Full Body Power - The Athlete's Weapon

What is it about great athletes that stands out when you watch them? Is it their bulging muscles, is it how much they can bench press, is it that they can go for an hour on the treadmill? No, none of those things matter at all to top level athletes. What elite athletes are looking for is the ability to perform, and to be able to do so efficiently and effectively. This means they are looking to move smoothly and almost effortlessly while managing to create enormous levels of power. They are looking to drive a golf ball 300 yards. They are looking to serve a tennis ball 130 mph. They are looking to release large amounts of energy in a very short period of time. They are looking to find ways to create more full body power in everything they do. That's the thing that stands out when you watch the best athletes do their thing.

The biggest problem I see in the average person's approach to training is that most will, due to a lack of information and understanding, head to the gym and jump right into a bodybuilders workout model. You know the one, some basic "cardio" and then on the machines - leg curls, leg extensions, etc. - and maybe a few free weight exercises - curls, bench press, etc. The problem is that no top level coach would ever have his or her athletes doing these routines. Programs like that are great for body building and maybe getting a burn, but due to the isolation of the muscle groups, it does very little towards teaching your body to move and operate and a single powerful unit. In fact it actually facilitates disassociation of body parts which is the opposite of what an athlete wants.
See, great coaches and athletes know that having muscles on your body does not equate to top performance. They know that the ability to create energy and then project that energy towards a single effort is way more valuable. Training in isolation is in fact almost the worst thing you can do if you are trying to milk every last ounce of power out of your body and do it without putting on any extra weight to have to carry around (which is very inefficient). An athlete is way more concerned with what their nervous system is doing vs. how big their muscles are. An athlete whats to train to create perfect orchestration of movement without any wasted effort. They are looking to make energy, store energy, and then release that energy towards a single target. They are looking to overpower the opponent.

Enter the kettlebell.

Kettlebell training the way we at Active Escapes and the RKC teach it is about just that, learning to get strong and create full body power. Period. Kettlebell drills are designed to force you to learn to recruit all the stored energy in your body and then direct that energy into the kettlebell and out of your body. Learning to train with kettlebells really has nothing to do with building muscles and everything to do with learning how to suck everything out of you that you have to offer. It's about learning to harness the power of your nervous system and then release it, uninterrupted, from your body. It's about learning to be comfortable and sturdy in the face of struggle. It's about learning to hold your ground regardless of the intensity of the moment. Any of that sound like something an athlete might want?

So if bodybuilding is your gig, have at the machines. Pump those curls. Knock out those bench presses. Best of luck. But if improved performance through improved athleticism is your goal, leave the old models for the amateur's and start learning how to actually use your body. Get yourself some kettlebells and learn how to use your entire body in everything you do. Discover the power inside you just waiting to be released. Tap into - Full Body Power!

Power to you,
Cabell