I wrote this blogpost over one month ago, but never posted it until now......
Two people showed up for class this morning....only one in each of my two classes, and I'll get to that in a second....but first here's what Brian and I did in the inter/adv 7:30am class:
Tracy's warmup, all 2 hand swings before progressing up to the 24kg
5 x 10 w 12kg
3 x 10 w 16kg
2 x 10 w/20kg
work sets
50 x 10 w/24kg =
50 sets = 500 swings w/24kg
Brian's warmup, all 2 hand swings before progressing up to the 28kg & 32 kg
5 x 10 w/ 16kg
3 x 10 w/20 kg
2 x 10 w/ 24 kg
work sets
10 x 10 w/28kg
15 x 10 w/32kg
5 x 10 w/ 28kg....and fininshing
20 x 10 w/32kg
50 sets = 500 swings, 200 w/28kg, 300 w/32kg
Total workout 30 minutes, 600 heavy 2 hand swings
Since I had already been swinging for 30 minutes in my basic beginning class from 7:00-7:30am I was done! So I asked Brian if there was anything else he wanted to work on with KB's that I could help him, since I usually train my Inter/Adv class an additional 10-20 minutes. He wanted to do some "lat work", so we practiced some strict press....I mean he practiced some strict presses and with some coaching and a little "tough love" (RKC's know what that is, lol), Brian pressed the 28kg, a new PR for him for 4 reps, 1/1 x 2, and he said it felt easy! Brian definitely benefitted from the practice and coaching Ive been doing with Mark on my own strict pressing....see how lucky my students are, lol! Now Brian can progress up to the 32kg and then 40kg which is about half of his bodyweight.
OK, so if anyone has actually read the workout details in this blogpost, and is interested in the actual training I do with (and without) my students in a class structure, some may think, "Goodness, is that what she does in her classes? I mean should I pay, or would I pay, a trainer to do nothing but set after set of 2 hand swings?" Well, the question isn't, would you pay someone to take you through this workout, but would you even do it on your own? Probably not. Should you? Well, you should be doing something that is considered exercise, and as I always say...."If there was something better than training kettlebells, then I would be doing it!" So why don't more people train kettlebells, and why don't I have more people show up for my classes?
Because it's hard. Because sometimes it hurts....but I don't mean "hurt/ injure", although it may be physically uncomfortable....the kettlebell doesn't swing itself.....you have to move it, and to move the KB you have to move your body! Moving your body in a way that reminds you how out of shape you are, or how out of shape you'll become, quickly, if you stop moving it, hurts your ego more than anything. Go ahead, lose your mobility, lose conditioning, lose strength.....and you lose quality of life....you just do. So why should you come to one of my classes where I may simply do set after set of 2 hand swings? Because you won't do it on you own, and nothing will get you in shape faster.
Are my classes hard? Yep. Is my own training hard? Yep. This is what Brian said to me one time when I gave him a choice about a particular combination to end the workout with, he said "I don't care....whatever is harder!" I couldn't have said it better myself! Now that's hardcore!
Hi Tracy,
ReplyDeleteLove your workouts...simple, but brutal. Just curious; how many students do you have for these classes, on a regular basis?
I would like to try this workout, but I'm in the middle of KJ's V02M program; we're at 48 rounds. So, once we;re done, maybe we'll give it a try...when will your book be released?
Danny,
ReplyDeleteI have 1 - 7 people in my classes, BUT, I don't promote them! I have the luxury of not having to work for a living.....I teach my method of training mainly the KB swing, and as my students learn more skills (the snatch is the next skill I teach), then I include those movements in combination with the swing.
I've had many, many people approach me and tell me my class looks too hard, or too intense....I've also had alot of people ask how to get into one of my classes, but Equinox hasn't really promoted the classes either, and I haven't pushed it.
This January I hope to celebrate completing the first year teaching my classes by having an open house @ Girya. That along with producing some DVD's, and potentially webcasting my weekly class. I've got my book outlined and hope to get the rest out of my head and onto paper soon!