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Kettlebell Why is this?

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Marino

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After doing a few weeks of a press routine based on Mark Reikind's triple progression (very good program by the way) I have moved on to Tuba and Soju to continue with press training. I do a press on the right and on the left and then take a 3 minute or so break. My press 1RM is 40kg and I am using the 36kg for T and S. As the reps have climbed (today was 14 singles each side), I have found that doing 10 two handed swings in the 3 minute interval with the kettle bell I am pressing really helps the next set of presses. If I don't do those swings, when I do the next set of presses it is harder to generate the tension needed in my abdomen to do the press. Why is this? I only started doing the swings for something to do to fill in the long rests but, far from impeding my recovery between sets, they seem to be helping.
 
@Marino Good question. I don't have an answer but I'm looking forward to other answers.

Edit: maybe a "fast and loose" drill type situation?
 
@MattM, that seems like a plausible explanation to me. One set of 10, 2h swings isn't going to be taxing if the weight is one's press weight.

-S-
 
One explanation may be that you are "priming" or GTG your standing plank with the swings, this way when you clean the bell up you find the tension more reflexively.
I've run through T&S a couple of times and have found that without the proper tension before the press, the bell is much harder to press, an Ah-ha moment to be sure.

Good luck to you on your pressing journey!
 
After doing a few weeks of a press routine based on Mark Reikind's triple progression (very good program by the way) I have moved on to Tuba and Soju to continue with press training. I do a press on the right and on the left and then take a 3 minute or so break. My press 1RM is 40kg and I am using the 36kg for T and S. As the reps have climbed (today was 14 singles each side), I have found that doing 10 two handed swings in the 3 minute interval with the kettle bell I am pressing really helps the next set of presses. If I don't do those swings, when I do the next set of presses it is harder to generate the tension needed in my abdomen to do the press. Why is this? I only started doing the swings for something to do to fill in the long rests but, far from impeding my recovery between sets, they seem to be helping.
 
I've noticed that doing swings between presses in s&t makes sessions mentally easier. It's also pretty much fullbody program when you do those press/swing supersets. Sometimes I add few goblet squats or get ups in warmup. Very nice combination and seems to work pretty well for me. Actually my second cycle in s&t ends next week. So soon is time to do max rep set with 24kg and I hope that I can press stacked 40kg. (I don't own 40kg)
 
I think it has something to do with the transmission of forces generated in the hip snap and in the down swing. During the standing plank while there is body tension, the kettle bell is weightless.
 
I think it is a pre-loading/pre-tensing effect as well. Don't know about anyone else, but I've experienced this with pullups after BB FSQ, I always flew up on the pullup bar right after those.
 
Disagree.

-S-
It's the Occam's Razor principle. There isn't anything particularly obvious between a Swing and a Press. Maybe you can make some complicated argument about "neural priming", "energy transmission" or all of these vague ideas. The simpler explanation, however, is more likely to be correct. Believing that Swings neurally primes you and strengthens your press does more for your press psychologically than the actual physical priming itself.

It's amusing to see people call these things "WTH" effects and add the disclaimer that "mileage may vary" because these effects don't apply to everyone. In reality, experimenters go to great lengths to eliminate placebo effects precisely because placebo explains most of the variance. That's why if you want to actually find an effect, you have to eliminate placebo.

Long way of saying I stand by "placebo is the most likely explanation". Might not be correct, but definitely most likely.
 
I'm happy you're amused, but Occam's razor doesn't mean the simplest explanation is always correct.

When you take a StrongFirst course or cert, you'll find a lot of cues and tips, some of which we don't completely understand the mechanisms of but which nonetheless are effective. Many of us have experienced the kind of thing the OP is talking about. That you apparently haven't doesn't mean it doesn't work for most people.

-S-
 
@305pelusa - honest question here - I have seen you taking a contrarian view point on statements made by trained professionals like Steve, Matt and Harald.

You seem to be an educated as well as opinionated fellow, would you mind sharing your credentials?

No offense intended, I sincerely enjoy challenging dogma and popular opinion. Just trying to add some context to your point of view.

Thanks!
 
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