Kettlebells are one of the main tools we use at Rebellion, but the focus isn’t the kettlebell. The focus is building strength. Kettlebells just happen to be a really effective tool to help us do that.
But I also know kettlebells can be intimidating, especially if you’ve never used them before. In fact, some of the most common things I hear from people when they first come in are:
“I can’t use kettlebells because I’ve hurt myself with them before.”
“I’m going to hurt my back.”
Or sometimes they’ll just watch us doing a kettlebell movement and think, Yeah, that’s going to hurt my back.
But kettlebells are no different than any other type of weight training. If you don’t have good technique, don’t know how to brace your core, or try to do something you’re not ready for, your chances of getting hurt go up.
That’s why we use a progression at Rebellion.
You start with exercises that are easier to master, and then we build on those skills. One of the first exercises I teach is a two-hand clean. Most people can pick it up pretty quickly with a light weight, and it gives us a good starting point.
When you come in for a trial, either I or one of our coaches will talk to you about your previous experience. Maybe you’ve lifted weights before. Maybe you played sports. Maybe you’ve worked out on and off for years. Or maybe this is completely new to you. That helps us figure out where you should start.
From there, we make sure you have a good handle on each movement before moving you along to things like swings, overhead presses, cleans and snatches.
This is also one of the reasons I keep our classes small. We cap them at 12 people, so the coach actually has the opportunity to watch you move, help you with your technique and make adjustments when you need them.
And if you’ve been scrolling Instagram and seeing people doing all kinds of crazy things with kettlebells, don’t worry. We don’t do that.
Although Coach Jen is still trying to convince me that “we” need to learn how to juggle them. 😉
Strength training doesn’t need to be complicated to work. The basics work amazingly well, and when you learn to do them well and continue to build on them, you get stronger.
And if you’re really nervous about kettlebells, that’s okay too. We have plenty of other tools to get you started, including bands, dumbbells and bodyweight exercises. You don’t have to walk in the door ready to pick up a kettlebell. We’ll meet you where you are and build from there.
So if kettlebells have always felt intimidating, don’t let that stop you from coming in. We’ll get you stronger, one progression at a time.
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