be used in many ways. Striking a tyre is a surefire way to develop GPP. John Brookfield is an avid hammer trainer.

Check out more about sledgehammer training here





Heavy Sledge Hammer Training

Kettlebell Push Press 40kg for 40 reps

Also from this weekends training. 40kg kettlebell for 40 reps 20 each side. Next goal is to move up to 60 reps - 30 and 30. As you can see my technique needs some refining as I get very tired towards the end and start leaning. This is not girevoy sport this is more 'Bull powered Olympic ball tussling'

The Girevoy Sport guys are truly out of this world in terms fitness levels and energy conservation. I'm slowly putting elements of this style into my training.




Kettlebell Push Press

Macebell Training Session

Had another macebell training session this weekend (actually my third).

It feels great to be trying out something new, working on technique development and 'seeing what's possible' with the 'macebell'

I've learn't a few things about the macebell this weekend and they are:

Swinging the macebell is more difficult than it looks, there is a lot of rhythm and timing involved.

The macebell seriously works your grip.

It also highlights any deficiencies in your abs/core. I have some pretty serious muscle ache in my left side. This must be an imbalance (if you check out my video you'll see that my swing is better from left to right but not as good the other way round)

The macebell is great for stretching out and hitting the shoulders and also the triceps. I got some serious shoulder burn and tricep fatigue. It is definitely a push pull exercise.

I plan on converting an old 1" training barbell into a new macebell this week as my current one is bent and what I use as a 'scots hammer' for Highland Games training.




Macebell Training