The Kettlebell Complex

Here at Contemporary Athlete, the Kettlebell is used frequently not because of any growing trend or fad but because of its sheer versatility. I am a minimalist at heart so cluttering the most important thing the CA has, which is wide-open space makes me sad. So we swing them, lift them, push them, pull them, drag them, throw them, carry them, crawl with them, use them as door stops, on occasion even give them away as gifts.

One of my favorite quick, yet brutal, and results driven workouts is this kettlebell complex. If all I have is 30 minutes to fit my personal workout in that day in between groups and clients, and I want to get a great full body muscle screaming burn on and cover my aerobic conditioning this is almost always the first thing I reach for in my bag of tricks.

Here is how it works:

Work your way up to a kettlebell 1/3 your bodyweight

(Ex. 180 lbs. person – 60 lbs. KB)

Use a good low swing for double and single hand transitions so as you don’t break your swing rhythm as you work through the complex.

10 x reps of each stage:

Two handed swing

Single arm swing (Left side)

Single arm swing (Right side)

Single arm rack (Left Side)

Single arm rack (Right Side)

Single arm Snatch (Left side)

Single arm Snatch (Right side)

Single arm Rack (Left Side)

Single arm rack (Right Side)

Single arm swing (Left side)

Single arm swing (Right side)

Two handed swing

Rest half the time it takes to do the full sequence. I personally like to pair it with an abdominal exercise. As I generally consider abs a good place to get in active rest.

The Goal is 5 full cycles in less than 30 minutes.  Start with 3 cycles

Build up to it and be smart! Hurt athletes do not compete very well. Know your limits and Swing on Ninjas!

Athlete Profile: Mark Rotondi

 

Success is measured not by what lies behind you but what lies in front of you.

One of the biggest reasons I opened Contemporary Athlete was to give people a place to help them get to the next step. Both my rowing athletes and everybody else who is amazing that I get to work with. This is a story of that next step for one of CA’s very own leading athletes.

Mark Rotondi is poised and ready to take that step to the next level. Today, Mark and I are driving to Boston to a US Rowing, Jr. National Team identification camp. This is one of those opportunities to see how you stack up on the National level and see if you have what it takes to represent your country, hopefully on the international level.

When I first met Mark I had just been hired as the boys rowing coach at Niskayuna High School, prior to the thoughts of Contemporary Athlete beginning. It was a new adventure for me, and ultimately a big part of why I decided to open the facility. It’s something that I am excited about everyday both in the gym and on the water.

If you have ever met Mark he is a very enthusiastic young man. Always looking forward to whatever fun challenge is put before him.  Whether that is a 5k-road race,  a lifting session, Spartan Race, or pretty much anything, including push up contests outside of Chinese restaurants. His enthusiasm never ceases to amaze those he is around. This trait, that everything is fun also makes him a great team leader. For this very reason (fun) he found himself training frequently with the Saturday morning 9 am Contemporary Athlete group. His roles as both a pace setter and motivator for all that are around him, have lead to so much growth for all that are involved in it.

 

(Spartan Race 2012)

With FNR/Niskayuna Rowing being in its 25th year I thought it would be a great time to push us to the next level on the boys side. Mark is currently the one to lead that charge. Leaving the comfort of the Mohawk and going to Boston to row and compete with some of the regions best oarsmen to find out where he fits in the National development process.

This also is a proud and validating moment for me as a trainer and coach. On some personal level you doubt everything you do. Always unsure if you’re pushing too hard, not hard enough, or you have unrealistic goals for you and your clients/athletes. At least this is my struggle as a trainer and coach, always trying to improve my craft. In order be better for those around me, so they can become the best that they can, and to have fun while doing it.

(Lightweight Finals at indoor worlds)

 Contemporary Athlete is one of those places where athletes of all levels and ability can come, and take personal risks for their own gains mentally, physically, and emotionally. That will be able to set them apart from their competitors. It’s a place where goals can be set and discussed openly.

Mark’s trip to Boston is going to be stressful, physically taxing, and an emotional roller coaster. He will weather the storm just fine and knowing him as I have gotten to do over the last 2 years (roughly) will come out excited about the next part of the journey and smiling about it the whole way. That is why he is the current CA athlete profile, if it’s not fun, even when awfully hard. Than why do it?

 

(Royal Canadian Henley)

Good Luck Mark! Not that you need it; as luck is for those that are not well prepared, and we definitely do prepared.