► 90 Days Of Kettlebells - bit.ly/90days-of-kettlebells​​​ Marc Rippetoe from Starting Strength mentioned in a podcast, that there is a problem associated with kettlebells. He is one of the most well known experts when it comes to barbell training and if he says something, it's a good thing to listen. - Gregory

I've spent years at different gyms. Mostly barbells and some dumbbells ...until I saw a guy swinging a kb and doing a farmer's walk. I thought he was just finishing his workout with those things. Then, I saw him again and again for a month doing the same thing over and over, maybe adding some pull ups here and there. He looked strong and lean and moved faster, more like an athlete than a weightlifter. That and the constant back pain from doing barbell heavy deadlifts did it for me. I started thinking that my time at the gym had a purpose: do I want to chase constantly a bulked up physique or do I want a 'leaner/meaner' athletic body? Then I added a 16/8 food intake regime and I never looked back. Today at 65, I have a couple of kb's and a matt, the stamina and the body of a 40y and ...no gym membership

Rip doesn’t like anything that’s not his program and brand… period.

Really don't care what Mark says about kettlebells. I'm a Army Vet and the kettlebell has drastically improved my back pain. Agree to disagree with Mark.

Yeah, Kettlebells are a fad….a fad that’s been around since the 18th century.

I train with a barbell. I love it, I do the classic 5 x 5 workouts. And I also use Kettlebells. I find them fantastic for HIIT. They are also fun, because they are dynamic and there is so much variety to the moves. Why does it have to be either-or? You can use both.

I watched this podcast of Rip’s a while ago and before that, I saw him as the king of strength knowledge. And while I do still believe that Rip is the master when it comes to traditional barbell training, I realized that he’s kind of a one trick pony; a perfect definition of “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks”. Strength comes in many forms, and while barbell training is the king of raw strength, it does very poorly when it comes to stabilization of unbalanced loads. I did barbell training almost exclusively for a time after being influenced by Rip and guys like him that the ultimate form of athleticism is through strength training. That is SO far from the truth. It is like saying that the ultimate form of athleticism is cardio; it is not. And I feel Rip has a lot of double standards that relate back to his predisposition toward strength training, like saying that submaximal strength training is subpar training. What I learn as I get older is no maximal one dimensional form of training should be the focus of anyone who wants overall health. You should be strong enough such that daily life should be a breeze, same goes for cardio, and conditioning. If you fall, you should be strong enough to take the fall and/or orient yourself in space to lessen the severity of the fall. Kinetic intelligence is the amalgamation of many types of fitness, and it is beneficial for anyone who doesn’t care about specializing to become competent in all of them.

As a former powerlifter, and now kettlebell addict, the goals of the tools are different. At nearly 66years of age, heavy lifting, squats, bench, deadlift began killing my joints. In my prime I was strong but winded walking up the stairs from my basement gym. Now, I am still strong for an old man, but I am more fit. My joints are happier. And I am healthier. Why either or? Both tools are meant to advance their goals.

I love Rip. He is a legend and his program improved my life in so many ways. That being said during lockdown kettlebells and push ups were life saver, as I had no access to barbells. Rip is your cranky, yet experienced and lovable uncle, who you definitely should listen. But at the end of the day, you are living your own life and need to build your own experience and use individual judgement.

Rip has a lot of good things to say and I like his barbell instruction, but I’d rather look like Pavel than Rippetoe at their age…just saying. Why can’t you incorporate both?

It's almost like Rip has a vested interest in convincing people that there is only one way to get strong.

My son (17) just summed it up pretty well. He said dad you’re almost 50 and you move like you’re in your 20s and you primarily train kettlebells. Uncle Josh (my brother) is stiff and can’t move nearly as well despite being an avid lifter. I think/feel that the mobility, endurance, and overall strength gains kettlebell training provides is far superior to the “starting strength” mentality.

Ripptoe know his shit for sure, but he's also dogmatic as hell.

Great video Gregory, thoughtful and informative. I first found out about your channel through that comment under Rip's video... I watched the video, read your comment there and clicked to check your channel... probably Rippetoe's greatest contribution to my training. A few remarks of my own: 1. "We won the cold war..." Rip mocks the Russians, but the fact that the US won the cold war doesn't negate the fact that the USSR has produced many great sportsmen in various fields, and we can learn and benefit from their methods of training, one of which is the use of kettlebells. 2. In some of his lectures, Rip trashes a lot of contributions of sport science researchers, saying that's what's important is what we see working and not what works in lab conditions. Well, we definitely can see many examples of people who got incredibly strong via kettlebell training. There are mant sportsmen whom kettlebells are a staple of their training regimen, including elite powerlifters & Olympic weightlifters. 3. "How do I get strong enough to swing the kettlebell for 10 minutes? Swing a heavier kettlebell?" Yes, you can definitely do that. Swinging a heavier kettlebell, after building volume in the previous weight, will make you stronger and make swinging the previous weight easier. Where's the problem with that? 4. IMO, Rippetoe's greatest blindspot is that he sees every human physical trait as a demonstration of strength, and practically a function of the max strength one can produce. Even one's marathon time, according to him, is determined by one's ability to produce force. But experience shows us that this is not the case. Take me for example. I'm a pretty big guy (104 kg, somewhat overweight) and if we rely on the numbers that Gregory mentioned in his videos, I'm significantly stronger than him, as far as we talk about maximal strength production. However, when I try out Gregory and Angie's workout videos, I cannot come anywhere close to the level of stamina & muscular endurance that Gregory and Angie showcase. My "ability to produce force against external resistance" may be higher, but they can produce force for much longer time/ more reps than me. Rippetoe is probably an excellent strength coach, but that doesn't mean that his program is perfect for everything and everyone, as he states virtually all the time.

I can't believe you made this reaction. Seems like you guys really read the comments and fulfill wishes. Thank you!

Great breakdown. You’re pulling apart the intricacies of kettlebells for me one video at a time. You convinced me to mix hard and soft style, which I’ll be trying tomorrow. Also, your interview with Denis Vasilev blew me away. It completely opened my eyes as to what I have to do with kettlebells to get better.

Progressive overload can happen in many ways. I started 2 years ago with a 35lb kettle for 100 2H swings a day. Was a workout since I was mew to it. Now I’m cleaning snatching, and pressing. 52lb for reps 100 SH swings aswell. So you can ABSOLUTELY build strength with kettlebells.

Mark Rippetoe is that Oldman that doesn't hold back on what he firmly believes. He knows his craft and is well versed in it (You can check his KZfaq channel and actual business) He has a strong belief because of his experiences. He also has a closed minded mind. But he isn't saying it out of malice or a place of pure hatred. He doesn't care about aesthetics, just strength.

Rip' is a legend and is entitled to his views (however archaic) but the stats on KB usage /uptake go against what he's saying. Same with clubbells etc etc. He's rooted in Americanism and that they invented everything 🤣 Go ask Dan John - he's a convert.

I'm of the same mind as Dan John. The barbell, kettlebell, TRX, and dumbbells are all just tools and they are great for specific jobs. Just like I'm not going to use a hammer to turn a screw, I'm not going to train with a kettlebell to get better at my max effort deadlift and I won't use a circus dumbbell to get better at the kettlebell swing.

I really appreciate your posting this, Lebe. I am the classic "average person" who has no interest in any athletic competition, nor am I interested in developing maximal strength in minimum time. Rather, I'm a 59-year old man looking to extend my long term health span by improving my overall body composition. I am not anti-barbell at all -- I am absolutely sold on its benefits -- but if I can achieve my goals without a gym membership and without introducing the bulk and clutter of a barbell rig in my home, I am quite happy pursuing my goals with more minimalist equipment. Keep the great content flowing, Lebe!

Eagerly looking forward for this one.

I can’t find Marks video for some reason. Do you have a link? I’d like to see your response, and what other had to say about your comment.

Nice video, Lebe and these are my own thoughts. Having had a heart attack at 45 and a triple heart bypass at 53, life isn't all about having optimal strength. It would be better to have OPTIMAL HEALTH rather than optimal strength. And the Kettlebell is one of the best tools to achieve optimal health in one small package. It offers great mobility, strength and aerobic conditioning all withing the same workout. I'm nearly 60 years old now and after 6 years of eating clean and kettlebelling....my transformation is amazing. I have lost 90lbs in weight and I look about 20 years younger than what I actually am. And because of my plant based diet, my skin glows and I look healthy. People are amazed when I tell them that I had a heart bypass because they have never seen me the way that I was. No offence here but Mark is 65 and looks more like 75 and just looks unhealthy. I don't think it is good that in your pursuit of optimal strength, that you have neglected other areas of your life like diet. I have seen Mark in other videos and it is apparent to me that he has eaten himself into obesity. In doing so, he has diseased his body and there could be a big price to pay that deadlifting 500lbs won't save you from. So Mark is certainly not someone I would follow or where I want to be in 5 years time especially with my heart condition. It's looking like and functioning like you Lebe, than I need to be chasing after. If I can perform just the Simple (32kg) part of the S&S kettlebell program which includes Goblet Squats in the warm up, I will probably be as strong as I will ever need to be in everyday life. I will be fairly aerobically solid from the swings and my strength and mobility will be sound too from the TGUs. I felt even that way even when I reached 20kg. Lay down a good clean diet with good sleep on top of it and the deal is sealed. And there is so much more variety and fun to be had with Kettlebells too. Boredom is definitely one thing I don't suffer from with Kettkebells. I did all the barbell and dumbell stuff when I was starting out in the gym. I even tried a bit of 5x5 with the 4 or 5 basic exercises and I nearly went brain dead...especially waiting about 3-4 minutes doing nothing between each set. Then one day I saw this rare figure in the gym working with kettlebells and flowing gracefully in motion I was sold. I knew that this was the way forward for me and I came away from the busy squat rack and moved to the kettlebells. I eventually came away from the gym and built up a nice selection of kettlebells at home. It just made so much sense if health is your priority. Thanks for sharing and I agree 100% with all your viewpoints above.

I 100% agree with Dan John. The barbell is for deadlifts and presses (Olympic lifts if you can get good coaching) and the kettlebell for swings, goblet squats, and get ups. I think if you only did those five movements you wouldn't have many holes in your training. As much as I like kettlebells I do firmly believe the single most important movement for people to do is heavy deadlifts. I really think Mr. John is likely the most balanced guy out there when it comes to strength.

I bought your 90 day program but haven’t had a chance to look thru it yet, but I love this idea that kettlebells can give a great all-around workout. Personally, I think they’re more fun than JUST cardio and better suited to me for strength as a non-athlete than just pursing the “main lifts”. I’ve struggled to find a good balance in terms of time spent to build both endurance and strength for just my everyday life and health, so I feel like this could be a great way to accomplish that in a way I can adhere to long term. Looking forward to getting started with your program.

You know, when you are so narrow minded about your preferred form of training that everything else is shit you are no good to yourself or your clients. RIppetoe is so stubborn that no one can tell him anything. Openmindedness is an asset in life.

Rip doesn't like anything that's not including a barbell...period.

Great video and breakdown coach! Whenever someone is very well versed in one arena / tool speak out on one they aren’t you have to take pause.

Already gave a like, it's gonna be 🔥🔥🔥

Fad or not, I like it. 12kg ordered this morning.

Gregory....I have a few things to say. First of all, much respect to you, you are a very respectful person. Second, if anyone has read any of my posts,(which I doubt). I started lifting weights in 1980 at the age of 12. I was taught the pyramid method, low weight, high reps going up in weight and down in reps, and then back down. I've played football, practiced Karate, run, push-ups, Tae bo, P90x, yoga, you name it, I've done over these 41 years. I started kettlebells this past August 24th, 2021. The circuit I do combining movements from your videos and Chandler Marchman is one of the hardest workouts I've ever done. And I can tell you that this does increase strength, flexibility, endurance!! Period!! All the guys I knew back in the day who powerlifted are beat up, tons of injuries, some of them can't lift anymore at all, they put so many chemicals in their bodies, it's non-sense!! Yeah, and kettlebells are fun also!! I've never heard of this guy, don't care who he is, what he's done, I try to be nice to people, sometimes I just can't be!! This guy's attitude is why some people don't evolve in their training. And when you get a little older, I'm 53, I don't train to impress my friends, or girls, or guys. It's about longevity for me. And The Russians may have invented these for contests and training, but my dad who's Canadian knew exactly what they were. His cousin who used to own a dairy farm, used to use these to harness calves to them so they could graze. So don't listen to this guy, please!!

I am 51 I don't train deadlift but can dl 180 kg I am not a runner but can cover 5 miles in less than 50 minutes my primary tools are kettle bells and have been since 2005 ,I am am stronger ,fitter with increased endurance than I was in my early 30s going to a gym and using other methods ,yes of course I could get a better dl ,run faster but life needs more than just strength or fitness ,it needs you to be ready for anything and I feel kbs condition that mindset

One of the problems with Mr. Rippetoe's philosophy is the definition of what strength is. For example, we could take his definition, and go to his gym, and ask him, and his students to snatch a 32 kg kettlebell for 30 reps. Or ask them to jerk a 44 kg kettlebell for 10-15 reps each arm, and when they can't get them for even one rep, we could say that they are not strong. I spent years in the gym, working out with barbells, etc., and after I got into kettlebells, I never went back to barbells. I did however, take a 32 kg bell to the gym, and handed it to some really big/muscular guys, and was amazed to see that they really couldn't handle it. In fact, kettlebells require more than just force. They also require an acquired skill set. They require a great deal more neurological involvement, and again skill. You have to know how to apply force, how much, when to discontinue, and use momentum, and how to slow the momentum (which involves another measure of force). Most people who lift barbells, cannot simply step over to a kettlebell gym, and start lifting. The reality of the situation regarding strength, is that when it comes to every day activities, people who have trained with kettlebells, are much more adept at strength activities. A buddy of mine use to work on a farm, and pointed out that thin lean muscular guys can throw heavy bales of hay all day long, and the big bodybuilder looking guys will throw 10 bales of hay, and have to sit down for a break. Who is stronger? Another very important aspect to kettlebell training, is that although submaximal loads are used, they do increase strength. For example, if you could clean and press a 16 kg kettlebell 300 times, although you may never have lifted a 24 kg bell, you could easily pick it up, and lift it for dozens of reps. In all likelihood, you could even lift a 32 kg bell for a good amount of reps, despite never going that heavy before. If a person can do 20 reps, whereas they could only do 10, several months back, even though the weight didn't increase, they are by default, stronger. That strength will even translate to being able to lift heavier weights. The first time I worked out with a 48 kg bell, I was able to push press it for 10 reps. I had worked out with kettlebells for years, however. This issues are very pertinent, and real. Mr. Rippetoe is very knowledgeable about barbell training, yet I do not ascribe to have his physique, or type of strength. Perhaps I am wrong, but I seem to recall on one of his videos, that he stated that he works out to "stave off death," implying that he no longer likes to work out. Well, with kettlebells, I love working out with them, and find them to be medicine. They help me in so many ways, that it would be hard to describe. In fact, I don't feel good if I refrain from lifting.

Dan John is right...why are you even comparing them to each other? I LOVE kettlebells, barbells, and the TRX. There is value in all and should ALL be respected for what they bring to true table.

A fad for a hundred years? I don’t think he understands what a fad is. And his political “joke” at the beginning was enough for me. 🤢🤢

Mark is a pure max strength or nothing guy, if you listen to guys like Firas Zahabi or steve maxwell, they think requiring to lift twice your bodyweight is insane and unneccesary. Which is right? Don't know but I love the kettlebell workout, I did strictly barbell before, got really strong but I felt like I couldn't move too good in day to day life.

👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻 schön zgseh das öper us de schwiz mal so guete und klare 'content' macht, vor allem über kettlebells!

An award winning bodybuilder client has been attempting to convince me to give up the kettlebells for more traditional weight training for several months now. I just can’t do it. He looks great and all, but I am not after bulk and kettlebells give me the leaner, more sculpted physique I prefer. Plus, I can do it daily without the need for rest days. Your videos are so informative and reinforce why I love kettlebell training so much!

Lebe, thank you! I love the history behind the kettlebell and that's why I decided to start training with them. Russia has a rich history and even though America and Russia has had different political views, that shouldn't factor in to not wanting to do training from another country. I love watching you and Vasilev perform the techniques. It's amazing what can be accomplished for strength training. My joints and muscles have felt so much better and I have more energy now than ever. I will be 51 this year. I'm glad I discovered this wonderful core training.

I love starting strength and I love kettlebells. I use kettlebells for conditioning and to get my heart rate up. I appreciate his dogmatic approach to barbell training. And I appreciate someone’s dogmatic approach to kettlebells. I think these type of people are needed so that people like us can learn how to do barbell training and kettlebell training correctly. We then can use both to benefit our lives. Kettlebells have given me excitement about training again. Barbells get boring, especially the basic lifts laid out in starting strength

Several points to consider here. One, what does winning or losing the cold war have to do with the value of a particular modality of training? Two, not everyone has the goal of, and perhaps physical limitations to lift extremely heavy weights in the 5 barbell lifts. Three, what is more likely in a survival situation, that one needs to be able to squat 300 lbs or be able to ruck through tough terrain and have the stamina too continue? The Vietnamese soldiers were on average about 5'5" and 130lbs compared to the US soldier, who was close to 6' and 180lbs. And they beat our ass all day long humping jungle terrain on a bowl of rice and fish sauce. Not that any of that is relevant, just an observation about how irrelevant Ripetoe's comment about the cold war was in regard kettlebell training. Four, most of the world is fairly free and we have the choice of how we want to train, and because it may not be towards maximal power output, that does not diminish the validity or worth of various modalities of training. Fifth, Klye Dake is a world class wrestler and chooses to do kettlebell training to supplement his other training and it works for him. That alone is a huge checkmate. And to cut this short, Ripetoe seems to be a bitter individual with a tree to pee on that nobody cares about. I guess he just needs something to rage against instead of providing thoughtful dialogue with his listeners.

Heavy Farmers walks or dragging a heavy kettlebell with a rope, both having several positional variations, are great grinding, full body, strength exercises.

Kettlebell training did improve my squat. Gained some mobility and better core activation. They are some valuable tools for strength and conditioning. There will also be a point in your life when you realise that becoming stronger no matter what is kind of a stupid aproach. In my opinion its about becoming better. Kettlebell training is a nice tool in the toolbox and of course you can become strong using kettlebell. There are many ways becoming strong even without any equipment. Take a look at some gymnasts or top calisthenics guys.

I find this interesting as someone who used to do a lot of powerlifting, went solely to calisthenics for a couple years, and then sort of a mix of calisthenics, strongman type stuff (loaded carries, shouldering, zercher squats, clean and pressing all with odd objects and heavy sandbags), and have recently gotten more into kettlebells. I didn't barbell deadlift for a few months and I added 40 lbs to my deadlift from doing nothing but lots of swings and cleans with the kettlebell, and still sandbag work and body weight stuff. I don't really care about how much I lift anymore and just tested my deadlift to see how much weaker I had gotten. Turns out I got a little stronger. I respect Rippetoe and definitely profited from his knowledge through the years, but I don't find his thinking on kettlebells to be very sound.

I used to KBs for a while (RKC) and am now doing Starting Strength. I'm pretty junior and also my opinions are anectdotal. KBs were great but I wasn't really taught anything about nutrition for progressing. Also and unfortunately it began to aggrevate a tear in my knee meniscus. :-( Fast forwards 10 or so years and I'm wrong side of 50, completely out of condition, big visceral fat belly. Started training in April under Starting Strength protocol and it's been hard, hard, hard, it's taken until about 3 weeks ago to be in a position to safely lift at weight but sofar has been worth it. I've also been able to get a bit of weight off too thanks to being more self disciplined in what I eat.

Like you, I like and respect Rippetoe for the invaluable material he brought to the masses. His goal is simple: make one as strong as possible in the most efficient manner possible. The SS method is unparalleled for that, but it also has certain drawbacks. I'm sure many, like me, have known powerlifters or just amateur strength-focused lifters who are constantly in pain because of their stressed joints and muscles. Intense strength training is a very demanding activity and doesn't play well with other physical activities. I love the way kettlebells complement my BJJ training without wearing me out completely. At some point, I will come back to the barbells for a block of strength building, but until then, kettlebells are my preferred tool.

Can‘t find Rips video? Could you post a link?

I agree somewhat. You go to most gyms and kettebells are the most under utilized piece of equipment there. We have a lot of kettle bells just sitting there. There is almost nothing you can't do with a kettle bell you can't do with barbells. But, then again, kettle bells have been around a long time and most people don't know how to use them at least correctly.

While listening to Steve Cotter in person, he described how the Girevoy Sport practitioner (or if you use that method) is the perfect mix between strength & endurance. Also, on another time, listening to Arsenij Zhernakov (Honoured Master of Sports) we explained how Girevoy Sport is a Strength Endurance sport. So, yeah, kettlebells don't generate maximum strength gains per se (if you look at it from a simplistic way) but they generate all kinds of different strengths, like hypertrophy, endurance. Again, if you only have a hammer as a tool, then all you'll see are nails.....

I have done a full body kettlebell lifting session for years Goblet Squat Floor press Row Overhead press Kettlebell deadlift Kettlebell curl Kettlebell tricep extension X3 SETS 12 REPS This helped with my Jiujitsu training

Good as always. Now I need a nap...

FYI, In 1960, when I was 13, I got a York Barbell 110 lb starter set. Included were attachments to create swing bells. I till have the swing bell exercise book, and 95% of the exercises are the same ones I've done since learning from Pavel and using kettlebells. I don't care when, or who, created what, or the exercises. What I care about is they work.

I really liked Mark's video about form using a prowler sled. But then I see this video and now I think I need to do more research

Different tools for different jobs. You should see rips video on cardio. Strength is all that matters to him. He believes getting your squat numbers up will make you a better runner because each stride is like a submaximal rep.

I practice hard style and after about a year I feel so much better than I ever have with barbell.

Kettlebell sport movements are my base. I use other basic strength and endurance exercise to help my kettlebell lifts. They compliment each other. Again, I always go back to the kettlebell for long term strength and endurance as I get older.

This is that typical old man, “get off my lawn” type energy. I found that I get bored of just working out with one plan and like to switch it up every once in a while and to no one’s surprise they all get results! It’s all about preference. Just do something that is fun to you so that you can stick with it.

The problem is that "strength" is difficult to define and compare across activities & implements. For what it's worth, Rippetoe seems to be talking specifically (and only) about the ability to do heavy barbell lifts when he mentions strength (even though he may not realise it - but that's just his world). But let me ask who is stronger: A dude who can deadlift 250 kg once or a guy who can carry two 32 kg KBs for 250 m? What if the latter person can get close to 250 kg for a single, but the former person just gets gassed so quickly as not to make it for even 100 m... Who is stronger now? And that said: Whose strength is actually more useful in the world outside the gym/training?

Good video. To put it simply, kettlebells can and will 100% help you get stronger. But they are not the best tool for maximal strength like the barbell can be. Depends on your goals. I’m not entering any powerlifting competitions so I’ll personally take the kettlebell.

Saying it's a fad is ignorant. However in terms of building absolute strength everyone knows the barbell is best. Kettlebells are a different tool with a different scope. People lift kettlebells for strength endurance. That's what they're best at. You will also increase strength and mobility. Conversely barbells are better at building strength, but can be used for strength endurance. The best way to train depends on one's goals. I prefer bodyweight and kettlebells for it's overall holistic benefits vs the barbell. These benefit me as a pipeliner and a Judoka. I'm naturally very strong but always need to work on mobility and endurance.

Fantastic Video and I commend you on your measured approach when reviewing someone who clearly has issues with everything and anything non American. Judging by his last comment I’m not sure he likes women either) It’s clear he has no real understanding or comprehension of the multitude of benefits that the kettlebell brings to training and so be it. To try and demean the Kettlebell as essentially a glorified swing says more about him than the Kettlebell. I’m really loving your content as it’s extremely infomative. Long Live the Kettlebell!!!

I like training with a barbell. If you want to load and move the most weight possible, the barbell is the way to go. That doesn’t mean it’s better. I am fortunate enough to have a home gym in my garage. I know that isn’t a reality for everyone. The barbell deadlift is probably my favorite overall exercise. I enjoy the low bar squat. I’m neutral on the overhead press and bench press. It’s nice to be able to do so many things with a barbell but it does require a lot of space. Dumbbells are nice but I don’t have any in my home gym. I may get some adjustable ones at some point but I just don’t think they’re as cost efficient as a barbell and plates. A large set of good dumbbells can easily cost more than what I spent on my barbell (BoS), plates(BoS), rack (Fringe) and bench (Rep). When I go to a gym that has dumbbells, I do absolutely love the dumbbell bench press and I enjoy using dumbbells for isolation work. In the summer of 2006 when I was 14, right before I started my freshman year, my mom started seeing my now step dad. He is the one that introduced me to kettlebells. He wrestled in college and mostly trained with kettlebells, calisthenics, and wrestling. We trained together a lot that summer. I’ll be 30 this month and, after all this time, I still like training with kettlebells. I have 2 16kg, 2 24kg, and 1 32kg rogue kettlebells in my home gym with plans to add more as my gym grows. One thing that makes kettlebells great is that most people probably have room to store a couple kettlebells and can clear a spot to train with them. I love doing TGU and strict presses with kettlebells. I hate front squatting with a barbell and I love kettlebells for the other squat options. I like doing swings and cleans with them and occasionally do snatches. I feel like the kettlebell is such a good tool because there’s so much you can do with just a few weights or even 1 single kettlebell. I have always wanted to travel for an extended period of time and I would be happy to have just a couple kettlebells and a set of rings in my car to train with. If I lived in an apartment I would be happy to train with those same pieces of equipment. I could get everything I need from those and I think FOMO and my ego are primarily why I still use a barbell, especially for things like bench which I don’t particularly enjoy. Barbells and kettlebells are both great tools for training. At the end of the day, I think you just have to decide what works for your goals and lifestyle. I think it’s also important that you enjoy whatever form of training you choose. Your happiness is important and it’s easier to stick to training if you don’t hate it.

@lebe stark, this was an excellent and fair response to Rippetoe's comments. Let's be honest Rippetoe doesn't like anything that isn't his program, and he's frankly kind of rude to most everybody who doesn't agree with him. Barbells build max strength better than kettlebells. Kettlebells build athleticism better than barbells. A program that includes both will build a strong athlete. That being said if you only have access to one implement, you can get in great shape and build strength with either or both.

I think Mark would talk down on a lot of heavy lifting exercises as well. He only concentrates on the core excercises. Anything else would be unnecessary. So his position is, why use suboptimal excercises that don’t build strength as well as optimal exercises that do. I don’t necessarily agree with this as I think kettlebell and also bands do have their place. Fir pure strength training barbells are the best. But do you need to train for pure strength?

Fad or not do what you love to do! I love the kettlebell and always will

Why limit yourself use the barbell and kettlebell and get strong

Its weird that focuses on swings. No part of him thought "maybe i can bench and squat with kettlebells?"

@lebestark-official re: 02:30 some say and debate the Kettlebell was copying the Chinese Shísuǒ (also called "Shaolin Padlock") or Japanese Ishi sashi (石錠, "stone padlock", used in Traditional Okinawan Karate). You even see it being used in The Animated Series of Avatar: The Last Airbender...

Side note my deadlift and... barbell clean has improved also!

I think it's just human nature to have strong views that are not really in line with reality. In a way it's an example of a masters mind that has only a few ways of solving issues. Yes, barbells are a great tool, but also the trapbar, dumbbells, kettlebells and bodyweight, and they all should have their place in anyones training. I mentioned the trapbar because he also considers it useless even if it's one of the safest ways of performing deadlifts.

Rip must have skipped high school physics. F = ma, so you can get a large amount of force production with either a large mass or a large amount of acceleration. For example... an explosive hip thrust?

Excellent review and insightful. Mostly on point but I think there's a little talking past each other here. Definitely agree Mark is not exactly an enthusiast and lets his bias and ignorance taint his thinking too much. I think the guy at the end said it perfectly. That said, I am new to this and I want to love kettlebells but they seem to be, primarily, a sport in-and-of themselves with an added ability to adapt toward exercises which the sport does not emphasize. eg. I am focused on indoor training - specifically - for strength. So saying one builds some strength with kettlebell sport or grinding exercises is objectively true but is that the best use of an athlete's time when they're trying to complement an endurance sport with a strength training regime? I'm primarily a cyclist. With a limited amount of training time I don't want to spend my strength training minutes performing exercises that are sub-maximal and thus stressing my lactate engine on non-endurance days.

Not a fad! I believe barbell, dumbbell and kettlebell training all complement one another. They all have value. I personally feel you develop more dynamic and functional strength with kettlebells. It all comes down to what your goals are.

This is an antiquated “philosophy” , spoken like a closed minded, singularly focused individual! I have also debated old school thinkers just like this gentleman, the conversation of injury avoidance, injury prevention and longevity are never a part of the conversation! I’m 51, trained in powerlifting throughout my entire youth! (Bench pressed 500lbs at 18) long before KZfaq made it fashionable! I train exclusively with KB’ and calisthenics. I suffer from acute tendinosis/bursitis in both elbows and my right knee. A direct result of training under guys just like him! There is a tremendous amount of strength, muscular endurance and cardiovascular strength to be gained from KB training!!

I don't think anyone ever said you will get stronger with kettlebells than lifting weights. They both offer a different variety of training and goals. No need to bash one over the other.

What are you saying in your greeting and what language are you speaking?

It's sad that a great strength coact like Mark Rippetoe is so biased... Kettlebells gave me the 'iron bug' to start lifting again for the first time in decades when I picked them up along with barefoot/minimalist running to break the marathon barrier and run my first 50k ultra. After all, running that far requires good core and shoulder strength along with leg strength and endurance. Since that time (early 2010's) I've incorporated more barbells and dumbells, along with kettlebells. My distance run has dropped, but that is more a matter of time constraints than lack of desire to try that again... I appreciate what you are saying here, and what Dan John says about incorporating tools for what they do best. Many of us want to get stronger, but not in the same way as everybody else, Rippetoe has his concept and is a zealous in promoting that at the expense of everything else, and it's quite sad. I still like his book though, after all, that 'holy trinity' of compound barbell lifts is very effective; especially when combined with kettlebells and running.

Kettlebells are different tools from barbells really. Kettlebells train the body comprehensively, both the musculature and the cardiovascular system. Slow barbell training will make you stronger, but endurance and cardiovascular conditioning is not so well addressed. Lifting heavy items from the floor or throwing them is the oldest and most established form of weight lifting and goes back to the beginning of mankind. The history and heritage of kettlebell training is secure and established. I don’t see a lot of difference between performing heavy grinds with a kettlebell and barbell training from a useful functional strength perspective. Front squats with 2x32kg kettlebells for 20 reps would be tough for anyone, including Olympic lifters.

Kettlebells are great for cardio and can help with muscular endurance (which is one dimension of strength that should be considered). But aside from preferring to hang a kettlebell from a weight belt rather than an Olympic plate, Rip is right in that barbells are better for maximum strength. However, cardiovascular fitness and muscular endurance are also a piece of the puzzle and I have found kettlebell swings to be great for cardio and has helped me strengthen my low back. But no one tool is a be all end all imo, you simply pick the best tool for the job at hand.

This gentleman is over looking the physics of a moving weight ,a 48 kg kb is 48 kg sat still but through the arc of the swing that same weight increases through the arc from vertical to horizontal

Well here's the thing kettlebells are limited someone in an advanced strength training programme isn't going to get much from kettlebell training also a ton of kettlebell exercises rely too heavily on momentum instead of time under tension, you could say there good at explosive movements and endurance but if you going to go that route why not just do box jumps or sprint training, I wouldn't say kettlebells are useless but I would say they are going to be a bad idea if they are the main focus of workouts, your body is going to adapt to kettlebell training very quickly and progressive overload becomes harder and harder. Compound movements with a barbell should always be the focus of someone's time in the gym

I'm a combat sports athlete (boxer). Why can't I use both methods in my S&C programming lol. Boxing is a power and endurance sport so kettlebells are great for that aspect. We also program traditional barbell lifts for building max strength so we can increase our speed-strength and power potential...kettlebells are great for a HIIT workout too if I can't be bothered going on a run

Rip said that if you increase your max reps of a heavy weight from 5 to 20, you did not get stronger. When I've done this, however, I did in fact get significantly stronger.

I think a distinction needs to be made between BB strength training where you are looking at executing a one rep max at a particular barbell lift (deadlift, squat, bench press, military press) vs KB strength endurance training where you looking at striking a balance between those two attributes (not to mention the aerobic/anaerobic conditioning and athleticism achieved). For this purpose, I think kettlebells are superior. I like barbell training and I use both BB’s and KB’s but It’s really not a fair comparison because the modalities are different. They do have points of commonality but they also have many points of variance. Rippetoe is a world class coach and knows this which makes me surprised to see the unnecessary and confusing bias.

THE BARBELL CLEAN!!!

Mark Rippetoe - an old school legend with a closed mind. Sad he can't see there are a multitude of different goals in training. Not everyone wants to be a thick strength guy who huffs and puffs going up a flight of stairs.

I really wish you would have posed a link to the original video. Listening to his commentary without your interruptions is necessary to listen and understand what he is saying. And ful understanding of his 8min talking about KB's requires information found in the previous 1 hour of his ranting. So here is a link to the full video. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/iMqfeZWAvsq0l6M.html I haven't paid attention to Rippetoe since he joined Crossfit. I hadn't realized he left them... I stopped listening to him not because of XFit but because he would make up these weird ways of saying the same thing as other people I do follow. He is very set in his ways and is not a direction I want/need to go with my physical development. Case in point. His "Two Factor" whateveryness... Exercise/Training which he talks about in this video. In StrongFirst/RKC we would more aptly call it Workout/Practice. He is not the first person to simplify it down to 2 terms separating the two types. On his commentary about KB's (1:02 to 1:10) he is not wrong. Every time he says "strength" or "force production" he is talking about "Limit Strength". In that regard he is correct, The barbell is the most efficient tool to achieve Limit Strength. Especially with the lifts he states. But he seems to refuse to talk about conditioning part of S&C. And every time he does talk about KB's and the 5-10 minute stuff, he is referring to how Crossfit people use it, always for high rep work. Keep in mind limit strength work is done in the 1-5RM range, anything more is not pure strength work. There are only two real problems with what he talked about. The first being (to paraphrase) "How do you get stronger with a KB?" you can't You can only do that with a barbell" The answer is proper programming. The S&S program is the perfect answer to his question. You don't need a barbell to swing a heavier KB for minutes... By using intelligent programming we get stronger while at the same time get explosive while at the same time get conditioned. The second problem with the podcast is that he does not go into cost/reward of working the limit strength. Somewhere much earlier he had hinted at how we all need to "train" for limit strength. To paraphrase he said, "I don't expect a marathon runner to do a 475lb deadlift, but they need to deadlift." I very much agree with that. You need limit strength. But once you get there, one's time is wasted by going past it for their activity/sport. As a quick example? For Judo elite levels it is suggested to get a 2.5x bodyweight deadlift (taken from Canadian Judo Ass.). Anything more than that and the risk of injury from lifting and the time spent on technique and recovery is a waste. Each sport has a well defined standard of strength. Once you hit the upper limits of the strength standard for your sport, you can drop the barbell and focus on other attributes which Rippetoe is not qualified to talk about...

Let's goooooooo!

Everything has its place

Different strokes for different folks. I'm not a powerlifter, so I don't train like a powerlifter. I'm not a bodybuilder so I don't train like a bodybuilder. I'm just a 52 year old guy who wants to be reasonably fit, look good and wants to achieve it with simple equipment and having fun in a few minutes. Look at the Greek statues. They were not ugly fat like powerlifters. They were not juiced mutants like modern bodybuilders. They're athletes with aesthetics bodies, good shoulders, defined--not bulging--pecs, and just lean. And they achieved that using halteres. These demi-god-gurus want to make us believe that if you don't deadlift and squat twice your bodyweight you're a moron. Why would I want to do that??

Barbells vs Kettlebells. Different training focus. Different goals. Lifting barbells will obviously carry over better to max strength barbell lifts. Training kettlebells will better prepare you for the explosive/ volume required in a kettlebell competition. Either method will carry over and produce gains in both disciplines. Set your goals and pick your poison. Personally I think barbells are boring and fiddly with the constantly shuffling plates.

Dis gon' be gud

Of course Kettlebells will build strength. Train for 6 months with KBs and 100% guarantee you are stronger after 6months, ...in those moves and in "general" strength. But if the target is to build bench strength optimally then of course 6month benching is the answer. Why is it so hard to understand for many that these things are not mutually exclusive. Different styles of training support each other

Pavel introduced, or perhaps more accurately reintroduced, kettlebell to the US around the year 2000. It's been 20 years and not only are kettlebells still around, they have increased in popularity. Something that's been around for 20 years isn't a fad. Then again, I think Rip said at one point that the squat clean and squat snatch were "fads" and that the split versions would return. As someone mentioned below, if Rip doesn't know how to coach it he hates it because that means he can't make money off of it.

I absolutely LOVE Rip, and overall I think he's a brilliant coach. barbells have several unique advantages over kettlebells: 1) bilateral, closed chain movements 2) you can load the spine directly 3) maximal loading 4) fractional loading At the same time, I think Rip is myopic when it comes to the value of clubs and kettlebells. Barbells are limited to training the sagittal plane, whereas clubs especially can let you load movement in the frontal plane and horizontal planes, as well as move through multiple planes in a given movement pattern. If we're talking maximal, bilateral loading barbells win, yet for unilateral loading, we have to give it to clubs and kettlebells for the offset center of gravity, increasing the length of the moment arm and multiplanar functionality. (I understand the Rip would dismiss these points as he feels that the max strength built in the five basic lifts will transfer to any position, but I think he's not entirely right about that.) Lastly, to my earlier point: if space and budget are a concern, again, you can't go wrong with a kettlebell. A single 24kg KB will keep you "strong enough" for life, take up no more space than a volleyball, and be entirely useable in a small room or balcony on a second-floor apartment, and be portable enough to bring with you to the office or the park when the weather is nice, none of which can be said about BBs. Even Rip will program accessory work once the basic novice progression starts to plateau, so IMO the BEST of both worlds would be to a) get strong with big 5 BB lifts b) use KBs and clubs for accessory work, warmup, cooldowns, and some variety to keep things fun (KB juggling or bottoms up cleans are hella fun and challenging). A MAJOR limitation of KBs is you CANNOT load the hips/legs heavy enough to see significant gains. But if I had to choose only ONE to use for the rest of my life, it would be KBs. And we haven't even touched on the value of bodyweight-only training in the context of gymnastic strength training.

good video ended on a bad note, I don't think there is a serious athlete (baseball, football, soccer , hockey) on the planet that doesn't do squats. And If Dr Stuart McGill says kettle bell swings are good to generate power maybe I should be doing them since I cant do the power clean.

You strengthen(train) muscle and you strengthen(train) movement.

Take a look at the KZfaq video "Starting Strength Series: Dan John interview (pt. 3 of 8) where Mark Rippetoe is listening to Dan John explain a use for the Kettlebell. The explanation violates two of Mr. Ripptoes' principles 1. Kettlebell is a fad that has no place in strength, and 2 violates his view on functional training vs strength training.

to each their own, it sucks when you find out someone you really look up to has no interest or respect for what you love. Kettlebells for life!