Russian Kettlebell Instruction

Penny Fahey
PES 494: Online

Teaching: Russian Kettlebells

I teach Russian Kettlebell Classes at Teton Athletic Club 3 days per week. Since it is a new class, I have required members who are interested to take a Basic Skills Clinic to learn the key kettlebell swings, and proper form for safety and effectiveness. For my teaching video, I asked fellow employees to attend an employee clinic and two were able to attend, both 18 years of age. I taught the two ladies the same clinic I have taught to over 25 club members.

I have included three video clips to show Delivering a Set of Instructional Cues, Students Involved in an Engaging Activity, Transition Between Two Different Activities, and Giving Individual Feedback, as specified in the instructions for submitting video shorts online.

Delivering a Set of Instructional Cues

The first video shows my instruction of a kettlebell windmill, as well as my participants performing the bottom level windmill with me. While I have my back to the ladies and it appears I am not watching them, I am actually observing them through mirrors.

Transition Between Two Different Activities & Giving Individual Feedback

The second video shows the participants performing continual two arm and one arm swings, and transitioning into a clean-swing which requires pulling the arm in and bringing the kettlebell in towards the body. This is usually a tricky transition for people because the kettlebell has a lot of momentum during the one arm swings and many are apprehensive to suddenly pull it in and towards the body. The kettlebell is required to land with impact against the chest, shoulder, and forearm; and it is difficult for many to allow this and not simply flip it over onto the wrist which can cause injury. The participants smoothly went from the one arm swing into the clean-swing with proper form, allowing the kettlebell to rest on the upper chest. They continued to maintain proper form with each successive clean.

While I watched the ladies perform the swings, I walked to each individually to give feedback on their form.

Students Involved in an Activity

In the 3rd video clip I have included almost three minutes of the portion of the clinic that resembles a typical kettlebell class. I have already taught all the skills and am now having the participants perform them in a circuit style. A typical 30 minute class includes a warm-up, a circuit activity, emphasis on a certain area (such as core work, arms, etc) and a cool-down.