I know what you’re thinking. Do we really need another Clubbell VS ______ debate? I wish we didn’t. I really do. But apparently, there are more people in this world that still don’t get it. So, for anyone who is still wondering…
Yes. It’s true. Clubbells are superior to Indian clubs, and all other weight swinging tools, for that matter. When you look at the big picture – the whole shebang – you just can’t beat them because of all the reasons I mention in my comprehensive review of the clubbell (that I won’t reiterate here). Let it be known that I have maintained and will continue to maintain that clubbells are the world’s best weight swinging tool – and will remain that way until something better is invented.
Note: be sure to brainwash your children at an early age to make sure they know clubbells are the best (see left).
Now, what could possibly initiate such a spontaneous expression of praise and admiration? Well, not too long ago, a man who has a lot more training experience than I do commented on my Clubbell Review. He was kind and cordial, but I thought he held and shared some common misconceptions about clubbells, particularly concerning their relation to Indian clubs. So, I wanted to post our discussion here to clear up the confusion.
If you need even more reasons to invest in and use your clubbells, read on.
Here is the comment Jack Stanton left me…
Your presentation on Clubbells was well done. You appear to be quite a Clubbell enthusiast. I watched your two videos, and as said your presentation was outstanding. Unfortunately it was very biased and followed Scott Sonan’s questionable statements regarding Indian Clubs etc. Before I specifically comment on some of yours and Sonan’s erroneous statements here is my experience in physical training. I have trained with barbells, dumbbells, swingbells, and kettlebells for over 53 years. I have also been using British style Indian Clubs as well as heavy Persian and Indian Clubs for around 10 years. Also I have an undergraduate minor in physical education. That being said, I do not have a problem with the use of Clubbells as a training tool. My problem is the distortions of the facts relating to Clubbells.
Ok so here I go: The protective coating on Clubbell will minimize injury if you hit yourself with the club during training. This statement is not true. Given the same force of impact the resulting damage (injury) will be significantly the same. This is to say a 10 pound Clubbell, a 10 pound Wooden Indian or Persian Club, or a 10 pound steel club will result in a similar injury or damage.
You said the tether on the Clubbell is a safety feature preventing the club from flying into the air and damaging property or hitting another person. First, tethering any relatively heavy weight to your arm, wrist, and or hand is foolish at best. Assuming the tether works as intended you are looking at potential shoulder, elbow, and wrist damage if the club goes flying. Second, I have noticed most people who use Clubbell do not use the tethers.
Both you and Scott Sonar have stated or implied that the in effect the larger size of heavy wooden clubs have very limited use or are almost impossible to swing. Here is what you neglect to mention. There are basically two styles of clubs that are swung in more or less a circular motion. These styles are British Military Indian Clubs and Persian / Indian Clubs called Meels / Jori. British Style Clubs range in weight from a ¼ pound to upwards of 100 pounds. Generally the lighter clubs (under 7 pounds) are often swung simultaneously while the heavier clubs usually are swung with one hand and passed to the other hand to complete the movement. Meel(s) and Jori (s) are normally swung into the ready position and then swung alternately in a circular pattern. The circular movement patterns are similar for metal clubs (solid or loadable).
On one of Scott Sonar web pages he comments on the superiority Clubbells to wooden and other clubs. Since this post is somewhat lengthy I am not addressing his comment here, but I will be more than happy to respond to any of the statements. The link is: http://www.clubbell.tv/superior.php
To conclude I personally do not care for Clubbells, that does not make them a bad tool. But contrarily to the implications in your video that wooden clubs are inferior to Clubbell is simply not true. In fact from a physical training standpoint heavy wooden clubs are superior. It quite simply takes more grip, wrist, arm, and should strength to swing and control a heavy wooden meel or jori of the same weight as a Clubbell. If you question this statement try, shield cast your 24 inch long 15 pound Clubbells then shield cast a 31 inch 15 pounds meels or jori(s).
I got an email yesterday from RMAX International announcing their new line of TACFIT clubbells, which are now available for sale. Not even an hour following the announcement, I received a question about them through my Contact Form, and I’ve received two more in just the last 24 hours. The first one, Ryan, asked me…
I was wondering if you’d had a chance to work with the Tacfit Clubbells yet, and if so, how they compare to the original. Your video review of the originals is great, and addresses the concerns I had about the original design (namely, broken knob screws) – Ryan
So, to answer your questions as best I can. Here’s the rundown…
I’ve been hearing about and seeing TACFIT clubbells appear in photos for awhile, though have not used them myself yet. I’ve got an *almost* full collection of the original CST-style clubbells, and don’t see any reason why I’d need to purchase any new ones apart from having cleaner/fresher clubs without any wear and tear. Truth be told, I’m kindof fond of my old, beat-up clubbells – even with their shortcomings.
From what I’ve read and heard, the new TACFIT clubbells have a few changes which make them different from the originals.
1) They’re noticeably slimmer, which should contribute to a lower risk of injury from impact (it happens) and also make the clubbell more portable (e.g. for air travel, etc.). So, if you’re a traveling clubber, you may find benefit in the more compact TACFIT clubbells.
2) RMAX also claims they have a tougher and more ergonomic knob, which according to them is “indestructible.” This is good news because the number one complaint I’ve heard about the original clubbell design has been about damaged or malfunctioning knobs. And I’ve had some issues with clubbell knobs breaking, too. So, I hope this is true! Continue reading New TACFIT Clubbells: The Rundown
It happens to every true clubbell athlete at some point. No one can avoid it forever. For me, it happened at the local YMCA in the weight training room two years ago. I was working out in the free weights section, tucked in a corner where, hopefully, nobody would bother me. Alas, my efforts to remain anti-social did not succeed for long. I had brought a pair of 15 lb clubbells with me that day, which I brought to the gym regularly, and was performing my usual routine with them.
Then it happened. Despite my lack of proximity and the scowl that appeared on my face as he approached, he started his long journey from all the way across the free weights section. Picture a guy in his mid-20′s who has been training for years, but hasn’t managed to change at all. He’s cocky, and naturally, he’s also a know-it-all – despite his apparent lack of progress (25 lb curls anyone?). His pace was steady, and eyes, hungry. I tried not to make eye contact in hopes that my awkward presence would detour him to the hip adductor machine. It was no use. He walked right up to me, nearly getting his pimpled face impaled by a 15 lb clubbell traveling at the speed of light. And what does he do? He just stands there and stares at me for a moment, with an almost satisfied look on his face.
“Nothing to see here – no tricks today,” I thought as I stared back into his inquisitive eyes. Then it happened. He opened his mouth and revealed his true incompetence when he said with a sinister smirk, “Hey man, those bats look great for shoulders.”
Knowing full-well the implications of this ludicrous statement, I cringed at the thought of how I would respond and instinctively gripped my clubbells until my knuckles whitened. This was in part an instinctive move for self-defense purposes and also to avoid a massive forehead-slap that would have broken the sound barrier and dropped everyone in the room like flies – bodies falling into an immediate comatose state.
After I had taken a deep breath and suppressed the surge of adrenaline in my veins, I looked him directly in the eyes and said what any self-respecting clubbell athlete would say, “Yeah, you got that right buddy.” And immediately, I started swinging my clubbells again, at which he chuckled and went back to whatever he was doing before.
Now, I think I dissolved the situation pretty well, and most importantly, nobody got hurt. But had I been as clever as my good friend, Shane Heins, a fellow clubbell athlete and expert instructor, then I might have responded like this…
Clubbell Training – More Than Meets The Eye
Note: For those who are not yet familiar with clubbells, this will help you get an idea of the total cumulative training effect that clubbell training – done properly – can have on the body. In particular, note that the vast majority of exercises are actually driven by the legs and hips, channeled through the core, and extended down the arms and into the clubbell. So much for clubbells being just for grip strength and shoulder mobility.
The clubbell rock-it drill is a foundational movement in the Encyclopedia of Clubbell Training, and one of the first exercises I teach to new clubbell clients. Upon first trying it, they are usually surprised how incredibly challenging the rock-it variations are for the leg muscles. It’s not uncommon to get a burn going after only several repetitions. It shouldn’t come as any surprise since this movement is specifically for learning how to root into the ground and apply leg drive to maneuver the clubbells with smooth, controlled force.
I still remember my first major experience with the clubbell rock-it drill. I was at a Circular Strength Training seminar, in a group that was anxiously awaiting the clubbell training portion of the event. Well, we finally got what we asked for! We did hundreds of rock-its until the whole group had it right. I’m pretty sure that I wasn’t the only one thinking “will this ever end!” My legs felt like jelly on fire – if that’s even possible. A few guys were walking funny for the rest of the weekend, too.
The point is that you can’t cheat the rock-it drill. Either you do it correctly, or you’ll get your butt whipped – fast! Rock-its are a painfully simple exercise, but the technique is of paramount importance. That’s why CST uses the 7 key components of structure to teach proper clubbell exercise technique.
1) leg drive
2) hip recruitment (aka hip snap)
3) core activation
4) crown to coccyx spinal alignment
5) shoulder pack
6) elbow lock
7) grip confirmation
If you learn to integrate all 7 components in the clubbell rock-it drill, you’ll be able to do hundreds of repetitions, instead of maxing out after a few dozen. See if you can point out all the components in the following video demonstration. Do note that some of these drills can also be done with other training tools (kettlebells, dumbbells, etc.), but nothing beats the efficiency of the clubbell profile.
Everything you ever wanted to know about clubbells – the world’s best club swinging tool for strength training.
The clubbell is a club swinging tool that is primarily used for strength and conditioning, fitness training, and athletic performance enhancement. I’ve been using clubbells regularly since 2006, and it’s about time that I give this great piece of equipment the attention it deserves. I’ve seen what they’re capable of, and to tell you the truth, I’m very impressed.
Given that clubbells are not cheap, you should probably know the whole story before making your first purchase. I know what it’s like being a first-time buyer – you’re skeptical. I was too. Back when I first learned of clubbells, I was a fresh out-of-college, soon-to-be married personal trainer with very little disposable income. Every penny counted, and I wasn’t about to blow a bunch of money on a scam product that would collect dust in my home gym. I needed to know if it would be worth the investment BEFORE I spent my hard-earned cash.
The RMAX organization makes some bold claims concerning the clubbell. Truth be told, I think some of them are way over the top, but that doesn’t mean I would discourage anyone from looking into purchasing a clubbell. It’s just important to educate yourself and understand the TRUE advantages, disadvantages, and proper applications before you pull out that credit card.
This review is meant to help you in two ways: 1) learn all about the clubbell training tool itself, and, 2) decide if it’s right for your situation. I’d also like to offer you a free gift if you do decide to invest in the clubbell.
Clubbell Review Components:
1) Learn all about the Clubbell equipment itself in the Product Review (videos): This is where you’ll get all of your product-related questions answered, including detailed information about what the clubbell is, what it’s made of, quality and design considerations, what makes it unique, and who the clubbell is best suited for (and not best suited for).
2) Determine if the Clubbell is the right training tool for you: This section will deal specifically with who can benefit from the clubbell, and who cannot. If you’re trying to make up your mind about whether the clubbell is right for YOU and your circumstances, then this section will provide you with the answers you need.
You’re about to get an inside look at what clubbells are REALLY all about. This is a long product review, as I wanted to err on the thorough side and try to cover everything. So, let’s take a detailed look at the clubbell, the world’s best club swinging tool.
I was wondering if you’d had a chance to work with the Tacfit Clubbells yet, and if so, how they compare to the original. Your video review of the originals is great, and addresses the concerns I had about the original design (namely, broken knob screws) – Ryan
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