“BJJ and kettlebells, will that make me fit?” “Will I lose weight from Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu?”
We answer your questions in our weekly blog about BJJ in the Netherlands!
Kettlebells for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
A kettlebell or girya (Russian) is an iron or steel ball with a handle on top. You see them in almost every gym, but what is the history behind them and their function?
The kettlebell as we know it was not for exercise!
In the 18th century, it was used to weigh vegetables and grains at the market. A pood (пуд) is approximately 16.8 kg. The kettlebell has since evolved and is now used as a training tool.
Why should I use a kettlebell?
As a Jiu-Jitsuka, you don't have much time and often not the energy to do strength and conditioning training.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is already intensive enough, and you already spend a lot of time under tension there. So you don't want to risk getting injured outside your drill/skill and sparring sessions.
You also know that supplementary training is important, but sometimes you have to force yourself to go to the gym, the kettlebell is your best friend then.
In this video below you can see Pavel Tsatsouline. The man who first popularized the Kettlebell in America.
Sport-specific
You can simulate what you do in the dojo in a short time with a kettlebell, and it takes up virtually no space.
Movement patterns of grappling and BJJ can be simulated with a kettlebell, honestly, when do you ever bench press or deadlift someone away in a fight? Almost never. So the kettlebell comes much closer to the biomechanics of Jiu-Jitsuka's.
Will I lose weight from Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu?
Yes and no
Yes: We can say with certainty that you are burning a lot of calories during a BJJ class at BJJ Amersfoort. On average between 700 and 1500 per hour. This obviously depends on the intensity of the training. We tested this with a heart rate monitor.
No: Every evening after classes are over, I drive past McDonald's. Something whispers in my ear that I have earned a Big Mac meal after such an intensive BJJ training. Big Mac (550cal), fries (230cal), milkshake (530cal).
You understand where we are going with this. Don't consume more than you can burn, and losing weight will be fine!
BJJ and kettlebells, will that make me fit?
100%
Classes will restart at a 1.5-meter distance,
we will do this in a beautiful party tent on the premises!
Sign up for a free training at Amersfoort BJJ
This article was originally published in Dutch. Read the Dutch original.
