Kettlebells vs Olympic lifting ( Calm Down! It's probably not what you're thinking.)

Travis Hall · 09-09-2010, 06:21 PM

Hello everyone,

I've become curious about kettlebells and thought this might be a good place to gain some information. These chunks of iron come with a lot of baggage! It is hard to find information not tainted with fanaticism to put it bluntly.

There are two things I'm curious about:

Are the main kettlebell movements (clean, snatch) easier to learn then the basic oly lifts (clean, snatch)?

I ask because I'm the basement training type and I have found it difficult to properly learn the oly lifts on my own and reap any true benefits.

Question two ties into question one:

Absolute Brute power aside, can kettlebells develop this same type of explosive power that oly lifts are so famous for?

Thanks.

Derek Weaver · 09-09-2010, 06:26 PM

In my opinion, the KB lifts are much easier to learn than the full version olympic lifts with the barbell. There's a lot that can go wrong with both, but I think you can "get away" with more with a KB than a barbell.

Regarding your second question: No.

Garrett Smith · 09-09-2010, 09:22 PM

1. Yes
2. No

Steve Shafley · 09-10-2010, 06:04 AM

What Garrett said.

The whole "couch thread" on IGx was based on the fact that a certain member of the RKC organization took issue with Glassman saying the kettlebell snatch couldn't develop the same amount of explosive power as the barbell snatch.

KB lifting is easy to learn, but tough to master when you get into the high rep ballistics.

It does develop a "power endurance" that is surprisingly useful for GPP purposes, at least for me.

I'd say 99% of the gen pop needs power-endurance and strength-endurance more than anything else to improve their quality of life, i.e. let them do more of the things they do for fun, and light menial tasks encountered on a daily basis.

Also, high rep kettlebell work is excellent conditioning for snow shoveling.

Blair Lowe · 09-10-2010, 10:28 AM

Another yes/no. Basically KB doesn't have to worry about a first pull which makes it a helluva lot easier to learn.

Steve Shafley · 09-10-2010, 10:45 AM

They aren't even comparable. The swing is the basis for the kettlebell snatch and C&J. If you are doing 1 arm olympic variants off the floor or from the hang, then you should be using a $25 Olympic sized dumbbell.

KB ballistics are an entirely different kind of lift than barbell or dumbbell olympic variants, the just share the same name.

Andrew Wilson · 09-10-2010, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Travis Hall

Hello everyone,

I've become curious about kettlebells and thought this might be a good place to gain some information. These chunks of iron come with a lot of baggage! It is hard to find information not tainted with fanaticism to put it bluntly.

There are two things I'm curious about:

Are the main kettlebell movements (clean, snatch) easier to learn then the basic oly lifts (clean, snatch)?

I ask because I'm the basement training type and I have found it difficult to properly learn the oly lifts on my own and reap any true benefits.

Question two ties into question one:

Absolute Brute power aside, can kettlebells develop this same type of explosive power that oly lifts are so famous for?

Thanks.

Mechanics wise, KB is swinging mass way from your center of gravity, OL is loading your center of gravity than jumping. KB creates some savages but OL just makes explosive destroyers. http://www.youtube.com/user/olympicl...10/hLMpksOYdKY wfs

Travis Hall · 09-11-2010, 05:44 PM

Thanks for the replies. It would seem unanimous

I'm a bit disappointed about the second question. The similar names are misleading. Makes me lose interest in KB's. I need to find an Oly coach too help with some basics. I'm going to look into this.

Gary Ohm · 09-12-2010, 08:06 AM

Honestly there aren't many things that can compare with Oly lifting in terms of explosiveness and power output. Except maybe car throwing...

But KB's aren't bad. Don't throw the baby out with the bath water here. You can get alot of good with kettlebells. Unless of course your goal is to lift competitively. IN which case, yes you do need to find a coach.

Best of luck.

Jack Hunckler · 09-12-2010, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Travis Hall

Thanks for the replies. It would seem unanimous

I'm a bit disappointed about the second question. The similar names are misleading. Makes me lose interest in KB's. I need to find an Oly coach too help with some basics. I'm going to look into this.

Finding a coach is always a good idea (if you can afford it). I've made tremendous progress under my coach . . . probably even more than I understand. It's just so valuable to have that set of experienced eyes---watching, evaluating, sizing things up---and that experience boosts this rookie's confidence that i CAN reach my goals.

Mephisto