Kettlebell thruster

The kettlebell thruster is a popular kettlebell movement that combines a kettlebell front squat with a kettlebell press, while holding the bell in a goblet or bottoms-up grip. It is preceded by a clean at the start of each set, and you can perform a clean between each rep if you choose. It can be trained in traditional strength or muscle-building rep ranges, in circuit or fat-loss training, or as part of a larger kettlebell combination or complex.

Benefits

  1. Full-body training that challenges the lower body as well as the shoulders, arms, back, and core
  2. Encourages proper squat form and depth with an upright torso
  3. The curl at the bottom of the squat encourages hip mobility and core activation
  4. The bottoms-up hold strengthens grip, wrists, and biceps
8.6
Average

Kettlebell thruster Images

image
image
Show female images and videos

Kettlebell thruster Instructions

Kettlebell thruster muscle diagram
  1. Clean two kettlebells to your shoulders. Clean the kettlebells to your shoulders by extending through the legs and hips as you pull the kettlebells towards your shoulders. Rotate your wrists as you do so. This will be your starting position.
  2. Begin to squat by flexing your hips and knees, lowering your hips between your legs. Maintain an upright, straight back as you descend as low as you can.
  3. At the bottom, reverse direction and squat by extending your knees and hips, driving through your heels. As you do so, press both kettlebells overhead by extending your arms straight up, using the momentum from the squat to help drive the weights upward.
  4. As you begin the next repetition, return the weights to the shoulders.