Athlean X' Kettlebell Swing Is HORRIBLE

Athlean-X is a fitness brand and YouTube channel created by Jeff Cavaliere, a certified strength and conditioning coach and physical therapist. His channel features a variety of workout and fitness-related content, including exercises, tips, and advice for building muscle and achieving optimal fitness.

Jeff is undoubtedly one of the BIGGEST pioneers in YouTube fitness and paved the way for people like us to follow. I hold him in high regards and have a tremendous amount of respect for the man so please don't misunderstand this critique as a form of pure bashing.

Even though he's one of the most well know Fitness YouTubers and experts, his recent kettlebell swing form is horrible and is splattered with various technique and skill issues. This video serves to make it a teaching moment to show the proper technique of how to do one of the most popular kettlebell exercises ever.

___Time Stamp
00:00 Free Course
00:34 The Problem With Athlean X' Kettlebell Swing
01:57 What a Kettlebell Swing SHOULD Look Like
03:06 How To Do a Kettlebell Swing
04:48 Kettlebell Training Is a Martial Art
05:35 Your Next Step

___ Links

___ Music

___ Hashtags
#kettlebells
#kettlebellstarkstyle

[eli]

It doesn't matter how many videos I watch, I still can't tell if I'm doing it right.

[milkweed]

As a beginner kettlebell user, this is your best explanation of how to use it. You slowed way down without the bell and showed the exact movements at the proper point and time. Excellent job.

[mark_luna]

Tons of “how to” videos out there for beginners. This one on how to do it right based on flaws explains the how to perfectly. Thank you for this.

[Jmnp]

There is actually nothing wrong with his style. He is stopping short of shoulder height to avoid shoulder impingement.
I have my patients and clients perform this variation if they have an acromion that creates potential for impingement.
Also utilizing this abbreviated motion you can maintain tight core engagement and lat activation among other things.
I personally use both of these styles depending on my particular focus that day.

[utubepunk]

This is a good reminder. I've incorporated part Coach Dan John's *Easy Strength for Fat Loss* (the 75 swings) into my *90 Days of Kettlebell* so this will help improve my form/technique. Thanks Coach. I appreciate you showing your old clips, too, showing how far you've come.

[bobdole]

Kettlebell swings are like any skill. The more you do it the more refined, smooth, efficient it is.

People who don’t swing a lot generally have ugly swings.

[Gus-Moose]

Any thought on the arms, straight or bent? I prefer straight but I saw yours are bent. Could you elaborate on pros/cons on the two different ways, please?

[bigby]

I really like your hinge in this video. Took me way too long to learn that movement properly and realize what my mistake was.
I'm just curious on why you're going deeper here (with both hands your back is nearly parallel to the floor) then you do in other videos (when doing H2H swings, snatches etc you're not that deep).
Is this unintentionally or are you doing it on purpose because you're using your dominant leg to aid the movement? And - if so - wouldn't the glute activation be a higher goal than to make the movement easier?

[sinhavinit]

As soon as I saw Jeff’s video, I knew you must have started working on this video:). Rightly said, Jeff is a pioneer and millions have benefited from his knowledge. But kettlebell is a skill that takes time to develop.

[Thegoldenchild]

I squat in my swings. My body fat percentage has dropped, I feel much stronger and I can see the difference . I'm not sure if there is a right or a wrong way. Id go as far as to say that I think that different variations do different things.

[jean-philippevillemure]

Nice explanation. Thanks for that. Aren't your arms should be fully extended at the top position though?

[randymali]

The constant remarks about low AthleanX swings only 16 kilos are just..childish and inappropriate.

[CupOfSweetTea]

And here is an example of YouTube being just an advert. Now athlene x is an advert, but look at the guy. Let's be clear, if he doesn't know how to exercise, I certainly don't and most people don't. This is a video for views

[darksidecarnival]

I'm enjoying watching your videos and your critique of the technique. It's helping me avoid poor technique and motivates me to strive for better. Great work!

[frankquinn]

A very fair critique in my opinion. Jeff looks like he’s fighting the bell a lot of the time and, ironically, the only “snap” he has is in his upper body and not his hips. He seems to suffer from that stiffness in the hip area that I have found with a lot of field sports athletes - rugby players in particular. Love the phrase “kinaesthetic literacy “ - will be borrowing / stealing that one Gregory!😉

[utubepunk]

This might be a weird nitpick, but I found the way Jeff disgarded the 16 kg kettlebell after he finished irked me. As Coach Wildman says, put the bell down with proper technique.

[debunkthelies]

Great content and good instructions on the swing — KBs are a relatively new addition to my repertoire and so far I love implementing them. They are most unique and the carryover is outstanding. I enjoy the learning curve whilst every nuance of movement patterns build upon newly acquired precepts. The intent to harness increased levels of conscious proprioception or position awareness is paramount especially while swinging loaded objects.

[countryroadstakemehome]

His kettlebell swing has more muscle involvement hence his build looks twice as good as yours.

He is controlling that weight. Your version the weight is controlling you.

[kamehl]

Super Kanal. Ich (als meiner Ansicht nach schon echt starke frau) hab krass Respekt vor angie. Man kann ihre Leistung nicht genug unterstreichen:)

[bcjohnd]

Have to say, experienced as I am, I've never really felt confident doing KB Swings.
On a great AthleanX program atm til I got to these. The demo technique didn't feel right til this video! Common sense, safe execution, effective workout. 👏👏