I just finished up day one of assisting at the San Jose RKC. So awesome to be part of an event like this …. I am learning a ton from everyone involved, from our head instructor, to my team leader, to my fellow assistants, and even the participants … plus, just because I love KB’s and everything about them, I am having a lot of fun! 🙂
One thing that is heavily utilized in the RKC cert work format is the buddy system. The typical flow during the day alternates between instruction and drill work/KB practice/short workout. And almost every drill/exercise/workout/etc. is done with a partner.
This is a GREAT way to structure a group workout. We use this format daily at my Sacramento, CA fitness/kettlebell boot camp, and it works great. Folks typically push harder than they would on their own, they can see what the other person is doing and provide feedback, they get to know other folks in the group, etc.
So, to better illustrate how you could set up a session like this, and to give you a sample workout to try on your own, I pulled one of my favorite kettlebell and body weight – based boot camp buddy workouts out of the vault for you today. Check it out:
FVT Kettlebell/Body Weight Boot Camp Buddy Workout
1 – Start with your SMR/mobility/dynamic stretching work for 5-10 mins before the workout
(Check out this article for a simple progression: http://kettlebellbasics.net/2012/06/16/kettlebell-warm-up/)
2 – Buddy set #1 – ketttlebell squat and press + body row
*Person one does five KB squat and presses (with a – relatively for you – heavy weight!) on one side, a hand-to-hand swing switch, and five KB squat to presses on the other side.
HOWEVER LONG IT TAKES person one to do this, person two is performing body rows.
Rest briefly (10-15 secs), switch exercises and repeat.
Do this three to four times total.
3 – Buddy set #2 – burpee + kettlebell swing
*Person one does seven burpees.
HOWEVER LONG IT TAKES person one to do this, person two is performing kettlebell swings.
Rest briefly (10-15 secs), switch exercises and repeat.
Do this three to four times total.
4 – Buddy set #3 – kettlebell figure eight to hold + plank-to-push up
*Person one does ten kettlebell figure eight to holds.
HOWEVER LONG IT TAKES person one to do this, person two is performing the plank-to-push exercise (with a push up).
Rest briefly (10-15 secs), switch exercises and repeat.
Do this three to four times total.
5 – “Cool down” with SMR again, static stretching for your tight muscle groups only, etc.
Whew! Nice. Enjoy that one 😉 That’s all I got for ‘ya for now. If you are not incorporating buddy training into your workouts, hopefully this article and sample workout has changed your mind … it’s a great way to structure your sessions, and will help you take your training to the next level.
Keep training hard, and talk soon –
Forest Vance, MS, RKC II
PS – I have a sweet program I’m putting together right now, that I will have available for you very soon … it’s a collection of kettlebell and body weight based workouts and programs for the fitness boot camp format. If you lead boot camps of your own, ever plan to, or do workouts like this yourself, I think you will really enjoy it. Keep an eye on your email inbox for the FVT newsetter to get first news of its release …