Barbell Vs. Kettlebell.

Comparisons are everywhere; Push/Pull, Dead Lift/ Squat, Carnivore/ Veagan, Ga/Fla Football. And so on, you get the point. As a Strength Coach many of these questions come up all the time, and this is a big one. So lets get into this.

Barbell…

This could easily be called the King of the Strength equipment. You want to Pull heavy weight off the floor, Push heavy weight overhead, Drive it off your chest or stand up with it then squat Ass to Ankle an then stand again.. Barbell. These have been around forever and are definately the main stream go to equipment. When you hear, What do you Squat, Bench, Deadlift no one is talking about a Kettlebell, Dumbell or Machine, its Barbell movements..  Any self respecting GYM/Fitness Center has them, whether shiny chrome ones in the dress pretty to exercise Global Gyms or the dark almost rust colored ones found in the Hardstyle “SHUT UP AND LIFT” dungeons and sweat boxes. With the latter you just know those bars could tell stories of massive weight hosted.. So the Barbell gets it done, and can be found almost anywhere..

Kettlebell…

Ugly little hunk of iron.. Used in the 17th century to hoist cargo off barges, (they have been around longer than Barbells 19th century) workers soon found out they could be hoisted for incredible strength gains. Russian style Kettlebell movements utilize a total body concept. Abs braced, Shoulders packed, Lats firing, Glutes pinched, Quads drawing up the knee caps and Feet rooted through the floor. Now these techniques are used in other Strength Modalities, but you get a truer sense of them with Kettlebells. It’s has been stated ( by to many names to quote ) That you can do anything with a Kettlebell that you can do with a Barbell, Dumbbell or Machine with increased safety, with twice the results and in less time.

So what’s the Rub?

Kettlebell movements improve Barbell movements.

The KB Swing improves the BB Deadlift, the Double KB Press improves the Competition Lift ( Standing Press ), The KB Snatch and Clean improve the Olympic Snatch and Clean, and so on.

Now enter the Vicious Cycle, Improved KB movements lead to Heavy Barbell movements, lead to Heavier KB movements, and so on..

So which is better???? Truth is that depends on you….

Sam Clemens