Kettlebell Academy: Review of Amoila Cesar’s Workout Program

Are you looking to learn how to exercise at home with kettlebells? Check out this honest review of the “Kettlebell Academy” workout program with Amoila Cesar on the online BODi platform and app to see if it might be a good match for your fitness aims!

As background, my name is Lillie and this is the twenty-ninth workout review I’ve written up in my series of BODi workout program reviews — each one done from first-hand, real-life experience, and a lot of sweat! “Kettlebell Academy” is a short program of just 9 half-hour videos that is categorized as “For All Levels,” but please still use caution and wise judgment in starting any new exercise regimen to stay healthy and safe.

Note: Some links here are affiliates that provide a commission upon purchase at no extra cost to you.

How to Access “Kettlebell Academy”

To gain access to the “Kettlebell Academy” workout program, you need a subscription to the BODi platform or app, which also includes over 120 other workout programs. Click here to see the latest deals, offers, and discounts, including a free trial. Use the sale code LILLIEFIT25 for 25% off the price of full subscriptions!

Note that for certain programs, BODi allows you to download them individually without a subscription at this link here. At this time, “Kettlebell Academy” is not offered in this manner, but several of Amoila’s wonderful other programs are. Use code LILLIEFIT15 at checkout for a 15% off discount if you choose that path.

Equipment Needed for “KA”

For “Kettlebell Academy,” you will need at least one kettlebell (see a range of sizes at this link). I ended up using my 10 pound one the most since I was just getting the hang of the moves — especially the one-armed ones, but a 15 pounder would have been nice, and I did use my 25-pounder for some of the simple swings towards the end, which felt great.

Since each workout starts with a jump rope warm-up, you’ll likely also want a cordless jump rope — or can just “use your imagination,” as Amoila says — but I like the rope. That said, because this is such a short program, I wouldn’t spend a lot of extra money on equipment unless you’ll be using it again (which you likely could, for example with “Muscle Burns Fat #MBF” and “MBFA” since they have a big cordless jump rope component).

“Kettlebell Academy” Review

So, how is “Kettlebell Academy” as a workout program? Well — there are pros and cons. As with “LIIFT MORE,” I’m going to start with the negatives, because although I enjoyed the program and got a lot out of it, if you don’t enter it with some context, it may be disappointing.

Problems With “KA”

1. “Kettlebell Academy” is more of a tutorial than a workout program.

Like Amoila’s related program, “Performance Academy,” don’t go into “Kettlebell Academy” expecting a full workout program, or you’ll be disappointed. First, the pace is slower, and six of the videos (the first two of each set of three) are far more talking and teaching than heart-pounding exercise. Second, there are only nine videos.

I see why Amoila did this — kettlebell moves are complex and have a potential for injury if not done correctly — but I did find myself frustrated on days 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, and 8 when I went in expecting more sweating. Unlike a consistently intense program like “Tough Mudder T-30,” you’ll likely need supplementary exercise (even just a long walk!) on days you do this program, so manage your expectations!

2. Some movements may be physically uncomfortable or cause dizziness — use caution.

Kettlebell movements — especially the full-stop ones that Amoila coaches with — require a lot of bending and rising up movements, which can cause dizziness, lightheadedness, or discomfort if you have low blood pressure or knee issues like me! As with “BODi LAVA” which also has a lot of up and down movements, monitor your body, pause to reset, and use a yoga block for a modifier of depth if needed.

Related to body discomfort: There are several moves during which hard, heavy kettlebell has the potential to slam against your wrist. Amoila teaches ways to avoid this, but I did end up substituting a dumbbell for the kettlebell in a few videos to avoid this. (I definitely gained confidence back in Amoila’s “4 Weeks of the Prep” around adding extra modifications!) Though this program is categorized as for “All Levels,” I’d suggest it’s more Intermediate and up.

Positive Aspects of “KA”

A. The Kettlebell workouts are amazing for functional full-body exercise.

If you’re serious about fitness, it is absolutely a good use of time to learn how to work out with kettlebells; it’s simple like “4 Weeks of Focus,” but is wildly effective. As Amoila explains, some say that all you need is a few kettlebells, and you can train for the Olympics!

The moves in “Kettlebell Academy” are functional (unlike much of “LIIFT4“) and full-body, and really develop your core, posterior chain posture muscles, and glutes, especially because many moves are unilateral which force stability activation. The swings are an interesting way to get cardio and strength in a low-impact way; during the “Drills” videos, my heart was pounding and I felt the moves in my whole body — but there was no jumping or joint-jolting needed.

B. “Kettlebell Academy” doesn’t require a lot of equipment.

Amoila explains that all you need are one or two kettlebells (I used 10s and 25s, though I think 15s would have been nice), and they can last for a lifetime of quality training! This is a far cry from the tons of equipment needed for a program like “9 Week Control Freak.”

C. There’s a nice long, effective warm-up in each video.

As with “Performance Academy,” Amoila starts each workout video of “Kettlebell Academy” with a full two-minute jump-rope warm-up. Though I modified this to stepping for most days since jumping isn’t always great for me, I found this predictable intro a nice way to ease into the training.

D. Very slow, methodical teaching that builds up.

Yes, as I explained in the “Problems” section, “Kettlebell Academy” can be very slow (even slower than parts of “Dig Deeper“) for the first two videos of each chunk — but the positive side of that is that Amoila is able to give very clear, methodical teaching that builds upon itself towards mastery. As long as you know that the pace only reaches “actual workout level” every third video, it’s a nice progression.

E. Amoila is an amazing and hilarious trainer.

I’ve loved Amoila Cesar’s training style since I did “6 Weeks of the Work” over half a decade ago. He’s charismatic, educational, hilarious, and effective, with an excellent focus on functional fitness.

Be warned he’s a tad risqué (as you may have seen in “645“), which I find funny, but some may not. One of the funniest videos of “Kettlebell Academy” has him instructing you to “h*mp the air” as you swing the kettlebell!

F. Music can be turned off, and there’s no distracting “BOD Cast.”

Like “For Beginners Only,” you can turn off the odd synthesized background music in “Kettlebell Academy” with the button in the lower right of the screen, so you just hear Amoila’s voice and can play your own background music if desired. There’s also no distracting “BOD Cast” of shaky videos of people working out at home.

“Kettlebell Academy” Review, in Sum

Overall, I found “Kettlebell Academy” to be a fun, interesting program with a fabulous trainer. If you’d like to do a trial or sample of this program or any others on the app, tap this link here.

I relished learning the exciting and effective full-body functional moves of working out with kettlebells. The exercises felt great for the most part (swings are so fun!) — you just have to bear two things in mind when entering this program: First, to manage your expectations since this is more or a tutorial than a full workout program like “21 Day Fix.” It teaches you the moves so you can go on to use and repeat them on your own, or by re-watching videos).

Second, you need to actively monitor and modify any movements that aren’t comfortable. Do note that Amoila Cesar released this program around the same time as “Performance Academy,” and provided this hybrid calendar of the two together that could be used to expand the duration and impact of these videos into a solid month.

If you’ve done “Kettlebell Academy,” what was your experience? If you haven’t yet, what questions do you have about this, or other BODi workout programs like “Job 1?” Do share!