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Old 04-01-13, 07:01 PM  
mmjam
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: New York
Question Skogg vs Kettlebell Goddess

Has anyone tried both the Skogg Phase 1 & 2 and the Kettlebell Goddess workouts? I was just wondering how they compare. I have KB Goddess & was thinking of ordering Skogg's system. Skogg seems a little more intense to me but it's always hard to tell by clips. Thanks
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Old 04-02-13, 07:06 AM  
katmom
 
Join Date: May 2006
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I know absolutely nothing about Kettlebell Goddess, but I love the original Skogg system and the new at-home DVD's. The new at-home DVD's have become my most frequently used kettlebell DVD's.

Here is a thread with the DVD breaksdowns on them:
http://forum.videofitness.com/showth...ighlight=skogg
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Old 04-02-13, 09:07 AM  
Eibhinn
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Atlantic Canada
I borrowed Kettlebell Goddess from someone for about a month a few years ago and got the first Skogg set last year and have played around with it a bit, but not completed a full rotation. I didn't like Kettlebell Goddess, but I really like Skogg. All this to say that I have some familiarity with each, but am not an expert by any means, and am probably biased.

Even though Skogg has a number of different workouts and workout levels, Kettlebell Goddess is probably more varied. Skogg is variations of the same thing - the same six exercises done in different variations, while it struck me that the Kettlebell Goddess workouts were more substantively different from one another.

On the other hand, many of the things I didn't like about Kettlebell Goddess are things that Skogg does better. I found that Michael Skogg's on camera personality and the background music gives the Skogg workouts a much more energetic feel. He isn't perky in any way, but he seems much more engaged and comfortable on screen, which makes the experience much more comfortable and enjoyable for me. With Skogg I felt like I was working out with him, with DuCane I felt like I was watching people work out and following along, if that makes any sense.

I appreciate also Skogg's frequent reminders for good form, and the fact that there is a very helpful instructional disc. While Andrea DuCane clearly knows what she's doing, I don't remember there being as much reinforcement of good form in Kettlebell goddess. This is particularly true when it comes to backgrounders. I found the backgrounder in Goddess who was an MD very distracting. I thought her form was bad and that she looked overwhelmed by the exercises. The two backgrounders in Skogg look strong and at ease, and demonstrate excellent form, which further reinforces proper technique for me.

Hope that helps, and that someone with a bit more authority on the subject can pipe in as well.
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Old 04-02-13, 10:38 AM  
katmom
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Tennessee
In the Skogg @ Home DVD's, for the most part, the background exercisers are actual trainers at the Skogg Gym. Ray from the first system is frequently in the @ Home DVD's. There is an occasional gym member in the DVD's. I have not noticed bad form from any of the background exercisers and as previously stated, Skogg gives great form tips. Sometimes Skogg works along with the class and sometimes he just calls out the moves and observes. I think Skogg seems even more at ease in these DVD's and this may come from the fact that he is just running a class at his gym with people he knows. Plus the warm-ups and cooldowns are excellent.

I have no idea what the pricing is for Kettlebell Goddess, but for $36 you get 2 DVD's with 6 different workouts on each DVD. Some of the warm-ups and cooldowns have similar movements, but they are still different enough that they do not seem repetitive.
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Old 04-02-13, 12:23 PM  
katmom
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Tennessee
I wanted to add there is a tutorial on the Skogg @ Home DVD's of the 6 basic kettlebell moves: swing, clean, press, racked squat, high pull, and snatch.

The original Skogg System also covers these six moves, but the same moves are used in each of the 4 DVD's for 4 different levels. As you go up in levels, the workout duration is longer. Also the warmup and cooldown routines only vary depending on the DVD used. While it is a repetitive rotation, I felt more comfortable with working out with kettlebells after I had completed the rotation.
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Old 04-02-13, 12:43 PM  
Castella
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
I rented some of the Skogg DVDs first to get a sense of the workouts. I am doing the original rotation right now (which means I am doing the DVDs but not following the rotation plan because that's just me). I have purchased any number of kettlebells DVDs over the years, including Kettlebell Goddess, but Skogg is the first set that I actually have used and stuck with. I like Skogg for the form pointers. I'm not sure about his form for the clean and press where he says full extension (I thought the shoulder was supposed to be pulled into the body and not fully extended up) but I like his pointers for hand position and where the drive for the movement originates.

I think Ray is lifting too heavy in the DVDs and it sometimes detracts from his form. There are a few times where Skogg will remind "someone, you know who you are" to not let their thumb and hand rotate back while swinging down, because it ends up rotating your shoulders and hips and creating a twist in the spine. I think Ray has a tendency to do that when he is tired, and it also seems to me that sometimes when he is tired his back rounds. However, these are excellent reminders of what I do NOT want to do, and what I do in fact tend to do when I am tired. The best time for me to really focus on form is just when I am starting to get tired and the form begins to slide.

A tiny criticism I have is Skogg's mentioning on every DVD that he doesn't like squats. I really don't like kettlebell squats because it is hard for me to squat with weight in front of my body (versus on my shoulders). But his saying that he doesn't like them makes me feel like not even doing them.

Also, yes, there is variety in the workouts in terms of how they are structured, but I would say the series is probably best for beginners who want good form pointers and an opportunitiy to drill the form home, because the 6 basic moves do get kind of old.

All in all I think Skogg is a great set and I have actually stuck with it for a couple (maybe even 3?) months. It's been a long time since I previewed Kettlebell Goddess and I was planning on getting rid of it, except I somehow managed to lose the case and cover. If I recall, it felt less like a DVD that I could work out to than a demonstration, but don't trust my faulty memory.
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Old 04-02-13, 12:46 PM  
Juliepie
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Castella View Post
A tiny criticism I have is Skogg's mentioning on every DVD that he doesn't like squats. I really don't like kettlebell squats because it is hard for me to squat with weight in front of my body (versus on my shoulders). But his saying that he doesn't like them makes me feel like not even doing them.
Why doesn't he like them?
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Old 04-02-13, 04:05 PM  
katmom
 
Join Date: May 2006
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I don't know why Skogg does not like squats. However, in the Skogg @ Home, I think I recall him saying that he thought goblet squats were easier than racked squats. There is more balance and core activation with the racked squats which would make them a bit harder.
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Old 04-02-13, 09:06 PM  
Castella
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
In the intro DVD where they demonstrate and break down each move, he says that squats are hard, and not his favorite. I keep good form and keep my knees and my rear end back when doing the squats, but having weight in the front of my body is harder on my knees. That's why I don't like them. He talks about how he loves the snatch because it is elegant and beautiful and works the whole body, so maybe he doesn't like squats because they aren't elegant? And because you aren't swinging and moving the bell?

I think the variety in how the workouts are structured is challenging and each one challenges you in a different way. I spent probably too much time with the first DVD, trying to really focus on form. Just changing things up in Intervals was a whole new challenge, and then Ladders is a different challenge because you don't really get to ride momentum as much. I haven't done Flow yet, but I'm sure I'll love it. Ladders is my favorite.

Another good thing is that Skogg says he isn't just teaching how to do the basic movements but also how to put a workout together, so you can take the structure of Ladders and change it up in different ways. I like that because I tend to do that anyway.
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Old 04-03-13, 05:00 PM  
KateTT
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Skogg, Skogg and more Skogg. I recently discovered his Kettlebell workouts and they are TOPS in my book. I have lots of other Kbell workouts and the Skoggs are my favorite. I have the set and both the 'at Home' dvds too. I LOVE the 'at Home' workouts because they are more like being in a regular class and Michael is a little more jokey and fun. But all are fantastic.

I asked if they were going to make anymore 'at Home' dvds and they said they are!!! I'll be stalking until I find out more!
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