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Kettlebell Axe: High Speed, Low Drag Alternative to HIIT
Build yourself into a Ferrari with Prius mileage.Discover a method that makes the impossible come true.
Born decades ago, in a country that no longer exists, AXE used to be the exclusive domain of Soviet athletic elites. At last, it is here to take you to the next level in your sport of choice―or simply get you in the best shape of your life, and maybe even add years to it.
√ Build muscle
√ Boost power
√ Lose fat
√ Multiply work capacity
√ Burst with energy
The “A“ in “AXE” stands for “aerobic.”
The “X” refers to type IIX fast muscle fibers.
“E” is for “exercise.”
AXE will install aerobic power infrastructure in your fast fibers.
While simultaneously making these fibers bigger and more powerful―the ancient conflict between strength and endurance finally resolved.
With AXE, you will sprint faster and hit harder―over and over―while producing less soul- and performance-crushing lactic acid.
Improve your health and boost your energy. A friend of the author, a military and federal law enforcement veteran who lived at the tip of the spear for four decades and has the mileage to show for it, said after starting “I feel 15–20 years younger.”
A Kettlebell Axe training session feels like a lumberjack’s powerful, unrushed, relentless.
StrongFirst applied AXE to our go-to exercise, the kettlebell swing, and developed a bulletproof progression. Follow it two or three times a week and be unstoppable.
Do it as standalone training―just add your favorite upper body work―or combine it with almost any athletic training.( The AXE swing protocol is not for beginners and this book does not teach kettlebell skills. Start with Kettlebell Simple & Sinister.)
Take a kettlebell AXE to your training and behold your power!
Born decades ago, in a country that no longer exists, AXE used to be the exclusive domain of Soviet athletic elites. At last, it is here to take you to the next level in your sport of choice―or simply get you in the best shape of your life, and maybe even add years to it.
√ Build muscle
√ Boost power
√ Lose fat
√ Multiply work capacity
√ Burst with energy
The “A“ in “AXE” stands for “aerobic.”
The “X” refers to type IIX fast muscle fibers.
“E” is for “exercise.”
AXE will install aerobic power infrastructure in your fast fibers.
While simultaneously making these fibers bigger and more powerful―the ancient conflict between strength and endurance finally resolved.
With AXE, you will sprint faster and hit harder―over and over―while producing less soul- and performance-crushing lactic acid.
Improve your health and boost your energy. A friend of the author, a military and federal law enforcement veteran who lived at the tip of the spear for four decades and has the mileage to show for it, said after starting “I feel 15–20 years younger.”
A Kettlebell Axe training session feels like a lumberjack’s powerful, unrushed, relentless.
StrongFirst applied AXE to our go-to exercise, the kettlebell swing, and developed a bulletproof progression. Follow it two or three times a week and be unstoppable.
Do it as standalone training―just add your favorite upper body work―or combine it with almost any athletic training.( The AXE swing protocol is not for beginners and this book does not teach kettlebell skills. Start with Kettlebell Simple & Sinister.)
Take a kettlebell AXE to your training and behold your power!
191 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 27, 2023
286 people are currently reading
90 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
January 19, 2024
To summarize, the described training is enjoyable, fun & minimalistic, and the Power Swings engage the glutes, grip strength & Zone 1, 2 heart rates, which is unique & valuable. It is simple, feels effective.
10 seconds on, 50 seconds off, upto 30 sets. Day after, a big press. Read the book, there's more nuance to it ... .
Actually, this is great programming when busy for work.
All praise aside for this workout & its benefits, a healthy lifestyle & workout programming is much more than only kettlebell swings. It is walk, water, sleep, ... . It's being active outside ... . It's rolling, crawling, thrusting, lifting, walking, rucking, running, sprinting, hanging, playing, going all out sometimes ... . It's eating healthy stuff & not too much. Everybody needs to move, a lot, all-round. To give credit, Pavel hints to this in the book e.g. reference to rucking.
It's also a short book. S&S, Q&D & Axe could all naturally fit in one book ... .
A usefull critique Youtube video is from Lebe Stark, who sums up this sentiment.
Finally, it comes across as not written for the general population. This feels like it is written for the S&C professional ... .
As a conclusion, I liked it, interesting & valuable read. This book might help to make your lifestyle & workouts more complete. And anti glyco training is really usefull!
PS. Trigger for reading this book was "Intervention" from Dan John, who praises the KB Swing as a game changer: "The KB Swing is a fat burning, athlete builder ... . Yes, it is that good."
Like Pavel says, it is not a Swing, it is a "throw & catch".
IMO, Dan John & Pavel complement each other perfectly!
10 seconds on, 50 seconds off, upto 30 sets. Day after, a big press. Read the book, there's more nuance to it ... .
Actually, this is great programming when busy for work.
All praise aside for this workout & its benefits, a healthy lifestyle & workout programming is much more than only kettlebell swings. It is walk, water, sleep, ... . It's being active outside ... . It's rolling, crawling, thrusting, lifting, walking, rucking, running, sprinting, hanging, playing, going all out sometimes ... . It's eating healthy stuff & not too much. Everybody needs to move, a lot, all-round. To give credit, Pavel hints to this in the book e.g. reference to rucking.
It's also a short book. S&S, Q&D & Axe could all naturally fit in one book ... .
A usefull critique Youtube video is from Lebe Stark, who sums up this sentiment.
Finally, it comes across as not written for the general population. This feels like it is written for the S&C professional ... .
As a conclusion, I liked it, interesting & valuable read. This book might help to make your lifestyle & workouts more complete. And anti glyco training is really usefull!
PS. Trigger for reading this book was "Intervention" from Dan John, who praises the KB Swing as a game changer: "The KB Swing is a fat burning, athlete builder ... . Yes, it is that good."
Like Pavel says, it is not a Swing, it is a "throw & catch".
IMO, Dan John & Pavel complement each other perfectly!
January 2, 2024
A revolutionary workout designed for experienced kettlebell users.
A description of the science of “alactic” training followed by a workout system. This appears to be ahead of popular training systems like HIIT.
The point of the book is to do the workout - which is very realistic if you have a good kettlebell swing - 2 sessions a week for up to 30 minutes.
Prerequisite recommended is the “simple” standard from the author’s “simple and sinister”.
A description of the science of “alactic” training followed by a workout system. This appears to be ahead of popular training systems like HIIT.
The point of the book is to do the workout - which is very realistic if you have a good kettlebell swing - 2 sessions a week for up to 30 minutes.
Prerequisite recommended is the “simple” standard from the author’s “simple and sinister”.
December 29, 2025
Pavel always delivers
Strength and conditioning that is based on scientific principles as opposed to the constant barrage of misinformation we see online. I found this book incredibly practical and the philosophy behind StrongFirst is the one I most resonate when it comes to physical training.
Strength and conditioning that is based on scientific principles as opposed to the constant barrage of misinformation we see online. I found this book incredibly practical and the philosophy behind StrongFirst is the one I most resonate when it comes to physical training.
January 3, 2024
it’s now half blue
Great read…very interesting quotes, heavily referenced, and the program itself is presented well. My highlighter is blue and I’m pretty sure the book itself is half blue now. Program starts tomorrow- and my new mantra is “Don’t die until death.”
Great read…very interesting quotes, heavily referenced, and the program itself is presented well. My highlighter is blue and I’m pretty sure the book itself is half blue now. Program starts tomorrow- and my new mantra is “Don’t die until death.”
February 8, 2024
Meets expectations. Pavel, never change.
I enjoy Pavel's style of writing. I still find kettlebells to be fun and interesting, even though I switched to bar bells for strength training.
The AXE program I'll at least try out.
I enjoy Pavel's style of writing. I still find kettlebells to be fun and interesting, even though I switched to bar bells for strength training.
The AXE program I'll at least try out.
February 28, 2024
Not the best written book in the world. Rating may change after I do a couple of cycles of the program.
March 17, 2026
just great stuff
November 1, 2024
A Great Programme in a Book
I can’t give this book more than three stars because it contains so much filler. There’s some great stuff in this book but it could have been a blog post. Like Pavel’s other books they contain some great content and ideas but plenty of long form copy.
I can’t give this book more than three stars because it contains so much filler. There’s some great stuff in this book but it could have been a blog post. Like Pavel’s other books they contain some great content and ideas but plenty of long form copy.
August 15, 2025
I will admit: the idea of anti-glycolytic training is easy to fall in love with for me. I never liked HIIT workouts and at Stanford I've gone to great lengths to hide from my roommates lest they manage to drag me to their next Freeletics workout that, if the roommates won the hide-and-seek, usually left me dead and panting on the floor, having to do all the dragging by myself on my way back to the apartment. Anti-glycolitic training basically means you try to avoid one of the three energy systems your body is equipped with, namely the anaerobic one where lactic acid accumulates. So more or less the opposite of what your run-of-the-mill Beat81/Blackbike cycling session is trying to achieve.
The book provides many reasons why this might be a good idea, but I'm left unsatisfied. All the science quoted is 30–50 years old. That works for math or physics, but makes me worry when it comes to biology. I'd like to believe everything the book says, but I'm not sure if I should.
The book provides many reasons why this might be a good idea, but I'm left unsatisfied. All the science quoted is 30–50 years old. That works for math or physics, but makes me worry when it comes to biology. I'd like to believe everything the book says, but I'm not sure if I should.
March 15, 2024
4 stars for the workout. I like it.
1 star for the book. It should have been a blog post.
1 star for the book. It should have been a blog post.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews