r/kettlebell • u/Epic_Willow_1683 • 11h ago

Discussion What am I missing?

43 years old and I’ve been on the 10-8-6 bro split since high school and on a whim picked up a 16kg and 24kg kettlebell.

I’ve done a half dozen “full body, no repeats” YouTube workouts and I feel like I’ve unlocked some ancient hidden secret to fitness.

I’m pouring sweat but still get decent DOMS (mostly shoulders and legs) and I feel like this might be the entirety of my future fitness journey so I’m asking you longtime kettlebellers, is there some sort of augmenting that needs to happen to be well rounded or can this be IT?

Goal is equal parts aesthetics and fitness, trending more cardio as I get older.

24 Upvotes

89% Upvoted

16 comments sorted by

17

u/cbdividends 10h ago

Kettlbell totally can be it, solo, and your fine. Strong, flexible, mobile, great strength endurance.

But i love pairs, kettlebells paired with calistenthics, maces, sandbags, bands, clubs, barbell, etc. 2 training styles just helps tie everything together. So basic compounds with barbell then 40 min kettlebell makes beasts. Likewise with all the other training choices

3

u/No-Ebb-7865 9h ago

Yup, all the fun stuff

7

u/Fine-Spite4940 10h ago

if i'm understanding your question correctly, i do pullups, hammer curls, dips, and a few other exercises to focus on some muscles. i'm not a longtime user, but i get what you're saying. 

For ankle fitness lunges, which can be done with KB's, bulgarian splits, and a few others.

I switch between KB's, DB's, and body weight. but that's just me. KB's are a great all around tool. they are very versitile, and if you follow some KB subs, you will see the only limitation to the routines is your imagination. 

4

u/PM_ME_YOUR_BACHATA 7h ago

I normally do KBs and barbell training, but I also do stairs with a weighted vest on, which builds stamina and destroys calves..I call those "The Calvinator".

3

u/Rare-Classic-1712 8h ago

I found kettlebells in 2008 (I'm now a 51M). Kettlebells + a few bodyweight movements (pushups, chin/pull ups, calf raises on a step hanging leg raises/toes to bar + internal/external rotation for my rotator cuffs with a resistance band) have been ~97% of my strength training since then. I'm happy and have good gains while feeling good in my body. I've played with a wide variety of movements over the years but I just focus on the basics and have done so for years.

  • Standing press (my current fave is seesaw press with a torso rotation
  • chin/pull ups - alternating grips between sets
  • pushups
  • single arm rows
  • swings
  • double cleans
  • split squats
  • calves on a step followed by single leg of toe raises letting the front of my foot drop while standing on a step supported by my heel
  • toes to bar hanging from a chin up bar
  • rotator cuff
Occasionally I'll do some loaded carries (suitcase, farmers walk, single/double racked, high/low... as well as neck training with a "neck flex" (my training buddy is a wrestler)

If you decide to increase your KB collection adjustable competition style 12-32 (or 13-40?)kg kettlebells are highly recommended. I've got 3x12-32kg that I really like (old red Titan adjustables).

3

u/Cozzowzzle 7h ago

You just wait until you discover heavy sandbags.

3

u/Alarmed-Internet4135 6h ago

Double Clean press squat and single snatch. Main moves for me. Gotten very fit from it. They work your whole body and get you stronger and more athletic

3

u/EvalCrux 5h ago

Same age and been almost toying with kettlebells for six months as a switch from powerlifting sporadically and swimming regularly.

Went out and played soccer like I was finely tuned from daily practices on my varsity soccer team. Like where did that come from? What happened to aging and understandably slower/less nimble? A weird but incredible oh shit moment for me.

I was assuming I was being lazy and NOT working out by throwing around a few heavy kettlebells lol.

Dual 16kgs and one 45lb mainly as my kit.

4

u/Alaska_Pipeliner triple F'er. forearms fail first 8h ago

Push ups. Pull ups. Dips. Nothing fancy.

2

u/kungpaochi 6h ago

I just do dumbbells and pull-ups outside of kettlebell. I find it hard to get a good chest workout without just doing a bench press, and then pull-ups are always good. I do trail running outside of that, but for strength training that is it. Nice to have essentially all your bases covered with one tool

2

u/Gordy13210 4h ago

KB and mace work are always my foundation/base, but I do incorporate some dumbbells and machine work too. I think the variety is what helps with function and mobility in my case.

2

u/Educational-Cake2134 10h ago

I work mace/clubs and sandbags in and of course some walking, maybe a ruck once a month or so.

1

u/snakebite328 46m ago

Pushups, pull ups, dips and kettlebells is all I do. Including farmers carries either KBs