Kettlebell Basics: Part 5 with Lorna Kleidman
A very common question and one that I struggled with for a long time is, “How long should the back swing be & is it the same length with heavier bells?”
To answer this, you need to think about what’s happening in the negative aspect or drop phase, otherwise trying to apply a specific type of back swing will be putting the cart before the horse.
The length of the back swing is different among lifters depending on arm and trunk length. Beyond that it’s the result of absorbing the deceleration via the hamstrings& the spinal muscles. The key is finding the end point of the pendulum while extending the knees and slightly relaxing the grip, then letting the bell come out into the upswing as discussed in Part 4.
If the hamstrings and spinal muscles aren’t yet developed to adequately absorb the negative load, it will be significantly more challenging, perhaps creating an excessively long back swing as a result of the bell pulling the lifter.
As you’ll see, the length of the back swing doesn’t change much for me when comparing 12kg to 24kg.
Read Part 5
Bio
- 4-Time World Champion in Kettlebell Sport
- 5 Master of Sport Int’l Class
- 5 Master of Sport
- World Record in 16kg Snatch
- Veteran’s World Records in 24kg Snatch
- National record in 24kg Snatch
- World Record 12kg Snatch Extreme Marathon
- IKSFA, WKC, AKA Certified Coach
Lorna is one of longest-reigning competitive lifters in the US & best female Veteran in Snatch worldwide.
Lorna’s a Certified Personal Trainer, sport coach, author, and former massage therapist in private practice with a Bachelors in Sports and Health Science. Founder of KettleX® and SPRY® Method Fitness and Education.
Lorna has presented her courses at various fitness conferences, as well as JCC and Canyon Ranch locations.
Lorna lives in Manhattan with her husband.
LornaFitness@gmail.com
Kettlebell Kings has the most highly & frequently reviewed kettlebells in the world. We have free shipping in the US & Canada (www.kettlebellkings.com), Europe (www.kettlebellkings.eu) and Australia (www.kettlebellkings.com.au). Check out our 4,000 reviews for quality and customer service here!
