kettlebells for GAA players?

DutchGuy

Hi folks, hope someone can help me here.

After not doing sports for a while I've recently taken up GAA and will probably go back to basketball in the autumn and althought my general fitness levels are grand for the level at which I'm competing I feel like I need to build up my strength a quite a bit as I've gotten a few bruised ribs taking hits. A few people recommended kettlebell workouts, but I'm a bit worried as I'm suspicious of anything that is a current hollywood fad... Does anyone here have any experience with them and would you recommend them for GAA/basketball players needing to build up some strength/bulk (I'm 6'9 and about 95kg) while not compromising speed/endurance?

Also, if they are any good - would you recommend learning from a DVD or would classes be better? Any good classes out there in Dublin city centre/north city?

Cheers!

DamienH

I use them pretty regularly in the gym. I think they're good fun and they definitely have helped my cardio/strength. Tbh I've only started pressing them recently but they're showing results in increasing numbers and also muscle size.

Swings and get-ups should be you staple diet when you just start off. The swing is used mainly for cardio sessions and the get-up will increase your shoulder strength/stability. I usually knock in two/five sets of deadlifts to work my legs aswell, but swings and get-ups do fine, especially at the start. It's recommended that you work the get-up until you can do one with half your bodyweight. They should help you in increasing size, and overall strength on the pitch (They're really good for increasing upperbody endurance) You should start the swings with the 16kg bell to make sure your technique is good before you move up. If you get too adventurous too soon your lower back will let you know.

After you've got those two fairly well dialed in you can start doing all the other excercises. High rep snatches are meant to be excellent at increasing stamina, but I don't do them at the moment because I haven't properly got the technique down (yet!). The clean and press is another quality strength building excercise and it's the one I use most.

There's loads of books and DVDs available but all you really need is book "Enter the Kettlebell." It's got loads of brilliant knowledge and sets out everything above in far more detail. I don't have the DVD but it's meant to be great aswell. Dragon's Door is the best site I've found for kettlebell and it's updated pretty regularly. I've never been to classes but I have asked the gym instructors one of two questions, just make sure they know what they're doing. There's plenty of videos available on youtube of all the exercises you can do so I didn't bother with the DVDs.

As regards them being a hollywood fad, they've been used in Russia since the 19th century and some of the great strongmen used them also. They're working for me anyway and that's all I'm worried about. It's nice to be able to toss around little cannonballs with handles on them aswell

Dan@IPG

kettlebells are great. if i could have only one single training tool, it would be a 32kg kettlebell. (i have pairs up to 40kg and a single 44kg.) most guys would get along great with a 24kg bell. you can do anything with a kettlebell that you can do with a dumbbell, plus you can do the ballistic / olympic variations like swings, snatches, clean + press. kettlebells are a great tool that can be used anywhere and pretty much get you out of a gym if you're motivated to get after it on your own and have some understanding of how to program for strength, explosiveness, and endurance.

they are not a fad so much as they have simply been pushed by people trying to make a quick buck that often don't have a clue. so be smart with your money.

my recommendations:

pavel tsatsouline has a huge following in america and (i believe) is the
founder/owner of dragon door. he's got the marketing down but also sells quality products. i would start with his site and perhaps some of his materials. i recommend dvds.

mike mahler is another top notch guy i recommend. i dig his intensity. he's a no-nonsense guy and has some solid dvds. he may have some videos on youtube as well.

steve cotter. he's a freak. he's got lots of free stuff on youtube. he also sells dvds etc., but i don't personally care for his material. at least check out his videos.

Martina Malone

I know there's a kettlebell workshop in Kilkenny on Saturday morning 13th June at Kilkenny Rugby Club. It was advertised recently in the Kilkenny People. It's an introduction to kettlebells and how do do all the main moves. If you go to www.esfitness.ie there's some details there.

Danye

I know RAW on richmond street in portobello have kettlebell classes on during the week. Im not sure of times or prices do, but im sure you culd get their number from the website nd give them a ring to find out....http://www.rawcondition.com