Kettlebell Squat

The kettlebell squat is a fundamental exercise that targets the lower body, particularly the quadriceps, hamstrings, and glutes.

To perform the kettlebell squat:

  1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, holding a kettlebell with both hands at chest level.
  2. Engage your core and lower your body by bending your knees and pushing your hips back.
  3. Keep your chest up and back straight as you descend into the squat.
  4. Push through your heels to return to the starting position.

How to perform the Kettlebell Squat

  1. Set up. Set up in a stable, balanced starting position appropriate for the Kettlebell Squat using your kettlebell.
  2. Brace and execute. Brace your core, control the descent, and move through a full pain-free range of motion while emphasizing your quadriceps.
  3. Reset. Reverse the movement under control and reset between repetitions, keeping your form crisp on every rep.

Coaching cues

  • Move with intent — every rep should feel deliberate, not rushed.
  • Drive force through your quadriceps rather than momentum.
  • Keep your breathing steady: exhale on the hard part, inhale on the reset.

Common mistakes

  • Using too much weight and losing positional control.
  • Cutting the range of motion short and missing the target muscle.
  • Letting your spine round or hyperextend instead of staying neutral.

Detailed cues, common mistakes, and demonstration video are available in the Fitly app.

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Variations of Kettlebell Squat

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