HarryBergers
Level 6 Valued Member
Stop when you run into a stop sign!
Kettlebell AXE Training Thread
- Thread starter Aziatik
- Start date
mightstone2k
Level 6 Valued Member
Autocorrect caught you. I thought the book said to stop when you ran into a soup sign.
Bauer
Level 8 Valued Member
10-30 minutes, or up to 40 minutes if you want. On average probably 24 minutes, without movement prep. The book is very helpful in terms of stop signs, deloads, step loading, progression, etc.
HarryBergers
Level 6 Valued Member
I have overestimated my ability to recover with adding up to three 10-20min C sessions on a caloric deficit. Will revisit adding C sessions in after some AXE progress is made..
Today was session #4 of Axe Snatches.
Used MAF as interchangeable from the talk test.
30 minutes 4 snatches @ 32
Talktest as interchangeable by James
Used MAF as interchangeable from the talk test.
30 minutes 4 snatches @ 32
Talktest as interchangeable by James
Last edited:
Red_and_Black
Level 6 Valued Member
Just finished my last session of Axe for a while. I did an 8 week block then had a 3 week holiday where I did very little, then on return did a 2 week chunk to try and get back on form.
3 sessions a week, today was 6 x swings (1H alternate sides) OTM for 60 minutes @ 32kg. Have been adding 4 minutes after each session if feels OK (I started at 6 x swings OTM for 40 minutes).
Great session, felt solid.
Now to a 6 week BB/hypertrophy block, although will aim for a fortnightly Axe session to maintain a bit of what I've gained the last few months.
3 sessions a week, today was 6 x swings (1H alternate sides) OTM for 60 minutes @ 32kg. Have been adding 4 minutes after each session if feels OK (I started at 6 x swings OTM for 40 minutes).
Great session, felt solid.
Now to a 6 week BB/hypertrophy block, although will aim for a fortnightly Axe session to maintain a bit of what I've gained the last few months.
LoneRider
Level 6 Valued Member
I’d add goblet squats (rule of 10 - like 2x5) as a mobility work before the swings on AXE days.
Red_and_Black
Level 6 Valued Member
Yeah, I'm doing a warm-up of 2 rounds (with KB 12kg first round then 16kg second round) of:
400m very easy run (to the gym).
20 x swings (2H then 1H).
10 x goblet squats with a halo (clockwise / anti-clockwise) at the top of each.
5 x pull-ups (mix of grips).
5 x press-ups (mix of narrow/wide/normal).
2 x TGUs (alt sides) with 5x presses / snatches at top of each.
Once done that I do 10 of 'best stretch in the world'.
Sometimes feels like if I did that every day it would be a perfect (very) easy strength/mobility 'workout' and ticks most of the boxes.
james_1127
Level 6 Valued Member
George Vrotsos
Level 7 Valued Member
I did AXE Snatches from October through last week. Started with sets of 4 reps with a 28kg bell and progressed to sets of 5 with the 32kg bell. I'm extremely pleased with my progress. I'll be back for another block after running Q&D for 12 weeks.
rwleonard
Level 7 Valued Member
Do you mean pleased with progress within the AXE workout, in other areas, or both?
George Vrotsos
Level 7 Valued Member
Both. In late summer I could only do a couple of sloppy Snatches with the 32kg. Right now 30 repeats of 4 with the 32 are easy.
Outside of AXE I'm pleased with my general body composition and endurance. I work rotating 12 hour shifts. I've been on nights for the last 16 weeks. Typically I can only maintain (or regress) during night shift rotation because my sleep is completely wrecked. I often gain a few pounds and lose some hypertrophy. Opposite this time. I've lost a few pounds and I'm noticeably more muscular.
For reference I did AXE Snatches the whole time. First 4 weeks I did AXE jerks as well. Second 4 weeks I did Barbell and Mace work in place of jerks. Recently I started Iron Cardio in place of the Barbell work. Sprinkled in zone 2 cardio but it was minimal because I haven't been sleeping well.
HarryBergers
Level 6 Valued Member
AXE so far:
A sessions are Kettlebell AXE 1h swings with 48kg
B sessions are Kettlebell AXE Jerks with single 48kg
Speed Metal snatches aren't going to work with this program, or at least not for a while. I tried adding them in to weeks 1 and 2, but I couldn't recover very well. Starting tomorrow I'm going to be adding 20-30min brisk walks on mornings.
I'm loving the Jerks and it feels good to practice 1h swings... The first 2 weeks of swings were not good technique, and I just learned pulling my elbow in on the drop and for the launch is making Jerks feel super powerful.
Jerks are stopping on talk test and 1h swings are stopping at grip stop sign(no chalk). I think halting AXE set number progress may be needed to adjust to walks again.
Question: for warm-ups I've been doing TGUs. A light 2R/2L and a medium 1L/1R with 5-10min break prior to A or B work sets, is this too much acid for a warmup, especially on Jerk days?
A sessions are Kettlebell AXE 1h swings with 48kg
B sessions are Kettlebell AXE Jerks with single 48kg
| Day | Mon A | Tues B | Thur A | Fri B |
| Week 1 | 4/18 | 4/16 | 4/18 | 4/16 |
| Week 2 | 4/18 | 4/16 | 4/20 | 4/20 |
| Week 3 | 4/24 | 4/24 | 4/20 | 4/24 |
| Week 4 | 4/24 | 4/24 | 4/24 | 4/24 |
Speed Metal snatches aren't going to work with this program, or at least not for a while. I tried adding them in to weeks 1 and 2, but I couldn't recover very well. Starting tomorrow I'm going to be adding 20-30min brisk walks on mornings.
I'm loving the Jerks and it feels good to practice 1h swings... The first 2 weeks of swings were not good technique, and I just learned pulling my elbow in on the drop and for the launch is making Jerks feel super powerful.
Jerks are stopping on talk test and 1h swings are stopping at grip stop sign(no chalk). I think halting AXE set number progress may be needed to adjust to walks again.
Question: for warm-ups I've been doing TGUs. A light 2R/2L and a medium 1L/1R with 5-10min break prior to A or B work sets, is this too much acid for a warmup, especially on Jerk days?
Pavel
CEO
George, great to hear.
Ladies and gentlemen who have been following KB AXE, please post your reviews on Amazon.
Adachi
Level 7 Valued Member
Partially as a matter of curiosity, I'm returning to AXE Training after a Hiatus.
It would seem that after being sick and sitting things out for a while, and trying to ease back into my Daily Moderate Training Regime, I didn't lose too much performance-wise.
I'll look forward to watching how this six-rep/set difficulty descends over time.
I estimate it'll take up a little more space on the calendar than previous steps, but we'll see.
I observe that the reps don't seem to have a huge effect on the muscles.
currently, the bottleneck seems to be a cardio-like difficulty.
The bulk of the RPE measurement belongs to a sense of systemic fatigue.
My musculature in my thighs and Glutes, etc. mostly feel unscathed after the session is over.
But, my breathing is elevated and my heart rate is raised; I still pass the talk test relatively easily.
mightstone2k
Level 6 Valued Member
I’ve noticed the same thing on both AXE (per the book) and the KBSF LCCJ program. I usually stop for cardio-related reasons, not muscle-related ones. That’s why I added LISS back into my Novocaine template—to build my gas tank. It seems to be working.
Bauer
Level 8 Valued Member
@Adachi @mightstone2k
Interesting. For me it is the other way: I always stop because my muscles start to burn or my power drops, never because of breathing-related issues. But my HR tends to stay pretty low, too.
However, I agree that RPE is mostly relatd to a systemic fatigue.
Interesting. For me it is the other way: I always stop because my muscles start to burn or my power drops, never because of breathing-related issues. But my HR tends to stay pretty low, too.
However, I agree that RPE is mostly relatd to a systemic fatigue.
Greg H
Level 5 Valued Member
I’m running Giant C&P day 1 then Axe Day 2 in that schedule. Giant is usually 20 mins. Walk 10-20ish miles a week, but weighted only a couple times a month. I’m 53 so take with a grain of salt. The 4 KB workouts a week are very manageable. Feel amazing and seeing both strength and endurance gains. However been surprised how impactful workouts are on legs. Was worried about shoulders. So for me adding FSQ would be too much.
HarryBergers
Level 6 Valued Member
Not sure if this means anything, but my legs are outpacing my ability to breath while going for walks. Perhaps a combo of not doing any walking for 2 months and AXE adaptation? I'm leaning into the former as to why, but geez my legs are thoughtlessly aggressive with their force production.