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Srdjan Popovic
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Copyright Notice
No part of this report may be reproduced or transmitted in any form whatsoever, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any informational storage or retrieval system without expressed written, dated and signed permission from the author. All copyrights are reserved.
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Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Introduction ............................................................................................ 4 Chapter 2: A Kettlebell? ............................................................................................ 7 Chapter 3: Why is Kettlebell Training so EFFECTIVE? ............................................. 11 Chapter 4: Four Kettlebell Exercises to Build an Incredible Body ....................... 17 Chapter 5: Ultimate KB Workout to get Started .................................................. 28 Chapter 6: Incredible Body for Life ....................................................................... 30
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Chapter 1: Introduction
However it may have happened that you stumbled on this report, I welcome you. Youre here because you want to build an incredible body. Youre here because youre tired of doing the same things over again and never getting any results. Youre tired of following age-old tactics and getting nowhere. Youre in the right place. By now, you should be aware of the secret tool that thousands have used to build incredible bodies. Before I get into any details, let me start off by introducing myself.
Who am I?
My name is Srdjan Popovic and I run the popular health and fitness blog Bloom to Fit. Ive been an athlete for all of my life. Basketball was my first love (still is) and the basketball court will always be my home away from home. I was an avid boxer and even traveled to Thailand to train Muay Thai. Ive always enjoyed trying new things. Today, fitness is my passion. Im a certified personal trainer and an athletic trainer at the International Basketball and Sports Academy where I help young athletes develop quickness, acceleration and agility for the sport of basketball. Personally, I havent been passed along a great set of genes so I do my best to rewrite my own playbook. Ive always been a lean guy. I lead a very active lifestyle and I always think about what Im putting inside my body. I enjoy experimenting with different workout techniques to see what works and what doesnt. As a trainer and fitness enthusiast, I believe in continuous learning. You can never stop learning. This is such a fast-paced industry and new techniques and methods are always surfacing. I have been working with Kettlebells for about a year now. I got introduced to them by a fellow basketball player who told me that they would help improve my vertical. I became HOOKED and quickly realized that there was wayyy more to Kettlebells than just boosting vertical jump.
Ultimate Kettlebell Training Guide 1.0 Bloom to Fit
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I love the feeling of doing something unique. My school gym purchased a set and Im one of the rare people who use them. The confused (and shocked) looks I get from people who have no idea what Kettlebells are really get me pumped. Ive gotten a few friends and clients involved with KB training and I can see their bodies changing by the day. I want to share the same information with my readers. And so this report was born.
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If you want to build a rock-solid body in the shortest time possible, then you NEED to read this report and PUT IT INTO ACTION. If you follow what I outline from here on, I can guarantee you incredible results.
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Chapter 2: A Kettlebell?
What is a Kettlebell?
If youve ever seen a Kettlebell, you probably noticed its unusual look. In the simplest terms, its a cast iron weight with a handle on the top, commonly referred to as a cannon ball with a handle. Also known as a girya (Russian), the KB goes way back to when it first made an appearance in the Russian dictionary back in 1704. It quickly gained popularity in Tsarist Russia and any strongman or weightlifter was referred to as a girevik, or 'a kettlebell man'. "Not a single sport develops our muscular strength and bodies as well as Kettlebell athletics," -Russian magazine Hercules in 1913. So what makes the KB different? Its all in the design. What makes KBs different from dumbbells comes down to where the center of gravity (COG) lies. With a dumbbell, the COG is in your hand. But with the KB, the COG lies outside of your hand (youre only holding onto the handle).
This unique design changes how the weight works with your body. The momentum for the majority of KB movements creates centrifugal force, placing a larger focus on the muscles used for deceleration and stabilization. This form of dynamic, multi-directional movement
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relates well to real-life movements. The uneven distribution produced by the COG of the KB forces your body to have to counter-balance and stabilize.
For men:
The average man should start with a 16kg (35lbs) KB. This is what I started with and still use for some exercises. Although it may not sound like a lot of weight, its perfect for mastering various KB exercises. Dont start with anything heavier. If you find the 16kg too heavy, then opt for a smaller one. There is no problem with starting lighter. Its not what you start with that matters, but what you finish with. Eventually, after mastering the moves, men can move onto the standard 24kg (53lbs) KB. This is the standard weight in the Russian Military. In my opinion, there is no need to go heavier than this. You can get incredible results with this size.
For women:
If youre a woman with very little to some strength training experience, I would recommend starting with a light 12lb KB. Use this weight to master all of the movements.
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The average woman will start with an 18lbs KB. Youll start seeing some incredible results with this weight. As you get stronger and your skill level with the KB improves, you can move up to the 26lbs KB. Although Ive seen some women working with heavier weights, I dont think its necessary. NOTE: If possible, find a certified KB Instructor in your area to help you figure out what the perfect starting weight for you should be. When in doubt, always choose the lighter weight for safety. Heres a quick summary: Weight 5-10 lbs 12 lbs 15-18 lbs 20-25 lbs 35 lbs 55+ lbs Recommended For Beginner female with little strength training experience Female with some strength training experience Female with above average strength training experience Strong, athletic female with a solid strength training base; male with below average strength base Male with average strength Male with above average strength
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set for life. If you want to upgrade to a heavier one later, you can order another one. But one will last you a long time. Here are a few places online you can get a Kettlebell: http://www.shopbot.ca/kettlebell-weights/price/canada/96881 http://www.kettlebellcanada.ca/ http://www.ultimatelyfit.com/kettlebells.html http://www.kettlebellfitness.ca/
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training is also VERY popular with women as it has helped thousands of women slim down, tone up and build absolutely incredible glutes (YES!!). But what is muscle if its covered up with fat? That brings me to
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KB exercises help strengthen your entire posterior chain. Due to the high-repetition nature of the exercises, you will improve the muscular endurance in your major muscle groups such as your glutes and hamstrings. You will also build muscular endurance in the stabilizing muscles in your lower back. All of the mentioned items work together to improve your posture. Strengthening your posterior chain is not only important for athletic performance, but it is critical for simple things such as standing up straight with ease. Remember that with good posture, breathing becomes easier and deeper, your circulation and digestion improve and you portray a better, more confident image. Further, KB exercises will teach you to brace your midsection (like you were about to get punched in the stomach). Bracing your midsection creates an internal pressure that supports your back and makes you stronger. As you continuously perform these exercises, your body will begin to naturally move in a way that keeps your back protected.
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If youve never done KB training before, youll soon realize their ability to pinpoint the weak areas of your body. As mentioned, KB training forces your body to work as a unit. As the analogy goes, your body is like a chain but its only as strong as its weakest link. KB exercises will help reveal AND reverse any body misalignments or weaknesses. Continued use of KBs has been proven to bring your body back to aligned state and relieve any musculoskeletal pain. Longer periods of inactivity result in atrophy and deactivation of your muscles. They simply stop firing if they havent been used in a while. For instance, extending your hip (bringing your leg in front) should cause your glutes to fire. If your glutes are not firing properly (often this is the case if you tend to sit for long periods at a time), your lower back muscles are forced to compensate. This is what results in lower back pain. KB training forces your glutes and muscles in the hip area to engage and fire. Dr. Stuart McGill from the University of Waterloo recently said that it is muscular endurance of your core that reduces the odds of getting lower back pain, not muscular strength. The high-rep, repetitive nature of KB exercises builds incredible muscular endurance in the abdominal region and alleviates all lower back pain. Similar things can be said about shoulders. KBs have been known to cure some really bad shoulders. Working with KBs helps improve the mobility, stability and overall strength of the shoulder joint. They help strengthen the rotator cuffs which are responsible for stabilizing your shoulders. Ive heard stories where certain athletes who have had major damage done to their shoulders and used KBs to bring them back better than they ever were!
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Stand with your feet 6-12 inches outside of shoulder width on either side, each foot pointed outward about 30 degrees. If toes pointed straight ahead were 12:00 on a clock face, your left foot would point at 10:00 or 11:00, and your right would point at 1:00 or 2:00 Keep your shoulders pulled back (retracted) and down to avoid rounding your back The lowering movement (backswing) is a sitting-back-on-a-chair movement, not a squatting-down movement Do not let your shoulders go in front of your knees at any point Tim: Imagine pinching a penny between your butt cheeks when you pop your hips forward. This should be a forceful pop, and it should be impossible to contract your ass more. If your dogs head gets in the way, it should be lights out for Fido.
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I couldnt have said it better myself. Here are some pictures Ive taken of myself doing the KB Swing. They should give you a general understanding of what the exercise looks like. Follow the frames accordingly:
KB Swing Forward
Notice that my feet are past shoulder-width apart, my toes are pointed out on an angle, and my focus is always forward. The next frame of photos shows the same repetition from a side view. Note the straight back and the retracted shoulders.
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KB Swing - Side
When doing any of the outlined exercises, make sure youre keeping this mental checklist to ensure proper form: Sit back Keep your head up Maintain an arch in your back (absolutely no back flexion) Powerful hip thrust and glute squeeze on every rep
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Extra Resources: Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_h1QcHTkwdI o Great demonstration of proper form and detailed overview of important things to remember when doing the KB Swing Video: http://www.videojug.com/film/kettlebell-swing-mechanics-steps-1-and-2 o Description and demonstration of the proper biomechanics for the KB Swing. Emphasis is on the neutral spine Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-LvhjWh1vA o An in-depth demonstration by RKC trainer Delaine Ross of how to perform a KB Swing
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As the kettlebell rises up over the head, slightly rotate your hand so your palm is facing inside. This will help the KB flip over the hand. (to be done in one fluid motion), The fingers of the hand doing the Snatch can be left open at the top of the movement, or you can close them around the handle. I typically keep my hand open with fingers pointing up because it helps me keep my wrist aligned, The kettlebell comes to rest overhead in the same position as the press: elbow locked out and shoulder packed, The swing on the way down is the same as for the KB swing, as you allow the KB to swing between your legs.
Here are a few photos of me doing the KB Snatch. Follow the frames accordingly.
KB Snatch Forward
Just like in the KB Swing, note that Im always facing forward. Also note where I hold the KB (on the inside portion of the handle). My wrist is in neutral position at all times for safety.
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Check out the view from a 45 degree angle on the next page. Note the proper alignment of my back.
KB Snatch - Angle
Use these extra resources below to get an even better understanding of the KB Snatch. Extra resources: Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Ubc4uJdyB8 o A break-down of the KB snatch. Demonstrates the key points of the exercise. Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtPo3PW2xVM o An excellent analysis of the KB Snatch technique. The exercise is split into four parts here and youll see how all the parts fit together. Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgNpQUz85t8 o Nice demonstration of what the KB Snatch should look like with continuous repetitions.
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CAUTION: Be VERY careful with this exercise because for the majority of it the KB is above your head while you are balancing it from a precarious position. NOTE: My recommendation, when starting off, is to learn how to do these steps without a KB.
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I also included a series of pictures of me doing the exercise. Notice the similarities.
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Extra Resources: Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqyIuFIdgRk o An excellent overview of the KB TGU. Trainer breaks the exercise down into five simple steps and demonstrates excellent technique. Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbabYc6HZw0 o Great overall demonstration of the KB TGU from start to finish. You can ignore the bulldog Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDQUlshxO_8 o Just an interesting variation. Youll see what I mean.
Stand straight with feet wider than shoulder width apart and grab kettlebell in the same way you grab it for the KB Snatch. Bend your legs and sit your butt back, In one ballistic motion, swing the kettlebell up to shoulder height. To absorb the shock, it is ok to dip slightly but DO NOT lean back. Keep your glutes, abs and back very tight and contracted. Your body should be coiled like a tight steel spring, Press the KB up keeping your abs, glutes, lats, and legs very tight. Bring the KB back down to shoulder height and let it swing through your legs.
2.
3. 4.
The important things to remember with the KB Clean & Press are as follows:
Maintain a smooth and controlled motion for every repetition, Keep your wrists in a straight, neutral position at all times, Keep the weight of your body and kettlebell on your heels and push the floor away through your heels as youre pressing up the KB.
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I usually hold the KB closer to my body at frames 4 and 6 (before and after the press), but the photos did not catch that. Use the resources below for a better demonstration. Extra Resources: Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6AIlgwod8cY o A great demonstration of how to do the clean portion. Youll notice that this trainer sets his weight down in between repetitions. I like to swing the KB between my legs between repetitions. Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpjJwPaxUV4&feature=related o A great demonstration of how to do the press portion. The clean is a prerequisite to the press. Pay attention to the details in this video. Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxMnAj7UFU4 o An excellent demonstration of how to do continuous repetitions of KB Clean and Press.
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Youll be doing this for a total of 5 minutes. That is one set. It equates to 3.5 minutes of swinging per set. Aim to reach the same number of swings for each 30 second swinging session. Rest for 3 minutes. No more. No less. Repeat the set 2 more times for a total of 3 sets.
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1 KB swing 1 Push up 2 KB Swings 2 Push ups 3 KB Swings 3 Push ups Keep increasing your repetitions by one until you reach a number youre comfortable with. Then start moving back down, one repetition at a time. So if you did up to 6 repetitions, you would go up to 6, then move down to 5 swings, 5 push ups then 4 swings, 4 push ups until you got back down to one rep of each. For my own workouts, I try to go for 7 repetitions before I work my way down. This gives me a total of 49 KB swings and 49 push ups. I do this set 3 times (with 3-5 min of rest in between) for a total of 147 KB Swings and 147 push ups. If thats too much for you, start by going up to only 4 or 5 repetitions or just do one or two sets. Then work your way up.
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