Training Camp areas of focus:
Kettlebell lifting energy systems focus:
Lift More/Hurt Less
Endurance
Anaerobic
Sprinting
Warm up
Active recovery
Ice Bathing(optional)
This weekend we had our 4th training camp. I’m pleased to mention that it is not a standard
Training camp. “Everyone line up and do 20 this and 20 that. Ok stretch, recover etc.” There is open discussion, an exchange of ideas, and discoveries to be made with technique, programming, diet and supplementation, and active recovery, often confused with resting.
We had new things occur:
- Women who lifted heavier bells (24 and 28)
- Men who lifted heavier bells (36 kg for snatch sets)
- Congrats on the breakthroughs everyone.
- More things we worked on:
- Varying paces to indicate how to pace
- Joint flossing
- Ice Bathing
- Grastoning
- Active stretching (use of weights)
- Stability, standing on upside down(half bosu) with weights for stability
The Truth
Why is it important?
“The fancy mess” of kettlebell “instruction” is very rigid, very dogmatic and “new “ techniques, “new “programs” are mentioned all the time. That is different from this.
You can use whatever you like(technique or program), but I’m amazed at how many times I hear:
”Well, I know I’m not going to get this (rank with 20 kg , 24 or 28 or whatever) because I’m hurt, I’m too old, I’m too this, I’m too that”
I hurt my back in 2001 trying to double press 2 32 kgs (heard a pop in my vertebrae), I dislocated my right shoulder 2010, I sublexed both shoulders (partial dislocation) in 2002 and 2005 respectively, I hurt my right knee where I couldn’t do kettlebell jerks for 8 months (2012). And on and on and on. I’ve been competing with 32kgs a long long time (10 years to date) and have had moderate success. I’m not a natural, I’m not talented. I’m steady, and I’ve lost and will continue to lose.
And I will continue to improve, win or lose. I think people get lost in the “win” mindset or the “achieve rank” mindset. I won’t lie, achieveing MSIC will be fantastic but this needs to be treated like a real sport, meaning, there needs to be a set amount of muscle, recovery, nutrition, modalities of training (outside kettlebell lifting) and on and on.
As it stands in the community, there is little awareness of training kettlebells in junction with other modalities to a high level. There are a few exceptions. The camp is changing/evolving to prepare said athlete. Unlike certifications and seminars alike, you will improve. Of course technique improvements occur and programming guidance is given but its generic training protocols for the most part with the only variable time and weight.
And for those who are injured or too old, I would recommend coming especially. You might be right. But I’m amazed and “how right” people are without exploration. Without attempting ice bathing , without attempting graston, without attempting joint flossing, without trying dry needle, without exploring Neocell joint supplements etc. Ask yourself, how serious are you?
As a side note: Sometimes, we have to back off training and do nothing, sometimes we have to PT/actively recover, sometimes we have to push through. There is NO guarantee. I guarantee however, that there is value to this.
I’m lifting stronger than I ever had in my life, and I feel like I’m being introduced to the sport for the first time. For folks that just had a competition, I’ll look for it the next go around. Congratulations to all the competitors. More videos from Camp to come from different folks.
KBLFTR
Reposted from 2014