RKC School of Strength

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kettlebell coaching

Here’s How I Built a 6 Figure Online Kettlebell Coaching Business

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An online coaching call with Colleen Conlon, RKC-II Instructor

Before COVID I was a full-time fitness professional in NYC. I had a handful of private clients I saw in their apartment gyms—all older men who didn’t want to workout, but wanted to be seen with the cute female trainer. I taught 15 group fitness classes a week: cycling, yoga, HIIT—one of those classes was a Hardstyle kettlebell class.

When the pandemic hit, all the places I taught classes shut down. NONE of my private clients wanted to train virtually. I tried doing virtual classes: 3 HIIT, 1 yoga, 1 jump rope, 1 kettlebell. The virtual classes were good. I stuck with this load for close to 3 months, April 2020-June 2020 before pivoting. I realized I LOVED teaching from home. I no longer had a commute, I got to spend more time with my husband, and had time to start dreaming about what I wanted. This was my shot to get out of the rat race of living out of a backpack as I spent the past 7 years hustling in the fitness scene!

I hired a business coach. This was so scary! At the time I was averaging $50,000 a year, barely saving anything due to where I lived. The cost was $5,000 to be in a group coaching program. That felt like a LOT of money to drop, but here were my choices: Take time trying to figure it out on my own, sit and wait for things to get back to normal (a normal that I didn’t want to go back to), or invest in me, and try to build a new life. I remember calling my Dad, and I told him I dropped 5k on a business coach. He told me that was a stupid choice and I should get my money back! I cried. Then put my blinders up. I was going to get as much out of this course as I could. The course made me think about learning a new kettlebell skill. The devil’s in the details, and consistency is number one to make progress. I knew I was good at kettlebell details, and that gave me the confidence to believe I could build a virtual kettlebell business, so long as I followed my coach’s blueprint.

Week 1 had to do a lot of self-reflection. I had to figure out “who I was,” and “who I helped,” and “how I would do it.” I remember telling my coach that I wanted to help everyone! She said, “no!” I was baffled because at this point I had worked with all different types of people: senior citizens, high school athletes, moms, brides, middle-aged men. Yes, I can help anyone who wants my help, but my coach wanted me to figure out who I WANTED to help! This felt strange. In my head I thought, well it would be cool to help women who I can relate to, but I’ve never had that clientele. So that’s who I needed to attract and I had to do that by being on social media. Why did I need to do it via social media? Because there was no other place to get people to know about me and what I was offering!

Social isn’t about your number of followers. It’s about talking to your ideal client. It’s about getting people to know, like, and trust you. How do you do that? You share your story! You create proof that you know what you are talking about! You are authentically you!

My biz coach gave me this analogy that I want you to remember:

Colleen Conlon coaching via FacetimeIn NYC, there’s a coffee shop on every corner. They all get business! Some people want a bougie $9 cup of coffee, others want something cheap, some people want an experience where you sit down with a fireplace and soft music, then others want to go in and out. The virtual space gives us access to so many people who value different things! There are plenty of people to go around. You need to build your “coffee shop” so your ideal client can find their cup of coffee! All of my clients have come via Instagram because of how I’ve built out my page.

I started posting regularly about kettlebells, and I got my first virtual kettlebell client. She was EXACTLY who I wanted to attract! She thought she’d learn to use kettlebells in two sessions, but two sessions turned into nearly 250! She was a bit of an experiment, and her success has helped me prove to other women all over the world that kettlebells can change your life! All of her sessions were done via FaceTime or Zoom. 1x a week we met for an hour and then she took a 1-hour virtual kettlebell class. She started with two kettlebells: 12kg and 20kg. With her permission, she allowed me to share pieces of her journey on social, and that was when I began to get more traction from other women. Why? Because I had proof of concept!

My Online Kettlebell Course

The goal of the business course for me was to do two things. Get a few one on one clients. Then build a big course that I could run multiple times a year to teach people how to use kettlebells. The course would be intense! I wanted to get people who wanted to learn the big six, within 13 weeks, and be able to perform everything with at least their testing size bell. This course would be marketed to people who were down to train 4-5x per week on a progressive program. They’d see me 2-3x per week in a group setting. They’d get feedback on video submissions. They would be the ones who would want to invest in themselves! The first time I ran the course I charged $2,400. How did I get that number? I came up with it by figuring out how much I wanted to make for the hours I’d spend with them per week. I thought about the time it took to create the course. Then I factored in what I believed the transformation was worth. After the first person signed up, I knew this would be a game-changer! This wouldn’t be for everyone! It wasn’t intended to be for everyone. It was created for my ideal client.

Remember the 5k business coach investment my Dad told me was a bad choice? This 13 week intensive I created brought in $24,000 the first time I ran it! I had 10 people sign up at $2,400 per person. All to say, sometimes you just have to invest in yourself! If I figured it out on my own I doubt I’d be as far forward as I am. If I sat tight, I’d be back in the rat race. Instead, I’m now working with my ideal clients who are WANTING to learn how to use kettlebells because they BELIEVE that they will change their bodies, change their mental health, and elevate their confidence! Why do they believe this will happen? Because I’ve been showing them on Instagram what’s possible consistently for the past year and a half!

This 13-week intensive funnels me 1 on 1 clients, funnels into a weekly kettlebell class, programming, and weekend retreats!

Colleen Conlon Kettlebell Retreat Group

I use to think social media was a dumb time suck. I now realize it’s a powerful tool to build a virtual business. It’s not about how popular you are, it’s about connecting with that ideal client, getting them to know, like, and trust you, and helping to solve their problems.

Since building my business, I left NYC. I live with my Husband in Arizona. (His brick and mortar gym also turned into a full-time virtual fitness business). So long as we have WiFi, we can work and help our ideal clients ANYWHERE in the world!

If this is something you want, you can do it too! You just have to get started!

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Follow Colleen Conlon, RKC-II on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamcolleenconlon/

When You Want to Up Your Strength Game, Who Best to Choose?

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Newly Certified RKC Instructors in NYC

We were recently asked a very good question:

I’m opening a small gym and it will be a strength and conditioning facility that will cater to rock climbers, mace and kettlebell enthusiasts. Here is the conundrum RKC? SFG? Both? Or another cert?”

To be fair we get that question fairly often. The person asking that question is obviously a very thoughtful athlete and business owner and he wants to make a correct and informed decision.

Let me break this down as best I can. John and Pavel started the RKC many years ago – 2001 to be exact. After a number of very successful years, there was a difference of opinion in the direction the RKC should take. I cannot speak for SF, however, the direction the RKC chose to take was one of educating and producing strong and competent coaches. There are still instructor competency tests, but the focus is on corrective, progressive, regressive teaching that allows athletes and coaches to safely reach their potential and goals.

In the beginning, the RKC was run like a hardcore military bootcamp. With nearly an abusive quality to the instruction. Within the first hour, after a short warm-up and no training, the snatch test was given. The people attending were more often military, law enforcement, martial artists etc. In those days, very few personal trainers from the mainstream fitness industry attended.

As we grew, we started attracting medical professionals and mainstream fitness professionals. And thank goodness we changed! The focus became corrective strategies, progressions, and coaching. Our courses have come a long way. Yes, we still expect people to be able to demonstrate the unique strength principles, and for the RKC we expect people to take the time to prepare.

Another core belief is that our courses are not just for personal trainers to get some tools to teach their clients, but also to work on their own athletic abilities. I say it all the time, “how often do coaches get coached?”  Our workshops are designed for the participants to get equal experience in coaching and learning the system to teach others, as well as working on their own weaknesses and strengths to become better athletes themselves. In my experience, there are very few certifications that can say that.

This puts our focus on usable information a coach or gym owner can take with them the day after the workshop to implement immediately and to grow their personal and professional goals. Along with the knowledge and expertise gained at the workshop, there is ongoing support and networking though international private RKC Facebook groups.

Included in our kettlebell educational portfolio we have our HardstyleFit on-line courses and the HKC one-day workshops. Below is detailed information for all our workshops and courses.

Dragon Door also provides education and workshops in calisthenics, with our PCC courses. These special courses were created by Paul Wade, author of Convict Conditioning. The PCC is the perfect complement to kettlebell training, and for most athletes – extremely valuable.

We are also launching a new product that incorporates isometric training, developed by Paul Wade. This new system includes an in-depth manual, on-line and live workshops. Learn more about the ISOCHAIN

Dragon Door is the leader in innovative health and athletic training, with the RKC being the foundation of a system embraces the entire athlete and coach.

HardstyleFit Certificate: On-Line Training Only

  • Complete HardstyleFit Level One to earn 0.6 ACE CECs or 0.6 NASM CEUs.
  • Complete HardstyleFit Level Two to earn 0.7 ACE CECs.

A users’ course. Follows the structure of the HKC/RKC but without the focus on coaching the movements. HardstyleFit level 1 needs to be completed before level 2, to ensure the basic movements are understood and can be performed correctly.

The on-line written test before the physical video test, is to ensure a deep understanding of the strength principles in lieu of a live instructor providing the opportunity to share the information and provide Q & A.

A 50% discount is offered after passing the HardstyleFit course to apply to either an HKC or RKC. The discount code is good for one year of passing the course. The HardstyleFit program can be used as a “prep” for the in-person instructor courses.

HKC Certification: In Person Training Only

  • Earn .8 ACE CECs and .8 NASM CEUs

No specific weight class requirements are required. The lead instructor recommends the weight used to produce the best and safest performance for each of the three kettlebell lifts taught. There is no kettlebell prerequisite required. However, an entrance test of a 1 minute plank is administered at the beginning of the workshop to ensure an adequate level of physical preparedness.

It is recommended that participants have either completed the HardstyleFIt on-line training course or trained with an HKC/RKC prior to the course.

The three exercises presented and tested at the workshop are the foundation of the overall Kettlebell system.  Safe performance and mastery of each exercise is necessary before moving on to the more difficult exercises of the RKC.

The HKC provides hands-on coaching for the course participants, both as the coach and the person being coached. This back and forth partnering, enhances the learning experience on all levels.

The HKC is considered both a “prep” course for the RKC and a stand-alone certification.  Many trainers use the most basic kettlebell exercises for their group classes or clients. The HKC provides those trainers with enough knowledge and coaching experience to deliver results for their clients without the time and money commitment of the RKC. After passing the HKC, the HKC instructor gets a $200 discount on an RKC course within a year of passing the HKC.

The technique test demonstrates the participant’s understanding of the principles as well as the ability to perform the movements correctly. It is necessary to be able to correctly demonstrate each exercise, since a large percentage of the population are visual learners.

HKC Technique Test:

  • Two-Handed swing (10 reps)
  • Get-up (1 rep)
  • Goblet Squat (5 reps)

The Teaching/Coaching Test demonstrates the participants ability to coach the exercise. This allows the lead instructor to see the participant in action coaching another person.

The lead instructor is evaluating the participant on the following criteria:

  • Correctly demonstrating the exercise
  • Following the correct teaching progressions
  • Determining what movement is incorrect or unsafe – and stopping it if necessary
  • Applying the right correction
  • Putting safety first and above all other criteria
  • Picking the appropriate load for the given exercise and client
  • Using appropriate verbal cues without over cueing

HKC certifications allow 90 days to submit a video of any requirements that were not completed at the course. The participant sends the video in to the lead instructor or visits the instructor in person to retest the skill.

The HKC certification lasts for 3 years. There are 3 options to maintain your certification. Note: HKCs are not allowed to assist at an HKC to recertify.

  1. Attend an HKC at a discount
  2. Attend an RKC at a discount and move up your certification
  3. Submit an online HKC re-cert test (available after 2/18/2020)

RKC Certification: In Person Training Only

  • Earn 2.5 ACE CECs and 1.9 NASM CEUs

Weight classes are provided to guide the participant to use an appropriate load for general kettlebell training.  Weight classes are in line with other strength and athlete competitions. This ensures a safe and level training system.  An entrance test is administered at the start of the first day of the 2 (or 3) day course. 10 “Hardstyle” push-ups for men, 3 for women. The Hardstyle push-up is demonstrated at the course by one of the instructors and requires the participant to pause at the bottom and top, while maintaining the plank with spine in neutral. All reps performed at the testing instructors count. This demonstrates a strong core to ensure safety for all the ballistic and strength movements throughout the course.

During the live workshops, the master instructor has the authority to increase or decrease the load during instruction and testing to encourage the best and safest performance of the participants and learning environment.  For example, when first learning the get-up or snatch, the instructor may recommend participants start with a lighter kettlebell to learn the basic movement pattern and then increase the load as the skill increases.  For learning the swing, going to a heavier than ‘test weight’ will provide a clear understanding of the glute and hip driven nature of the exercise.

In some circumstances during testing, the master instructor has the authority to have a participant take a lighter weight for an exercise ie., a woman on the high end of the weight class may be allowed to use one size lighter for the get-up.  Whereas a man who is very strong may be asked to use a heavier than test size kettlebell for the clean or press to facilitate the correct muscular recruitment and produce the correct technique.

Kettlebell training is a strength and ballistic power production system that focuses on the hips and posterior muscles of the body. The RKC requires participants to prepare and train for the workshop. The average amount of time recommended is 6 months.

There are 3 paths recommended to take as preparation:

  1. Attend an HKC in-person certification
  2. Complete HardstyleFit level 1 and level 2
  3. Train with a certified RKC.

The Technique Test includes the 6 kettlebell exercises that comprises the Hardstyle strength and ballistic training. The rep count is designed to follow traditional strength training rep counts, while allowing ample time to demonstrate the strength/ballistic principles of the system. Both sides are tested to encourage a healthy and functional athlete. Exceptions to testing both sides must be cleared with Dragon Door and the Master Instructor.   And requires a doctor’s written note as to why the participant cannot perform both sides of an exercise or the need to lower the load from the test size kettlebell.

Requirements for RKC

  1. Single-arm swing (10/10 reps)
  2. Single-arm clean (5/5 reps)
  3. Get-up (1/1 rep)
  4. Military Press (4/4 reps)
  5. Double Front Squat (5 reps)
  6. Snatch (5/5 reps)
  7. Snatch Test: 100 reps within 5 minutes with test size kettlebell.

The Snatch Test is as overall physical preparedness test as well as demonstrating the endurance and strength that was needed in preparation for the course. Participants have the option of not taking the snatch during the course but submitting a video at a later date.

RKC certifications allow 90 days to submit a video of any requirements that were not completed at the course. The participant sends the video in to the lead instructor or visits the instructor in person to retest the skill.

Once completed the certification lasts for 3 years, after which the RKC has three options to re-certify:

  1. Attend an RKC at a discount
  2. Submit an online RKC re-cert test
  3. Assist at an RKC

RKC II Certification: In Person Training Only

The RKC II is an advanced kettlebell training program for serious professional coaches and athletes.  The course focuses neurologically and physically challenging lifts.

It is recommended to spend some time at the RKC level and refine those skills before moving on to the RKC II.

An entrance test is administered at the start of the first day of the 2- day course. 5 dead hang pull-ups for men, :20 flex-arm hold for women both with supinated grip. This demonstrates the  participants strength base to perform pull-ups.

The RKC II incorporates two bodyweight exercises the utilize some of the same principles of the RKC Hardstyle strength system. There is a lot of focus on progressions and regressions for all advanced kettlebell and bodyweight exercises. This allows the curriculum to be used with all populations that trainers and coaches work with in their businesses.

RKC Technical Requirements tested at RKC II:

All RKC level one exercises with double kettlebells except for the Get-up and Snatch:

  1. Double Swing
  2. Double Clean
  3. Double Front Squat
  4. Double Press
  5. Get-up
  6. Snatch
  7. 5-Minute Snatch Test

RKC II Technical Requirements: Instruction includes all progressions of each exercise and variety kettlebell exercises.

  1. Strict One-Arm Military Press
  2. Weighted Pull-up for Men; Single Pull-up for Women
  3. Pistol
  4. Double Jerk
  5. Windmill
  6. Bent Press (not scored)

RKC II certifications allow 90 days to submit videos of any requirement that was not completed at the course. The participant sends the video in to the lead instructor or visits the instructor in person to retest the skill.

Once completed the certification lasts for 3 years, after which the RKC II has three options to re-certify:

  1. Attend an RKC II at a discount
  2. Take the online re-cert test
  3. Assist at an RKC II

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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.

How to Coach Effective Group Kettlebell Training

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William Sturgeon, RKC-II Squat Progression

We can all agree that group training can come with inherent risks if the participants are not coached effectively. Unfortunately, we have all also seen group fitness classes where students are performing rough looking swings, squatting with all of their weight on their toes, or deadlifting like frightened cats!

As coaches, it’s our responsibility to make sure that we always prioritize the safety of our clients and set them up for success in their training. It can be difficult to accomplish a level of high quality training in large groups—especially since groups tend to include people with different skill and fitness levels, past injuries, learning styles and other variables.

So, how do we control the chaos in group training—especially if we are using kettlebells? We begin by learning to regress and progress movements and exercises for our clients. Many coaches will choose a baseline exercise—and also have a regression and progression on hand to modify the workout or program as necessary.

How to Regress and Progress Kettlebell Exercises

Regressing and progressing an exercise for a given client can be complicated if you are not prepared. During an RKC certification workshop, you will learn many ways to regress and progress the Big Six for a variety of a clients. With the information from the weekend workshop—and reviewing your RKC manual—you’ll have many ways to cue, correct, and ultimately guide your clients through the progressions of the Big Six.

To begin, choose a baseline exercise—for example, a kettlebell deadlift, assuming a majority of your clients in class can do it. From the baseline exercise, choose one regression and one progression.

With our kettlebell deadlift example, the regressions might be raising the kettlebell on a yoga block, having practice an RDL, or if they’re absolute beginners or very deconditioned, they could work on fully mastering the hip hinge. You are the chef in your own kitchen and must decide what is best for your situation.

To progress the kettlebell deadlift, we can have clients perform double kettlebell deadlifts, eccentric deadlifts, explosive deadlifts, and many other advanced variations which can make this exercise more challenging. It’s always less of a mental challenge to make an exercise more difficult—it’s much more challenging to make exercises easier. Develop a collection of progressions and regressions to commonly use with your clients then modify them as needed for your specific group setting(s).

William Sturgeon, RKC-II, Hinge And Deadlift Progressions

Selecting the Correct Exercises

Choosing appropriate exercises is crucial for designing and evaluating your programs. While there are thousands of exercises you can choose for training your clients, all of the different tools and implements can lead to overly complicated workouts.

To simplify this process, begin by categorizing the exercises under consideration by movement pattern. For example, I might consider an exercise to be one of the following: lower body pull, upper body push, lower body push, upper body pull, mobility, single leg knee/hip, or core/carry. There are other classifications you can use, but this is what I use for my business.

Instead of trying to include every exercise you can think of, consider the population you are serving and their needs. Also take a look at what exercises you are typically programming for them. Keep it simple. If you’re work with general populations, your exercise selection will be minimal. This is extremely helpful when working with a group of clients who have different athletic abilities. Some clients will be more advanced than others, and some may have never touched a kettlebell before! It’s useful to have a systematic approach for running your classes.

Using Timed Blocks

When I first started leading group classes, I had a difficult time programming the workouts with just straight sets. The participants all moved at different paces, some people needed more coaching while others rushed through the workouts. There’s nothing wrong programming straight sets, but it can be difficult in a group class with a variety of fitness levels.

William Sturgeon Training Template

Using set blocks of time can help create a controlled environment for smoothly running classes. Set blocks of time allow you to attend to those who need extra coaching or attention, while allowing for clients moving at a faster pace to get more volume in their workouts—instead of finishing their set and waiting to move on.

Timed Training Session Example:

  • Warm Up together, 10 minutes
  • Block A 8 minutes
  • Block B 10 minutes
  • Block C 6 minutes
  • Block D 5 minutes
  • Cool Down, 5 minutes

While this example works very well for my group classes, please be sure to consider the individuals you are training in your group(s).

Having systems and structures to organize your programming is essential to running an effective kettlebell group class. Begin by choosing appropriate baseline exercises, choosing progressions and regressions for each, then breaking the session into timed intervals.

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William Sturgeon, RKC II trains clients at his gym, Restored Strength. Contact him through his website at RestoredStrength.com or follow him on Facebook: facebook.com/restoredstrength

How to Use RKC Level-II Skills with Everyday Clients

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Ryan Jankowitz Cossack Squat with Kettlebell

I’m writing this blog while on a train back to DC from New York where I had the privilege of assisting Steve “Coach Fury” Holiner at the RKC-II at Catalyst Sport. The weekend before, I had just recertified as an RKC-II in Atlanta with Andrea Du Cane. This has been a whirlwind “East Coast RKC-II tour” and I’ve loved every minute. Needless to say, I have absorbed a lot of great information from many great people, which has given me plenty of food for thought.

One of the many things I really enjoyed during my recent RKC-II experiences was the programming aspect of the course. During my RKC-II recertification, I was tasked with designing a program for a fellow attendee who is within a demographic I usually don’t train—powerlifters. This challenging assignment forced me out of my wheelhouse to look at programming from a different angle. Then I was also able to hear many different program explanations from great minds in the fitness industry. I came away with many ideas and an interesting question for myself: “Ryan, how will you incorporate this awesome RKC-II information into a typical client’s workout program?”

My typical client is a working professional whose goals might include:

  • Getting out of pain
  • Preparing for a 5k
  • Losing weight and improving muscle definition

The client may be dealing with one or several of the following challenges:

  • Lack of mobility/tightness
  • Stress
  • Lack of time

I wanted to know how to incorporate challenging moves like tactical pull-ups, pistols, windmills, or jerks into a program for my clients. The answer lies in the progressions toward these technical and demanding movements.

For example, the tactical pull-up is a movement many of my clients can’t do yet, or aren’t interested in learning—and that’s okay. But, the different hollow positions on the ground are great for EVERY SINGLE CLIENT. My clients want core work and I want them to create a solid cylinder of muscle. Boom, done! When the time is right to approach the bar for hollow hangs, leg raises or pull-ups, they will already understand how to stay tight.

Ryan Jankowitz Hollow Hold
Hollow hold
Ryan Jankowitz Back pressure crunch with leg raise
Back pressure crunch with leg raised.

The pistol is an awesome movement for developing serious leg strength and it’s a great party trick. But, is it a goal that my clients want to achieve? Unfortunately not, and no one has ever told me they wanted to learn the pistol. However, the progressions leading up to the pistol are fantastic for many clients. The Cossack squat and close stance squat both provide new challenges to the squat pattern and add variety to our training sessions. I really love the airborne lunge in every form—assisted, counter balanced with a kettlebell, and bodyweight. It’s a challenging movement that requires focus and balance. The movement also requires hip dissociation—one hip goes into flexion while the other is extended. Since everyone experiences hip dissociation when they walk or run, training the airborne lunge can help improve our clients’ gait patterns.

Ryan Jankowitz Airborne Lunge

The windmill is a fantastic movement for improving hip and thoracic spine mobility while stabilizing the shoulder. I love the progressions because they can be easily added to any warm-up. These thoracic spine mobility drills can be done on the floor without any equipment and added to a naked get-up practice. The good morning stretch—with feet forward and pointed at 45 degrees—is a valuable drill since it really stretches the hamstrings and calves while preparing the lower body for any hinge movements in the session.

Ryan Jankowitz Good Morning

Lastly, the jerk has quickly become one of my favorite exercises due to its high metabolic demand on the body and required athleticism. The jerk can be a challenging movement to learn, but again the progressions are useful for everyday clients. I have successfully taught the long push press and push press to the many clients who have owned the front squat and overhead press. While these progressions are definitely for clients with an advanced skill level, that skill level is absolutely attainable for those who have built a solid foundation of strength and mobility.

As a fitness professional I feel that it’s important to evolve, expand my knowledge, and add more tools to my “toolbox”. The RKC-II curriculum has done just that for me and I highly recommend pursuing this great certification.

Stay Strong,
Ryan Jankowitz

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Ryan Jankowitz, RKC-II Instructor, CK-FMS, is a life-long athlete who can’t imagine sitting behind a desk. He enjoys sharing his passion for fitness and spreading the RKC knowledge. Ryan operates a remote fitness coaching service, RJ Kettlebell, and is available for private kettlebell workshops as well. You can reach him at rjankowitz@gmail.com. He also works with clients and teaches kettlebell classes at Fitness on the Run in Alexandria, Virginia. If you’re in the area, come swing some bells with Ryan.

10 Reasons to Hire an RKC to Learn to Use Kettlebells

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RKC Team Leader Lori Crock Coaching at Movestrong Kettlebells
Photo: Leenabee Photography

An online fitness magazine caught my attention recently when the headline read, “The Problem with Kettlebells is …”

The article explained that the problem is there are not enough certified kettlebell coaches to match the interest in kettlebells at the average gym. The result is poor technique and injuries resulting from no understanding of how to do the movements and lifts.

But there are plenty of Russian Kettlebell Certified (RKC) coaches out there who can not only keep people safe, but help them reach the next level of fitness.

Here are my 10 reasons why you should hire a certified kettlebell coach:

1. Train Safely – at all of the RKC certification events, safety is the number 1 priority. You will use kettlebells safely or you will not be using them at all. A certified coach is a representative of the RKC community and we are responsible for keeping our clients safe and safely progressing in their kettlebell skills and mobility work.

2. Get Strong – our certification prepares us to design programs to get our students stronger using smart, proven hardstyle technique that yields results. An RKC has learned and practiced numerous regressions and progressions to address movement challenges and adapt the skills to different fitness levels. For example, if a student is struggling with the swing, we have multiple methods to address issues such as a lack of hip mobilization, squatting or hip pop timing issues and so on.

RKC Team Leader Lori Crock Coaching Swings
Photo: Leenabee Photography

3. Move with Power and Precision – people sometimes ask me, “How long before I get really comfortable with the technique?” That will depend on many factors, but RKCs teach you to move with power and precision on Day 1. There is no short-cut for perfect technique and we keep working with our students, their anatomical structure, their former injuries, their goals and so much more to help them to achieve strength and movement efficiency.

4. Regain Foundational Movement – being able to move well is something we never stop learning, teaching and practicing with our own training and with our students. Movement always comes before strength. A certified coach will challenge their students to address whatever issues present with the FMS or other movement assessment tool. Some foundational movement improvements realized with RKC coaching include: squatting, lunging, reaching, hinging, lifting, carrying and single-leg balancing.

5. Acquire a New Skill – when people inquire about kettlebell training I compare this to learning a skill like golf or skiing. It takes time and practice to get really good at this. But even in the first month, under the direction of a certified coach, students can become skillful at the key lifts. They can take this skill with them into the rest of their lives … into any gym, home, on vacation or at the office. The kettlebell is a handheld gym, so this is a skill that they can use often in varied environments.

6. Understand Your Body to Prevent Injury – there is absolutely no way to train with kettlebells and not learn something new about your body in terms of posture, breathing and muscular-skeletal activation. A physical therapist friend said that he had no idea about the power of the latissimus dorsi until he started using kettlebells. Understanding how and when to engage and use the lats and other key muscles, such as the glutes and hamstrings, is something that many life-long exercisers have not paid much attention to. This understanding of how and when to engage muscles and use the biomechanical match breathing can take one’s physical training to a new level.

RKC Team Leader Lori Crock Coaching a client with double kettlebells
Photo: Leenabee Photography

7. Train with Goals in Mind – there is nothing random in our training methodology. This is training to get strong and to move better using a variety of ballistic movements and grinds, upper and lower body, push, pull, lift and carry and ongoing mobility work to reach goals. I highly recommend the book, Master the Kettlebell for more information about RKC methods and programming.

8. Integrate with other Fitness Practices – programming at my gym is 80-90% kettlebell-focused. This will vary among certified kettlebell trainers of course, but programming kettlebell training along with barbells, TRX, Crossfit, yoga and the martial arts works and yields great results in terms of building strength and resilience.

9. Address Weaknesses and Asymmetries – an RKC certified coach will teach you single-arm and two-arm movements and lifts. With the single-arm kettlebell training especially, weaknesses or asymmetries may become apparent. An RKC is trained to address/improve/eliminate imbalances to prevent injury and increase performance–and refer someone to a medical professional when someone has pain or seriously dysfunctional movement.

Lori Crock Coaching Kettlebell Cleans
Photo: Leenabee Photography

10. Learn from Someone Who is a Coach First – the RKC program focuses on making us good kettlebell coaches. RKCs enjoy training with kettlebells, but we know the power in this is teaching the art of safe, efficient kettlebell skills to our students. We love to share our passion and we take pride in being RKC. We work hard to uphold the high standards set before us. Our certifications are physically and mentally demanding and we ask instructor candidates to take their preparation very seriously months in advance. RKCs recertify every two years and we have a community of coaches that support each other.

Looking for an RKC instructor in your area? Search our world-wide listing. Ready to sign up for an HKC or RKC certification event? Register for your life-changing experience now.

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By Lori Crock, RKC Team Leader, FMS II and MovNat MCT II. Lori owns MoveStrong Kettlebells in Dublin, Ohio where she teaches small group kettlebell classes to all ages and fitness levels and continues to be amazed, inspired and educated by her students. Her email address is lori@movestrongkbs.com