Jamie Lloyd is renowned as one of the UK’s top Kettlebell Coaches and is the owner of Russian Kettlebells UK in London. He is one of only a handful of certified Russian Kettlebell coaches in Europe who is also a level 2 IKKF klettlebell Coach who has been trained under the watchful eye of Steve Cotter.He is available for personal training, kettlebell training, kettlebell classes, kettlebell courses and kettlebells.

http://www.russiankettlebellsuk.com

ExtremeFitnessVideos asked:

Steve Cotter’s instructional on the Clean using Russian Kettlebells is just one small example of the extensive Clean Techniques shown on the original Encyclopedia Of Kettlebell Lifting Series One, available now at www.shihan.com

alfredo c asked:

I recently hurt my lower back after a kettlebell workout. I used the proper technique and form such as tightening my abs and buttocks during lifts but, I still became hurt. My lower back started off being sore after a kettlebell workout which I thought was because I’m a beginner but, it became painful the following day. I’m asking any Kettlebell practioner to what is the problem. Is kettlebell for everyone or only for a certain few. Like I stated in the beginning, I used the proper form and technique that I have learned from Steve Cotter’s videos on kettlebell. Really need help. I’d appreciate if someone who’s familiar with kettlebell workout to respond. Thanks.

For years I’ve used stair training to maximize my power which lead me to using them with the hundreds of athletes I’ve trained including players from Major League Baseball and the Women’s National Basketball Association. And because of my work with professional athletes and my love for basketball I get many questions from people all over the world on vertical jump training. And since I don’t know it all (far from it) I know it’s in my best interest to learn from other strength coaches, personal trainers, physical therapists, nutritionists, doctors and so on. And I’m actually pretty lucky as I can pick up the phone or email many of the best trainers in the world and pick their brain on performance enhancement.

So in late 2006 I decided to get on the phone and grill over 13 world class strength coaches on their vertical training methods. How can you go wrong when you have over 13 of the nation’s best experts teach you first hand what they know on vertical jump training?

And the best thing for me was the learning experience. I learned so much from these world class coaches and here is my chance to share what I learned. I must warn you though: There is a chance you can bang your head on the rim by following these vertical jump tips!

The first group of guys I will speak of are Jason C Brown, Steve Cotter and Brett Jones. Besides being gentlemen and world class strength coaches they also share the unique distinction of being kettlebell training experts.

I must admit when I first learned about kettlebells years back I never really gave it much thought because I thought you could do kettlebell exercises with a dumbbell. As I quickly learned, you can not do exercises that are specific to kettlebells with a dumbbell. It’s not the same. Try a kettlebell swing with a dumbbell and they are very different. Now this is not to say that dumbbells are bad. This is just to say that each piece of equipment has a specific use and each has its own advantages and disadvantages.

In speaking with the gentlemen a few things ring through with kettlebell lifting that make them excellent tools for vertical jump training.

1. It is very hard to find an exercise that mimics the motion of vertical jumping better than the kettlebell swing. Further more is that you can perform the exercise explosively. Now this is not to say that power cleans or snatches are not great exercises that teach explosive hip extension but they are more technical and harder to teach. This is simply not the case with the kettlebell swing which makes it excellent for working with large groups. Our weight room workouts have over 40 student athletes working out at once and introducing the kettlebell has been a blessing because I find it much easier to teach the movements than power cleans. And even easier than teaching the hang clean. Does this mean I’m lazy? No, I just happened to find a better tool for teaching athletes explosive hip extension. Will I abandon the power and hang clean? No. No I have even more exercises in my tool box which makes it easier not to be married to a set a certain exercise.

So what’s the lesson here? If you can add kettlebells into your training programs you have an excellent vertical jump training tool that is hard to beat.

2. Another great thing about kettlebells reiterated by Steve Cotter is that there is a unique quality in the shape of kettlebells: The shape I believe and many other trainers will agree is that they actually guide you into proper form. Because of the round shape any deviance from bad form and you automatically feel it so you get right back into the correct groove. This is key and something I’ve never really experienced with barbells and dumbbells. Furthermore, a big premise of kettlebells is that training is practice and practice develops your skill. The more skilled you are the stronger you will be and the higher you will jump. I mean do you ever really see guys that can jump or are really fast not run or jump with excellent form? Not really. Fix someone’s technique and form and that in itself will help them jump higher.

3. Keep things simple. Read that again and again. All three guys alluded to this. We know what works and have known for a long time. Don’t try to reinvent the wheel and just use what we already know. Basics like the dead lift, squat and its variations combined with explosive lifting, actually jumping, and of course excellent technique will take you very far.

4. Another big point to drive home from this panel was keeping the reps low (3-5) when strength training. A great vertical requires excellent strength and that means to train movements like the dead lift, squat and pull-ups with low reps to develop that strength. No need for higher reps as that can lead to weight gain and possibly using bad form.

Simple enough right. 5 sets of 5 reps on big bang exercises and you are good to go! Don’t forget to practice your jumping. I mean would you ask someone wanting to improve their speed not to sprint?

By: Virgil Aponte

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ExtremeFitnessVideos asked:

Steve Cotter demonstrates how to perform the High Windmill kettlebell technique, 1 of over 220 available on the full Encyclopedia Of Kettlebell Lifting, Series One, DVD set. This DVD series and many more featuring training with kettlebells, bodyweight conditioning, cardio and more , are available now at www.shihan.com

Copyright (c) 2008 Anderson Training Systems

This Part 2 of a 2 part article series covering the top 10 reasons kettlebells are relevant fitness tool for almost any fitness program.

6. Athletic Conditioning : a. Kettlebells are incredibly mobile, much easier to have available while conditioning or even at skills practice. b. Kettlebells provide valuable variety in conjunction with speed, agility, endurance, and quickness work. c. Additionally, what athlete couldn’t use a little development of hip drive along with learning to accelerate and decelerate load?

These are some of my favorite athletic conditioning drill and kettlbell combinations:

-Two-handed Swing + Hill Sprint -Snatch + Suicides/Ladders -Horn Squat and Press + Squat Thrust with Jump -Cleans + Box Agility Drill

7. Strength Development – One of the knocks on kettlebells has always been that “they are good for conditioning but poor for strength development.” This argument becomes pretty much a moot point when you run into the likes of Steve Cotter and Mike Mahler, both of whom are pretty damn strong guys. Of course, then the argument becomes that it doesn’t transfer. Again, the answer is that it does transfer. Coach Ken Black was recently here in Phoenix and did some strongman training. He was easily able to lap a 300 lb stone and flip a 900 lb tire for several reps. Not too bad for the first time on both implements. By the way, Ken does the majority of his training with kettlebells. Are kettlebells going to make you a 600 lb bench presser or a 1000 lb squatter? Probably not. However, for the majority of people out there who want to look good “nekkid” and have a good amount of strength to boot, there is definitely merit in using kettlebells for strength training. Given that kettlebells are available for a good price up to and beyond 105 lbs, most guys will be able find a bell that provides more than adequate load stimulus.

8. Unilateral Lifting – The traditional programming for the kettlebell is unilateral. One-arm cleans and snatches are the basis of a lot of kettlebell work, but that is just the start. Two of the most compelling reasons for performing unilateral kettlebell lifts are:

a. The carrying position of the load while performing press drills allows the shoulder girdle to open up which is very beneficial in this day and age of shit posture. Anything you can do to work against a kyphotic upper back posture is huge.

b. The height at which the kettlebell hand is held when performing drills such as the single deadlift is perfect for quick and smooth transitions through a workout. When performed in a traditional manner, single leg squats or pistols place a massive demand on the trunk to provide stability throughout the entire movement.

Want more unilateral movement and trunk stabilization?

Perform some one-arm cleans and snatches using a kettlebell. You’ll have it figured out after just a few reps. Sure, all these drills can be performed with dumbbells, but they are definitely enhanced when performed with kettlebells, enough to warrant their consideration.

9. Easy Grip Strengthening – About 90% of the people who walk through the door to my facility have the grip strength of a nine year old girl. The kettlebell is a very appropriate tool for improving grip strength because the handle gets incrementally thicker as the weight gets heavier. This works perfectly. As clients get progressively stronger, they are challenged with thicker handles. One of my favorite introductory drills that kills two birds with one stone is the kettlebell farmer’s walk; simple yet very effective at accomplishing several training goals at once.

10. Only One Priority – Whether you are a coach or someone training hard for a particular goal, there is only one thing that matters – Getting Results. The majority of trainees with whom I have contact are very novice and the mere sight of a barbell could send them running out the door and leave me with an empty pocketbook. In contrast, I can have clients deadlifting, squatting, pressing, and sometimes even cleaning or snatching a kettlebell within one or two sessions. To me the sacrifice of the barbell is well worth it, not only from the business aspect, but also because my clients lay down a solid base of good technique due to the aforementioned benefits of using kettlebells. Does this mean I have thrown out my barbell? Hell no! It does mean, however, I have learned a new way to skin a cat. A faster tool to teach = faster results. And that’s what really matters to me, and to my clients. (Note: Most women do well starting with a 12 kg/26 lb bell and a somewhat experienced male could start with a 24 kg/53 lb bell).

Could you and I argue the pros and cons of kettlebell training until we were both blue in the face? Yes, and we probably wouldn’t come close to a consensus. Do you need to own as many kettlebells as I do? Probably not. But you would be ignoring a very valuable training tool if you didn’t at least consider having kettlebells in your training toolbox. In addition to everything that I have discussed here, it’s a well-documented fact that kettlebells can help you become bigger, faster, stronger, and more athletic. I am pretty sure each and every one of us is looking to develop at least one of those aspects with our various training programs.

By: Troy Anderson

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jak675 asked:

Steve demonstrates some kettlebell techniques and the strength of his legs by performing pistols.

WorldMartialArts asked:

World Class Kettlebell, Strength and Conditioning Instructor Steve Cotter is back with his most intense kettlebell workout DVD series to date, The Extreme Kettlebell Workout! This incredible 4 DVD set is an amazing compilation of the most effective Russian Kettlebell workouts ever assembled. Extreme Kettlebell Workouts includes ten amazing follow along workouts ranging from muscle building to core and abs to hard core cardio. Each workout was created by Steve Cotter and are the very same …