Welcome to the best kettlebell workout the internet has ever seen! Grab the best kettlebell in your home gym and meet your instructor: senior kettlebell specialist Eric Leija. Yes, he is pretty ripped, isn't he? Nobody will be kicking sand in this dude's face at the beach.
Eric devised this 10-minute full-body single kettlebell home workout so it works ALL the muscles in the body and is also neighbour-friendly. You won't do any jumping jacks, burpees, or tuck jumps.
If you are new to working out, please do a full warmup and pay extra attention to your lower back: you will need a strong core for kettlebell cleans and deadlifts (if your core needs more training, check out the best core workout). Please be mindful of your surroundings and ensure there is enough space around you to swing that kettlebell freely without knocking your new TV off its stand.
Best kettlebell workout: A word on nutrition
If you are after those sweet gains, eating the right amount of protein is as essential as training. Only training would not be enough to build a strong frame; you also need to aid muscle repair and regeneration by providing your body with protein throughout the day. An average adult needs anything between 1.6-2 grams of protein per body kilo per day if they work out actively.
The most convenient way to consume protein is to mix protein powder with water or milk/substitute and have it as an on-the-go snack after the workout. Use a protein shake blender to mix the ingredients for the best results. Alternatively, you can snack on protein bars instead of chocolate or biscuits.
If you have a fast metabolism, consider taking weight gainer protein: these meal replacement powders have loads of carbs and protein, helping you gain weight easier as you bulk up.
Best kettlebell workout by Eric Leija
How to perform this 10-minute full-body single kettlebell workout
The workout consists of 10 sets where you perform the following kettlebell flow:
- Offset push up
- Single hand deadlift
- Single arm row
- Kettlebell clean
- Squat
- Strict press
- Kettlebell snatch
Each set is 60 seconds long, with 40 seconds of work and 20 seconds of rest. Go as hard as you can for 40 seconds without compromising your lower back and the integrity of your wrist bones. Controlled movement is essential; pay attention to where the kettlebell is and how you will move it from one exercise to another.
10-minute full-body single kettlebell workout
1. Offset pushup
Go down on the floor in a high plank position with one arm resting on the kettlebell. Do a push-up and as you return to the starting position, pull the arm up that's not on a kettlebell in a rowing movement. Keeping your core engaged will prevent your hips from twisting. Place the hand back on the floor and return to the starting position again.
2. Single hand deadlift
Jump up and grab the handle of the kettlebell with the same arm that was resting on the kettlebell in the previous exercise. Your back should be straight; knees bent, glutes and quads engaged. Lift the kettlebell up using your glutes and quads until you are standing tall, then release it back down using one smooth, controlled movement.
3. Single arm row
From here, you want to pull the kettlebell up using your biceps and back muscles. You want to pull the kettlebell up and back a bit in order to fully activate the biceps and the upper back muscles. Once there, release the kettlebell back onto the floor and return to the starting position.
4. Kettlebell clean
You want to swing the kettlebell back in between your legs to gather some momentum and then swing it up and onto your shoulder. Make sure you have a firm grip on the handle and that you swing it around the wrist and not over the hand as you rest it on your shoulder. You don't want to injure your wrist by banging the kettlebell against it all the time.
5. Squat
Once the kettlebell is up at shoulder height, perform a deep squat, bending the knees and keeping the upper body tall. Push from the glutes and the quads as you stand back up, using your core to stabilise yourself.
6. Strict press
Once you're standing tall again, you want to push that kettlebell up until your arm is fully extended. Keep that shoulder engaged and your body and arm straight, especially when your arm is fully extended. You wouldn't want to be unbalanced when you dangle a kettlebell over your head. Then, lower the kettlebell back down to the ground.
7. Kettlebell snatch
The final exercise in this flow is the most complex one, too, the snatch. You want to use explosive yet controlled power all the way through the movement as you lift the kettlebell off the ground and raise it high above the head. Just like when doing the clean, you would like to rotate the kettlebell around gently so it doesn't slam into your wrist every time you do a snatch. Finally, lower the kettlebell down onto the floor.
Once done with the flow on one side, repeat the same flow using the other hand. Keep alternating sides until the 40-second set is up.
Finally, check out Eric's website for more kettlebell plans and training advice!
T3's workout guides
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