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May 9, 2005
Why Kettlebell Training Is a Good Complement to Your Qigong Practice
Many of my local qigong students have added kettlebell training to their qigong practice. And, of course, I train with kettlebells too, on the rough ratio of 90% qigong, 10% kettlebells.
Why should qigong practitioners consider also taking up kettlebell training? What will they get that they don’t already get from qigong?
Well, are you overweight? Do you have trouble managing your bodyweight? Do you want to shed a certain number of lard-pounds in a hurry?
While I firmly believe that regular qigong practice improves metabolism and digestion, I have never seen and wouldn’t expect to see the blistering fat-loss results gained from kettlebell training. I have seen literally hundreds of stories now of kettlebells acting like a blowtorch for unwanted fat.
Are you looking for highly intense cardio, to strengthen and protect your heart?
Qigong practice will strengthen the heart – over a long period of time. Again, if you are looking for speed of results, then add kettlebells to rapidly build a more resilient heart. Nothing is more amazing than the first time you do a bunch of kettlebell swings or snatches and your heart feels like it is going to explode through your ribcage!
Do you want to develop a strong core?
One of the greatest benefits of adding kettlebells to your qigong practice is a tremendous enhancement of your core power and strength. Tai chi and qigong practitioners will really appreciate that added dimension to their “whole body movement.”
Do you want to develop flexible strength?
Again, qigong is wonderful for building flexible strength and strong, healthy joints, but kettlebell exercises like the Windmill and Turkish Get Up can’t be beat for rehabbing and protecting areas like the shoulders.
Do you sometimes need a really fast energy boost, which takes you from feeling like a wrung-out dishrag to a raging stallion?
A five-minute or ten-minute qigong routine will often be calmly invigorating, but sometimes when you are really tired or wrung out, you’ll be so calm you’ll want to lie down!
If I’m in a serious slump, say in the mid-afternoon at work, and I need to be really cranking it out, then just five minutes of kettlebell snatches or front squats has frequently, frequently jackknifed me back into blazing action.
Qigong is the ultimate stress-buster and dysfunctional-mind cleanser. But again, a quick burst of kettlebell madness, has often sent my irritant sources packing, in a glow of post-practice euphoria.
If you want to see a whole room full of high-energy, calm, strong and confident looking people, then show up sometime to a kettlebell certification. I defy you to find a more impressive group of individuals, energetically, than you’ll see there.
If you are going to practice kettlebells and qigong together, start with the kettlebells, is my recommendation.
I am sure you have noticed a common theme here: use kettlebells for extremely fast results. Qigong will get you there too, in the long run, more gently and with great balance.
Ideally, as I do, use both!
Check out more of John Du Cane’s Qigong resources here
Posted by james at May 9, 2005 6:05 AM