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Kettlebell S&S progression?

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Colby

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I love the simplicity of simple and sinister but my concern is once you reach the “48kg one arm swings for 10x10 and 5 get ups per side” where do you go from there. With other lifts you progressively go up in weight or reps(preferably weight) but how do you keep challenging yourself with the program. The Obvious answer would be to get a heavier kettlebell , but Pavel talks about the akwardnes and mechanic change past a 48kg bell. How do you keep progressing with simple and sinister while keeping the fundamentals?
 
Well, Sinister is pretty far out.

Maybe this article will give you some ideas:
From "Simple" to Serious Endurance | StrongFirst

You could probably do some QnD or A+A style training (basically like in the article but in sets of 5 and possibly with snatches). Look for strong people such as Harald Motz, Anna Cannington, Arryn Grogan or Mark Reifkind and you will find plenty of inspiration.
 
I love the simplicity of simple and sinister but my concern is once you reach the “48kg one arm swings for 10x10 and 5 get ups per side” where do you go from there. With other lifts you progressively go up in weight or reps(preferably weight) but how do you keep challenging yourself with the program. The Obvious answer would be to get a heavier kettlebell , but Pavel talks about the akwardnes and mechanic change past a 48kg bell. How do you keep progressing with simple and sinister while keeping the fundamentals?

Switch to different program, such as ROP (clean, press, swing, snatch), and do easier S&S on your variety days.

Or switch to barbell, or bodyweight, and again, keep doing S&S twice a week.
 
Once you get to Sinister I don't think 1H swings and TGU will do much more for you... a good problem to have!
Keep them in once or twice a week and focus on other things
 
welcome to the forum by the way!

Do you currently do S&S, and at what level? That will inform a lot of what your next step is (i.e. don't be fooled by the low 48kg, not many people reach that level)
 
I was looking at doing a program and wanted something to follow for the long haul, so I wasn’t sure if I should focus more on the grinds or blaistics and TGU. From a growth perspective that is.
 
Interesting discussion...it seems that the consensus is that going above 48kg is not worth it in this program, as the OP suggested. However, since the S&S goals are not bodyweight specific, a 56kg for a larger person might be similar to a 48kg for a smaller person, does this still mean going above 48kg is not ideal?
 
Nothing wrong with going beyond, I just meant that there could be diminishing returns
@Harald Motz routinely TGUs a 56kg and swings even heavier I think
 
Colby, what is your answer to the what level now questions? Also what is your definition of "Long Haul"

My experience as an older grevik is that it may take a while to just get to 32. I'm 6 months in and could be easily looking at another 3 or 4 months to get to 32/32. I'm currently at 30/22.

I'm looking at SS as the beginning, and then another set of more challenging exercises. Maybe cleans, presses, etc. Plus I'm on the downhill slide of physical capability, but you may be on the uphill side. If so, then maxing out at 48/48 is great, then you can start maxing out the other lifts!
 
Unless you are already a beast accomplishing Sinister will take longer than you think.
 
Interesting thread and great feedback so far in previous posts.

Dariusz Reinhard from Poland had performed a 60kg Sinister :

Now, he is a good example of adjusting the weight to body weight/ strength level. This is probably beyond for most certified instructors.

Going back to the original question you could say that if S&S is GPP, you reach your minimum preparation by Simple standard. Beyond that you can improve it by going to Sinister or just swap for maintenance with low frequency. It is a good question if going beyond Sinister works as GPP anymore, by this time you are to be more than prepared for whatever you need.

The TGU has passed potentially no limit of weight you could use but at some point it requires a barbell.

One hand swing will always have it’s limits so at some point you either switch to heavy two arm swings, but this requires huge KBs. So going to deadlift BB is just natural. But by the time anyone reaches Sinister they probably had started BB anyway and their DL would be solid either way.
 
Something to think about..

S and S sinister standard
Rite of passage half bodyweight press, SSST
Return of the kettlebell bodyweight press, bodyweight in poundsx10% = reps double 32kg clean and jerk

All are simple, not easy and enough to keep you occupied for a period of time
 
Interesting thread and great feedback so far in previous posts.

Dariusz Reinhard from Poland had performed a 60kg Sinister :

Now, he is a good example of adjusting the weight to body weight/ strength level. This is probably beyond for most certified instructors.

Going back to the original question you could say that if S&S is GPP, you reach your minimum preparation by Simple standard. Beyond that you can improve it by going to Sinister or just swap for maintenance with low frequency. It is a good question if going beyond Sinister works as GPP anymore, by this time you are to be more than prepared for whatever you need.

The TGU has passed potentially no limit of weight you could use but at some point it requires a barbell.

One hand swing will always have it’s limits so at some point you either switch to heavy two arm swings, but this requires huge KBs. So going to deadlift BB is just natural. But by the time anyone reaches Sinister they probably had started BB anyway and their DL would be solid either way.


That's awesome! While I agree that ROP, ROTK or barbell/body weight work are all great options after Sinister, my body and mind always feel best when I'm on S&S compared to any of those other options. This makes pushing beyond Sinister a tempting option.
 
Have you competed in powerlifting or the TSC? Does either interest you?

-S-
 
In my mind, a good swing is like throwing a punch - it's delivering huge force in a short interval. It's very satisfying to hit the bell so hard out of the hole that it just floats up to your chest.

Once the weight of a swing goes up... it changes into something else, more of a dynamic deadlift. Watching that video Reinhard swinging the 60, he's not punching it, he's wrestling with it. Not to take anything away from him, he's clearly a monster.

My point is, I think if one's training became nothing but seriously heavy swings - and heavy, of course, is a relative term - you might be missing out on the benefits (and fun) of viciously explosive swings.

That said, if you happen to be one of those rare individuals who can hammer out 100 powerful swings with the 48, then that is clearly what you should be doing.
 
Just a thought on another progression after reaching sinister, rather than continuing ramping up in weight (and buying more KBs) on 2 handed swings, wouldn't double KB swings be a smart progression? And from there you could make it even more challenging by doing offset double KB swings. Doubles seems to have the benefits of both 2 handed and 1 handed swings, combined into 1 neat little package. I'm very pro-deadlifting, of course too, so I think if you're not already, deadlifts, at least on occasion is a great choice for most. Swings train the hinge and posterior chain ballistically, while deadlifts train the same pattern and muscle groups slowly and grindingly. Doing both, at least after S&S and if time/equipment permits, seems like a great way to cover all your bases and maximize strength and athleticism.
 
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