I should add, I believe you are tall? some taller athletes prefer doing double swings and cleans outside the legs (there are vids of Mike Mahler doing this on youtube), I know I feel very unstable doing swings with the bells outside the legs (I am not tall) but its something you may want to try out. [/quote]
Yes, I am 6’4. I have never thought of doing them outside the legs. Luckily my stance doesn’t have to be too wide now that I have gotten a few sessions with doubles under my belt and feel pretty confident in doing them. I saw your video of you doing the half snatches and that’s exactly how I do them. In my first session trying them last Friday I tried doing the full snatch and lost my balance forward on the way down. The double 1/2 snatches are plenty hard enough as they are. In Pavel’s book Return of the Kettlebell he recommends doing the half snatch for safety reasons like you mentioned. I will look into Mahler’s stuff as you mentioned. Thanks!!
[quote]ActivitiesGuy wrote:
Nice video. Really liked that double KB snatch - impressive. I have two questions for you though:
-
why the hell does your floor squeak so much? Lol.
-
what the hell kind of music are you listening to?
[/quote]
Thanks.
Lol at both questions.
Floor doesn’t squeak, it’s the puzzle mats moving and they are not that bad for some reason amplified in the video.
The music… don’t really have a good excuse for not usually the kind of music I lift to. from two albums I recently found on youtube that I listen to more to chill out or while doing yoga. I promise better or more appropriate music on the next workout that I post. 
[quote]jblues85 wrote:
I should add, I believe you are tall? some taller athletes prefer doing double swings and cleans outside the legs (there are vids of Mike Mahler doing this on youtube), I know I feel very unstable doing swings with the bells outside the legs (I am not tall) but its something you may want to try out. [/quote]
Yes, I am 6’4. I have never thought of doing them outside the legs. Luckily my stance doesn’t have to be too wide now that I have gotten a few sessions with doubles under my belt and feel pretty confident in doing them. I saw your video of you doing the half snatches and that’s exactly how I do them. In my first session trying them last Friday I tried doing the full snatch and lost my balance forward on the way down. The double 1/2 snatches are plenty hard enough as they are. In Pavel’s book Return of the Kettlebell he recommends doing the half snatch for safety reasons like you mentioned. I will look into Mahler’s stuff as you mentioned. Thanks!!
[/quote]
Yea, the downswing of the snatch is where you are most injury prone (and where the hands get most torn up). The concentric part is where the majority of the benefits come from (power generation). Going with the 80/20 principle, 1/2 snatch is where it’s at.
Mike Mahler has a bunch or really good videos on youtube demonstrating and teaching heavy double and single kettlebell lifts. Definitely a very knowledgeable trainer. Mike Mahler Double Kettlebell Swing with 2 70lb bells for 50 repetitions - YouTube
[quote]DrGelbman wrote:
The music… don’t really have a good excuse for not usually the kind of music I lift to. from two albums I recently found on youtube that I listen to more to chill out or while doing yoga. I promise better or more appropriate music on the next workout that I post. :)[/quote]
Ha, I kid. I listen to a pretty random selection of music myself.
Thanks for posting the video, though. I’m not doing snatches for the next few days b/c I tore a callus (doing snatches, of course) and want it to heal. Swings are OK - not much torque on it - but I tried a snatch and it was rubbing right on the raw, torn area…but when I resume, I might go with the half-snatch in future snatch workouts, or at least some of them.
Thanks!
1/28/15
Went to yoga class in the morning.
Brief back/bi workout:
Pullup Ladder from 1-5 reps with 20sec rest periods.
20 sec rests.
1x20x53lb Fedorenko style Kettlebell swing/each arm
20 sec rest.
3x8 double dumbell bicep curl with 2 35lb dumbbells; 20sec rest periods.
Planning to do day 8 of 30 day yoga challenge youtube video tonight.
[quote]ActivitiesGuy wrote:
[quote]DrGelbman wrote:
The music… don’t really have a good excuse for not usually the kind of music I lift to. from two albums I recently found on youtube that I listen to more to chill out or while doing yoga. I promise better or more appropriate music on the next workout that I post. :)[/quote]
Ha, I kid. I listen to a pretty random selection of music myself.
Thanks for posting the video, though. I’m not doing snatches for the next few days b/c I tore a callus (doing snatches, of course) and want it to heal. Swings are OK - not much torque on it - but I tried a snatch and it was rubbing right on the raw, torn area…but when I resume, I might go with the half-snatch in future snatch workouts, or at least some of them.
Thanks![/quote]
Ouch, nothing like burning raw skin.
In the past when I was doing more snatch workouts, if my calluses started to tear or just burn from friction I’d sometimes put on gloves to get through the workout without skin being a limitation. I think the internet and kettlebell world creates a machismo around calluses and gloves being for wimps. Id rather workout another day. Gloves don’t change the amount of muscular or cardiovascular work you do.
[quote]DrGelbman wrote:
[quote]ActivitiesGuy wrote:
[quote]DrGelbman wrote:
The music… don’t really have a good excuse for not usually the kind of music I lift to. from two albums I recently found on youtube that I listen to more to chill out or while doing yoga. I promise better or more appropriate music on the next workout that I post. :)[/quote]
Ha, I kid. I listen to a pretty random selection of music myself.
Thanks for posting the video, though. I’m not doing snatches for the next few days b/c I tore a callus (doing snatches, of course) and want it to heal. Swings are OK - not much torque on it - but I tried a snatch and it was rubbing right on the raw, torn area…but when I resume, I might go with the half-snatch in future snatch workouts, or at least some of them.
Thanks![/quote]
Ouch, nothing like burning raw skin.
In the past when I was doing more snatch workouts, if my calluses started to tear or just burn from friction I’d sometimes put on gloves to get through the workout without skin being a limitation. I think the internet and kettlebell world creates a machismo around calluses and gloves being for wimps. Id rather workout another day. Gloves don’t change the amount of muscular or cardiovascular work you do.
[/quote]
This reminds me of a time when I tore a huge chunk out of my hand from snatches and took my sock off and put it over my hand! The spirit was stronger than the hands!
1/30/15
Yoga class 75min
2 circuits of double KB long cycle and rotating push/pull workout:
10x long cycle Clean & Jerk
5x rotating single arm bodyweight row with gym ring/each arm.
20x alternating double kettlebell rolling floor press.
2.5min rest between circuits.
Here’s vid of the second circuit:
1/31/15
Ladders&Reverse Ladders: 20 sec rest between circuits:
1Pullup, 5x Double Kettlebell Front Squat with 2 53lb bells, 5x side press/ ea. arm with 53lb
2Pullup, 4x Double Kettlebell Front Squat with 2 53lb bells, 4x side press/ ea. arm with 53lb
3Pullup, 3x Double Kettlebell Front Squat with 2 53lb bells, 3x side press/ ea. arm with 53lb
4Pullup, 2x Double Kettlebell Front Squat with 2 53lb bells, 2x side press/ ea. arm with 53lb
5Pullup, 1x Double Kettlebell Front Squat with 2 53lb bells, 1x side press/ ea. arm with 53lb
Followed with yoga class.
2/2/15
Back and Legs Strength Workout:
3x 5Pullups, (set one was reverse grip, set 2 and 3 were with neutral grips on gym rings) 1 min rest between sets.
3x5 Single Leg Deadlift (2 52.5lb dumbbells) each leg, no rest between legs, 1 min rest between sets.
3x5 Crescent Row with 53and44lb Kettlebells (2bells in 1 hand) each arm, no rest between arms, 1 min rest between sets. could probably go a bit lighter on these.
3x16 Alternating Reverse Lunges with 2 52.5lb Dumbells. 1 min rest between sets.
Tabata Cardio: 1 arm Kettlebell Snatch with 35lb bell. 8 sets 20sec (alternated arms each set) 10sec rest between sets.
Yoga: followed a 20min youtube vid focused on twists then did day 12 of youtube 30day yoga challenge… Hoping to sleep like a baby tonight.
2/3/15
Yoga class
Followed with one set of 20 reps of single kettlebell snatch with each arm using a 20kg bell.
Took it easy (and ate cake) for my birthday. Back to working hard and eating clean tomorrow.
2/4/15
Felt really exhausted after work today. Opted not to do a significant workout.
Did 3 sets of 5snatches with each arm using a 53lb kettlebell. Followed along with yoga day 13 on youtube.
2/5/15
Overhead Push-Pull Superset workout while on call (spread over 4-5hr period):
Power clean to rack → 5x120lb Barbell OHP, 5Pullups.
Power clean to rack → 5x120lb Barbell OHP, 5Pullups.
Power clean to rack → 4x130lb Barbell OHP, 5Pullups.
Power clean to rack → 3x130lb Barbell OHP, 5Pullups.
Power clean to rack → 3x130lb Barbell OHP, 5Pullups.
Youtube Yoga day 14.
2/6/15
Yoga class (75min)
2/7/15
Visited a new Judo Club, Did a lot of ne waza randori, some standing randori, and crash pad throw practice. First time back to judo in several weeks, felt pretty good.
Planning for some strength training and yoga later today.
2/7/15 eve
Squats and Presses:
3x8 Double Kettlebell Front Squat with 53lb bells.
3x12 Alternating Assisted pistol squats (w/gym rings)
3x10 Pushups, last set with a 53lb kettlebell on my back.
3x10 Alternating Rolling Floor Press with a pair of 53lb kettlebells.
2/8/15
Jiujitsu Open Mat.
rolled with a very strong purple belt for around 40min no points scored, but he landed a kimura at the end of the roll. Rolled with some blue belts after, hit a lot of ankle locks, some arm locks and takedowns. feeling pretty beat, whole body is sore…
2/9/15
Felt kind of sore and was gonno take the day off, but opted to do a little kettlebell workout instead.
Superset snatches with pull-ups:
4 supersets of:
10x53lb single arm snatch with each arm. + 5 pull-ups, rest 90 sec.
Here’s video of set 2/4:
I definitely see a few flaws in my snatch that I would like to improve.
Followed with yoga, day 17.
2/10/15
Yoga day 18.
Will try and lift something while on call tomorrow.
2/11/15
did not lift…
yoga day 19.
2/12/15
Followed along with Steve maxwell’s Cruel and unusual kettlebell workout 4 using a 44lb bell. The circular cleans are particularly difficult and I cheated a few reps with free hand. Also gassed out and took a 20 sec rest during one of the sets of deck squats. overall good tough and brief workout.
Yoga day 20.
2/13/15
Pullup workout while on call:
3x5 overhand pull-ups rest 2min between sets
rest 10 min
3x5 reverse close grip chin-ups rest 2min between sets
rest 10 min
3x5 Neutral grip pull-ups rest 2 min betweens sets
Yoga day 21.
1/14/15
Followed along with steve maxwell’s Kettlebell Health and Wellbeing video using a 44lb bell (except for halo and halo chops–used 35lbs) tough workout that really winded me but felt really good.
Yoga day 22.
2/15/15
Jiu Jitsu Open Mat.
Drilled a back take counter to the hip bump sweep.
Rolled with 2 purple belts, a black belt and white belt. got caught in several ankle locks. Caught some interesting kimura variations. feel pretty beat ATM.