IGX

Actually it's a "Kettlebell Conditioning System", not a program, but I can't edit the title.

This arrived in the mail last week. Good stuff.

The DVD is an instructional video, demonstrating Maxwell's preferred versions of the Birdball exercises we all know and love. The accompanying manual also shows the exercises in sequential photograph form in the 1st half; the 2nd half is devoted to an 8 week program, along with two warm up routines (these are the same exercises as he taught in "The Boys Are Back In Town) and several specialized routines ("Laying the Foundation", "Core Especiale", "Lung Buster", etc.)

The DVD is professionally shot and well miked and easy to follow. OTOH, it contains no follow along routines (for those of you who like that kind of content). The manual is professionally photographed with full color and slick paper, but the binding looks as if it might break loose with time.

Maxwell's approach to kettlebells differs somewhat from Pavel/RKC/Strongfirst in both emphasis and programming. He doesn't put a whole lot of emphasis on "strength irradiation", sphincter locks, power breathing etc. (He does teach and differentiate between anatomical breathing and efficiency breathing). The programming is quite a bit more sophisticated (to my eyes) than RKC program minimum or the stuff from "Enter The Kettlebell". (I don't have "Return Of the Kettlebell", so I can't say if the info in ROK would change my opinion). There's no particular emphasis on the snatch, no equivalent to the "Secret Service Snatch Test" or the "Rite Of Passage" pressing ladders. (He does incorporate ladders, he just doesn't put any emphasis on it). There's no "FMS" stuff, and this definitely isn't a "Girevoy Sport" oriented program either - I think Steve assumes that his audience just wants to get in shape and look and feel better, not become PTs or lifestyle coaches or go off and become "android work capacity" machines.

I think his 8 week program looks good - 4 work outs a week, each workout has a different emphasis, the attributes they develop are rotated from week to week and session to session. A kettlebell enthusiast could do this for 8 weeks, take a break for a while, then come back in a week or a month and do it again with slightly heavier bells. Or you could just work on some of the individual "specialty routines" for a while, whatever keeps you interested.

All in all, a pretty decent package for the price. Meat and potatoes stuff, no hype or hyperbole or overheated ad copy. No trying to get you to join a birdball cult or to mistake the iron balls for your fleshy ones, (Admittedly, Pavel has an amusing and entertaining way of packaging his information.)

Thanks for the review, ABW. I appreciate it.

This shit runs $80?

Can these routines be done without kettlebells?

Proto:

Yeah, I think so. Snatches aren't as much fun with dumbbells, or clean-and-jerks, and windmills and TGUs and such like work a little better with a birdball because of the way the weight hangs back off the hand...but sure, you could do 'em. I might do some of the stuff with dumbbells too.

baffled:
I agree that $80 is a lot, but it is a 3 Hour DVD and a professionally produced manual in full color. And we live in a time where you pay $10-12 for a cocktail, $80 to see Bruce Springsteen play for 2 hours from the very worst seats in the back of the auditorium, and $1000+ to get injured by DD/RKC knuckleheads for 2 1/2 days. I like Maxwell's material better than the junk coming out of Dragon Door these days, and this will probably be my only fitness material purchase this year, so I didn't worry too much about the cost. I was happy with my purchase once I reviewed it; I can't say that about "Enter The Kettlebell", "Raising The Bar","True Strength Yang" or "Secrets Of the Shoulder".

Some of Mxwell's downloadable stuff is much less expensive.

ABW,
You should really train with him if he comes to your area. His KB training philosophy was a breath of fresh air. He knows that most folks want to get in serious shape with the KB, not compete in GS. His training methods were the best I've seen so far.

As far as doing the routines with a DB, the circular cleans and side to side swings aren't going to be doable with a DB.

His New York downloads are my favorite so far. Lots of good training ideas there.

Chessman wrote:ABW,
You should really train with him if he comes to your area. His KB training philosophy was a breath of fresh air. He knows that most folks want to get in serious shape with the KB, not compete in GS. His training methods were the best I've seen so far.

As far as doing the routines with a DB, the circular cleans and side to side swings aren't going to be doable with a DB.

His New York downloads are my favorite so far. Lots of good training ideas there.

Cotter was the most impressive physically, Mike taught more people how to use them but Maxwell could hold master's classes in Kettlebells and how to integrate them with other methods and was a huge influence on me as a trainer.

It was great to work with him and stay with his family in 04. Learned alot and also got to roll with some great Jujitsudors as well.

Steve's way of Juju Gatamae from top mount is how I train and teach it.

For people looking for half of what Crossfit used to promise (They were'nt so bad in 03.), just good ol GPP, help you look good, feel good, work all day, fuck all night and fight like a beast type shit then Steve's way of doing things is the way to go.

Excellent review, thanks.

By the way, you can change the title. Just edit the title of your first post. The thread keys off of it. Look at the title of my post.

nafod wrote:Excellent review, thanks.

By the way, you can change the title. Just edit the title of your first post. The thread keys off of it. Look at the title of my post.

Aha, that works. Title corrected.

Just an FYI...about two weeks ago, I bought Steve's So You Want To Be A Kettlebell Star - Vol. 1 video download. It's a double kb workout, which includes some pull/chin ups mixed in.
It's a corny name, but what a great workout! It's only $14.95, for a very solid 25:00 workout. His workouts are well designed, and I'm sure most people would enjoy it.

If you're really short on time, do a quick warm up, and just do one of the four 5:00 segments; not a bad way to spend 5:00 of your time.
We did his BW cert in '09, what a great coach.

I've been saying for a while that the material Steve has put out recently is excellent, and the direct download makes it very reasonably priced.

He does put things together exceptionally well