San Mateo Kettlebells                                       

For the month of March I committed to a training schedule so contrary to my nature. I committed to doing the same thing every day, all month long - nothing but swings. 

Sounds oppressive, I know, but to my surprise within the discipline of the basic kettlebell swing, there is a whole universe of lessons to be learned. 

(To be honest, I did do many Turkish get-ups every day and added bottom-up cleans and presses to work deeper on my left handed grip asymmetry.  And I may have tossed in a few snatches and of course goblet squats just to help the hips open up)

Kettlebells used - 12k, 16k, 20k, 24k, 28k, 32k

My swings varied with two handed swings, one hanged swings, alternating hands and occasional mid-air last nano second grab followed by and audible “whoopsy”.

Sets were combinations of kettlebell weights and swings.  My typical workout was 500 swings a session and later in the month I spent a few days snapping out 1000 swings in one training session. 

First and foremost I made every swing what I call an “Alyssa Change swing.”  Alyssa was my teammate at RKC and her amazingly powerful swings inspired me to no end.

Side note – I read about Tracy Rifkin’s 600 swings in 30 minutes and while I do not know her exact timing or what kettlebell she uses, I used a 16k kettlebell and went one minute on and one off.  This was a fast and powerful hip snap, launching the bell up, followed by an equally fast and powerful contraction to “grab,” “yank,” “hurl,” the kettlebell right back down using lats, grip and a well timed hip crack.  I had to work very hard to keep my depth in my hips and not short hip the swing. What an amazing 30 minutes!  This workout is very different from my other swing sets and I highly recommend giving it a go.  It worked me SO hard! 

On my heavy days form had to be perfect.  You can’t swing big if you are not in perfect form.  It’s what I love about swinging the big bells, there is no room for bad form.  I also like the feeling of adding more and more reps to heavier bells, wonderful gratification for so many swings.  I should also admit to shamelessly enjoying the side-ways glances I get from others at the gym.  I get smirks when I pick up a heavy one and then kind of a “what the!” look as I swing something I could barely carry moments before. 

Perhaps I over think sometimes, but I have found multitudes of micro-details and subtleties that make a swing appear so simple, yet so very foundational to everything we do as we train with our kettlebells.  I kind of like to Geek out and talk about it to anyone who will listen…or pretend to listen.

So here, in no particular order are some of the things I learned in a month of 10,000 swings:

Blisters and tears are not de-rigueur. Even for us short fingered types.  I suffered not a single boo-boo in this entire month.  Just keep those calluses in check and train yourself how to “hook.”

 Though I am feeling very ambitious and want to make gains with my presses and snatches (after all what will I post on You Tube?), I feel this month was very well spent.  Going deep into a discipline offers layers one might otherwise miss, like getting up before dawn to experiences all the magic in that part of the day.  The swing has so many lessons to teach.

My left hand’s grip weakness makes my one handed swings on that side wacky, and my left shoulder pops up to try and help and it all goes very wrong.  Explains some questionable presses and snatches on that side.  

Thought I was in good condition before I started, but I have been surprised at how very, very, very tired I have felt this month.  Swings, well done, are hard work. 

Rest days make for great training days!  Naps are best if stolen in the afternoon sunshine followed by tea.

After a swing workout I walk different - perfectly poised, relaxed and regal - like I’m queen of the universe!

My body changed.  My weight is the same but the jeans fit better and my derriere is almost as hard as RKC Team Leader Mr.Vezinas.  Surprisingly, my arms and back show more definition and the chub under my arms is noticeably melting away to show muscle. 

Snuck in a road ride one day and was climbing a steep, long hill.  I felt so powerful but still my legs burned.  I whined out loud that the climb felt so hard and my riding partner pointed out that I had climbed the whole way in my big chain ring!  I grinned all the way down the other side relishing in my small feat of demonstrated strength, ‘cept for the whining of course.

People watch me and say, “but you are only doing one thing”.  My reply is, “I’m doing the equivalent of box jumps, burpees, plank, sit-ups, row, and I’m getting cardio, interval training AND flexibility work in my hips” The typical response is a stare.   I always offer a lesson.  I’ve converted a few willing to be open.

Did you know that swings work powerful energy centers in the body?  The first, second & third (and I’ll argue fourth) Chakras.   Here is was I have personally experienced in terms of these areas. 

First Chakra feeling is very solid, very balanced, like I have very deep roots, as if I have access to a depth of strength. The heavier kettlebells don’t feel heavier, rather I feel like I am drawing energy from deeper in the well.  After training with swings I feel a sense of entitlement, like I belong. What a great feeling.

Second Chakra feeling…. I’ll admit that this area feels churned up as I train.  Think silt at the bottom of a pond.  I have cried a lot and for no good reason this month.  I also cried a ton at RKC and it confounded me as I was never so happy, so invigorated and supported by a great team (Team Castro forever!) as I was that weekend.  But second Chakra is where we keep/hide our negative emotions and if this form of training will help me release feelings that do not serve me, all the better to commit to many, many swings.

Third Chakra… long story another blog perhaps, but kettlebell training has given me strength not only in body, but in will, the seat of the third Chakra.  Long story short, I changed my career path last January.  Kettlebell training and all its core strengthening gave me a sense of  courage and a feeling that I had all the internal and external support I needed to make a daring life change.  Took a leap of faith, I’ll let you now when I land. 

Fourth Chakra…. The open chest.  It is the single most common characteristic I have noticed among the RKC of every rank, a genuine openness to share and put forth the best of the collective knowledge. 

What I learned most over the last 10,000 swings is that my RKC isn’t something I do, it is at this time in my career, my chosen school of strength of which I am a devoted student. Everyday devoted to kettlebell mastery enriches me on a personal and professional level. My RKC mentality permeates my developing persona as a personal trainer, it gives everything I do with my clients so much clarity of purpose and reason.  We train intelligently, from the functional movement screen to fine points of the Turkish Get-up. 

Now, what to do next in the month of April?

 

Denise Palermo, RKC

www.sanmateokettlebells.com