Kettlebells?

Fat-Elvis · Apr 18, 2008

Originally Posted by globetrotter

actually, I would say harder - I have used dumbells and KBs, dumbells are great for some excersizes, KBs are a little more ackward to swing around, and because of that they require the use of a lot of differnt parts of your body. most KB excersizes involve first swinging the bell up from the ground into position, which involves a sort of circular leveraging motion, and then a pressing potion, and then a swing down. the pressing parts are very similar to what you would do with a dumbell (although they may have the added advantage of a larger grip which coulc cause extra work for your wrist) but the swinging parts work your core and back.

I have done a lot of dumbell work over the years, including pretty heavy ones. I have very seldom felt that I was struggling to ocntrol them. with kbs, even smaller ones, you feel a lot less on balance and in control, which requires a little more focus and working more muscle groups, I think.

I would suggest that, pound for pound, you can probrably work your arms and maybe chest and shoulders with dumbells better, but back and core you will get a better workout with kbs, although I guess it depends on how you work.

as an example - I have 10 kilo dumbells that I got long time ago and don't use at all any more, because it is too small to be usefull. I used them for concentration curls and tricep extentions. I also have a 12 kilo kb, which is actually still useful - I swing it from the ground to a position on my shoulder, and then press it above my head. while I can do this with a 16 kilo weight, the 12 still gives me a good workout.

I tried doing the Turkish Get-up and gave uip because doing it with a dumbbell was too much of a hassle. Would be much easier with a kettlebell.

Fulcannelli · Apr 21, 2008

Originally Posted by Fat-Elvis

I tried doing the Turkish Get-up and gave uip because doing it with a dumbbell was too much of a hassle. Would be much easier with a kettlebell.

Yes, I think its a lot easier.... I hate turkish getups but do them anyway as they really do work.

kveldulv · Apr 23, 2008

Kettlebells are excellent for athletes training for a specific purpose because of the uneven weight distribution and how they require the engagement of a multitude of stabilizer muscles; but in my experience they are not useful for aesthetic/bodybuilding purposes.

william · Apr 25, 2008

Originally Posted by kveldulv

t in my experience they are not useful for aesthetic/bodybuilding purposes.

Why is this?

Just curious.

globetrotter · Apr 25, 2008

Originally Posted by william

Why is this?

Just curious.

did you read my post above?

kettlebells are more about strength than aesthetics, you can't really isolate a specific muscle with a kettlebell, pretty much anything that you do will use the core, the legs and a few other muscles. you can use dumbells or barbells to excersize very specifc muscles.

Fulcannelli · Apr 25, 2008

You can certainly build size with them, you will bulk up and gain alot of strength.... however I think what he is getting at is that you will not build very high definition.

I prefer the bulk and strength as I dont shave my chest hair and go jogging around with no top on like a failed baywatch star.....I guess im to self-concious

william · Apr 25, 2008

Originally Posted by globetrotter

did you read my post above?

kettlebells are more about strength than aesthetics, you can't really isolate a specific muscle with a kettlebell, pretty much anything that you do will use the core, the legs and a few other muscles. you can use dumbells or barbells to excersize very specifc muscles.

Yes I read your post above. That is why I quoted it and in turn asked a question in relation to it.

globetrotter · Apr 25, 2008

Originally Posted by william

Yes I read your post above. That is why I quoted it and in turn asked a question in relation to it.

did my following post help answer the question?

william · Apr 25, 2008

Originally Posted by globetrotter

did my following post help answer the question?

Yes thanks for your response. Definition is a direct result of your diet though.

I think most KB users are doing high-rep, fighter conditioning. This type of kb work seeks to maximize strength and endurance without putting on much size.

If you're looking to build size and definition, you'd need to lift kb in more of a classic bodybuilding sense: 5x5, etc. You'd also need to eat a lot and eat clean.

KBs are weights. The ways in which you lift them and how you eat will determine the outcome.

globetrotter · Apr 25, 2008

Originally Posted by william

Yes thanks for your response. Definition is a direct result of your diet though.

I think most KB users are doing high-rep, fighter conditioning. This type of kb work seeks to maximize strength and endurance without putting on much size.

If you're looking to build size and definition, you'd need to lift kb in more of a classic bodybuilding sense: 5x5, etc. You'd also need to eat a lot and eat clean.

KBs are weights. The ways in which you lift them and how you eat will determine the outcome.

ok, I see where you are going. kettlebells, like dumbells and barbells, are tools. they are better for certain thingsif you use them for something else, you may be able to get different results, but not as good as you would get with the right tool.

kettlebells are about full body power. sure, you could isolate a muscle group for an excersize, like with a barbell or dumbell, but then you wouldn't be getting as good results as you would with the correct tool, and you won't be getting the results that the kettlebell is best at.

if what you are trying to do is build size and difnition, you shouldn't be looking at kb's, doing 5X5 with kbs is a waste.

Fat-Elvis · Apr 25, 2008

Originally Posted by globetrotter

did you read my post above?

kettlebells are more about strength than aesthetics, you can't really isolate a specific muscle with a kettlebell, pretty much anything that you do will use the core, the legs and a few other muscles. you can use dumbells or barbells to excersize very specifc muscles.

Terrible advice.

If you're working your muscles, you're working your muscles. They either grow or they don't, and big compound exercises are generally much more effective than isolation exercises. Take a guy who only does barbell curls and a few leg isolation exercises, and a guy who only does squats, deadlifts, power cleans and turkish getups, both doing the same things to maintain bodyfat%, guess who'll have a more aesthetically pleasing body? Compound lifts are much more important, for strength, mass, and even cardio.

globetrotter · Apr 25, 2008

Originally Posted by Fat-Elvis

Terrible advice.

If you're working your muscles, you're working your muscles. They either grow or they don't, and big compound exercises are generally much more effective than isolation exercises. Take a guy who only does barbell curls and a few leg isolation exercises, and a guy who only does squats, deadlifts, power cleans and turkish getups, both doing the same things to maintain bodyfat%, guess who'll have a more aesthetically pleasing body? Compound lifts are much more important, for strength, mass, and even cardio.

FE,

if you read my posts above, I think that I am being pretty clear that I don't like to use dumbells, nor to I use isolated excersizes - I am not advising to use them, I am saying that if that is what you want to do, don't use kettlebells to do it.

as a matter of fact, I have had a number of pointed discussions about this issue - I am not interested in lifting in order to look a certain way, I do it for strength. somebody asked a specific question about aestetics.

Fat-Elvis · Apr 25, 2008

Originally Posted by globetrotter

FE,

if you read my posts above, I think that I am being pretty clear that I don't like to use dumbells, nor to I use isolated excersizes - I am not advising to use them, I am saying that if that is what you want to do, don't use kettlebells to do it.

as a matter of fact, I have had a number of pointed discussions about this issue - I am not interested in lifting in order to look a certain way, I do it for strength. somebody asked a specific question about aestetics.

I'm not necessarily saying anything about kettleballs specifically, except that if a certain good exercise is better suited for kettleballs, then that's one advantage of them. But the distinction you're making, between exercises meant for aesthetics and exercises meant for strength, is mostly fictional.

globetrotter · Apr 25, 2008

this is strong

globetrotter · Apr 25, 2008

this is pretty, you get to the two destinations in different ways.

Kettlebells?

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