Category Archives: Kettlebell Training

How to Learn the Double Kettlebell Snatch

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How to Learn the Double Kettlebell SnatchSo the Double Kettlebell Snatch, huh? “You love it, you hate it, you love to hate it.” It is the exercise that I consider the most technically demanding of all the kettlebell drills. This movement is a true test of strength and explosiveness when performed with heavy weights. It humbles a lot of people that consider themselves really strong. And finally, the Double Kettlebell Snatch is the exercise that brings results.

Let’s talk a bit about the drill itself.

[NOTE: by “Double”, I always mean “performed with two kettlebells”]

What Is the Double Kettlebell Snatch?

Here is a video from the one of my previous training sessions: Continue reading →

Rough Strength Results: Valentin

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Some time ago I posted a video to Vimeo called “Rough Strength Online Training Results: Valentin”. You can watch it here:

Rough Strength Online Training Results: Valentin from Alex Zinchenko on Vimeo.

First of all, I’m really proud to have Valentin as my student. He has dedication and discipline only few possess. Lots of trainees should learn his love to strength training and work ethic. He is one of those respectable people that persevere through hard circumstances in life (instead of making lame excuses). Well, as you can see from video hard work and patience always pay off.

So why am I writing this? I’d like to share with you some of the exact programs we used and to analyze what led us to success. Continue reading →

Why Train Rough Strength Style?

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Rough Ring Strength Training at HomeIt happens that today is second Rough Strength birthday. So I decided to come up with something special and fundamental at the same time. I have written lots of articles on training and nutrition but I never wrote a whole piece on why I think Rough Strength method is superior to others for my goal, as well as for any strength-related striving.  I can speak about this whole day but I won’t bore you to death with long intros and will get straight to the point.

What Is Rough Strength?

I want people to have clear understanding of what Rough Strength is. Word ‘rough’ is used here meaning not only ‘hardcore’ but first and foremost ‘acquired without any luxuries’, ‘with minimal equipment’. It’s type of strength training you can use at home with anything you have at hand.

I don’t want it to be confused with trendy street workout or crossfit, or gymnastics, or powerlifting etc. Continue reading →

Top 5 Exercises for Awesome Shoulder Development

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Doug Hepburn Performing Handstand Push-UpYou may wonder why the F do I write an article on such trendy and obvious thing? Hell, you can search the internet and there will be tons of info on shoulder training. And I’m cool with it. However, I’d like to write the Rough Strength version. It’s the sum of my own training experience. Besides, there are lots of people who are new to training and they are wondering how to get those strong cannonball shoulders.

Why am I writing about shoulders? Why not legs? Why not biceps and abs? Because shoulders are the most masculine part of the body (along with traps). Nothing will make you stand out from the crowd like well-developed shoulders. Shoulder is one of the most complex joints, so it’s wise idea to develop them. If you noticed, all the upper body movement patterns are based on the shoulder position.

So here are Rough Strength top 5 exercises for awesome shoulder development: Continue reading →

Top 3 Strength Routines for Beginners

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Steve Reeves Military Press“What routine is the best?”

“What routine will build muscle?”

“What routine will build strength?”

I get these questions all the time. Firstly, there’s no such thing as “the best routine”. For beginners, the best routine is the one you stick to for long enough to get results. Secondly, everyone is different. Working as personal trainer, I see this all the time. People find crappy programs on the internet and follow them blindly in hope of results. And most of the time they fail miserably. All because generic programs don’t work. They don’t take into account your biomechanics, your conditions, your performance capacity etc. The only program that will work for you is personalized one, tailored to your current goals and circumstances. So programs available on the internet should be considered as templates rather than actual training programs. So today I’d like to share with you my current top 3 strength routines for beginners. Continue reading →