Is It Really a Mistake to Squat When You Swing a Kettlebell?
Some Youtuber (sounds derogatory; it’s not) commented on the video below: “Mistake #2 is not really a mistake. It’s just a slightly different exercise called the Kettlebell Squat Swing.”
My response: You need to look at intent to gauge whether something is a mistake.
For example, if there is a piece of music in front of me, and I’m supposed to play a G chord, but instead, I play an F chord, and my instructor reprimands me and says I’ve made a mistake, it would not do to say, “It’s not really a mistake, it’s just a different chord.”
Obviously, I’ve made a mistake. Because I was supposed to play a G chord, but instead, I played an F chord. It’s a mistake not because I played the F chord poorly; it’s a mistake because I’m not doing what makes sense for the song.
Well, same for the kettlebell swing. Generally–not always, but most of the time–the swing is an exercise used to build power through the posterior chain. So generally, the swing is a hinge. Therefore, people who are squatting their swing are not generally meaning to do so, and are thus making a mistake.
And it may well be a fine squat, just like it may have well been a perfectly executed F chord. But if that’s not what you’re intending–or being instructed–to do, then, well, it’s wrong.
Strong ON!
– Pat
Donald Hornsby says
Great information, Pat. I’ve been messing around with kettlebells for around 15 years now and I’m always striving to get better. It’s always nice to be reminded about the basics and also to learn something new.
Pat Flynn says
We all need to be reminded of the basics, from time to time, and the standards that surround them. Thanks for the remarks, Donald.