How to do a Russian Kettlebell Swing to improve your performance in CrossFit WODs.

Set up for Russian Kettlebell Swing

• With heels just outside hips and knees slightly bent
• Shoulders back and down
• Back is flat and chest up
• Pick up the kettle bell in a standard wrapped thumb grip and return to your original standing position

Points of Performance for Russian Kettlebell Swing

• Push the hips back and fold just low enough for the kettle bell to clear the body as it swings between the legs
• The forearm and wrist come in contact with the quads on the back swing
• Aggressively open the hip squeezing the legs and butt as you stand. This sends the kettle bell up as the arms guide it overhead
• The rep is completed when the kettle bell is at or greater than parallel with the floor with full lockout of the elbows, hips and knees
• Allow the kettle bell to swing back through receiving it with the slightly closed hip and dynamically send it right back overhead to string reps

Tips and Tricks

• The arms and shoulders should only play a minimal role in the swing, the power coming from the hips
• Do not allow the kettle bell to pull you down and forward. Keep this movement in the hips and do not allow your lower back to take the majority of the load.