Kettlebell Training - Because There Is Life Outside the Gym

By Anthony DiLuglio

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It is a beautiful midsummer day in New England! The sky is blue, temperatures are hovering around 80 degrees, and the convertible top on my new Wrangler is permanently retracted. I’m reminded of one of my favorite aspects of kettlebell training: portability! A kettlebell can be thought of as a complete gym in the palm of your hand… or lodged behind your driver’s seat for instant access.

I spent decades lifting traditional free-weights in dark, damp, dungeon-gyms all over the world. I viewed that kind of strength training as a necessary evil and always looked forward to the freedom of my outdoor biking or running cardio work. After discovering kettlebells, I was thrilled with the new ability to take my strength training outside.

I’ve practiced intense full body routines at beaches, parks, sidewalks, running tracks, and my own backyard. The air is fresh and the sun is more calming than a bank of fluorescent bulbs. There’s no need for thumping music or distractions… I train while tuned to nature. You must give it a try. You may even notice a nice adrenaline kick as strangers walk by with a double, triple, or quadruple take: “Hey, what is that thing!?!?”

After our frigid Northeast winters, I often use the outdoors to enhance the experience of my clients in the gym. We’ll throw open the doors and include a repeated quarter mile jog or outdoor snatch set to the day’s circuit. There are no boundaries at Punch, and I believe that is a major reason my clients keep coming back.

Why do you workout? Some people workout to grow buffalo biceps and Popeye pecs. I don’t workout. I practice and train. My goal is the development of functional strength that will help me perform better in my regular life. Though sometimes it feels like I’m training clients 24/7, most of my “life” actually happens outside the gym. There is a deeper connection and transfer of my training to real life when I occasionally take it away from the gym.

Here’s a simple circuit you can perform anywhere with a single kettlebell:

• (20) 1 Arm Swings (10 each side)
• (10) Windmills (5 each side)
• (20) 1 Arm Cleans (10 each side)
• (20) Military Presses (10 each side)
• (20) Hand to Hand Swings
• (20) 1 Arm Rows (10 each side)

Put a 30-60 second active rest between each of these and try to repeat the whole circuit 2-3 times. It should take under 30 minutes. If you are new, concentrate more on good form than completing reps.

Get yourself a kettlebell and get outdoors. You are going to love it! Then watch this training zone for future articles.

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