Interview with wujimon - kettlebell and Tai Chi
Hi Wujimon, we’ve known each other for quite a while. You got me started in Getting Things Done and now that methodology permeates my life. To say it’s life changing is an understatement. :) However, today we won’t be touching on that. Instead, I would like to ask you more about Kettlebells and how that has helped you in your training in Tai Chi.
Can you tell us more about Kettlebell - what is it, and how did you first find out about it?
Sure. Wikipedia says it best: The kettlebell is a cast-iron weight (resembling a cannonball with a handle) used to perform ballistic exercises that combine cardiovascular, strength and flexibility training.
What really sparked my own interest in kettlebell training was reading about functional fitness from Dave Chesser of Formosa Fitness. Previously, Dave ran the Formosa Neijia Internal Martial Arts blog. He now spreads the word about Functional Fitness, which you can find on his blog and YouTube Channel.
So how often do you do Kettlebell?
I do some type of functional fitness training 6 times a week. I train with Kettlebells 3-4 times a week. When I first started with kettlebells, my primary workout was using one of Dave’s “starter” workouts. You can read all about it at: Formosa Fitness Kettlebell Fat Loss Circuit. I burned about 525 calories in 25 minutes with the kettlebell workout!
How do you feel after a session of Kettlebell?
I feel GREAT! Knowing that I can get a full body workout with such a simple piece of equipment is mind boggling. My heart is pumping from the ballistic style exercises. The after burn is awesome! I have recorded an additional 100 calorie burn in the 7 minutes following a workout.
What keeps you going during your Kettlebell session?
I am fully engaged both physically and mentally with kettlebell training. In fact, I have to stay focused at all times, else I risk dropping the kettlebell. Not a good thing when you have a weighted item directly over your head! ;)
What keeps you motivated to continue doing Kettlebell?
The results, the efficiency of movement and the versatility of the equipment! I can get a great workout in under 30 mins with just a single kettlebell.
How has Kettlebell helped in your Tai Chi training?
Working with a kettlebell is all about form and structure. Kettlebells are great for whole body exercises and teaching you to use your hip has a hinge. This is key, not only in doing squats correctly, but also for stance work in martial arts.
Here is a simple exercise to try that will demonstrate using the hip as a hinge. Stand with feet about shoulder width apart with a chair behind you. As you sit down in the chair, try to keep the knees above the heel. Most people will let their knees shift forward. Think about this next time you sit into a stance.
When doing the kettlebell swing, the shoulder should be kept back and down in the socket, not hunched or rolled forward. I have received corrections on my shoulder alignment many times in stance and taiji work. Kettlebell swings assist in reinforcing this correction into my body.
Overall, kettlebells are a great way to train basic body conditioning. At times, taiji can be too mystical and shrouded in ‘ancient secrets’. People forget that many masters of old were farmers and generally strong dudes. It’s like the guys who do aikido and think they can be like the founder but not go through the conditioning in military/judo/jujitsu the founder did. There are no shortcuts.
Would you recommend someone who has completely no knowledge of Kettlebell to try it out? If so, how should we go about it?
Most definitely! A lot of local gyms will have kettlebells, if not, a local sporting goods store will. I would recommend men start with a 25 or 35 pound kettlebell while women can start with a 15 or 25 pound.
Next would be to do the Formosa Fitness Fitness Kettlebell Fat Loss Circuit 2-3 times a week. If that’s a bit much, check out the Formosa Fitness Basic but TOUGH kettlebell workout. In fact, just watch ALL of Dave’s youtube videos, especially the Functional Fitness Advantage.
Check out Tim Ferris for some great tips on the Kettlebell swing. I would also HIGHLY recommend Pavel Tsatsouline’s Enter the Kettlebell instructional DVD.
Lastly, be sure to check the way of wujimon blog. There will definitely be upcoming posts about kettlebells, functional fitness and more ;)
Thanks very much for participating in this interview. I would very much like to know how you actually schedule this (among all your other priorities!) into your life, maybe touch on how you use GTD in Tai Chi. Till then, train hard!
Cranking Widgets and Taiji touches on the concepts of Getting Things Done (GTD) and taiji. I’ll save discussions on workflows, scheduling and productivity for another time ;)
Wujimon is a husband, father and computer IT dude who likes to dabble in taiji, zhan zhuang and related martial arts. You can read his martial arts bio or find him at wujimon.com
