Kettlebell Thruster

Intermediate
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A compound, full-body movement combining a front squat with an overhead press, primarily targeting the quads, glutes, and shoulders. Excellent for developing explosive power, coordination, and cardiovascular conditioning.

About Exercise

Equipment

Kettlebell

Difficulty

4/5 • Intermediate

Primary Muscle Groups

Quads, Shoulders

Secondary Muscles

Abs, Lower Back

Popularity Score

7

Goals

Power
Conditioning
Hypertrophy

Training Style

Functional Training
CrossFit

Setup Requirements

Requires Rack

No

Requires Bench

No

Requires Spotter

No

Space Needed

Small

Noise Level

Moderate

Muscle Breakdown

Quads

9/10

Rectus Femoris, Vastus Lateralis

Shoulders

8/10

Anterior Delts, Medial Delts

Glutes

7/10

Glute Max

Triceps

6/10

Long Head, Lateral Head

Abs

4/10

Rectus Abdominis

Lower Back

4/10

Erector Spinae

Programming

Typical Rep Range

8-15 reps

Rest Between Sets

45-90 seconds • Rest shorter for conditioning circuits, longer for strength/power sets.

How to Perform

Clean two kettlebells into the rack position, resting them on your forearms/biceps with the handles pointing up. Stand tall with feet shoulder-width apart, maintaining a tight core and upright chest.

  1. Inhale and initiate the squat, driving the knees out and keeping the chest upright.
  2. Descend until your hips are below the knees, maintaining control of the kettlebells.
  3. Explosively drive upward through the heels to extend the hips and knees fully.
  4. Use the momentum from the drive to press the kettlebells directly overhead until the elbows are locked.
  5. Control the bells back to the rack position as you simultaneously descend into the next squat repetition.

Coaching Tips

Form Cues

  • Squat deep, stand tall.
  • Explode from the bottom.
  • Punch the bells up.
  • Keep chest and elbows high.

Breathing

Inhale deeply during the squat descent; forcefully exhale as you drive up and press the kettlebells overhead.

Tempo

1-0-X

Range of Motion

Squat to full depth (hips below parallel) and press until the elbows are fully locked out overhead with the weight stacked over the shoulders.

Safety

Safety Notes

  • If dropping the weight is necessary, drop the bells away from your body and feet.
  • Ensure you have mastered the kettlebell front rack position before attempting this lift.
  • Avoid using weights that compromise squat depth or pressing lockout.

Spotting

Not recommended due to the ballistic and dynamic nature of the lift; use conservative weight and bail safely if needed.

Common Mistakes

  • Pressing the weight too early before hip extension.
  • Allowing the torso to collapse or round forward.
  • Failing to achieve full depth in the squat.
  • Lack of control when returning the bells to the rack.

When to Avoid

  • Acute shoulder impingement or pain.
  • Severe wrist mobility limitations.
  • Uncontrolled lumbar disc issues.

Flexibility Needed

  • Adequate ankle dorsiflexion for deep squatting.
  • Full shoulder flexion and external rotation.

Build Up First

  • Competency in the kettlebell front squat.
  • Competency in the overhead press.
  • Strong core bracing ability.

Also known as

KB Thruster, Double Kettlebell Thruster

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