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🏆 Crossfit Intermediate

Kettlebell Swing

The kettlebell swing uses a powerful hip hinge to swing the weight to chest height. It trains the glutes, hamstrings and lower back explosively and also challenges grip, shoulders and cardiovascular fitness.

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How effective is this exercise for you?
5
Sets
15
Reps
Kettlebell
Equipment
10.50
Cal/min
🎯
Primary
Glutes, Hamstrings, Core
1
Stand with feet shoulder-width, kettlebell on the floor in front of you.
2
Hinge at the hips to grip it, then hike it back between your legs.
3
Drive your hips forward explosively to swing the bell up to chest height.
4
Let it swing back down between your legs, hinging at the hips again.
5
Power comes from your hips, not your arms or shoulders.
Builds hip power and posterior chain strength, burns a lot of energy and trains grip endurance. It is one of the most efficient exercises for conditioning with a single piece of equipment.
Try 10 sets of 10 swings with short rest, or 5 sets of 15 with a moderately heavy bell. Focus on a hip snap and a straight back rather than lifting with the arms.
Start with a manageable weight and learn the hinge first. Make sure there is space around you and the handle is dry, and stop if the lower back rounds.
Make it hardera heavier bell or single-arm swing.
Make it easierRomanian deadlift or hip hinge practice.

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What muscles does a kettlebell swing work?

It mainly works the glutes and hamstrings, with the back, core and shoulders stabilising.

How heavy should the kettlebell be?

A weight you can swing for 10 to 15 reps without your back rounding.

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