PART 2 – Kettlebell “Versus” Series: Brad Pitt vs Vin Diesel

In part 1 of this Kettlebell “Versus” Series, I posed this question:

Who would you rather look and/or perform like – Brad Pitt, or Vin Diesel?

And we talked about how, if you want “functional fitness” and lean muscle, you’d want to model your training after someone like Pitt.

Today, we’re going to talk about talk how if you want to get straight up JACKED… if you want brute strength and raw power and an intimidating presence to go with it… how you can train like the Vin Diesel.

For maximum muscle size, there are a few specific things you want to focus on:

1 – Up the Volume

Training VOLUME – total number of reps x total number of sets – is a BIG factor if you want to gain size.

Short, 20-30 minute workouts WILL help you get lean and functional and fit – but they will NOT help you gain max muscle.

Here is an example chest workout I found on the internet, from an interview he did in TRAIN magazine:

SUPERSET 1

Bench Press – 4 sets of 8
Decline Bench Press – 4 sets of 8

SUPERSET 2

Dumbbell Flys – 4 sets of 8
Pushups – 4 sets of 8

SUPERSET 3

Incline DB Press – 4 sets of 8
Low Cable Crossover – 4 sets of 8

2 – Moderate Rep Range

If you’re going for all-out SIZE, you want to stick in what we’d call a “moderate” rep range – 8-12 – most of the time. Substantial evidence argues that this is the best way to build muscle mass. It increases hormone response, spares protein, and provides the necessary time under tension to spark muscle damage. You’re actually going to stay AWAY from low rep / very heavy (5 reps or less), most of the time. Counter-intuitive, I know, but true. Training for strength and training for mass are actually two different things.

3 – Keep Rest Periods Short

When the training goal is muscular hypertrophy, the combination of moderate-intensity sets with short rest intervals of 30-60 seconds might be most effective due to greater acute levels of growth hormone during such workouts.

Again – this is NOT the approach you take when training for maximal strength… but it works for building mass.

See this research paper for more: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19691365

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So there you have a few keys to training for maximum strength and size!

Is this a realistic routine for most?

Not really 🙂

The time and energy and available equipment etc etc this takes can be tough, especially if you’re managing other priorities in your life.

And we didn’t even get into the nutrition side, but that is also a HUGE factor too.

The great news is, if your goals are more along the lines of “functional fitness” and lean muscle, you absolutely CAN reach your goals in just a few 20-30 minute kettlebell-based workouts per week.

Like we do in our upcoming Filthy 50s KB Challenge.

Details on that here:

=>> Filthy 50s KB Challenge (starts Monday)

Hope this “kettlebell versus” serious was both informative, and entertaining 🙂

If you have ideas for more athlete or celebrity training styles you’d like me to break down, let me know!

And whatever your goals, here’s to your continued success –

-Forest Vance
Kettlebell Expert
KettlebellBasics.net

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