Kettlebell Injuries

I’ve received a number of questions on the possibility of kettlebell injuries and specifically if juggling is more dangerous then the rest.

Are kettlebells dangerous? Sure if you use them improperly. But so is anything, like your car, a knife or barbells and dumbbells. But if you use them properly you’re not likely to injure yourself.

I’ll will be the first to say that kettlebell juggling is more dangerous than just swinging a kettlebell. With the dynamic moves (especially the more advanced ones) there are more chances for things to go wrong. But it can be safely done. I, for one, have never injured myself with kettlebell juggling in any manner.

In fact, done properly I believe kettlebell juggling will better injury-proof your body then most other forms of exercise due to the chaotic yet controlled element of it.

To stay on the safe side you’ll want to do the more basic moves and progress slowly. If you don’t push the limits too hard you’ll do well. The biggest two points are 1) not to reach for kettlebells that you aren’t in position to catch and 2) have quick feet for when the bell does drop. I discuss these in more detail in The Definitive Guide to Kettlebell Juggling.

If you err on the side of using the lighter weights, even if you do find yourself in a less than optimal position you should be able to safely handle it. But your feet must be fast no matter the weight. 🙂 Even a light bell could cause irreparable harm.

A big key is to stay focused whenever you engage in this practice. And by kettlebell juggling you should intrinsically understand the elements of risk involved.

The important thing is that everything is built on top of proper swing dynamics. Get that right and the rest virtually falls into place. With the proper bracing and breathing you can easily take a moderately heavy weight and ‘catch’ it from a free fall. Build up in skills overtime.

And, obviously, some moves are more dangerous than others. Going overhead with the kettlebell could result in injury or even death. But, truth be told, I’ve never heard of anything happening from throwing around kettlebells.

And if you’re wondering if I’m the right person to be teaching you kettlebell juggling here’s my qualifications.

I’ve been training with kettlebells for roughly six years now. First went through the RKC in September 2005. And I have served as an Assistant Instructor at the RKC on three separate occasions since then.

Since I’m always interested in expanding my knowledge I am also a certified coach with the AKC and have some experience with the competition kettlebell lifts. In addition to the certifications I have tons of books and DVD’s on kettlebells and other forms of training.

If the videos you’ve seen on this blog haven’t proved that I know what I’m doing than perhaps that will.

In strength,
Logan Christopher

Tags: Akc, dangerous, dynamic moves, kettlebell injuries, Kettlebell Juggling, Rkc, Swing