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Kettlebell S&S and Low Ceiling :(

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Andrej Slovakia

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Hey guys, I'm moving to a new place where I'll have a dedicate place to work out in the basement. However, it has one bug disadvantage. It has low ceiling, barely 10cm above my head which means I can't stretch my arm above my head :( I'm currently on S&S. While I have no issue with swings, I do have a problem with the top position of TGU... do you have any recommendation how I could adjust it to make it work in that space ? One Idea would be getting my KB in the rack in the kneeling position and then getting up... on the way down, while kneeling again I'd push the KB above my head again... thus, I could benefit from extra press... what do you think ? Other recommendations ? Thanks friends!
 
One Idea would be getting my KB in the rack in the kneeling position and then getting up... on the way down, while kneeling again I'd push the KB above my head again... thus, I could benefit from extra press... what do you think ? Other recommendations ?

Yes, you can absolutely do that.

Also, can you go outside and do them? I would do some days outside so you can train them both ways.
 
IMHO it will limit the weight you can use, but good idea anyway.

I love exercising with such constraints, because they force you to be creative :D
 
Hey guys, I'm moving to a new place where I'll have a dedicate place to work out in the basement. However, it has one bug disadvantage. It has low ceiling, barely 10cm above my head which means I can't stretch my arm above my head :( I'm currently on S&S. While I have no issue with swings, I do have a problem with the top position of TGU... do you have any recommendation how I could adjust it to make it work in that space ? One Idea would be getting my KB in the rack in the kneeling position and then getting up... on the way down, while kneeling again I'd push the KB above my head again... thus, I could benefit from extra press... what do you think ? Other recommendations ? Thanks friends!
Outside or upstairs for the GUs only not possible?

Otherwise, take out the stairs and build a ladder and you should have a portion of the opening to the upstairs available ;)
 
Hello,

In this case, you'll be limited by the amount of weight you can press while being on a vertical position (your torso is vertical when you're kneeling).

Rather than that, I'd do a "regular" GU up to the kneeling position (so, bell OVH) for reps (2 or 3 times), up until the kneeling stage. Then, I'd end up the move with the bell on the rack position. This would be 1 rep. Then I'd repeat on the other side.

Kind regards,

Pet'
 
Hey guys, I'm moving to a new place where I'll have a dedicate place to work out in the basement. However, it has one bug disadvantage. It has low ceiling, barely 10cm above my head which means I can't stretch my arm above my head :( I'm currently on S&S. While I have no issue with swings, I do have a problem with the top position of TGU... do you have any recommendation how I could adjust it to make it work in that space ? One Idea would be getting my KB in the rack in the kneeling position and then getting up... on the way down, while kneeling again I'd push the KB above my head again... thus, I could benefit from extra press... what do you think ? Other recommendations ? Thanks friends!
At times I have done this. It is a nice variation. With heavier weights, do an assisted press, where the free hand pushes against the bell.

Ar other times I have done partial TGUs (actually due to temporary knee issues), i. e. TGUs to the Kneeling position without standing up. Sometimes I have added 1-3 sets of overhead carries (waiters carry) afterwards.

But you are not missing out on much without standing up, as the goblet squats are already a squatting variation. You will still get something like 90% of a TGUs benefit with partials, in my experience.
 
A few years ago after the Crossift men's champ was crowned they did a story on him how he had to train in a low basement ceiling. So he could not do jerks, etc. He could do front squats and power cleans. So greatness can come from limits. But maybe your dedicated place just sucks. I like working out outside myself.
 
Outside or upstairs for the GUs only not possible?

Otherwise, take out the stairs and build a ladder and you should have a portion of the opening to the upstairs available ;)
Of course, you can always find a place where a work out can be done... in the hallway, in the bedroom, in the kitchen... the point is different, most of the time you when exercising you spent in the basement where your 4 kids are not sleeping or playing with lego or your wife cooking and where you don't broke your wooden foor... occasionally you can do that, but I'm wondering how to figure out your standard exercise event...
 
Hello,

In this case, you'll be limited by the amount of weight you can press while being on a vertical position (your torso is vertical when you're kneeling).

Rather than that, I'd do a "regular" GU up to the kneeling position (so, bell OVH) for reps (2 or 3 times), up until the kneeling stage. Then, I'd end up the move with the bell on the rack position. This would be 1 rep. Then I'd repeat on the other side.

Kind regards,

Pet'
Thanks Pet' that's interesting... so if I got you right... 2-3x times half getup (till vertical torso) + 1x second half of the GU with the bell in the rack ? And then from the standing postion would you go down to lying on the floor or just lay down the KB ?
 
Hello @Andrej Slovakia

Once on the kneeling position with the bell OVH, you put it on the rack position (so after the 2nd or 3r half GU).
From there you get up (so with the bell in the rack position)
From the standing position (and the bell in rack position), you lay down on the floor.

The whole thing is 1 rep.

But you are right, that's not very clear !

Kind regards,

Pet'
 
@Andrej Slovakia - I would focus on the getup to tall kneeling as a "replacement" for the full getup. When you can do 2-3 reps in a row to tall kneeling, you can look at either a heavier bell, doing what @pet' suggested (dropping the bell to the rack and standing up), or incorporating the full motion using a sandbag.

I would also do them outside as often as possible, even if that's just once a week or 2-3x a month.
 
Your idea to bring the bell to the rack before lunging up and pressing again once back at half kneeling is what I would do.
 
Hello,

+1 to outside training, as wisely mentioned by @offwidth and @John K It may be the most convenient.

I really like the sandbag idea. It may not give as much straight arm strength and shoulder mobility as a bell in a full motion TGU, but you can load a lot more ! You may feel it in the legs and core.

For shoulder strength and mobility, it is possible to work on it "separately": crawling, push ups on several angle and plan of motion (HSPU / Pikes, OAP, Archer, Hindu, wall walks (both upwards and sideways), etc...) For instance, this can be part of your warm-up.

Kind regards,

Pet'
 
I live in the northeast, am 6'5 with a low garage ceiling and got my SFG in December so I empathize. As many mentioned do them outside as much as you can. On days you have to do them inside I'd suggest you alternate between going to the rack and only going up to the knee on different days. You'll be able to use a heavier bell when only going to the knee and you get some press work on days you go to the rack. When I do only come to my knee I hold the bell overhead for a 5 count to get the extra time under tension.
 
I have a low ceiling in my basement as well, not as bad as yours, but still. I do my getups to the tall kneeling and then go up nice and slow until my fist hits the ceiling and then back down. A little more challenging, but it can work.
 
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