@Maq
That sounds like quick progress to me--how did you feel as you were doing it? Are you also including pull-ups?
I ask because I didn't move nearly as fast, and had some tennis/golf elbow issues. Bu then, kettlebells were my first focused weight training, starting after my 40s, so maybe that;s to be expected.
Well, first off I weight 87kg, so 16kg is probably a bit small for me, but as ETK suggests, and I think it is a very good suggestion, if you are not very strong, you should start with 16kg. It allows you to focus on technique without worrying to much on the weight and that should be your only focus at the beginning.
Also two years ago I have had an episode (which lasted for about a year) of trying to reach 100 consecutive pushups. I have reached 50 and ended with an injury of my shoulder, which I was then recovering from for another half a year - long story. Probably some strength left from that period.
I did not include the pullups as I do not have a place to do them (my wife does not want me to install the bar in our living room
).
Some suggestions which helped me reach 5 x 5 step ladders (hope they work for you as well):
- on light and medium days focus only on your technique: do it slow, deliberately, remember what Pavel writes in ETK: lower the shoulder, core tight, push your feet to the ground and last but not least - do not lift the kettlebell, push youself away from it (try doorframe exercise - it is really mind blowing). When working on hard day this will really help you. I have found that using this will give you +1 rep almost effortlessly;
- at later stages (4 and 5 step ladders) for me it was mainly mind game, so I tried to stay focus as much as possible. To do this I have:
-- used counters to keep track of where I am in my routine. I really did not want to bother with remembering which count I was on and the focus was so big, that after finishing a ladder I really did not know where I was
Use tokens, or pen and paper, whatever you have nearby;
-- also (and this helped me a lot at the day) I was imagining I am building up my strength with lower steps, to release them on final 5 repetition set. Imagine yourself you are the beast
I know it might sound funny, but it was really helping my focus.