Skip to content
ascend.
Exercise guide

Kettlebell Thruster

How to do the Kettlebell Thruster with correct form, the muscles it works, and where it fits a training plan you actually stick to.

CompoundKettlebellsIntermediatePush
Primary muscles

Shoulders

Secondary

Quads, Triceps

Equipment

Kettlebells

Step by step

How to do the Kettlebell Thruster

  1. 1

    Clean two kettlebells to your shoulders. Clean the kettlebells to your shoulders by extending through the legs and hips as you pull the kettlebells towards your shoulders. Rotate your wrists as you do so. This will be your starting position.

  2. 2

    Begin to squat by flexing your hips and knees, lowering your hips between your legs. Maintain an upright, straight back as you descend as low as you can.

  3. 3

    At the bottom, reverse direction and squat by extending your knees and hips, driving through your heels. As you do so, press both kettlebells overhead by extending your arms straight up, using the momentum from the squat to help drive the weights upward.

  4. 4

    As you begin the next repetition, return the weights to the shoulders.

In Ascend

Log it, see it on your body.

Every Kettlebell Thruster set you log feeds Ascend's anatomy heatmap — so your shoulders volume is visible at a glance — and counts toward your bodyweight-strength tier.

Related

More shoulders exercises

Ascend Club

The climb is free. The Club is how you go further.

Core tracking is free forever. Club unlocks the coach, the competition, and the depth — for the price of one protein-shake a month.

AI Coach

Your own coach character

Pick Rae, June or Atlas — a coach that reads your last 90 days and proposes the next move. Free gets nudges; Club gets the full conversation.

Leagues

Mountain leagues, worldwide

Get ranked against climbers everywhere — every muscle tiered by bodyweight strength. Promote, demote, and prove it weekly.

Challenges

Weekly + monthly challenges

Fresh goals that keep the streak interesting — solo or with your crew. Something to chase beyond your own numbers.

Analytics

Deep analytics + PR projections

See exactly when you'll hit your next PR and bodyweight goal — 4, 8, 12 weeks out. The trajectory, not just today's number.

Crews

Unlimited crews

Run as many crews as you want — squads, family, gym friends. Shared summits, cheers, and a feed that keeps everyone climbing.

Themes & more

Themes, higher AI limits, full export

Aurora, Volcanic and Summit themes. More AI chat headroom. And CSV + JSON export of everything, anytime — your data stays yours.

See Club plans

14-day free trial · no card · cancel anytime · founder pricing locked forever.