Canadian Kettlebell Magazine

 
 

Dreaded Snatch

Christine Uberti

 

TRAINING TIP 051130:


The Dreaded Snatch
Nope. I'm not going to tell you to rent a scary porn flick. This is a tidy little move to help you get over the fear of attempting the KB snatch. I learned this from Mike Mahler at his seminar earlier this month. I've been hanging around Mike for more than 3 years and I still learn something new every time I see him. The move is called, the "J swing".


Mastering the snatch involves pulling the bell out of the trajectory of the swing and guiding it over your head. My good friend, Rob Lawrence, calls it "taming the arc." Instead of following the bell in a wide swing out, over your head and then letting it pull your arm behind you, try this:
Practice swinging the bell and directing it to the hip level, then chest level, then eye level. Once you can control that, swing to eye level and the pull the bell towards your ear. Please be careful. Use your intelligence and please don't punch yourself in the mouth. Push the KB back out and continue with the downward phase of the swing. This will create an upside down 'J' trajectory.


Give the J swing a try. Pretty soon, you will have more control over the bell and can direct it to the full snatch without fear or dread.

Christine Uberti is a clinical research consultant, musician and writer. She is a certified kettlebell instructor through Pavel Tsatsouline and Dragon Door and has a CSCS certification through the NSCA. Christine studied yoga and pranayama with Swami Yogiraj V. Subrahmanya Bua for 8 years. www.refinedclinicalresearch.com

 


 
 
 
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