Who is Tim Ferriss???
Time Ferriss is the author the New York Times best selling books the 4 Hour Work Week and the 4 Hour Body. The second book caught my attention. Well who am I kidding they both sounded great but im more into changing bodies than I am into working or marketing ……
Anyway as I was at my local bookstore I decided to pick 4 hour body up. Much to my surprise it wasn’t your regular diet and exercise book. It was more based on experiments done by the author. And to me since we are all individuals, this is the best way. Now this is definitely a MANS book, with topics ranging from fatloss, muscle gain, injury rehab and you guessed it better sex. But what struck me as interesting was the story of Tracy Reifkind, a lady who lost a lot of body fat and made a radical body composition change based on good nutrition and the KETTLEBELL SWING. Yes you heard me, the Kettlebell Swing .
Tracy husband Mark is a senior RKC kettlebell trainer and has been in the game for a long while . Tim calls this exercise one of the most beneficial things you can do for body recomposition . Which means muscle gain and fat loss. Here is her beginners “100 Kettlebell Swing workout” Ive been saying this to clients since I picked up a Kettlebell for the first time years ago. A whole chapter is based on this exercise. Its funny when we get calls from people reading the book and looking for someone to teach them this exercise. Its happened a few times so far its just a matter of time when most people give up the way of training like bodybuilders if they are not going to be one. Im going to say it again. I really do not think there is a better type of resistance training than kettlebells coupled with bodyweight exercises for the general public to use in their exercise routine. NOW get to swinging!!!!
Hate to be a critic, but I’ve seen the effects of incorrect form on backs. Tim Ferriss specifically says that shoulders should not pass the forward line of the knees. This requires (correctly) that you have a deeper squat with a more upright back so that you are actually activating glutes and core. The demonstrator is most likely activating back muscles…inappropriately. Young people can get away with this…to a point. But it is not accomplishing the mission.
tim ferriss is a national bestselling author, not a certified kettlebell teacher. a swing is for the hips not a squat. i am not activating spinal erectors anymore than all intrinsic core muscles the spine is neutral and the glutes and hamstrings are extending the upper body upwards. the angle may suggest flexed upper body over toes but there is a counteraction of the hips going backwards .on this swing. russian efficient style . mission is accomplished.