More Kettlebells!

Wow, where do I begin??? So much to talk about. Well first, I took yesterday off from my scheduled workout as I've been sick for almost two weeks now with a nagging cough. I finally broke down on Thursday and went to the doctor. Got some antibiotics to take for the next 10 days. I hope it helps.

So what else has been going on? I finished watching the Kettlebell Basics DVD's by Brett Jones and Michael Castrogiovanni. Awesome DVDs. They really give great insight into a lot of the details behind some of these basic movements. They also really inspire one to be, and I quote, "aggressive" with one's kettlebell training. Not only do they go through the basic movements along with some of the common mistakes (and appropriate corrections) that people make, but they then go into some of the more complex and challenging variations of the movements. In the past nine months since I got my first kb, I have been shying away from anything using two kettlebells, intent on getting proficient and mastering single kb movements. Well, I have not gotten over that inhibition. So what else happened this week?

I ordered some more kettlebells!! To round out my current collection, I now boast a pair of 12kgs, a pair of 16kgs and a pair of 20kgs. Along with my single 24kg and 32kg. I'm sure a second 24kg won't be too far behind. I am amped to start doing some double cleans, double front squats, double snatches... you name it. I specifically ordered the 20kgs because I read that one of the grad workouts at the RKC cert includes walking see saw presses with 20kg bells. So I figured, but not wait until the cert to pick up some 20's.

So to get things started, I shifted yesterday's workout to today. Still coughing a lot, I pushed through. (By the way, the doc cleared me that the cough was a result of congestion, my lungs are clear and healthy, otherwise I definitely would have held off longer before training.) Today's session looked like this...

2-Hand Swings: 16kg - 20, 24kg - 20

Double Clean-Front Squat-Push Press: 16kg - 3 sets of 8

The first set of these I only cleaned on the first rep. The second two sets I performed the clean for each rep.

Snatches: 24kg - 5/5 on the Minute for 8 minutes - for a total of 80 snatches!

This was a max effort finishing these off. Maybe because I'm still not 100%. I was really amazed at how easy they started out though! I really focused on driving through with the hips. The bell came over the top so softly, I was amazed. Much softer than I've ever felt. It was only after the 6th set that fatigue and respiration took its toll. But I was intent on getting through 8 sets.

Next workout I'll have to be prepared to ease back if necessary. I'll either take a longer break or perform say 3/3 in the later sets. We'll have to wait and see. Or maybe I'll feel strong and be able to push through 9 full sets.

I love working with these kettlebells. There's nothing else like it!!