Strength And Conditioning - Try This Total Body Exercise

This morning I have an excellant video demonstration of the Turkish Get Up from Zach Evan Esh the Underground Strength Coach.

If you aren't using kettlebells yet you should be. Kettlebells are an amazing tool virtually a hand held gym you can take anywhere. One of the best exercises you can do with one kettlebell is the turkish get up which you are about to see.

If you are not familiar with the get up you will see in a minute how it uses virtually the entire body to do.  I don't know about you but my belief is that ANY exercise kettlebell or otherwise that uses so many parts of the body at once is not only great for total body conditioning but is also a great time saver.

Okay now let me hand it over to Zach.

Kettlebells are ONE tool I use. One of MANY. So, before you have a nervous breakdown about me praising Kettlebells go ahead and take a deep breath and pay attention.

If you’ve been reading and watching my Blog for even just a short while, you KNOW I am a ‘Soul Lifter’ and love to lift ALL objects, including my own body.

But, Kettlebells are one of my favorite tools, they are extremely versatile AND mobile (and hostile

I use Kettlebells for strength, adding muscle, improving conditioning, speed, power and overall athleticism. They are a PIECE of the puzzle.

Below, broken down, step by step, is one of my top 3 Kettlebell exercises. Check it out and then read on to learn how to properly and most effectively implement this bad boy…





Here are a few ways to incorporate the Kettlebell Turkish Get Up


1) Perform these as a warm up for 5 minutes, in an up – down ladder format: 1 rep each side, 2 reps, 3 reps, 2 reps, 1 rep and repeat until 5 minutes is over.

2) Combine The Kettlebell Turkish Get Up with my other 2 favorite Kettlebell exercises, the snatch and the clean and press. Here is how you can perform this combo:

A) Perform the Turkish Get Up until standing

B) Perform 1 snatch + 1 clean & press

C) Lower yourself down and switch hands when on your back

D) Perform the Turkish Get Up until upright

E) Perform 1 snatch + 1 clean & press

F) Repeat for time or desired reps.


If you want fancy go elsewhere.


Results must be your focus here.

Hitting Turkish Get Ups, Snatches and the Clean & Press can AND will transform you into a Bad Mother F**er. IF you work hard enough

Lead from the FRONT.

Well there you have it. As you can see by Zach's video there is virtually no muscle in the body that the turkish get up doesn't use. So don't you think that would be a great exercise to add to your workouts? I have and I love it.

Start off with a very light weight the get up takes a little time to master. One point I want to emphasize is to always keep your eyes looking up at your kettlebell. This is important to keeping your balance as Zach mentioned.

For more Kettlebell workouts tips and exercises check out The Kettlebell Training Page

And don't forget to check out Zach's program The Underground Strength Coach

2 Fat Burning Circuit Workouts From Strength and Conditiong

Kettlebell Fat Burning Circuit Workouts


Craig Ballantyne of Turbulence Training here with a guest post for Strength Conditioning and Health.

I love training outside with kettlebells. In fact, I go almost all winter long without using kettlebells because I just don’t like using them inside.

But this weekend it was about 50 degrees out on Saturday (about 10 degrees Celcius) and that was warm enough for me and my dog to head outside for a kettlebell-bodyweight circuit.

And I have one each of the 35, 44, 53, and 70lb kettlebells out at the farm that I was able to use…although to be honest I didn’t even bring out the 70 from it’s hiding spot…soon, but not yet.

My first circuit was a COMBO of BODYWEIGHT and KETTLEBELLS and I built the specific warm-up into the circuit:

1) Prisoner Squat

2) Kettlebell Swing

3) Decline Pushup

4) Kettlebell Snatch

5) Kettlebell Lunge

6) Grasshopper Pushup

7) Kettlebell 1-arm Swing

Rest 1 minute and repeat 2 more times.

(NOTE: I tried doing some sprints but when I’m working out with the dog he always tries to jump on me when I’m running and it breaks out into a 5-minute dog wrestling match…so I stuck to the kettlebells while he barked at another dog a mile away…)

* Then I moved into a KETTLEBELLS-ONLY circuit: *

1) Kettlebell Snatch

2) Kettlebell Renegade Row

3) Kettlebell 1-arm Overhead Press

4) Kettlebell Row

5) Kettlebell Swing

Rest 1 minute and repeat 2 more times.

That was all I did…a tough workout for me, but I’m no Marine…so for all those advanced readers, you can probably do more…but I’m just getting the "rust off" right now.

Should be snatching that 70lb kettlebell for 15-20 reps by early June.

NOTE: If you are a BEGINNER or INTERMEDIATE, please start with an easier workout from Chris Lopez’s Kettlebell fat burning workouts here:
Your friend,

Craig Ballantyne, CSCS, MS  Creator, Turbulence Training

PS - If you haven't given kettlebells a try yet you really should. Craig and Chris Lopez have developed a great program for kettlebell training called The Kettlebell Revolution click the link below to read my review talk to you soon Joe

=> Kettlebell Workouts

Cardio Workouts Do Your Cardio Workouts Measure Up?

Do You Really Need "Cardio" Workouts?

Are cardio workouts or weight training more effective for losing fat...

by Mike Geary, Certified Nutrition Specialist, Certified Personal Trainer

In this article, I have an intriguing discussion about cardio workouts, which will hopefully get you thinking differently, and trying new things.

You may know I've been called the anti-cardio guy before, but this week I'm back posing the question to you... Do you really need cardio training to get lean and in great shape? By the way, you'll see in a minute that I'm not really "anti-cardio", just "anti traditional cardio".

Most fitness buffs, weekend warriors, or anyone trying to get in shape or lose body fat, consider it a fact that they need "cardio" exercise to accomplish these goals. They would never even question it.

However, I'm not only questioning it, I'm going to refute it! In fact, you may be surprised to know that some of the leanest and meanest people I know (men and women), NEVER do any type of normal or traditional cardio. And I've spent over 15 years working out in various gyms, and hanging out with athletes of all sorts, so I've seen it all.

I will say that there can be a place for low-moderate level cardio for really overweight or deconditioned people, but even in those cases, there can be more effective methods.

But what exactly is "cardio"?

Most people would consider cardio to be pumping away mindlessly on a treadmill, riding a stationary bike, or coasting on an elliptical machine, while watching the TV screen at their state of the art gym. This is what I call "traditional cardio". Hmmm, no wonder the majority of people get bored with their workouts and give up after a couple months without seeing results.

But if you look closer, "cardio" exercise can be considered any type of exercise or activity that strengthens the cardiovascular system. I'm not going to get into anything technical like increasing your VO2 max or anything like that. To keep it simple, if it gets your heart pumpin, and gets you huffin and puffin, it's cardio. I don't care if you're holding dumbbells or a barbell and everyone calls it a weight training exercise...it's still conditioning your heart.

Let's take a look at a couple examples. Take a barbell (or dumbbell, or kettlebell) clean & press for example, which involves lifting a barbell from the floor up to shoulders, then push pressing overhead. And listen up ladies, because even though this is usually seen as a manly exercise, it doesn't matter if you're not lifting 250 lbs; if 45 lbs is challenging to you, then you will still benefit just as much.

At first glance, most people think of the barbell C&P only as a weight training exercise or strength exercise. However, I challenge you to do a hard set of around 10-15 reps on the C&P. If you used a challenging enough weight, what you'll find is that your heart rate is probably up to about 80-90% of your recommended max, and you are huffing and puffing like you just ran a 100-meter sprint (which by the way, sprinting kicks the crap out of jogging any day if you want the easiest way to lose the flab).

Try the same thing for a set of 20 reps of one-arm snatches or swings with each arm with a kettlebell or dumbbell, and tell me your legs aren't burning, heart racing, and you're gasping for breath. How about trying 5 minutes straight of bodyweight squats, lunges, and pushups with very little rest. Again, notice your heart pounding, sweat pouring off of you, and chest heaving for breaths!

Try and tell me you're not conditioning your heart with this style of training! Conventional thinking says that these are weight training or strength training exercises. However, they are fullfilling your cardio workout needs as well (saving you time!).

Not only do you save time, but you strengthen and condition almost every muscle in your entire body with these full body exercises if you do them with enough intensity...something that can't be said for that boring stationary bike ride or treadmill jaunt while reading or watching TV.

Reading or watching TV while you workout is a joke!

Seriously, if you can read or watch TV while doing any exercise, you're not concentrating enough on what you're doing, plus you're probably not working out hard enough to see any real results.

Get A Flat Stomach With Kettlebell Exercises

Get A Flat Stomach With Kettlebell Exercises


For years fitness “experts” have been telling us to do endless crunches and sit ups to get a flat stomach.

Combine that with the latest low fat diet and hours upon hours of slow boring cardio and - BANG! You Instantly get a flat stomach, right?

So then what is the answer to how to get a flat stomach then? Kettlebell Exercises!

It’s amazing how, if you say something over and over and over again, people - even the most well-informed and educated people - will believe it as the truth.

But as Turbulence Training Kettlebell Revolutionists we know better, right?

So when I get asked, almost on a daily basis, how to lose body fat and get a flat stomach, my answer seems to confuse the “general population”…

1. Perform full-body exercises.

2. Train your abs the way they were meant to be trained (by forcing them to stabilize your torso, not move it or rotate it).

3. Use some form of interval training instead of long boring cardio.

AND THE MOST IMPORTANT RULE OF ALL…

4. Eat REAL, clean food focusing on fruits & vegetables, lean protein and healthy fats limiting grains and refined carbs to a minimum.

That about sums it up in a nutshell and it doesn’t get any simpler than that.

When it comes to training with kettlebells, getting that flat stomach is easy if you follow the rules above.

And one of the best kettlebell exercises to get that flat stomach is the Turkish Get-Up or TGU.

Simply put, TGUs involve you laying on the ground holding a Kettlebell vertical with one arm and then performing a series of movements to get you standing upright.

It sounds simple enough, but rest assured, if you use a heavy enough kettlebell and use proper technique, it’s as hard a kettlebell exercise as they come. And it will challenge you like no other Kettlebell exercise out there.

There are 2 variations on how to perform the TGU. Take a look at the video below and see which variation suits your abilities best.

Remember, we train with kettlebells to simplify our lives and to give us an alternative to going to the gym and wasting the precious time it takes for us to drive, park, change, etc, etc. Time that can be spent doing more meaningful and impactful things - like spending time with our families & friends.

The truth about kettlebell training to get 6 pack abs and a low % body fat is that our results aren’t so much dependant on what we do IN THE GYM, but what we do the other 23.5 hours in the day.

Are we getting enough sleep?

Are we able to handle our stress levels? (Notice how I said, “handle” and not “eliminate” stress. Fact is that stress is a part of life and it’s next to impossible to completely eliminate stress. Learning how to properly handle stress is more realistic.)

Are we eating whole, natural foods?

Don’t get me wrong, exercise plays a vital role in getting lean. After all, it’s still just a matter or calories in vs. calories out - of EAT LESS, MOVE MORE.

But if you’re using Kettlebell exercises and training at least 3 times per week, then, from an exercise standpoint, you’re on the right track to get that flat stomach.

I would liketo thank Chris Lopez of the Turbulence Training Kettlebell Revolution for this article on how the TGU and kettlebell exercises can help us get a flat stomach and lose that extra body fat.

Kettlebell Training: Total Body Conditioning

Doing kettlebell exercise workouts are a total body conditioning workout done with a very simple and cost effective tool. In case you didn't know a kettlebell looks like a bowling ball with a handle attached to it.

Kettlebell training goes back many years. The russians are most known for using kettlebells in all of their training in the 1940s, kettlebell exercise workouts became the countries national sport. Whether you're trying to build or tone muscle, increase your metabolism, or burn fat, you should generally incorporate a cardio routine with some form of strength training.

Kettlebells use the whole body as a unit. One movement (swing, clean and press, snatch, squat) engages many muscles (legs, core, upper body), as a results many calories are used up. In short period of time it is possible to burn hundreds of calories. Kettlebell training can be time efficient, incredibly intense and effective (and fun) workout yes I did say fun.

How do women benefit from kettlebell training?


Fat Loss (kettlebells provide intense fat burning workouts)
Strong bones and joints (load-bearing workouts)
Strength without bulk
Endurance and stamina of marathon runners (without the running)
Muscle balance and function (promotes proper body mechanics)
Confidence to handle anything that life throws your way

Kettlebell training allows for superior strength gains without adding big muscle size gains.. Yes, you can have strong lean body and look like a woman. Kettlebell training can help.

One or two kettlebells are all that you need. You can train at home, or go to outdoors and get some fresh air. Kettlebell training is a form of training that will not only improve the appearance of your physique, it will give you strength and mental toughness that you did not know was even possible.

Kettlebell exercise workouts provide an intense full-body workout in an incredibly short period of time. Most workouts finish in less than 30 minutes and leave you drenched with sweat and gasping for air. Most traditional personal "trainers" recommend lengthy cardio and resistance sessions for up to 6 to 8 hours a week. A week's worth of kettlebell exercise workouts equal only a fraction of that and you get much better results.

If you are a woman that want's to lose weight and tighten up your glutes, quads,abs and arms use on a regular basis kettlebell exercise workouts featuring kettlebell ballistic exercises with some low rep kettlebell training strength exercises and you are all set.

The Kettlebell Swing is exactly what it sounds like your swinging a kettlebell from between your legs up to chest height. The kettlebell swing may be the single most effective exercise you can do for total body conditioning.