Love clean and presses for building power? Us, too. But you may want to trade that heavy-ass barbell for a kettlebell. For starters, doing a single-arm clean and press with a kettlebell still works your entire body—your legs during the squat, your upper back during the clean, and your shoulders during the press. And using one bell challenges you to stay steady throughout the movement, strengthening your core and bolstering stability. But before doing this move, “you need to have your form down for the single-arm swing, front-rack position, and overhead press,” warns Nicolas Panebianco, a trainer at Trooper Fitness in new York City.
Here’s how to do it.
How To Do It: KB Clean and Press
Standing tall with a bell in one hand, hinge at the hips and allow the bell to travel back in between your legs.
Drive your hips forward and swing the bell up, squatting down to catch the bell in the front-rack position.
Stand up. Brace your core and set your lats. Then press the bell strictly overhead until your elbow is completely locked out. That’s one rep.
How To Fix It: KB Blunders
1. Single-Arm Swing
The swing is a foundational exercise that engages your lower body, core, and hip flexors. Using one arm further challenges the core.
Common Pitfall: You squat the weight up, which is a no-no. “The kettle- bell swing is a hip-dominant exercise,” Panebianco says. “Although your knees bend a bit, they’re just along for the ride.”
Easy Fix: Simply be aware of how you move. Hinge at your hips and aim to feel a stretch in your hamstrings.
