RKC News - January 2017

I posed this spontaneous question to the participants who were learning the basic concepts around the kettlebell. The answers varied from "to get stronger" to "I want to improve my performance" to "I just want to stay fit." The question seems trivial, but it is relevant; the answers received are mostly superficial. A significant number of kettlebell enthusiasts come from what I would call the "mainstream fitness sector," while others are newcomers from conventional sports, and some from the martial arts scene. It is particularly noticeable in the fitness area that many people use training primarily for ego satisfaction (big biceps), while in other sports, the competitive aspect is the focus. However, very few athletes are aware that the core of their athletic efforts should also consist of mastering their daily lives and overcoming unconventional situations.

What good is it if you are strong in the bench press or if bicep curls are among your favorite exercises, but you can barely manage to carry the fully packed shopping bags up three flights of stairs to your apartment? The fidgeting on the cross-trainer won't make the garden work any easier, just as little as when you need to swing an axe or use a spade in the woods. Maybe you find yourself in an awkward position during spring cleaning, bent over on one leg, with a bucket in one hand and a sponge in the other to clean the windows? You get where I'm going: functional training, namely kettlebell training, helps you meet the physical demands of everyday life. Struggling with the huge shopping bags? Do loaded carries! Want to swing the axe better to have enough kindling behind the stove? Snatches should not be missing from your training plan. Do you associate gardening with a nagging back? Focus on swings. The kettlebell also offers you additional specific exercises like the single-leg deadlift, which promote coordination and balance. Firefighters, police officers, or paramedics can suddenly find themselves in a life-threatening situation where physical effort is required. Especially in such professions, kettlebell training is more than recommended. In close combat situations or when rescuing an injured person, strength, coordination, and mobility are required. The Turkish Get Up is a top exercise that gets you in shape. Never forget that your peaceful everyday life can be overshadowed at any moment by an unforeseen event or an accident, and you will then have to rise above yourself. Do you want to satisfy your ego or be a survivor? The kettlebell will give you the right answer.

by Joe Wissler RKC
Kettlebell Cop from Luxembourg
Facebook: Jo Wissler RKC

Statistically, more accidents happen at home than on the road. Four out of five accidents are due to carelessness and human error. Most of the time, dangers are not recognized or underestimated, while one's own abilities are overestimated. In Germany, over 8,000 people die each year from an accident at home and during leisure time.