Quote:
Originally Posted by susieQ
What are the benefits of using a kettlebell over using a barbell or weights? Are they easier to lift? Or is it just a personal preferrence? I have never used them before but have heard a bit about them.
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No, they're not easier to lift, sometimes they can be harder both because of the shape and the way the centre of gravity is
off in relation to a barbell/dumbbell. Take flyes for example, the dumbell sits above the wrist bone whereas a kettlebell hangs behind the forearm, resting on the outside of the limb and therefore still exerting a downward pull, even when the fly is at the topmost position.
Because they are thrwon about a lot more than in most BB/Db workouts, there is always the added danger of injury through misjudging or mistiming a catch against a forearm or around the body etc. Breakages of bones have been known to happen even with the best form; though that can happen with barbells as well, during heavy olympic lifts etc.
For most that employ KBs to any degree in a workout, there tends to be a preference for wanting to use them as an added training tool and they're certainly a fun element, even at the higher weights.
Front squats work well with KBs etc, probably a lot easier than a barbell front squat; take 2 x 16kg or 20kg KBs and you soon have yourself a workout, but the issues is cleaning them first which is a lot more complex; whereas a barbell is normally set on a rack and easier to get in to the intitial position for the exercise, such as the front squat.