Late last year I purchased a 60kg kettlebell. That’s 132 lbs., so it’s a big one.
Part of this was to see what I could do with it. But mostly, it was so that using it for a few exercises it would make the 48kg seem lighter. The beast would no longer be the “heavy kettlebell”.
This may just be a mental perspective, but as you and I both know, those mental tricks can make a big difference.
So, I have been playing with it.
One exercise I’ve been doing is one handed swings.
And man are these tough on the…abs!?!
You probably wouldn’t think it. It’s hard on the glutes, the back or the grip, but no, it’s my abs that speak to me.
Why is this?
It’s because of the anti-rotational force they must generate just to keep your torso facing forward. It’s a pretty crazy feeling. It’s also what the abs are primarily for, resisting force. This is something that doing sit-ups or leg raises just doesn’t work in the same way.
(When you watch it you might be wondering why I’m doing it near that leafy branch that I seem to be hitting with each swing. This is a tip I picked up from Bud Jeffries, in his I Will Be Iron Advanced videos available here for a limited time only. By having something to hit, it sets the height for your swings. It is no longer a matter of thinking hip height, or chest height, or whatever, but an easily tangible outside target.)
Of course, you need to work up to handling weights that are two thirds your bodyweight, but if you have a chance, I recommend trying it out.