RKC School of Strength

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The Get-Up—The Ultimate Triplanar Exercise

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training get-ups for judo athletes

When we think of Bruce Lee throwing a kick, Muhammad Ali dodging a punch, or a great wrestler like Dan Gable swiftly shooting in for a double-leg takedown and dumping his opponent on the mat, we can easily imagine strength exerted on multiple planes.  This multi-dimensional strength and stability is achieved through specific strength conditioning. It is the key for optimizing body movement and power for a combat athlete’s knock-out punch. It also provides incomparable groundwork for other athletes, too.

The majority of today’s programs favor traditional strength and conditioning approaches which are often heavily biased towards sagittal plane (forward and backward) movements. We definitely need strength in the sagittal plane, and many of the big-bang-for-the-buck exercises like squats and deadlifts occur in this plane.

But in designing our training, it is important to understand that the human body does not move in just one direction. We can also move side-to-side, forward, backward, and in rotation. Training in multiple planes, or multiple directions, helps us achieve higher levels of body awareness, balance, and coordination. This improved programing allows for quicker reaction times and more efficient neuro-motor function. Training in all the planes can help athletes and clients avoid injury and enhance their performance. It’s a required practice for any athlete determined to consistently perform on an elite level.

 

The Three Planes:

Sagittal Plane:

Movements in the sagittal plan move forward and back, or through the mid-line of the body. Common examples of sagittal plane movements are a biceps curl or a sit-up.

Frontal Plane:

Movements along the frontal plan can be described as side-to-side, such as abduction and adduction. Exercises that work through the frontal plane are side lunges and jumping jacks.

Transverse Plane:

Movements in the transverse plane include horizontal abduction, adduction or rotational actions. Exercise examples include the Russian twist or a cable woodchop.

One major reason most sports injuries occur in the frontal and transverse planes is that most athletes are only training in the sagittal plane. Athleticism depends on a tremendous amount of movement in different planes of action. Strength and conditioning programs for athletes should strive to include as many variations of movement as possible to train muscles in as many planes as possible (Kenn, 2003).

As trainers and coaches, we must prepare our athletes by strengthening their bodies in all three planes. If your athletes understand the difference between these three planes of movement and can develop their ability to efficiently weave their movements together, then they will be well-rounded and less prone to injury.  For example a fighter in the ring or cage spins, moves left and right, dodges kicks, pivots, punches, and is constantly tackled.  If his or her body is weak in a particular plane, the likelihood of an injury is much greater.

Most popular training methods do not use multi-planar movements. Powerlifting, Olympic lifting, CrossFit training, and bodybuilding tend to primarily work in the sagittal plane. Very few movements are in the transverse or frontal planes. Additionally, most of these training methods do not include multi-planar movements—combinations of frontal, sagittal, and transverse planes of motion. These popular training methods are still valid for training athletes, but coaches should also consider ways to train sport-specific movements that athletes will perform on the field of play (Brown, 2013).

Ashoka McCormick at the whiteboard

As strength coaches and trainers, we can create workouts that hit all of these planes, or we can select compound exercises—triplaner movements—that hit all three planes in one rep. One of the best triplanar movements of all is already a staple among RKC and HKC Instructors: the get-up

In the kettlebell community and the strength and conditioning world, the get-up is highly regarded, and with very good reason. It’s a highly functional movement and total body exercise. Its benefits include improved shoulder stability and strength, correction of left-right asymmetries, overall mobility, core strength, improved movement skills, overall proprioception / coordination, and time under tension. The get-up also teaches athletes to stabilize themselves and create whole body tension in a variety of positions.

 

Truly Triplanar

The above-mentioned list of benefits is more than enough justification to include the get-up in our workouts. But, I think that one of the most valuable benefits provided by the get-up is that it passes through all three movement planes from the ground up, and again on the way back down to the ground. For that reason alone, the kettlebell get-up is one of my favorite options—it forces you to work in EVERY plane of motion.

Body Awareness

The get-up provides a variety of functional movement patterns and an unmatched stimulation to our vestibular and nervous systems. Once they have mastered all the steps of the get-up, you can even lead your clients and athletes through the movement with their eyes closed for a greater nervous system challenge. The body awareness developed from practicing get-ups provides tremendous value for athletes and the general population.

Ashoka McCormick spotting kettlebell get-up

Five Minute Get-Ups

At my HKC certification in April, RKC Team Leader Chris White mentioned doing “Five Minute Get-Ups.” Since then I have added this drill into many of my programs for Judo athletes. At first, they should be practiced without weight, then balance a shoe on the fist for added challenge.  I tend to use the “Five Minute Get-Up” protocol at the beginning of our workouts, it serves as a good warm-up, and a great opportunity for skill development.

During the drill, we focus on one quality rep at a time. I encourage the athletes to take their time. You can incorporate “Five Minute Get-Ups” at the beginning of your workout, on a recovery day, or even as a stand-alone skill practice session. Advanced athletes can try it with weight. But, with or without a kettlebell, the main focus is on the fluidity of the movement.

When designing a strength and conditioning program, we need to include multi-planar movements, multi-directional movements, and various stances which are appropriate for our athletes. Exercises like the get-up will help athletes move more efficiently and will decrease their chances of injury while increasing their overall functional strength.

Winning Athletes At the podium

References:
Brown, T. (2013, September). NSCA’s Performance Training Journal, Issue 12. Retrieved November 18, 2016
Kenn, J. (2003). The Coach’s Strength Training Playbook. Monterey, CA: Coaches Choice.

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Ashoka McCormick, HKC is a performance coach in Santa Cruz, California.

WE ARE RKC

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We are RKC

I am an RKC.

What does that mean?

To me, the RKC is the gold standard of HardStyle kettlebell education. The RKC is hours, weeks, years, a lifetime of training toward mastering my craft. The RKC is knowing (despite titles) that I will never truly master my craft. At our heart, the RKC is about education, support, community, health and strength.

Did you notice where I placed strength in the description? While intentional, strength’s placement wasn’t meant as a slight or as a dig at its perceived value.

It’s reminder of the all-too-often-forgotten truth:

The strongest person in the room isn’t always the most effective trainer in the room.

You may be the strongest coach in the room and have a double Beast (2 106lb kettlebells) press. That’s awesome. However, a double Beast press alone doesn’t qualify you to train my girlfriend.

Take a moment to reflect on that statement. Social media will try to prove otherwise. When we go beyond marketing, bravado, image and ego; we are left with an educational system.

Steve Holiner Bottom-up kettlebell press

I am not a badass, a tactical operator or an elite athlete. I am a dad, a coach and a teacher. The RKC provides me the ability and knowledge base to do what I love at a high level. Now if you happen to be badass, tactical or elite—cool, the RKC will do the same for you. Great education serves all. Attitude or image do not.

RKC Instructor ManualWhen you register for a three-day RKC Kettlebell Certification, the goal of the RKC leadership team is to ensure that you leave with the skills, proficiency and knowledge of the RKC system—to enhance your ability as an instructor or enthusiast. We also provide the follow through to keep you progressing. Be proud of your accomplishments, but as with any great school, we all need time to study.

In our over fifteen-year existence, the RKC has gone through dramatic changes. In its latest transformation, the RKC has “grown up” from its beat-down roots and become more sophisticated in its approach to producing tough but well-coached, skilled fitness professionals.

That is our strength: to be not just physically strong—but balanced and “healthy-strong” across the board. Strong physical skills combined with strong coaching skills…

RKC Instructor Team KansasRemaining the standard bearer and the innovator, the New RKC created the curriculum that others are now scrambling to adopt and imitate. We continue to lead by example.

 

With a laser sharp focus on nurturing excellent coaches and informing the enthusiast, the RKC has the best interest of our current and future instructors in mind.

Please reach out to any member of the RKC leadership team to ask questions or assistance. We’re here for you.

The RKC isn’t just about you or me. It’s about all of us.

Together, we can help a lot of people.

Together…

WE ARE RKC!

 

-Fury

#diemighty

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Along with creating Die Mighty, Steve “Coach Fury” Holiner is a trainer at Mark Fisher Fitness in NYC, a Master RKC, Kettlebell Instructor, an Original Strength Lead Instructor, and a Master DVRT Ultimate Sandbag Training Instructor. Through his leadership roles, Fury travels throughout the U.S. and internationally to teach. Fury has also written for Mark Fisher Fitness, the RKC, DVRT Ultimate Sandbag Training, Bodybuilding.com, Details Magazine and his own site.

He’s also a big Godzilla fan.

Fury is available for online training and is teaching workshops.

You can follow Fury at: coachfury.com, FB/coachfury, IG@iamcoachfury/, twitter@coachfury

RKC: An Equal Opportunity, Self-Improvement Program for Fixing Flaws and Enhancing Function

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Milwaukee RKC 2016

Adrienne: You recently hosted a second RKC at your gym in Milwaukee. What inspired you to host the RKC again?

Nick: We’ve had several HKC workshops at our gym as well. I think the RKC is the coolest, it’s the full package, and it’s good for everybody. At the recent workshop, the group included gym owners and professional athletes as well as “nine-to-fivers” who’ve never played a sport in their life! But, everyone can equally benefit.

The athletes signed up for the RKC to learn and enhance their performance in any future event—while often experiencing the hardest physical challenge of their lives! There’s a yin and yang to the RKC, you learn a ton while still experiencing a serious physical challenge in the process.

Adrienne: In your opinion, who should sign up for an RKC Workshop?

Nick: Anyone who is interested in improving themselves should sign up. At the recent RKC in Milwaukee we even had two people who signed up because they wanted to learn, even though they didn’t think they could pass the testing. A chiropractor who came to the RKC we hosted last year signed up again and fully retested, even though he didn’t need to recertify yet.

The RKC is great for anyone who wants to learn about kettlebell technique, functional strength training, and to see how hard they can safely push themselves. There’s a kind of safety net with the RKC—you’re pushing yourself to new limits while simultaneously correcting your movement patterns.

Essentially, you’ll spend three days finding everything dysfunctional about yourself and your students, then learn functional ways to fix and improve the issues. So anyone who is interested in learning how to replace dysfunction with function should go to an RKC Workshop.

Milwaukee RKC Jared Squat Coaching

If I hand my beginner clients a kettlebell, the weight can anchor their joints so they can learn to wedge. A kettlebell can pull their hips back so that they can learn to hinge. Nearly everybody can get involved with kettlebells on a pretty equal playing field. I can easily teach a group of ten people kettlebell swings and watch as the professional athlete and beginner both improve.

Adrienne: That’s right—and with an appropriate weight for each, they can all practice the same basic movement patterns.

Nick: Yes and it’s kind of freaky how hard we can make kettlebell training—we’re not sure if it’s even possible to max out one’s potential. At the same time, kettlebell training can be regressed to beginner movements. We’ve even seen Prof. Stuart McGill, back surgeon Dr. Roth and Milwaukee RKC attendees Dr. Jon Duris and Dr. Christina Ronchetti trust the kettlebell with their patients. Kettlebells can work with a full spectrum of people and that’s why I think it’s important to host and be part of the RKC community.

Adrienne: The recent RKC workshop you hosted was taught by Master RKC Phil Ross. I had the pleasure of recertifying for my RKC-II with him last year. He brings so many useful cues from his experience in martial arts and as a highly experienced teacher. Did you learn anything particularly unique from Phil this time?

Nick: Absolutely! I liked a lot of the old school stuff that he taught. He went over a lot of really applicable and functional drills with kettlebells—things that people can start using in their own training and with their clients immediately. I had forgotten about some of the ideas and also learned some cool new ways to use kettlebells.

Milwaukee RKC Phil Ross Instructing

He brought so much to the table—I think it came from so many years of actively working in the fitness industry and his experience as a fighter. He’d also experienced debilitating injuries in the past, has healed and worked himself out of it. I think that experience has lead to a whole lot of learning.

Adrienne: Even though you’re an RKC-II and a Team Leader, did you learn anything completely new at the recent RKC Workshop you hosted?

Nick: We went over some RKC armbar variations I hadn’t done before. Phil had everyone moving quickly in them, but with the number one safety rule: maintaining the wedge. We started on our backs with both legs still straight with heels flexed to get ready to move into the arm bar position. We were to keep the toe pointing towards our faces the whole time on the foot on the same side as the kettlebell. That leg then raises up and all the way across the body. Every time that leg moves though, your shoulders are packed, you’re pressing your lower back into the ground—and the same is true when you come out of it too.

Personally, as someone born with a congenital spinal defect (and I’ve avoided surgery) I’m cautious but open-minded about ways to safely strengthen my core. After that exercise, I felt like my whole body was put together really well. Normally twisting exercises with weight seem like we’re begging for injury, but because of the emphasis on the wedge and tension—even while moving quickly with it—everyone agreed they felt really good afterwards. I get something new every time!

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Video and Photography by NickNikPhotography

RKC Team Leader Nick Lynch is a Strength and Conditioning Coach at Milwaukee School of Engineering University (MSOE). He owns Superb Health Milwaukee, a kettlebell studio in Milwaukee, WI. He has 13 years of full-time training and coaching experience and a lifetime of wellness education. Nick lives in Milwaukee, WI with his wife Natalie and son Weston.

Adrienne Harvey is a Senior PCC, RKC-II, DVRT, CK-FMS, and author of the upcoming Dragon Door title, Eat Strong, Lift Strong, Move Strong: Proven Secrets for Strength, Power and Robust Energy. She has been RKC Certified since 2010, RKC Level 2 certified since 2011, and a core member of the PCC team.  Adrienne loves sharing her knowledge with small groups and individuals.

 

Training an Olympic Judoka with Kettlebell Swings and the Goblet Squat

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Colton Brown Goblet Squat

10,000 athletes compete in the Summer Olympics. Colton Brown, age 23, was ranked number 1 in the USA (and 27th in the world) in the Men’s 90 Kilogram Judo Black Belt Division on May 30, 2016. Now, Colton is heading to the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio De Janeiro to represent the USA.

The road to Rio was not easy, but Colton’s USA Olympic Judo Team qualification was one of the proudest moments in my young career as a strength coach. After four years of hard work, Colton has manifested a dream he’s had since age 12.

Colton had just returned from competing in the World Judo Championships in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil when I first began working with him in August of 2013. I had just begun my coaching career by volunteering as the Spartan Judo Team strength coach at San Jose State University. As a dominant collegiate Judo athlete and 2-time All American, Colton had his sights set on becoming an Olympian. After the World Judo Championships, Colton wanted to gain muscle mass. We spent the Fall semester in the weight-room working on a basic hypertrophy program. With the 2016 Olympic qualification period nine months away, we planned to spend two-thirds of the year on strength and hypertrophy. By mid-November, Colton had made significant strength and size gains.

Colton then traveled to Texas and Japan, two of 2013’s last important tournaments. At the Tokyo Grand Slam Tournament, he reported standing toe to toe with the number four competitor in the world—and he only lost by a penalty. Colton won six matches and took the gold medal at the Dallas Open. He credits our weight training program for helping him become the best player in the country.

After the tournaments, Colton kept training on campus at San Jose State, he also trained with me privately two to three times each week at the facility. Even before he began working with me, Colton already had a great deadlift, crushed pull-ups, and push-ups with ease. But, Colton’s weakest lift was the squat. While we had addressed his movement patterns and mobility, the exercise which ultimately helped Colton improve his squat was the goblet squat.

Since late 2014, the goblet squat has been a staple of Colton’s training. At first, I used it as a tool to teach Colton to squat more efficiently, and to build a strong foundation. Next, we progressed to the barbell back squat, double kettlebell front squat, and many others. I believe goblet squats are a great exercise for athletic movement preparation, or as a stand-alone drill for mobility.

Most importantly, the goblet squat is a great in-season squat patterning exercise for all athletes. Judo athletes face a unique programming challenge—their entire year is “in-season”. There’s no true “off season”, especially at the international level. Judo athletes compete and train on a regular basis. Even during the “slower” parts of the year, they practice on the mat twice a day, for five to six days each week. During the qualification period, they frequently travel for qualifying tournaments and required training camps. Extra travel is another unique programming challenge.

Goblet squats have a high benefit to low-risk ratio. I am not comfortable placing a lot of load on my Judo athletes during certain times of the year with barbell back squats, or front squats. Regardless of the competition calendar, I can always turn to the goblet squat—it’s safe, effective, and works well in our training program.

Colton Brown Judo Throw

The Road to Rio

In April 2014, Colton won his third consecutive title at the National Collegiate Judo Championships and continued to establishing himself as the one of the best Judo players in the USA. Shortly after, the Olympic qualification period began in May 30, 2014 and lasted until May 30, 2016. Prior to qualification, we made sure to build a solid base of strength. With more travel, we adjusted the volume of Colton’s program while he competed all over the world.

The World Tour is tough on Judo athletes. It’s stressful, and while they get to see the world, it’s not a vacation. Standing are constantly changing, qualification points are on the line—along with the demands of competing and traveling in vastly different environments all over the world. It’s a grind.

During the two-year qualification period, I added kettlebell training to many of Colton’s workouts. The kettlebell can profoundly benefit elite level Judo athletes. Kettlebell training is one of the most important ingredients in our recipe for success. While I don’t use kettlebells exclusively in my programs, they have proven time and time again to benefit our athletes on the Judo mat. Kettlebell swings may be one of the best movements a Judoka can perform in the weight room. Since adding more swings to Colton’s training sessions in the Spring of 2014, they have remained a staple in his training as a go-to power exercise.

We needed to train Colton to be as strong and healthy as possible to endure the intense training camps and international Judo tournaments. While Colton had less time to train with me, our general programming template remained the same. For the three years we’ve been training, I’ve tried to use as many “big bang for your buck” movements in his training—no matter what tool we use.

Big Bang For Your Buck Movements

  • Push (horizontal and vertical)
  • Pull (horizontal and vertical)
  • Hinge (bilateral and unilateral)
  • Squat (bilateral and unilateral)
  • Crawling (side to side, forwards, backwards)
  • Core training
  • Movement in the sagittal, frontal, and transverse planes

Colton’s programs included balanced workouts with a wide variety of exercises with barbells, TRX, medicine balls, dumbbells, and kettlebells. For example, in one workout we would focus on a hinge movement and a pushing movement, then the next workout would feature a squatting movement and a pulling movement. I also included mobility, core training, and accessory movements in every session. Occasionally, we took the training to the beach or park. I think it’s important to include variety in your training and training environment. Another reason I love the kettlebell is you can work out with it almost anywhere.

Making the USA Olympic Judo Team

Colton continued to train relentlessly both on and off the Judo mat during the qualification period. During that time, he won a Gold Medal in the Pan American Open in San Salvador, Silver Medals at the European Open in Glasgow and African Open in Tunis, and placed at many other renowned tournaments throughout the world.

At the prestigious Pan American Championships in Havana, Cuba in May 2016, Colton earned three wins with one loss, capturing a Silver Medal after finishing in fifth-place for the previous two years. Now, Colton will be one of only three men representing the United States Judo Team in Rio De Janeiro this August.

Daily, Colton spends countless hours on the mats perfecting his judo technique, dialing in his nutrition, practicing mental visualization, planning his recovery, and studying his opponents. He also gives his best in every strength and conditioning session.

Kettlebell Swings and the Goblet Squat for Judo Performance

The Goblet Squat

The goblet squat is a staple in almost all of Colton’s strength and conditioning programs for the past two and a half years. Since there’s no true off-season in Judo, I have to be smart about loading him up. While we use other squat variations with the barbell, the goblet squat is our go-to.

Goblet Squat Prying

After a two to three week hiatus due to travel, goblet squat prying was an excellent choice to help open his hips. Flying has a direct physical impact. Sitting can cause the hip flexors and hamstrings to get tight and stiff. It can also take a toll on the spine, hips, and shoulders. Long flights leave your legs tight and your glutes inactive. One of the mobility drills I learned at the HKC is goblet squat prying, and it is incredibly effective for loosening up the hips.

I instruct the athlete to breathe deeply while maintaining their posture. As they begin to loosen up, I will instruct them to go deeper into the squat while wiggling the hips from side to side and in a small figure-8 as taught at the HKC. Alternately, I will instruct them to hold the bottom of the goblet squat position for a count of 10 breaths. We often superset the prying goblet squat with the RKC hip flexor stretch. These two exercises can do wonders for the hips, especially after a long flight. Adding a few sets of mini band activation exercises such as bent knee lateral walks, and mini band glute bridges ensure glute engagement. After opening up the hips, stretching the hip flexors, and turning on the glutes, the athlete is ready for a more productive training session.

The Goblet Squat as a “Mini Screen”

While I’m certified to use the FMS screen and administer it throughout the year, I also use the goblet squat in warm-ups and as a quick daily screen. Goblet squats how me how the athlete is moving during that particular training session. Basic movements like lunges, push ups, and squatting patterns can be used as movement preparation for the training session and as “mini screens”. I want to get a picture of where the athlete is on that given day, along with any flaws or leaks in the movement.

The Goblet Squat as a Teaching Aide

The goblet squat reinforces correct squatting mechanics. Colton’s squatting pattern, squat depth, and mobility immediately improved after adding the goblet squat to his program. The goblet squat is one of the best tools for helping my Judo athletes develop movement competency in the squatting pattern. I’m more confident when progressing them to advanced squatting variations such as barbell front squats, or racked kettlebell front squats.

San Jose Judo Kettlebells

The Kettlebell Swing

Powerful hip hinging movements teach athletes how to load their hips rather than their spine. They learn better ground force production while building a strong posterior chain (back, butt, abs, and hamstrings). For these reasons alone, the swing is always at the top of my exercise selection list for Judo athletes. I almost always some type of kettlebell swing in their programs. Russian wrestlers have used kettlebells for years and recognized the carryover onto the wrestling mats. I think the kettlebell swing is one of the best conditioning choices for grapplers and other combat sport athletes.

Hip Hinge

Moving comfortably and efficiently from the hip is important for the proper execution of throws and other movements in Judo. The main movements in the hip hinge are bending (flexion) and straightening (hip extension) when standing back up. A good Judo athlete must be able to properly hinge from the hips when setting up for or defending a takedown. I have seen a direct carryover from the explosive hip snap action of swinging kettlebells to the mat, especially for throwing.

Colton told me, “Judo is 90% hips, so when there’s a lot of kettlebell swings in my program my hips feel powerful—especially in my defense. When guys come in and try to throw me forward, I’m able to use my hips to block throws a lot more effectively.” Every time Colton sets up for kettlebell swings, he has to start from an athletic position before hiking the kettlebell back. Anytime your athletes can practice getting into the athletic position during training you’re on to something good. In grappling, the athletic position is critical for defending and blocking throws.

Grip

A kettlebell’s thick handle challenges the grip—another reason that kettlebells can greatly benefit the Judoka. If you’re doing a lot of swings, you’re also spending a lot of time building a vise-like grip. I experienced kettlebell-enhanced grip strength in my own Jiu-Jitsu practice when gripping my opponent’s gi. During the months of preparation leading up the HKC, I developed a better grip which was immediately apparent at my Jiu-Jitsu class.

Colton Brown Judo Pin

There are many ways to grip the gi in Judo and Jiu-Jitsu not only on the lapel and sleeves, but also on the pants and various parts of the jacket—sometimes even the belt. Once you achieve a good grip, you don’t want to lose it. “Without a good grip, Judo does not work” (Pedro, 2001 p48). Swings are just one of many kettlebell exercises (loaded carries, heavy get ups, presses, etc.) you can use to develop a strong grip. It is important to note that you can have the strongest grip in the world, but if you’re holding on to the wrong things, it does not help in Judo. Efficient gripping is addressed in the specific physical preparation of Judo practice, and should be complemented with supplemental grip strengthening exercises in a strength and conditioning program.

Tension and Relaxation

Some Judokas are too relaxed—and they are easily thrown. Others aren’t relaxed enough, and they ultimately burn more energy and fatigue more quickly than their opponent during the match. At the top of the kettlebell swing, all of your muscles must contract to allow the kettlebell to float briefly and then quickly relax so you can begin the backswing. The tension/relaxation principle taught in Hardstyle kettlebell training is incredibly valuable for the Judoka. Throughout a Judo match there is a constant—almost yin and yang like—balance between relaxation and tension. When working with Colton on his swings, I regularly reminded him to create tension at the top of each swing with the cues “tight abs” and “tight glutes”. At the same time I also checked for a full exhale, and during the backswing I would remind him to “relax”.

One principle from Hardstyle kettlebell training that I continually drive home with my Judo athletes is the transition between tension and relaxation. Kettlebell swings allow athletes to quickly create maximal amounts of tension followed by relaxation. This is a skill that can be transferred into almost any throw attempted on the mat.

Final Thoughts

Kettlebell training has played a big part in Colton Brown’s physical preparation for the Olympics, and I believe that kettlebell training is of particular benefit for anyone involved in martial arts such as Judo, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and Muay Thai. This also holds true for any other type of combat sport like wrestling, boxing, or MMA.

 

Resources:

  1. Bakken, J. (2012, July 23). A journey of Olympic proportions begins with a determined step. Retrieved June 03, 2016, from https://www.uab.edu/news/latest/item/2599-a-journey-of-olympic-proportions-begins-with-a-determined-step
  1. Pedro, J., & Durbin, W. (2001). Judo techniques & tactics. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.

More about Judo Athlete Colton Brown:

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Ashoka McCormick, HKC, NASM-CPT, FMSC, CFSC works at Paradigm Sport Elite Athlete Training Center in Santa Cruz, CA, and he also serves as the Volunteer Strength & Conditioning Coach for SJSU Judo. He can be contacted at coachashoka@gmail.com. Please mention HKC in the subject. Connect with Ashoka McCormick on LinkedIn or follow him on Instagram: @ashoka_trains

Why Recertify?

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Dan John Instructing at the 2016 San Jose RKC

As I review my half-century in the weightroom (I started lifting in 1965), I begin to see our world of strength through the lens of something Arthur Schopenhauer noted:

“When you look back on your life, it looks as though it were a plot, but when you are into it, it’s a mess: just one surprise after another. Then, later, you see it was perfect.”

With my massive collection of Strength and Health magazines and the short-lived American Athlete magazine, I can pick up an issue from just after World War II and see articles about how to repair the wounded warriors. The training presented for injured veterans was just like what most people now consider training: laying down on machines, isolation work and a few sets of about eight to ten reps. While that kind of training is perfect for someone with compromised health and fitness, it’s not optimal for elite sports performance!

I can read articles from the 1950s and see kettlebells used for leverage work, curls and grip training. I have found swing articles from the 1960s that emphasize dangerous overflexion at the hinge and overextension at the plank.

Yes, kettlebell work had basically devolved into a mess. Powerlifting had pushed Olympic lifting out of the way, and the bench press became the answer to every question. It wasn’t a good answer. Some excellent coaches and trainers were pushing the strength envelope, but others were bogging us down. Speaking of bogging us down in the mess, one famous strength coach advocated using mud as resistance and noted “progress will be made.” It works for pigs, so why not?

“Whadduya bench?” became the fitness standard. We saw the rise of the machines for leg training—as if leg presses indicated anything in the field of play or nature. The world of lifting was a mess.

Dan John's Goblet Squat
Dan John’s Goblet Squat

And then, the kettlebell returned and all credit—all credit—goes to Dragon Door if you wish to be historically sincere. As an Olympic lifter, I couldn’t fathom how these kettlebells could help me. I was surprised when I learned that the swing (done correctly and not how I first did it) made me a better Olympic lifter when I better understood the hinge. As much as I knew how to coach the squat, the horns on the kettlebell allowed me to teach pushing out the knees with the elbows. And, I invented the goblet squat.

One arm pressing trumped most of the overhead work I was doing with throwers as it demanded the hard work of the whole chain of anti-rotation muscles.

I became a better coach with kettlebells. But, I wouldn’t have been ready for them when I first saw them in Strength and Health.

As if kettlebells were a part of my coaching life’s plot, they arrived exactly when they needed to arrive…like what Gandalf says about wizards.

I learned enough to fill my head at my RKC certification in San Jose in 2008. Oddly, I learned even more a few months later as an assistant at an RKC at UCLA. And, I learned more again and again and again…

I started coaching in 1979, and thirty years later my head was being filled again!

 

I tell people all the time, you can’t think through a ballistic movement. To understand the swing, snatch and clean, you need to “hear” the standards, drills, corrections, and the insights several times before it “clicks.” Oddly, your technique might be seamless, but you might not be able to coach someone who has a simple error in their technique. Or, you might be able to “see” the problem, but your own technique is muddled.

When it comes to the goblet squat, get-up and press, are you really prying, packing or patterning the correct path? Or, are you just getting the reps in? Are you putting the kettlebell down like a professional every single time? How is your breathing? Your tension?

Hip Hinge Coaching San Jose RKC

You need other eyes. You need community.

You need to recertify!

I work with a handful of RKCs daily. It is a rare few weeks, when someone does NOT take me aside and point out that I’m making a basic error. On paper, I am a Master RKC—but in my own training, I am just another person swinging a kettlebell. I try not to get lazy. I try to stay packed and attack the hinge.

…but sometimes I don’t.

Over time, skills degrade. “Safety is part of performance,” except when we get tired, lazy or pressed for time. There are no excuses for lack of safety!

Dan John Coaching San Jose RKCRecertifying will get eyes on you again. Recertifying for $500 means three days of expert teaching and evaluation from at least three people, if not many, many more. This is a bargain compared to hiring a personal trainer.

Whenever anyone returns from a retreat, a clinic, conference, or workshop, the enthusiasm and excitement drips off of them. They have clear eyes and a missionary zeal.

When I first embarked on my RKC journey, I came home and converted everyone I knew to the “Kettlebell Crusade”.

But, like all things, this wanes over time. It’s not bad or good, but without community, without an ongoing dialogue, the battery runs out of excitement.

Outside of an annual visit to “Kettlebell Kamp”, the best thing I can recommend is recertifying.

For as much as I learn during the day, I think I learn more at night. At dinner, we exchange emails, gym insights, training mistakes, and fixes. A wealth of information seems to fit perfectly on a napkin. My favorite RKC dinner moments are when John Du Cane gives me a “MUST” read book recommendations. I am forever grateful for his recommendations.

JDC does an interesting thing, when he asks for my book recommendations, he opens his phone and buys the books as I list them. If you believe in Shark Habits (“One bite!”) like I do, then this is a good example to follow.

It’s a rare day when I do NOT get a text, email, post, or message from someone I met at an RKC. It’s nice to recommit to the shared experience. But, people still move on, drop off and walk away. Recertify your way into a new group of people who can walk the walk with you.

For example, if you were certified before 2008, you missed the goblet squat. Since then, the get-up has been revamped several times. Finally, I think we’re teaching it with the appropriate steps, corrections, and drills. The sections on programming are tighter and clearer with more actual programs.

San Jose RKC Seth Munsey Group Getup

There are more swing drills and clearer correctives. In other words, the RKC is evolving. There was nothing wrong with the Sig Klein articles in Strength and Health, but kettlebells and kettlebell training has evolved. I rarely wear leopard skin and lace up boots when I train. (Note: I said when I train. My gym is judgment free, so you would be welcome to do what you need to do.)

I enjoy being part of this evolution. As much as I loved the original notion of the “kettlebell revolution”, the kettlebell won. If you are keeping score, I enjoy the kettlebell evolution ever more. Hundreds of people teaching thousands of clients with millions of swings will produce new insights, new ways of teaching and greater clarity with problems and issues.

I believe in investing in my continuing education. I sit in the front row at workshops and sign up for a weekend certification or conference at least once a year. It’s hard to find a better deal than the $500 for the three-day RKC recertification.

In 1993, with two little girls in the house, I flew out for a week-long discus camp at Dennison University. For that week, Tiffini worked full-time along with fulfilling full-time mommy and daddy work. It cost a lot—money we didn’t have—and it was a ton of work for me.

But, it changed my life. I have gone back every year since. It sharpened my coaching toolkit, opened my mind to new possibilities, and honed my own techniques.

We have earned back, in every way, this investment.

Look at recertification with the same lens: for $500, you are recertified for three years. More importantly, you’ll have a chance to fill your quiver of arrows, add new tools to your toolkit, experience a dynamic new community, learn new and evolving information, and get new sets of eyes on your technique.

The question shouldn’t be “why recertify?,” it should be “why not?”

It is the perfect way to plot your career.

****

Master RKC, Dan John is the author of numerous fitness titles including the best selling Never Let Go and Easy Strength.

Dan has spent his life with one foot in the world of lifting and throwing, and the other foot in academia. An All-American discus thrower, Dan has also competed at the highest levels of Olympic lifting, Highland Games and the Weight Pentathlon, an event in which he holds the American record.

Dan spends his work life blending weekly workshops and lectures with full-time writing, and is also an online religious studies instructor for Columbia College of Missouri. As a Fulbright Scholar, he toured the Middle East exploring the foundations of religious education systems. For more information visit: http://danjohn.net

 

From the RKC manual:
There are four compelling reasons to recertify and keep your RKC status.

The number one reason to recertify is to keep your skill level up to the current standards of the RKC. This signifies the importance you place on continuing your education and keeping your personal athletic skills sharp.

The second reason to recertify is the obvious benefit you receive from the Dragon Door marketing machine, by being listed as an RKC on the DragonDoor.com website. This can lead potential clients to you and give you a presence within and outside your on community.

The third reason to recertify is the ability to network with like-minded trainers. This is an extremely valuable tool to help keep you current, offer support and advice in all manners of kettlebell training and professional issues.

The fourth reason, is to continue to receive a discount on purchases of kettlebell and Dragon Door kettlebell products. Orders can be placed by logging you’re your instructor account online, where qualifying products are automatically discounted, or by calling DragonDoor.com customer service at 1-800-899-5111 or internationally 214-258-0134. Identifying yourself as a currently certified instructor is required, so the phone agents know to use your account to place your order.

Fine-Tuning the Get-Up

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Master RKC Andrea Du Cane Get-Up Lead Photo

How and when to use the high bridge and when to use the “step-across” instead of the “windshield wiper”

At every HKC and RKC, I’m asked why we test the low sweep instead of the high-bridge. I also get a lot of questions regarding the “windshield wiper” vs. the “step-across” to transition in and out of the kneeling windmill to the lunge position. It’s time to explore each movement and gain a deeper understanding of some of the benefits of the get-up.

When I first became certified and started teaching the get-up, it was referred to as the “Turkish get-up”. Here’s the criteria that was given and tested at that time:

  1. Keep both shoulders packed.
  2. Keep the wrists neutral at all times.
  3. Keep the elbow locked at all times.
  4. Keep your eyes on the kettlebell.

Oh and well…. get-up! That was it, get up anyway you can.

Let’s just say the get-up has come a long way, baby. It’s transitioned from having very little explanation and direction to (for a time) elaborate direction, with a focus on corrective uses and advanced movement patterning.

You can say that now we have found a happy medium, erring on the side of explanation and points of movement. But, we have also found a good balance and an easier way to teach the get-up to newer kettlebell instructors and users.

The High Bridge or the Low Sweep

One area of confusion with the get-up is whether to use the high bridge or low sweep.

First, let me explain where the high bridge came from, and why it was initially introduced as a teaching and testing skill. The high bridge came from the FMS concept of using movement as a screen. When it was first introduced into the RKC curriculum, the high bridge was used as a screen for tight hip flexors. However, we began to notice that when people were doing the high bridge, their lumbar spine was actually in hyper-extension instead of full hip extension. I remember discussing this with Gray Cook, and he agreed with that it was one problem with using the high bridge as a screen, since it is easily cheated. It does not actually demonstrate whether the person is in full hip-extension or hyper-extension of the lumbar spine.

Secondly—and more importantly—you would not put a client, with a kettlebell in their hands, into a high bridge and then say, “Aha! You have tight hip-flexors”. Of course not. Long before they do that high bridge, you have deduced that they have tight hip-flexors from other screens. And from a safety perspective, you would not let someone perform a high bridge until they had opened up their hip flexors and could perform the movement correctly without a kettlebell.

Since one of the end goals of the get-up is to go heavy, for the purpose of safety and efficiency, you will want to pull your leg back and get your hips under the load as quickly as possible. The high bridge takes unnecessary risks with a heavy load during the transition.

That said, the high bridge is great with a moderate to light weight for a more advanced kettlebell user. Done correctly, it demonstrates shoulder stability, hip flexibility and control.

Master RKC Andrea Du Cane Get-Up Kneeling Windmill

Performance Tip: Think of the high bridge and sweep through as a tall side plank. When moving into a high bridge, post over towards the side, your shoulders should be stacked over each other. The hips will rotate slightly upwards, but the shoulders and t-spine are stacked vertically. Practice lots of side planks from the elbow and tall side planks, before moving onto the high bridge.

The “Step Across” Variation

Moving on to the next modification, using the “step across” instead of a windshield wiper. As stated earlier, the body needs to transition from the tall-sit position smoothly and with control all the way to lunge. That means the hips need to get under the kettlebell as quickly and safely as possible—this includes the sweep through and transitioning to the lunge.

From the kneeling windmill position, the torso is moving from a horizontal position to upright, as the hips are coming under the torso and kettlebell. The hips need to fully extend with the glutes tight as you move into the lunge position. That’s a LOT of movement happening at the same time. The more stable and connected to the ground the body is, the safer and smoother the transition.

That is why the windshield wiper is taught and tested. Both legs remain firmly on the ground and the hips easily and fully extend.

Performance Tip: think about finishing at the top of a swing. The glutes contract hard and fast and the hips fully extend, allowing your body to find stability in the lunge position as soon as you hit it.

A potential problem with this movement is the pressure and friction placed on the knee. Obviously, if the knee is feeling pain, this could jeopardize the movement. The ground you are training on becomes an issue, and individual knee sensitivities should be taken into account as well.

One way to solve the issue is to use the “step-across” modification. From the kneeling windmill, you simply lift your torso up and then step your loaded foot across into a lunge position. This will take the windshield wiper out of the movement and “save” the knee.

The downside to this modification is the inherent lack of stability as you lift your loaded leg up and step it across. You are also changing the orientation of your head and body, which can also cause us to lose stability and control.   Lastly, it is much harder to keep your glute and hip tight and contracted as you move the leg, leading to another possible loss of control.

As we say in the RKC, “safety trumps performance”, so if you have sensitive knees or are training on a hard or rough surface, the step-across is a modification you can use to protect your knee and stay in control.

My personal recommendation is to buy a $20 pair of knee pads or have your clients purchase them for training. I do a lot of kneeling training and take knee pads with me everywhere to use for all kneeling training and stretching. $20 knee pads are a cheap and easy way to protect your knees and increase the effectiveness of your kettlebell training.

****

Andrea Du Cane is a Master RKC Kettlebell Instructor, CK-FMS, CICS, and RIST, ZHealth certified, she has a BA in Psychology from the University of Minnesota and is also a Pilates instructor. She is the author of several books and dvds including The Ageless Body, The Kettlebell Boomer, and The Kettlebell Goddess Workout.  She has over twenty years of aerobics, weight training and fitness experience, with an additional background in… Read more here.

Be More Human

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Kettlebell One Arm Swing

I’m in a great position nowadays. I get to counsel many younger coaches and hopefully teach them the lessons I wish I’d known when I was first starting in fitness. Even so, I keep hearing the same question:

“Which book or program do I use… so I don’t make mistakes?”

I always have to explain that making mistakes is part of the learning process. Mistakes are only a problem if they’re repeated. That philosophy really resonates with me because I grew up in a family of teachers. My mother, father, grandmother, and my aunt were all teachers and professors.

This is why I don’t ever consider mistakes to be a bad thing. In fact, the mistakes I’ve made have helped me become the coach I am today! Through that evolution and experience, my thoughts on “strength training” have changed quite drastically.

I went through several stages of what I THOUGHT strength training was all about:

  • Lifting as heavy as possible
  • Getting as tired as possible
  • Doing the “magical” lifts

If you can name it, then I have probably tried it at one point or another. But, nothing ever felt quite right until now. Now, what I see as strength is actually inspired by the old ideas from physical culture. Originally, exercise was never solely a physical venture, but included the whole person.

Then I realized that the real purpose of strength training was to help people become better humans.

At every RKC and DVRT program, I ask the class, “Do you believe in functional training?” Almost everyone does, but they look puzzled when I ask them to define functional training. Usually I get answers like, “Functional training makes people better in their lives.”

Who could argue with such an answer, even if it is really vague. But, approaching a training methodology in this philosophical way gives us no clear vision. We often forget what makes us human. Yes, people will tell us that we squat, hinge, push, and pull, but a list of such general movements is almost as vague as the term “functional training”!

I ask our classes to think about THE most common movement they all perform. I get answers like squats and deadlifts—but how much of that do you really do during the course of a day? The answer I am REALLY looking for is “walking”! Did you just hit yourself in the forehead? Walking contains elements of many different movement patterns that most people would consider to be part of a training program. I bring up walking because most of our REAL human activities are not singular motions found in the gym, but a combination of simultaneous movement patterns.

I know, we think of walking as simple, while a swing or snatch is complex. Everyone can walk, but not everyone can do a Turkish get-up. Well, lets put it this way—not everyone walks well! To put things in perspective, my wife, a physical therapist, spent a whole semester learning gait analysis (watching and examining how people walk). And most experts agree that there are between six and eight phases to the act of walking. Not so simple, right?

Lifting more for the sake of lifting more doesn’t really do us any good unless it increases our movement efficiency. Renowned physical therapist, Gray Cook, had a really good statement about this type of training:

“In other words, we want adaptable strength that can work in changing environments. Adaptable strength is developed though complex movement patterns, not over-rehearsed, over-coached lifts in a never-changing environment. The athlete, warrior, outdoor enthusiast or physical adventurer embraces change and challenge, while the gym rat needs comfort and consistency for a happy workout.”

How does this idea apply to your strength training? We tend to live in a value system where the heavier weight is the better option, while we forget the benefits of moving to more complex movements.

https://youtu.be/Tqed0CCRhPY

A few weekends ago, I taught a sold out New York RKC. We were discussing the one-arm kettlebell swing, and I asked the class what real life movement it most resembled. People looked at each other, and a few shouted out answers before I simply said, “Walking”. You would have thought I had had a mic drop moment when I gave the answer in that context.

Why walking? Because it includes reciprocal arm swing. This basically means that your arm swings with the opposite leg. This movement pattern happens for many reasons, but we all do it. Walking also requires us to push down into the ground and project our bodies forward. Guess what else walking needs? (Hint: the answer is also one of the biggest reasons that we swing only to chest height and not over our heads.)

I’m not saying that the one-arm swing is EXACTLY like walking, but it involves the same foundational skills required in this very common human motion we perform every day. With this in mind, you might appreciate that the BEST exercise might not be the one that is only heavier, but the one which places a more complex demand on the body and requires us to become better moving humans!

***

Sign up for the Las Vegas RKC with Master RKC Josh Henkin

Josh Henkin, Master RKC, CSCS has been a RKC instructor since 2003 and has implemented kettlebell programs for major Division I programs, SWAT teams, and many different general fitness programs. Josh is also the creator of the DVRT Ultimate Sandbag Training system where he is a highly sought after presenter worldwide.

Master RKC Josh Henkin can be reached at info@ultimatesandbagtraining.com or http://DVRTFitness.com. Josh Henkin is also the author of DVRT, The Ultimate Sandbag Training System now available in paperback and ebook format.

5 Reasons Every RKC Should Train for the RKC-II

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Matt Beecroft Kettlebell Pistol

In 2008, in Hungary, I completed my first RKC. As one of the longest-certified RKCs in Australia, one of the most important things that has kept me motivated as an instructor is furthering my education. Constantly learning, evolving and setting new goals every year has kept me passionate about the fitness industry. Most importantly, I have sought out the best knowledge to help my clients be healthier and to become better athletes.

The RKC has always been touted as the “black belt” of kettlebell certifications—and it is! Earning it comes with a great sense of pride, achievement, and status within the kettlebell community. As a martial artist who holds qualifications higher than black belt in two different systems (which took me many years to achieve), I can say that earning your black belt is not an end point. There is much more beyond earning your black belt. In many systems, the black belt is just the beginning—it’s a rite of passage for practice at a deeper level.

For me, earning certifications isn’t about the ranking or increase in my perceived status, nor is it about the piece of paper. It’s is all about what is learned along that journey—that is the real gold. While the certification experience itself is amazing, the golden nuggets are found along your journey to the RKC. And the same is also true for the RKC-II.

I think many people shy away from the RKC Level-II because it may seem like too lofty a goal. The techniques are challenging, and for people without a big background in strength training, the strength prerequisites can be daunting. In the past, people have gotten injured while they were training for it, and some even arrived injured at a Level 2 workshop, knowing they wouldn’t pass the certification. Coincidentally that is exactly what happened to me the first time around. Even though I knew I was injured and wouldn’t pass, I still decided to attend. I traveled to the other side of the world to gain the knowledge and experience to bring back home to my clients. And it was well worth it. Afterwards, I came back home, healed my injury and embarked on a new training program with a coach. I reinvented myself and came back to smash the test and achieve my goal. I had the sweet satisfaction of overcoming my challenges and achieving my long term goal—and not quitting.

However, what I learned along the way was far more valuable. In my own training, the biggest growth periods seem to happen because of an injury. Making mistakes and overcoming obstacles often means big time growth.

As an RKC, the RKC Level-II might be the single best thing you aren’t training for at the moment. Training for and earning your RKC Level-II certification demonstrates a number of things:

  1. It shows that you can be a client.

If you are a personal trainer, but have never trained with a personal trainer or a coach then you will probably struggle to understand the experience of being a client. It’s hard to lead someone through something you haven’t experienced for yourself.

It’s best to train for an RKC workshop or the Level-II by finding an RKC-II instructor to train you and write a program for you. This also means you will need to be a client. Dan John has eloquently said, “ A coach who coaches himself has an idiot for a client”. While I was able to train myself for the RKC—at the time, there were only a few RKCs spread out across Australia, so training with an RKC meant a few hours on a plane for a training session—training myself for the RKC Level-II wasn’t as successful. I needed someone to carefully assess my level, weaknesses, strengths, and technique. I needed honest feedback and a program specifically designed for me and my level of training at the time. This kind of instruction can only happen face to face, not with cookie-cutter, generic training programs. I needed a program written by a skilled coach.

  1. It shows that you are coachable and can follow a program.

The only program that works is the one you will actually follow—and the devil is in the details. Preparing for and passing the RKC Level-II demonstrates that you can follow multiple programs for a long period of time. At the time of my first RKC Level-II certification, the guys had to press ½ their bodyweight. Without enough absolute strength in the “strength bank” for a few years prior, candidates would need to follow a strict program to increase their overall strength over a period of six months to two years. In my opinion, many people attempt the Level-II too soon after their RKC Level-I. They sometimes overestimate how strong and mobile they are, only to discover that they may need another six months to a year—or even longer to really be prepared. Following a program also shows that even as a coach, you are still coachable.

  1. It shows you can take care of your body and auto-regulate your training.

In the lead up to my RKC Level-II, I became too focused on quantity to get the volume up for my big lifts. Once I started sacrificing quality for quantity, and pushed through workouts when I was fatigued, it only led to one thing—injury. Statistically, I am sure about 30% of potential candidates don’t make it to the Level-II because of shoulder or other injuries. Another 30% (or probably more) arrive to the certification with an injury. Preparing for and passing the Level-II demonstrates that you can sweep emotions aside, listen to your body, and auto-regulate your training so that you do not get injured. In other words, it demonstrates that you can train intelligently.

  1. It shows you have learned about programming and progressions.

How do you improve program-writing skills? You improve by following a great program a coach has written specifically for you. Some of the biggest things I learned while training for my Level-II were about writing programs. I learned the most by talking to my coach and trying to understand the “whys” of my program. My understanding of the benefits and pitfalls of particular exercises and programming principles skyrocketed. Learning from a textbook will only get you so far. Nothing can replace the experience—and more importantly the feeling—of following specific programming, particular exercises, and how they all fit together. Writing programs is a science and an art. Many trainers make the mistake of writing programs for clients without first testing them on themselves or someone else. It helps to know firsthand how these programs and exercises will affect your clients. It is challenging to know when a client is ready to progress, and when to hold off. Learning progressions and regressions of kettlebell exercises is a big part of programming, and you learn all of this on the road to the RKC Level-II.

  1. It shows you have the required mobility, stability and strength.

Learning and successfully executing the windmill, pistol, jerk, and bent press means you have earned the prerequisite mobility, stability and strength! These lifts demand that that you have the required blend of t-spine, hip, and ankle mobility/stability and strength. These specific lifts are a demonstration of your athleticism. Some trainers may say that these lifts are “circus tricks” and there is no need for clients to learn them, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. Comments like these often come from trainers who don’t have the athleticism to do these techniques well, if they can even do them at all. While the bent press is an old-time strongman lift, it is also the perfect demonstration of hip mobility, thoracic mobility, and shoulder stability. Old-time strongman lifts and “circus tricks” like the bent press demonstrate strength, flexibility and athleticism—why wouldn’t I want my clients to possess these attributes? Sure, it is easier to be mediocre and not an athlete, but for those who want to deepen their practice and their movement quality, I can’t think of many other lifts with the perfect blend of athleticism that these lifts demonstrate.

RKC-Level2-LogoSo, are you up for the next challenge in your kettlebell practice? While full of challenges, the road to the RKC Level-II is rich with the priceless experience and knowledge for your development as a girevoy and fitness professional. As a RKC, it could be the single best thing you aren’t training for right now.

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Matthew Beecroft is an RKC Team Leader, PCC, and CK-FMS certified instructor. He is also a GFM and Animal Flow instructor and an Expert Level 2 instructor with Krav Maga Global. As a Muay Thai coach, he has trained amateur and professional Muay Thai champions. He can be contacted through his website: www.realitysdc.com.au

How to Become a Kettlebell Professional

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Shari Wagner Double Kettlebell Swing Setup

A recent conversation with a client went something like this, “Of course you can do [insert exercise]…you’re a professional.” A little while later, a prospective client asked, “Do you think I have the potential to be good at kettlebells?” Combine that with another amazing weekend hosting an RKC workshop, and this blog post was born.

Of course I can do all of these kettlebell lifts, I’m a professional. But how do you think I became a professional? I certainly didn’t come out of the womb able to do all of this stuff. I had to learn it and practice it, and be open to more learning and more practicing. Every. Day. Every day until I earned my RKC and every day since I earned my RKC.

I didn’t just pick up a kettlebell and magically start using it perfectly. I was once in exactly the same position as anyone who comes to my gym to learn kettlebells. I had to learn each exercise from square one, just as all of my clients do. Truth be told, it took me a long time to learn a proper swing! That deep hike and explosive hip snap was as foreign to me as it is to you. After lots of dedicated practice and consistency, it’s now feels so natural it’s hard to remember how awkward I once felt.

Even after 6+ years of being an RKC, I still don’t just pick up a kettlebell and magically start using it perfectly. Every time I pick up a kettlebell, I focus on all the components that I know make up proper technique.

I make sure I set up with proper form and I make sure I swing, clean, press, etc. with proper form. I think about making every rep the best I can make it. I concentrate on how each rep feels… “That one needed a little more tightness in my snap, I need to make sure I keep my back flat when I hike.” I video myself now and again to check and hone my technique. I never approach or pick up a kettlebell on auto-pilot.

I’m better able to recognize and make micro adjustments, but that certainly didn’t happen overnight either! It took a lot of time, patience, practice and consistency. It sometimes took losing my patience a bit. It certainly took lots of coaching and the ability to be coachable.

At an HKC workshop several years ago, after all the other participants and instructors introduced themselves and told about their vast athletic backgrounds, I said “I have a background in nothing.” I wasn’t an athlete and I didn’t participate in any sports. I had a history of being sedentary and inactive or yo-yo exercising, until I found kettlebells in my late 30’s. That is when I found the athlete inside me.

Shari Wagner Kettlebell Press and Strength Quote

Some people are more naturally athletic and can learn technique more easily than others. I’m not one of those people, but that doesn’t mean I’m not capable of learning a new technique. For me, it just means that it might take me a little longer to learn something new, and I might have to put in a little more time practicing a new skill but I’m okay with that. I allow it to leave me with a bigger sense of accomplishment.

I believe that anyone can become an RKC, and the recipe is simple. Start with a dedicated mindset to your training practice, add to it lots of hard (but smart) work and consistency, and sprinkle in some patience and time. Yes you; the one who picked up your first kettlebell today! Or you;  the one who’s been using kettlebells for a few years. ANYONE willing to put in the time and dedicated effort to good technique can achieve RKC status, or any goal you set for yourself. Some of you may be like me and might have to work a little harder or a little longer than others, but either way, I truly believe that anyone can do it.

The way the RKC course is structured, everyone learns the progressions and regressions for each exercise so that you are able to teach people of all fitness levels. In the process, you are learning what you need to improve your own technique. The structure of the course also allows you to constantly practice coaching others, so you can hone your teaching skills while you’re learning everything. Combine that with the plethora of valuable resources offered by Dragon Door, titles like Master the Kettlebell, Strong Medicine and Mental Muscle and you have everything you need to succeed.

Over the years I’ve participated in several RKC workshops. Whether the participants are seasoned athletes or new to training and whether they do or do not pass the requirements, the one common theme I see among them is that the RKC was the best course they have ever attended and many report that it was life changing. It certainly was for me!

So, what’s stopping you? Go sign up for those kettlebell lessons or for an RKC workshop!

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Shari Wagner, RKC-II, CK-FMS owns Iron Clad Fitness in Denver, Colorado. She can be contacted through her website at IronCladFit.com, email: info@ironcladfit.com or by phone 720-900-4766. Follow her on Facebook: facebook.com/IronCladFitness and Twitter: twitter.com/IronCladFitness.

So, You Want to Train Athletes…

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Tallahassee 2015 RKC Group Photo

Recently, I had the pleasure of assisting Master RKC, Keira Newton at the Tallahassee RKC. We spent a lot of time talking about and practicing drills, modifications and regressions for training the average client. By average, I am referring to the clients most likely to come to you for training.

When I began my journey as a trainer and gym owner in 1998, I had visions of training elite athletes. I fantasized about working with high school, college and professional teams. I had visions of taking athletes to the “next level” and eventually being hired as a trainer with a professional football team—preferably, the Indianapolis Colts.

I know I am not the only trainer or coach who doesn’t fantasize about this.

Several years ago, I set up an appointment with the new strength coach at Florida State. Go Noles!! I remember being both scared to death and excited at the prospect of bringing kettlebell training to the football team. I arrived at my appointment totally prepared to wow the staff with my knowledge and skills. When I arrived, the coach was in a meeting so I waited and waited. After about an hour, I left. My dreams were dashed and my hopes were crushed.

Then I got a call from the strength coach at the University of Florida. Boo Gators! Yes, they were our biggest rival but I couldn’t give up this opportunity. They placed a big order with me for kettlebells, so I loaded up my truck and headed down to Gainesville. I sat with the coach and we talked about training with kettlebells and all the benefits that would help the team. He even had me doing Turkish get-ups in his office. I drove back to Tallahassee, planning my new life as part of the training team for the Gators.

I waited for the call that never came. I knew from my conversations with the assistant strength coach, that he had been training with kettlebells while at Texas Tech. Although he wasn’t certified, I knew that he felt he could train the guys with kettlebells. With my dreams dashed again, I continued training average clients.

My average clients are people who have many issues including obesity, very poor movement and the over 50 crowd.

I found I couldn’t do anything fancy. Most of the time I had to progress them very slowly and come up with my own creative ways to help them learn the kettlebell basics while improving their movement and overall strength. One of those clients, Helen, is an 82-year-old woman who suffers from a rare bone disorder, Hereditary Multiple Exostoses.

She required multiple surgeries to remove excessive bone growths. She has some bones that are shorter than others as well as bowed limbs. She has the inability to fully straighten her arms and legs—and of course, all of that affects her movement and ability to do many of the exercises I would normally use in training. To top it all off, she was run over by farming equipment and suffered severe injuries. Helen is one tough broad!

I began each session with ankle mobility. She sat and I manipulated her ankles and feet until she was able to do it herself. One of her main goals was to lose weight and be able to complete a .6 mile walk around the park without stopping. My workout program for her included full body strength and conditioning. An important goal for older clients (that I think many of us miss) is to regain the ability to get up off the ground.

Most of the injuries in the elderly result from falls. There are many horror stories out there about people who fall and can’t get up. I’m sure we all remember the commercial, “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up”. So, I make getting up from the floor a priority.

We did a lot of squats. In the beginning, I put her on a box with bumper plates to raise her high enough so she could stand up without much trouble. I set up elevated boxes about 10 feet from each other so that she could get up, walk and sit back down. I progressed her by lowering the height and adding small hurdles or cones to help her with agility. Yes, older people need agility!

We did very modified get-ups using a wedge so she didn’t have to lay flat on the floor. We did a lot of band work and then started adding kettlebells. Doing swings and goblet squats were out of the question. We worked deadlifts, lots of deadlifts.

A sample-beginning workout that I have used with Helen and other elderly clients would look like this:

  • Seated mobility drills beginning with ankles
  • Seated thoracic spine mobility
  • Seated cervical spine mobility
  • Box squats elevated to client’s ability x5
  • Box squats with walk to another box x2
  • Deadlifts with kettlebell elevated enough to allow good form x5  (or behind-the-back deadlifts)
  • Band pull-downs x8
  • Band presses or wall push-ups x8
  • Elevated get-ups x2/2
  • Getting off the ground x2 (They can do whatever they need to do, including grabbing on to something)

Depending on the client, I might do add exercises that are a little more challenging:

  • Kettlebell rows from an elevated plank position x5/5
  • Rolling to a get-up x3/3
  • Suitcase deadlift with kettlebell elevated to allow good form x5/5

This is just a sample. I encourage you to use a lot of creativity to progress your client safely while focusing on workouts that will improve function in their day-to-day living.

When I began my RKC journey, I thought I wanted to train athletes. But, training my “average” clients has helped me grow and become a better trainer. I have experienced incredible joy watching them get stronger, move better and live healthy, productive lives.

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Senior RKC, Laurel Blackburn owns Boot Camp Fitness and Training and Tallahassee Kettlebells.  Look for Laurel at www.bootcampstogo.com or www.tallahasseekettlebells.com.

In her early fifties, Laurel is out to prove that age is just a number. Her goal is to motivate and inspire people everywhere, both young and old that strength, flexibility and mobility can get better with age. Follow her adventures on her blog: www.SuperStrongNana.com.