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The BEST Core Exercise for YOU (And WHY it matters)

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CORE STRENGTH TESTS: https://salutis.kartra.com/page/DgM583 SYSTEMATIC CORE TRAINING FOR KETTLEBELLS: https://salutis.kartra.com/page/systematic-core-training Core training is still a hot topic these days. And rightfully so, because there is still A LOT of confusion surrounding it. For example: One of the reasons I went to my kettlebell instructor certification (the RKC) back in 2005 was because even though I could: Hold a Plank for 2 minutes Hold a Side-Bridge for 2 minutes Do Single Leg Hip Bridges on a stability ball for 2 sets of 20 Do Single Leg Touchdowns, standing on a half foam-roller for 2 sets of 20 using 25lb dumbbell (think Single Leg Deadlift, but your arm ends up over your head - kinda like a slow speed Snatch) Do Single Leg Chops & Lifts (on a “balance pad” - unstable surface) And any number of other “circus tricks” for my “core stability”and core strength... But I - [a] Still tore the labrum in my right hip… And more importantly to me at the time - [b] I still could...

10 Reasons Why Men Over 40 Grow Love Handles (and How to GET RID of THEM)

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Kettlebell Burn 2.0 -  https://go.chasingstrength.com/burn-sa3/ Lovehandles. The Spare Tire. The Middle Age Spread. Why do guys over 40 get these? And more importantly, why does conventional diet and exercise advice fail to get rid of these? And most importantly, what DOES get rid of them? First, up, why Over 40-somethings grow lovehandles: Well, it’s not just ONE thing - it’s a plethora of factors. (I love that word - plethora - makes me think of "The Three Amigos"...) Here are TEN (10!) Factors Explaining why: 1- Energy Surplus Pretty simple. We tend to eat too much and that fat has to be stored somewhere. Any long‑term gap between calories in and out is stored as triglycerides in your “flank” fat cells. 2- Genetics Genetics & sex hormones decide preferred "fat parking spots." The hip/flank depot is a common one. Some people are just wired to store more fat in their sides. 3- High Fat Cell Density This area holds more fat cells per square inch. Those fat cells...

Why one man’s Kettlebell STRENGTH program is another man’s FAT LOSS program…

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‘THE GIANT’ 3.0 ​​ https://salutis.kartra.com/page/oWP219 The Time-Tested Single Kettlebell Program https://go.chasingstrength.com/burn-sa3/ In this video we’re going to discuss 5 reasons why a kettlebell strength program for one man can be a kettlebell fat loss program for another. Do you remember one of the original promises of kettlebell training? When the book, The Russian Kettlebell Challenge was released, one of the selling points was the following - “Watch in amazement as high-rep kettlebells let you hack the fat off your meat -- without the dishonor of aerobics and dieting” It was fascinating to me because at the time when this was written - around 2001/2, the concept of “high reps to lose fat” was still prevalent. And yet, I was doing the OPPOSITE with my clients and myself. We’d use LOW REPS and still burn a bunch of fat, while getting stronger in the process. The truth is, BOTH can and do work. It just depends on the individual. For example, I got this email from Keith the o...

Which Kettlebell Workout Program Should I Choose?

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Strength & Conditioning: Single Kettlebell: [+] ‘SWING HARD!’  https://salutis.kartra.com/page/SWING-HARD-2 Exercises: 2H Swing, 1H Swing 3x week: 20-30 minutes / day Technique videos included [+] “The King-Sized Killer”  https://cart.chasingstrength.com/ksk2 Exercises: Snatch 3x week: ~20 minutes / day Technique videos included [+] ‘THE GIANT’  https://salutis.kartra.com/page/oWP219 Exercises: Clean + Press (can use Push Press, if necessary) 5x 4-week programs 3x week: 20-30 minutes / day OPTIONAL: Technique videos included Double Kettlebell: [+] ‘THE GIANT’  https://salutis.kartra.com/page/dXF161 Exercises: Clean + Press (can use Push Press, if necessary) 5x 4-week programs 3x week: 20-30 minutes / day [+] ‘THE GIANT X’  https://salutis.kartra.com/page/giant-x Exercises: Clean + Press, Clean + Push Press, See-Saw Press 3x 8-week programs 3x week: ~30 minutes / day [+] Kettlebell HARD!   https://cart.chasingstrength.com/hard3b Exercises: ALL the d...

Is your desk job STEALING your Strength?

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👉 Grab your copy of Systematic Core Training For Kettlebells here.  https://salutis.kartra.com/page/systematic-core-training REFERENCES: [1] Malai S, Pichaiyongwongdee S, Sakulsriprasert P. Immediate effect of hold-relax stretching of iliopsoas muscle on transversus abdominis activation in chronic NSLBP with hyper-lordosis. J Med Assoc Thai 2015;98 [2] Kim B, Yim J. Core stability and hip muscle stretching improve physical function in NSLBP: RCT. Tohoku J Exp Med 2020;251:193-206. [3] Arjmand N, Shirazi-Adl A. Role of intra-abdominal pressure in the unloading and stabilization of the human spine during static lifting tasks. Eur Spine J. 2006 Aug;15(8):1265-75. doi: 10.1007/s00586-005-0012-9. Epub 2005 Dec 7. PMID: 16333683; PMCID: PMC3233951. [4] Campbell A, Kemp-Smith K, O'Sullivan P, Straker L. Abdominal Bracing Increases Ground Reaction Forces and Reduces Knee and Hip Flexion During Landing. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2016 Apr;46(4):286-92. doi: 10.2519/jospt.2016.5774. Epub 20...

Is Kettlebell Training ENOUGH for EFFECTIVELY working your CORE?

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👉 Systematic Core Training For Kettlebells  https://salutis.kartra.com/page/systematic-core-training I hurt my back severely while deadlifting 405 lbs for 10 after heavy Olympic lifting. On rep 8, something went “POP.” Like a typical meathead, I wiggled to check, then finished the set. The next morning, I could barely move, and when I tried to get out of bed, I couldn’t. My body locked up for two weeks. I couldn’t bend or take a deep breath. That was January 2002. Fast-forward 3 years to January 2005, and I tore my labrum after one of my best Power Clean workouts ever - 140kg - for 16 sets of 1 - OTM - warming up on a Squat Clean. All told, it took me until April 2012 to demonstrate to myself that I was fully healed. And yes, you’re right, that’s a LONG time. See, I barely did any true “core” work until 1995, when Mark Cohen, my first weightlifting coach, made me do focused work. I did that for about a year. My second coach, Alfonso Duran, didn’t really think direct core work was ...

How to get STRONGER and MORE MUSCULAR while LOSING WEIGHT*…?

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VIDEO DESCRIPTION: https://go.chasingstrength.com/kettlebell-maximorum-e/ Seriously? Most people typically don’t believe this is actually possible. Deep down inside they HOPE / WISH it was possible… But they don’t think it’s a realistic outcome based upon their experience. Yet it is possible - I experienced it for the first time 30 years ago. I cut 12 pounds (~5kg) in only 3 weeks for an Olympic Weightlifting meet, got ripped, and set PRs in the Snatch and the Clean + Jerk. It’s just that most people - [a] Have never done it [b] Don’t know how to do it (or failed trying to do it) [c] Don’t know anyone else who’s done it So again, they just don’t think it’s possible. Or, the caveat is - It’s “only” for professional PED’s-using bodybuilders who workout 2 hours a day, 6 days a week. Which is why I want to show you this email I got from Marco - As you can see, in “just” 6 weeks, Marco reported that he - [+] Lost inches in the right places (hips, belly, etc) [+] Filled out nicely in the sho...