I grew on barbell big lifts. Squats, Deadlifts, and bench were all ever knew. I got a kettlebell on whim just to have something indoors for days I couldn’t get to the Calisthenics park. Been swinging around this 50 LB / 22 KG orb of steel and I’m feeling and seeing a lot of improvements. Swings, presses, cleans and other mobility training has been a lot more fun and interesting. Going forward I’m gonna be rocking this thing along with my calisthenics. “Functional training” is now my goal now that i’m in my 30s. I want to be able move and groove with ease for the rest of my days, and I think this kettlebell may be the key to that goal.
In my growing up in the gym I always saw them as “unmanly®©™” in that none of the bodybuilding wannabes used them. So much of gym culture was (and I assume still is) dictated by hypertrophy bodybuilding and to a lesser degree powerlifting. I think that’s probably why I unconciously avoided them/never gave them a proper try.
I wish I discovered this during college. They are great all-arounder workout tool.