IGX

Tom Corrigan sent me a copy of his DVD "Kettlebell 101" for review. I found it waiting for me when I returned from Boston, but due to start-of-school madness, I haven't had time to review it before now.

KB101 is divided into two segments: a primer on basic technique in five lifts (deadlift, swing, clean, press, and front squat), and a series of supplemental chapters on programming, combining exercises, and circuit-training demos. There is also a "bonus chapter" on the snatch.

First the high points: The video and sound quality are good, and Tom's presentation style is clear and understandable. The exercises are arranged in order of increasing complexity, and Tom shows a few useful variations for each after the basics.

The instruction throughout is clear, but I think that in a beginners' video there should be more attention paid to the "do this, not this" approach designed to eliminate the most common problems: things like trying to deadlift with excessive back rounding, trying to use too much "arm"- the things that beginners like to do.

I also take issue with the circuits that are demonstrated. They include exercises that aren't included in the instruction portion at all, like bottoms-up cleans and snatches, and double KB snatches. Even the basic snatch isn't even covered until later. It could be argued that these are examples of "where KB training can go," but again, this is a beginner's video, and I think that sticking to the beginning moves would have been less confusing.

In short, because of Tom's likeability onscreen and the obvious care that went into the production, I wanted to like this DVD more than I did. But for an intro KB video, it doesn't come up to the level of instruction in "From Russia With Tough Love."

Hm, that pestilential CP!isnowCEEPEE or whateverthefuck his name was posted a stupid reply to this review, and it has been deleted.

Although he is a fucknugget of the first degree, I don't like posts being deleted.