Kids and Kettlebells - Too Much Too Soon?

Have a look at the clip, what do you think?



All credit to Nocona, there is no taking away what he has achieved, it was a truly awesome feet of strength at a body weight of 97lbs and at 13 years of age. But therein lies the question, if he was 23 years of age at the same body weight, Jerking the 24kg what would we be saying?

I would be looking at form, because form determines function. Quality of movement is paramount. It doesn't matter if your three years old, thirteen years old or thirty three, the same rules apply.

When working with a heavier Kettlebell than you are used to, there is a parameter of chaos that your body will have to adapt to in order to execute the movement. After a given tipping point form will go, and then you are in the hazard zone (and you don't want to be there).

The Jerk in the video may not have been text book stuff, and it may not have been pretty, and while I do have some reservations - no injury occurred. The key is to know when to 'Rack it' and end the set as in this video.

No matter how much your ego may tempt you to go on, quitting while you're ahead is not the same as quitting. If you're working with a Kettlebell Coach, a good Coach will know when, and when not to.

Once again, more power to Nocona Jodrey, very, very impressive.

Take My Advice and Don't Listen To Others

When others are in a good mood they like you, when they're in a bad mood they don't. We often value the opinion of others higher than we value our own. Sometimes the key is knowing when not to listen and trust yourself completely.

Do the thing that you're passionate about, if you don't know what it is, find it. Nurture it, help it grow, cherish it and then share it. Jason McElway understands this. Jason is Autistic. Jason McElway is phenomenal.



Thanks to the Desel Crew for posting this clip on their blog.

Creative Training? or Just Plain Nuts?!

Some have you may have seen this video clip before on Youtube or the Industrial Strength London Blog. I had some interesting conversations with some Coaches and Physiotherapists following this post. Watch the video, you'll understand why.



There is a lot of research available on Hypoxia training, or often more specific to altitude training. The theory goes, that when faced with low oxygen concentration levels the body will undergo several adaptations which have a positive carry over to performance when either 1) The body has to perform under low oxygen concentration levels or 2) Performance will be enhanced when oxygen concentration levels are adequate thus giving you the edge on your opponent.

London's very own innovative sports performance equipment company, Hybreathe, are developing a portable device that can potentially deliver the benefits of altitude training. But before they spend silly amounts of money getting it well and truly wrong, they're asking for your feedback and ideas. As a thank you, you're in with a chance of winning some rather cool stuff. Fill out an online survey and give your thoughts here.

Triathlete magazine has an interesting article about altitude (hypoxia) training, but as you can see from the clip above there could be interesting carry over to combat sports."

Kettlebells and Pregnancy - Do They Mix?

It's a very valid question that I've been asked often. Without it seeming as if I'm perched comfortably on the fence, the answer is "Yes" and "No". Let me explain.

It really depends on your exercise history, current levels of physical activity and the existence of any other conditions (medical or otherwise) that could adversely affect the mother or baby.

When my sister was due with her third child, I called her up the week of the due date to see how she was getting on. To my concern she answered the phone panting and out of breath. I thought she was giving birth right there and then while on the phone. She replied that she was at the park playing football with her other two boys. She was nine months pregnant and had just sprinted the length of the field to score the winning goal to her delight! (my nephews were not impressed). The key thing is to look at frequency, intensity, mode and duration. If you are unsure seek out a fitness or health professional who knows. You want to minimise risk to baby and mother while maximising potential benefits to the health of both, and ease of delivery.

You would have to be a genius of G.W.Bush proportions to suggest that a mother who has never exercised before and is 3 weeks into her first pregnancy then starts knocking out 10 minute snatch sets with a 24kg kettlebell. This doesn't mean that you can't do anything, even so called health professionals suggest inactivity when there is no obvious reason to do so. If you exercised prior to pregnancy, there is no reason that with sensible adjustments you can not train throughout. The ACSM has some good guidelines for general exercise during pregnancy.

So what about Kettlebells. It surprises me that the reaction is to immediately disregard Kettlebells as a mode of training when pregnant. It is usually fear that drives the response rather than sound clinical reasoning. Obviously, somethings are inappropriate, others are fine. Don't believe me? Fine check out Lauren Brooks then post your comments. A Kettlebell Coach who trained during her pregnancy and has since regained her figure. Living proof it can be done.

Exercise is Medicine

It's official. The American College of Sports Medicine has launched a joint initiative called, Exercise is Medicine. The ACSM has long recognised the importance of exercise in the prevention or treatment of acute and chronic conditions and managing mortality rates.

While this link has readily been established, getting doctors and health professionals on board prescribing exercise as a treatment option for patients has so far more often failed. Attempting to get these same doctors and health professionals to engage in exercise has often met with similar outcomes. Still not enough people are meeting the recommended amount of daily exercise. The new initiative aims to address this issue.

The question I ask is what sorry state will the population of the UK have to get into before a similar strategy is adopted.... Ahem, now that I've got that off my chest, find out more about it below.

Boxing Drills For Real Life Skills

This was sent to me by my friend Martin Snow over at Trinity Boxing in New York. Funny, but true!



Thanks Martin.

New Years Resolutions 2009

If, like many people you set new years resolutions which fail to live beyond the end of January, then this year try a different approach. Why not design a life that truly inspires you, next year in 2009 live a legacy.

In an article for Fit Pro magazine, Robert Cappuccio lays down the blue print for a powerful approach to living a legacy, according to him it starts with intention,
"Whatever you focus your attention on in your life magnifies. Whatever you direct your attention away from diminishes." For Cappuccio it is essential to attune your focus to exactly what you wish to accomplish. When setting goals he urges us to think idealistically (the what) rather than realistically (the how) - that will come later on in the process. He then requests that we write down 50 goals we would like to accomplish, and then allocate a 1 year, 5 year or 10 year time frame for each. This is an extremely powerful exercise in itself, you'll learn a lot about yourself, your vision and what motivates you (I tried it, I should know!).

Your goals then undergo a process of refinement, until tangible steps are laid down for your goals in order of priority. Robert Cappuccio highlights several factors imperative for success namely;

Passion
Commitment
Strategy
Persistence
Belief

He goes on to say, "Our lives are the result of a decision. If you will resign yourself to never accept anything less from yourself than the highest limits of your personal potential, then not only do you exponentially raise the odds of you achieving what you desire to achieve, but also of becoming everything you have the potential to be." In 2009 regardless of the situation, take time to invest in you - your quality of life depends on it.



Robert Cappuccio is a contributor to www.ptonthenet.com