If you overlooked the first video in the series, we’re talking about WHY you should slow down this year if you want faster results from your training.
And we’re exploring how to slow yourself down instead of BEING SLOWED DOWN by injury.
And the way to do that?
Identify the reasons you’ll get injured / people get injured in the first place and OVERCOME them.
Today, Part 2 - this is something I’ve observed time and again on forums, social media, and even on Zoom calls. It’s -
[2] Poor Technique:
See this picture?
That was the first Olympic Weightlifting Team I was on. That picture was taken Summer of 1995 - almost 30 years ago. (Hard to believe!) The guy second from the left is Mark Cohen (I’m second from the right).
Mark guided me the fundamentals of Olympic lifting technique.
You know how much it demanded from me?
At the time, I was earning around $6.50/hour most of the time working at the Rutgers College Gym to supplement my earnings with $15/hour as a Personal Trainer at New York Sports Clubs.
RFinding the $5.20 for the New Jersey Turnpike toll every Saturday plus gas… and sometimes during the week when I could swing it …
Plus the 5 hours out of every Saturday was “ valuable” for me at the time.
Plus saying “no” to personal training clients on the very popular Saturday morning spots.
But I wanted to enter Olympic lifting and achieve a gold medal.
And to do that I needed to make sure my technique was not just good - but great.
(I was already quite strong .)
So I “counted the cost” and made the necessary Rsacrifices .
Even still, I got hurt from pre-existing issues.
(Hindsight being 20/20, I didn’t know what I didn’t know. I didn’t even think these WERE issues. Never factored into my thought processes at the time. Sure, I always wondered why my right foot turned out more than my left foot by the end of a Squat session…
And why my right glute was bigger than my left glute… And why my left quad, adductor, and hamstring was more developed than my right… But I didn’t think it was an issue at all until after I experienced more and more injuries…)
For example: I strained my left rotator cuff missing a Jerk. That took me about a month and a half to recover from. (Plus, my left elbow and wrist never worked quite right after I broke that arm wrestling in 1989.)
And I subluxed my right patella (again) on a Front Squat. The first time was REALLY bad - I did it wrestling. And got zero rehab. This time, not so bad . But my right knee swelled up and my right IT Band got really irritated.
I’m convinced had Mark not been such a perfectionist for technique, I’d probably have gotten hurt worse - and worse.
So what’s my point?
Many - maybe most guys use “good enough until it’s not” kettlebell technique.
They don’t even take the time to video themselves (which was much harder to do back in 1995) to see if their technique is up to snuff .
They just “bang away” until something “feels off”
Or until that “feels off” sensation turns into a “pop” followed by full blown pain
“Heil Hitler” Military Presses…
Rounded lower back Swings and Snatches which, unbeknownst to you, makes you look like a dog tucking its tail between its legs …
Squats where the insides of your knees kiss or your tailbone tucks under your body in the hole…
You probably know what I mean…
The key to both short and long term success is to website take the time to master , practice, and routinely use the Right Techniques
This goes for both single kettlebell work, and double kettlebell work
Most likely at first you won’t be able to do “as much work” as you can now
But the work you will do?
It will be much higher quality
It will use more of the right muscles at the right times and less of the wrong muscles at the wrong times
Which means your body won’t be “fighting itself” and you’ll see the results you’re looking for sooner , instead of barely at all
It also means you won’t get up with “ pain in the wrong places,” which also slows your recovery.
So, do yourself a favor - ease up this month and spend some time improving your technique.
Resist the temptation to hurry your reps and “do as much work as possible.”
One of the most valuable steps you can start using today?
Add pauses in the middle of your reps.
Pause in the bottom of your squat ensuring your position is correct.
Pause in the rack after a Clean and before your Press.
Pause in the lockout / overhead position after a Press.
Pause in the rack after a Press and before your next Clean.
Pause in the lockout / overhead position after a Snatch.
And if you don’t know what the “right techniques” are, or you're not sure ?
Grab ahold of ‘THE BIG 6’ for single KB work here (and snag yourself some fresh programs to hone your improved technique).
Or use Kettlebell STRONG! to upgrade your double KB technique and use the near-legendary “Strong!” program to take your strength to the proverbial next level this year.