Are you having problems mastering the basic kettlebell exercises?

Is your lower back aching after a KB training session?

Do you just feel like you’re not getting all you can out of your kettlebell training?

Good news: You’ve landed in the right place.  This post is intended as a ‘jumping – off point’ for kettlebell beginners, as well as a reference resource for more advanced trainees.  You’ll find detailed descriptions of each ‘basic’ kettlebell exercise (swing, Turkish get up, goblet squat, clean, press, and snatch), additional coaching points and technique tips for each, and much more.

Questions, comments, etc. are more than welcome – please leave them in the comments section at the bottom of the post and I’ll do my best to get back to you ASAP.  Thanks, and enjoy!

– Forest Vance, RKC

Kettlebell Exercises

1. The Kettlebell Swing

The Kettlebell Swing forms the foundation of kettlebell training exercises. It hits almost all of your major muscle groups, with a special emphasis on the glutes, hamstrings, back extensors, and lats.

The Kettlebell Swing

2. The Turkish Get Up

Your next foundational kettlebell training exercise – it hits all of the muscle groups that the Swing doesn’t. The Get-Up is considered a ‘grind’ (slow and controlled), in contrast with the Swing, which is considered a ‘ballistic’ (fast and explosive).

The Turkish Get Up

3. The Squat

An exercise essential to the mastery of the basics of hardstyle kettlebell training. The kettlebell squat is different from, say, a traditional back squat; read the full article to find out more:

The Kettlebell Squat

4. The Kettlebell Clean

How to fix 3 common mistakes made with the kettlebell clean:

How To Fix Your Kettlebell Clean

5. The Snatch

7 tips to improve the kettlebell snatch:

Tips To Improve Your Snatch

6. The Kettlebell Row

Article on different variations of this basic kettlebell exercise, including the renegade row:

Kettlebell Row Variations

7. Kettlebell Exercises For Abs

The best kettlebell exercises to hit that stubborn midsection:

Kettlebell Exercises For Abs

8. Double Kettlebell Exercises

This article covers the basics of double kettlebell training:

Double Kettlebell Exercises

9. Unique Kettlebell Exercise Videos

A few KB drills you may not have heard of:

Unique Kettlebell Exercise Videos

10. The Kettlebell Thruster

A great KB Squat and Press combo:

The Kettlebell Thruster

New kettlebell exercises, technique tips, etc. (updated 9/7/11):

11. Kettlebell Swing Styles – A Quick Overview

Here on KettlebellBasics.net, I focus on the HardStyle swing – this post gives an overview of other kettlebell swing ‘styles’ out there

Kettlebell Swing Styles – A Quick Overview

12. Troubleshooting the Turkish Get Up

Some common TGU mistakes – and how to fix them

Troubleshooting the Turkish Get Up

13. Perfecting Your Swings: Kettlebell Training Basics

Tips on how to perfect the kettlebell swing

Perfecting Your Swings: Kettlebell Training Basics

14. Kettlebell Video – Teaching The Swing

More KB swing tips – with video

Kettlebell Video – Teaching The Swing

15. 3 Tips To Improve Your Kettlebell Swing

Even more kettlebell swing technique tips

3 Tips To Improve Your Kettlebell Swing

16. 3 Tips To Improve The Turkish Get Up

Even more Turkish get up technique tips

3 Tips To Improve The Turkish Get Up

17. Unique Kettlebell Exercise Videos

Some cool and fun kettlebell exercise videos to check out

Unique Kettlebell Exercise Videos

18. Kettlebell Snatch Technique Tip

Great tip to help you improve your kettlebell snatch technique

Kettlebell Snatch Technique Tip

19. Lower Back Pain During The Swing

Causes and fixes for lower back pain during the kettlebell swing

Lower Back Pain During The Swing – Causes and Fixes

20. Kettlebell Swing Mistakes and Fixes

Three part video series on mastering the kettlebell swing:

Kettlebell Swing Mistakes And Fixes – Part 1

Kettlebell Swing Mistakes And Fixes – Part 2

Kettlebell Swing Mistakes And Fixes – Part 3

21. Mastering the Kettlebell Snatch

Three part video series on mastering the kettlebell snatch:

Mastering the Kettlebell Snatch (part 1)

Mastering the Kettlebell Snatch (part 2)

Mastering the Kettlebell Snatch (part 3)

22. The Turkish Get Up (broken down into steps)

A good tutorial on the Turkish get up

The Turkish Get Up (broken down into steps)

23. The Best Kettlebell Exercises For Beginners

Just getting started with kettlebell training?  Here’s a great starting point

The Best Kettlebell Exercises For Beginners

More instruction and training tips (updated 1/12/12):

23. The #1 Kettlebell Strength Skill

The skill discussed in this article helps to instantly make you stronger and prevent injury, in addition to being transferable to other exercises.

The #1 Kettlebell Strength Skill

24. The Kettlebell Overhead Lunge

This video helps teach you how to perform a kettlebell overhead lunge, which is similar to the Turkish Get Up.

The Kettlebell Overhead Lunge

25. Kettlebell Training Tips For Beginners

This is a video meant to aid beginners, those perfecting their form, or coping with an injury that explains two easy modifications to kettlebell workouts.

Kettlebell Training TIps For Beginners

26. Boosting Your Pressing Power (re-visited)

If you are looking to increase your rep count or weight, your press/re-clean technique could be the key to unlocking extra pressing power.

Boosting Your Pressing Power Revisited

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