I watched Gladiator again recently. I’ve seen it dozens of times at this point — but I keep coming back for Maximus.

His strength, discipline, and unbreakable will – even when everything has been taken from him.

That character is just something else!

And it got me thinking about what it actually took to bring that character to life…

So I was listening to an interview recently where Russell Crowe talked about how he prepped for the role.

He talked about working on:

• Endurance & Stamina — He sparred and boxed to build the kind of conditioning that doesn’t quit.
• Agility & Mobility — Yoga kept him fluid, sharp, and ready to move like a fighter — not just look like one.
• Strength & Power — Heavy lifting to build real muscle and raw force from the ground up.
• Active Recovery — Daily walks to keep the body moving, flush the fatigue, and stay ready to go again.
• Mental Toughness — Do all of the above, consistently, for months. That’s how you forge the will.

So when I put together the Gladiator Gains Kettlebell Challenge, I wanted to help people build the performance and physique of a modern-day gladiator — without having to train morning to night as Russell did. Just 3-4 workouts per week, 20-30 minutes, at home with a kettlebell or two.

-> Check out the full Gladiator KB GAINZ program here (one-day fire sale)​

Here’s one of my favorite workouts from the challenge. Remember, you’re going to get over 100 other workouts like this inside Gladiator Gains — but here’s a sample:

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Gladiator KB GAINZ workout (free sample)

Part 1 — Strength Ladder

Superset lunges with either chin-ups, over-the-bar holds, or 1-arm KB rows. Run through this twice:

• 3 lunges / 1 chin-up or 5-sec hold or 3 rows per side
• 6 lunges / 2 chin-ups or 10-sec hold or 6 rows per side
• 9 lunges / 3 chin-ups or 15-sec hold or 9 rows per side

Rest, then repeat.

Part 2 — Circuit Training

45 seconds per exercise, no rest between moves, one rest between circuits. 4 rounds:

• Single-arm KB swings
• Saw (moving plank — engage the upper body, drive the elbows down, use the lats)
• Side-to-side KB lunges
• High knees in place

Part 3 — Core & Arms Finisher

8-minute AMRAP:

• 5 KB halos with tricep extension per side
• 5 plank-to-push-up per side

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If you liked that workout, you’re going to love the full Gladiator Gains Kettlebell Challenge.

With this challenge, you’re going to build gladiator-level strength and muscle, drop fat, boost endurance, and stay strong and pain-free with recovery-focused routines.

Here’s the deal on this sale: this program is on sale for one day only — a fire sale as we roll into the summer. This bundle is actually 10 different gladiator-themed workouts. It’s normally off the market, but I’m opening it up for a 3-day sale to close out the month.

Day 1: Action Hero Kettlebell ✅
Day 2: Viking Valor Kettlebell ✅
Day 3: Gladiator Gains Kettlebell ← today

Tomorrow: it’s gone.

If you’re thinking about it, check out the link below – and let it fuel your training the way Maximus fueled his battles in the arena:

–>> Gladiator KB GAINZ program here (one-day fire sale)​

— Forest Vance, MS, Kettlebell Specialist
FVTraining.com | KettlebellBasics.net