Questions about Kenneth Jay's call on VO2 max

**MichaelScott** · 07-10-2009, 04:25 PM

During the call Kenneth mentioned that VO2 max is best reached by using some sort of "outside resistance" instead of running or biking. He said that he found that Kettlebells and rowing could help increase VO2.

My questions would be:

1) Is this true of all body weight exercises? I normally feel pretty fricking smoked after a 20 minute interval set of burpees. What about bodyweight exercises such as Gymnastics circles on the pommel horse?

2) What about sledge hammer work or other weight exercises that are not kettlebell related? has anyone attempted to increase VO2 max with those methods?

**Kenneth Jay** · 07-10-2009, 04:32 PM

Originally Posted by MichaelScott

During the call Kenneth mentioned that VO2 max is best reached by using some sort of "outside resistance" instead of running or biking. He said that he found that Kettlebells and rowing could help increase VO2.

My questions would be:

1) Is this true of all body weight exercises? I normally feel pretty fricking smoked after a 20 minute interval set of burpees. What about bodyweight exercises such as Gymnastics circles on the pommel horse?

2) What about sledge hammer work or other weight exercises that are not kettlebell related? has anyone attempted to increase VO2 max with those methods?

Ad 1: sure you can feel smoked but that does not necessarily have anything to do with your MVO2.

Ad 2: I can pretty much tell you with a high level of certainty that it will not work at leaat not as good as kb snatches and there are multiple reasons for that. that of course does not mean sledgehammer work is worthless.

KJ from AZ

OUT

**MichaelScott** · 07-10-2009, 04:33 PM

Originally Posted by Kenneth Jay

Ad 1: sure you can feel smoked but that does not necessarily have anything to do with your MVO2.

Ad 2: I can pretty much tell you with a high level of certainty that it will not work at leaat not as good as kb snatches and there are multiple reasons for that. that of course does not mean sledgehammer work is worthless.

KJ from AZ

OUT

Awesome. Thanks for the quick reply Kenneth!

**MD52** · 07-11-2009, 05:53 AM

But isn't mVO2 specific to the exercise being done? For example distance runners that have high mVO2 results while running test lower on a bike or in a swim flume, bikers test higher on a bike and swimmers when swimming. Part of the training effect to improve mVO2 is improving the oxygen delivery system which can carry over between sports but the other part is improving the ability of the muscles to use the oxygen. The changes that take place within the muscle are specific to the muscle being used and do not necessarily carry over between sports or different forms of exercise.

Just curious what your research has shown related to how the mVO2 developed in your VWC program carries over to other things like swimming.

**DanMartin** · 07-11-2009, 06:00 AM

The looking for an alternative means to improve VO2 Max other than the kettlebell snatch fascinates me. Is it to prove something esoteric or does using a kettlebell in the fashion recommended by KJ scare people.

**Emby** · 07-11-2009, 09:17 AM

The looking for an alternative means to improve VO2 Max other than the kettlebell snatch fascinates me. Is it to prove something esoteric or does using a kettlebell in the fashion recommended by KJ scare people.

I think the problem is that people dont know what alternatives there are to Snatches.

Which approach is best for your sport? Depends on your sport. Of course the heart and lungs benefit carries over to pretty much everything but the difference is which muscles you predominantly use to stimulate this response. E.g. the most appropriate way for a cyclist to do Mvo2 training is on the bike itself.

'Your body gets better at exactly what it does'

**SoGun** · 07-11-2009, 10:00 AM

After spending the weekend in Atlanta with Sara, Kenneth,and David, I can tell you just do what Kenneth Jay says. He can tell you whys and where fores but it is easier to just do the snatches like he says.

**gripfreak** · 07-11-2009, 10:08 AM

I'm skeptical that only a kb and a rowing machine can improve vo2 max. I'm not arguing that they might not be the optimal method but to say that Burpees, running, Barbell powercleans etc. can't improve vo2 max I guess I still don't grasp. Again not a knock on The prescibed methods because I have no doubt they work......

**geoplaten** · 07-11-2009, 10:41 AM

I don't believe KJ said only kb and rowing machines can improve vo2, he said they work well, better than many other things.

**gripfreak** · 07-11-2009, 11:32 AM

He did say it wont work, at least not as well as kb snatches....So he did imply it may not work at all. Again this isn't a knock on kb snatches and I can't wait to get the book and try the methods but there are a lot of people without access to kb's or are training large groups and using kb's isn't feasable or maybe snatches cause rotator discomfort etc. What are some "decent" alternatives to the kb and/or rowing is what I'm curious about.