TALC… What the &*%$ does that mean?!?

If you’re new to the sport, here is a list of Kettlebell Sport terminology you need to know - AKA, the Kettlebell Sport Dictionary:

Pendulum – Path the kettlebell takes as it moves from between the legs to the top of the swing position.

Swing – Kettlebell movement that involves moving the bell in a pendulum motion from between the legs to chest level in front of the body.

Backswing – The portion of the swing or Snatch in which the bell is moving backward between the legs.

Upswing – The portion of the swing or Snatch in which the bell is moving forward and up towards the top of the swing or overhead position.

Hook grip – Proper hand position on the kettlebell, with the handle loosely held in the fingertips and thumb locked over (see my post on hand positioning and grip).

Rack position – The V-position of the shoulder, elbow, and wrist where the kettlebell rests between repetitions of Jerk or Long Cycle.

Clean – Kettlebell movement that uses the legs and hips to move the kettlebell from the swing into the rack position.

Jerk – Kettlebell movement that uses the triple extension (see definition below) to launch the kettlebell from the rack position to overhead position.

Triple extension – Full extension of the hips, knees, and ankles that provides the power to launch the kettlebell overhead in the Jerk movement.

Long Cycle – Kettlebell movement that is composed of the Clean, followed by the Jerk.

Lockout – When the arm is fully extended in the overhead position, and the knees are straight.

Joint stacking – Ensuring proper alignment of joints in overhead lockout position, meaning a straight line can be drawn from wrist to elbow to shoulder to hip.

Fixation – When the lifter and kettlebell stop all movement at the completion of a repetition; the component of a lift that determines whether the repetition will be counted towards the competition score.

Snatch – Kettlebell movement that uses the legs and hips to move the kettlebell from the swing into the overhead position.

Half Snatch – Kettlebell movement in which dropping into rack is substituted for the Snatch drop.

Black Snatch – A method of training grip and endurance for Snatch in which one or multiple swings are added before each snatch. Repeat for desired amount of time (or until you drop the bell).

Olympic Snatch – A style of Snatch in which the backswing is eliminated and the bell moves in a straighter path up and down, often employed once the lifter’s forearms have fatigued at the end of a set.

Set – Length of time a kettlebell lift is performed for.

RPM – Repetitions per minute, which is used to pace a kettlebell set.

OALC – One Arm Long Cycle, meaning Long Cycle with one kettlebell (typically for women only).

TALC – Two Arm Long Cycle, meaning Long Cycle with two kettlebells (typically for men, but becoming more common for women).

Any other Kettlebell Sport terms I missed? Let me know in the comments!