I first saw a kettlebell back in 2002, when a friend of mine introduced me to the one arm snatch. (No I’m not trying to make any inuendo here, that’s the name of an exercise that’s commonly done with a kettlebell!)

I thought the kettlebells were pretty neat but I was very focused on bodybuilding at the time. Kettlebells didn’t seem to have any place in a bodybuilding routine so I had no use for them. After all, I was pretty damn sure that anyone whose workouts didn’t revolve around squatting heavy, doing deadlifts, and going all out for 8 reps on bench press was surely wasting their time!

Obviously I had a very narrow view of things but I’ve learned a lot (and been humbled a lot!) over the years. I experimented with kettlebell workouts occasionally after that first encounter and eventually wound up becoming a certified kettlebell instructor through NYHRC in 2008. This past summer I met Shir Konas, one of the top kettlebell intsructors in NYC. Shir has helped me take my kettlebell technique to the next level.

There are a lot of subtleties to performing kettlebell lifts safely and effectively. Having experience in conventional weight training is a great foundation to start from, but I still advise anyone interested in working out with kettlebells (even an experienced lifter) to solicit a qualified instructor.

Check out this video clip of me doing a pistol squat with a 40 lb. kettlebell!

Strength and Conditioning