Explosive Kettlebell Training – Power Training for Athletes
Explosive Kettlebell Training – Power Bombs
Within the last 1o years you’ve probably seen kettlebells popping up more and more in your commercial gyms. If you don’t train at a commercial gym, I would guess that you even have a few kettlebells in your warehouse or garage gym.
The reason is quite simple. Kettlebells are an amazing tool. With their offset mass and versatility, kettlebell movements can range from simple to complex and provide a variety of benefits.
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Benefits of Kettlebell Training
- power endurance
- strength mobility
- kinetic stability
- deceleration proficiency
- dynamic support grip strength endurance
- portability
- just to name a few…
What you might not know is that kettlebells are also an excellent tool for creating explosive power. Kettlebells can not only be thrown (released) but they can also be used in other very unique ways to develop strength and power.
Power Bombs
Back in 2005 when Jedd and I created Kettlebell Power Bombs in my garage, little did we know the impact it would have on the industry. It is now a widely recognized movement and performed as a standard at various kettlebell certifications in the US.
During that training session we were trying to innovate with various basic movements and figure out how we could progress them to another level. We started with the kettlebell swing (a foundational movement) and tried to think of a way to enhance the hip drive.
From Secrets of Russian Sports Training (Yessis)
The Basic Kettlebell Swing
When performing a basic kettlebell swing, the hips unlock and absorb the mass x acceleration of the kettlebell as if landing from a jump. This improves the integrity of the lower kinetic segments as well as builds lower body strength and power.
We could not alter the mass of the kettlebell but we could change its acceleration. By accelerating the kettlebell faster, the force we would have to absorb would be exponentially greater. This created a reactive component. The reaction, although not as intensive as a plyometric movement, was explosive. The bracing and deceleration the lifter would encounter was 10 fold that of a basic kettlebell swing. The elastic components of the muscle would accumulate the force and the resultant expression (the concentric phase) would be much more powerful. This was the beginning of the kettlebell power bomb.
How to Do a Kettlebell Power Bomb
The lifter performs a standard kettlebell swing. At the peak of the movement, a partner will explode the bell back downward into the eccentric portion of the movement. The exercise is typically done for reps of 6-8 or until the form breaks down.
The second movement in our explosive kettlebell training comes right from Supertraining (Siff). It is called explosive kettlebell jumps.
Explosive Kettlebell Jumps
This movement is performed while standing on the floor or can also be done while standing on blocks. The idea of the blocks is to increase the range of motion (ROM) of the exercise. This is beneficial because a fuller range of motion equates to greater muscle activation.
Supertraining (Siff)
We’ve been using this movement in our dynamic / explosive training protocols with great success. The coaching points should include making sure the athlete / lifter breaks the hips backwards and absorbs each jump with the posterior chain (lats, abdominals, erectors, glutes, hamstrings) and not forward onto the toes. This reinforces good landing mechanics and keeps them safe.
When to Perform Explosive Kettlebell Movements?
Because of their (CNS) intensive nature, explosive movements should be done early in the workout after a very thorough warm-up. On the contrary, they could also be performed immediately after a strength training movement. This type of training, called complex training, accentuates post–activation potentiation. This is a technique where a heavy strength training movement is immediately followed by an explosive movement. This pairing improves neurological efficiency and fast-twitch muscle recruitment.
It is also important to note, tracking the volume (or foot contacts) of CNS intensive (plyometrics, dynamic efforts, ballastic training) is essential to ensuring proper recovery. This should be monitored to ensure the athlete is recovered for the next workout and ready to go.
Explosive Kettlebell Training
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Tags: chaos training manual, explosive training for athletics, kettlebell training, mel siff, plyometrics, power training, reactive training, secrets of soviet sports training, strength training for athletes, supertraining
June 2nd, 2010 at 9:38 pm
Smitty,
Great post brother! I have been doing kettlebell power bombs with my athletes ever since I saw you and Jedd doing them a few years ago! They do produce great results! I relate them as doing a depth jump from a box and right into a explosive jump. The kettlebell just produces a better outcome.
June 2nd, 2010 at 10:24 pm
I agree Jerry, great post Smitty! Explosive power, moving from the hips, acceleration and deceleration, and mobility and stability: I am not sure it could ever be said enough. KBs create that “live weight” during ballistic movements. I try to remind my clients, housemoms to special pops: everyone needs to train like an athlete. Thanks for the post.
June 4th, 2010 at 6:05 am
Great post Smitty, gonna be trying power bombs and jumps. They look awesome and just in time for throwing season
Cheers Rob
June 11th, 2010 at 6:45 am
Thanks guys. I just started experimenting w/ kettlebells myself and and w/ my clients. I can see why this style of training produces superior results. Keep up the great work!
June 18th, 2010 at 9:43 am
Love kettlebells and use them often. I really like the idea of using explosive moves after strength training. This will certainly develop mental and physical strength!
August 15th, 2010 at 11:14 pm
I don’t think it’s a secret about how much I enjoy kettlebell workouts.
May 30th, 2011 at 6:05 pm
We use powerbombs all the time during our kettlebell sessions, props to you, it’s a great little excercise and ads twice more intensity to the swing.