CLUBBELLS: I HAZ DEM

[rydra_wong]

As a belated birthday present, I got two clubbells (after which I have been yearning for some time).

Yesterday, I started learning some moves from the Strength Rituals DVD (which I really need to write a review of), and they're clearly going to be amazing for my wrists and shoulders.

As well as being as much fun as twirling an iron baton round your head can be (hint: lots).

But I've only just begun to dabble, and this is a whole new form of strength training for me, so if anyone has recs for exercises or guides or websites or YouTube videos, I would be very appreciative.

(Squee is also acceptable.)

Comments

[cryptolect]

I can only offer squee I'm afraid, no actual useful information. BUT I do squee mightily!

Would love to hear more thoughts about what it is like to use them and the idea of book / DVD reviews is fantastic. Pls to do that! If you can drag yourself away from your new toys - I would not be able to :)

[cryptolect]

Oh I have just been to look at some vids - clubbells look like SO MUCH FUN!

[rydra_wong]

Is it weird if I admit I had to make this icon before I could reply? I needed to have a clubbell icon!

They ARE so much fun -- if you think about the way in which kettlebells lend themselves to circular and dynamic movements compared to dumbells, clubbells are even more so. If that sentence makes any sense at all.

There are some similar moves (clubbell swings are pretty much the same as kettlebell swings), but then a whole set of twisting and flipping moves and complicated twirls that are completely new to me. It's very fluid and there's a whole mobility element as well as simple strength; you're taking the shoulder in particular through a full range of motion in all directions.

And wow, brutal -- my clubbells are 4kg (half the weight of my smaller kettlebell), and just practicing a few moves with one clubbell wore out my shoulder and wrist amazingly quickly. Because of the rock climbing, those are areas I really want to strengthen/mobilize and protect, so I think this could be ideal.

Anyway, that's the first impression. I'm sure further babbling reports will follow *g*.

[cryptolect]

"They ARE so much fun -- if you think about the way in which kettlebells lend themselves to circular and dynamic movements compared to dumbells, clubbells are even more so. If that sentence makes any sense at all."

Yes absolutely - that's what it looks like. But...I tried to imagine myself using them in my house and conjured a vivid image of smashing every light fitting and piece of furniture in the room - do you use them outside or?

Do you get the same whole body effect as kettlebells as well or is mainly torso & arms?

[rydra_wong]

So far, inside, but in a largeish room away from the furniture *g*. I don't think they're more likely to demolish the place than kettlebells are.

With the moves I've tried with a (relatively) light clubbell like this, it feels like it's hitting shoulder and wrist more intensely than anything else.

I suspect that with a heavier clubbell, doing swings and squats, you could get a pretty good whole body effect.

But I'm mostly thinking of them as a specialist add-on to my other strength stuff (kettlebells and barbells); I'm not planning to use them to replace everything else.

[cryptolect]

Oh, and the icon thing? Totally what I would do too...but maybe we're both weird :)

I guess the clubbells are longer and have a sort of heft to them which - let's be honest possibly it's more of a fantasy rather than a fear. I think there's perhaps a part of me which is gleefully squeaking HULK SMASH!

[rydra_wong]

They're longer but much narrower than kettlebells, so for me the heft feels about equivalent.

And there seems to be a lot of stuff involving passing them round the back of one's head or down one's back. So on the whole, I'm more worried about whacking myself in the face or the back than damaging the furnishings.

Oh, and the icon thing? Totally what I would do too...but maybe we're both weird :)

Clubbells do have an awesome retro 19th/early 20th-century thing going. I have a fine facsimile copy of Indian Clubs and Dumb Bells by J. H. Dougherty from 1911.

[cryptolect]

Thanks that is interesting! I may have to start keeping one eye open in case I see any...not that there aren't already a ton of things on my list. Anyway will look forward to hearing more as you progress - hope you continue to enjoy them!