It's an extremely technical movement, though. Most trainers don't know how to teach it, and I saw some interesting things during my time as a strength coach. So much so that I taught a course on the TGU. One full weekend on teaching the movement to trainers so they can pass that knowledge on to their clients.
After thousands of reps and hundreds of hours teaching the movement, I eventually found a reliable method to teach it by breaking it down into piece-by-piece sections.
My biggest recommendation is to start without weight, learn each part of the movement separately, and eventually piece them together. I also highly recommend hiring a kettlebell training expert.
If I could only pick one movement to do for the rest of my life, it would be the TGU.
Karl! Thanks for your advice. I learned to do this without weight first, at home. Then I tried Pavel’s advice of balancing a shoe on top of my fist and not dropping it. Hilarious things happened. Hiring a kettlebell expert would help for sure. Unfortunately, in less populated areas like mine, those are harder to find so I went with repeatedly watching the videos.
This is so funny Tim! I actually “tried” my first set of them yesterday. I’m in very good shape for 56 BUT these will humble you very quickly. I encourage anybody reading this post to try them….Advance warning, do not get discouraged at first because the movement does not feel natural and like Tim says it engages core muscles that you have not probably used in years or ever other than simply standing and walking around. Hang in there do one or two at a time so that you can maintain good form, they get easier to accomplish even after 1 session. Just make sure you’re not trying them for the first time in a public park to save yourself the laughter from the onlookers. Great stuff Tim!!!
Great point about not trying these the first time in public. You WILL be humbled the first time. But that's exactly why they are so rewarding once you learn the skill.
Thank you for the comment. I hope you keep at them and get all of the benefits from it!
OMG my physical therapist just taught me the right way to do these with a shoe balanced on my fist and I just about died! I haven’t even tried them weighted yet!! They are no joke!!!
The shoe balancing trick helps you get the form down, and it is still a workout, you're right about that. Before long you'll b able to do it with a kettlebell and then you'll feel like you're really moving up!
I always love when an article opens my eyes to a exercise or routine I was blind to before.
Your article on the TGU did that - great advice, Tim.
The Turkish Getup definitely was not on my list and I will give it a try.
As I can see from Karl`s comment, it is not an easy exercise to learn, but as he mentioned: Starting with no weight and working your way up should help to master at it.
It does seem like a learning curve, but as long as you approach it with curiosity and watch a good tutorial video a couple of times, it really isn't that hard. After three or four sessions, you will have a pretty good lock on it.
The TGU is one of my favourite movements!
It's an extremely technical movement, though. Most trainers don't know how to teach it, and I saw some interesting things during my time as a strength coach. So much so that I taught a course on the TGU. One full weekend on teaching the movement to trainers so they can pass that knowledge on to their clients.
After thousands of reps and hundreds of hours teaching the movement, I eventually found a reliable method to teach it by breaking it down into piece-by-piece sections.
My biggest recommendation is to start without weight, learn each part of the movement separately, and eventually piece them together. I also highly recommend hiring a kettlebell training expert.
If I could only pick one movement to do for the rest of my life, it would be the TGU.
Karl! Thanks for your advice. I learned to do this without weight first, at home. Then I tried Pavel’s advice of balancing a shoe on top of my fist and not dropping it. Hilarious things happened. Hiring a kettlebell expert would help for sure. Unfortunately, in less populated areas like mine, those are harder to find so I went with repeatedly watching the videos.
I love the shoe technique. It’s humbled many people over the years😁.
Panel’s work is great the Strong First tutorials are perfect for folks who don’t have access to a competent trainer for sure.
This is so funny Tim! I actually “tried” my first set of them yesterday. I’m in very good shape for 56 BUT these will humble you very quickly. I encourage anybody reading this post to try them….Advance warning, do not get discouraged at first because the movement does not feel natural and like Tim says it engages core muscles that you have not probably used in years or ever other than simply standing and walking around. Hang in there do one or two at a time so that you can maintain good form, they get easier to accomplish even after 1 session. Just make sure you’re not trying them for the first time in a public park to save yourself the laughter from the onlookers. Great stuff Tim!!!
Great point about not trying these the first time in public. You WILL be humbled the first time. But that's exactly why they are so rewarding once you learn the skill.
Thank you for the comment. I hope you keep at them and get all of the benefits from it!
One thing I’ve learned from strength training is that anything named after a country is going to hurt tomorrow.
I never made that connection, but it stands to reason that if it warrants a country name, it's gonna have some impact.
OMG my physical therapist just taught me the right way to do these with a shoe balanced on my fist and I just about died! I haven’t even tried them weighted yet!! They are no joke!!!
The shoe balancing trick helps you get the form down, and it is still a workout, you're right about that. Before long you'll b able to do it with a kettlebell and then you'll feel like you're really moving up!
Wow! That is humbling and I’m out of breath after one on each side. I’ll add this to my core day. 😅
I’m really glad you gave it a try.
I’m up to five per side, 3 times a week. But it took me a while to build up to that, and the first two weeks I did it bodyweight only, no kettlebell.
Ok good idea. I’ll work on the movement with body weight first.
I always love when an article opens my eyes to a exercise or routine I was blind to before.
Your article on the TGU did that - great advice, Tim.
The Turkish Getup definitely was not on my list and I will give it a try.
As I can see from Karl`s comment, it is not an easy exercise to learn, but as he mentioned: Starting with no weight and working your way up should help to master at it.
It does seem like a learning curve, but as long as you approach it with curiosity and watch a good tutorial video a couple of times, it really isn't that hard. After three or four sessions, you will have a pretty good lock on it.
Ok Tim, I`m convinced
“Always consult with your doctor before doing anything, even breathing.” 👍🤣
Those doctors have to confirm your every move. That way, I can't be blamed for anything!
My physiotherapist recommended these to me as part my post hip resurfacing recovery. They most definitely do the job.
Are you recovered now, or still on the mend?
Mending 😁
Try the Turkish getup WITHOUT a kettlebell. It may not bulletproof your body, but it will give it a Kevlar vest.
I don’t think I have ever seen anyone in a gym do this exercise.
What a shame…