Tag: General

3 Great Reasons To Get Your Kettlebell Certification

On By adminIn General1 Comment

You have a passion for training with kettlebells. You’re ready to further your knowledge – and you want the credentials to back it up. You’re ready for a physical and mental challenge. You’re ready to get your kettlebell certification!

Here’s three great reasons why you should take the next step in your training career and book a spot at your next local kettlebell certification:

1. You want to teach others

This is probably the #1 reason why people get certified.  If you want to teach others how to safely and effectively train with kettlebells, it’s a must. Plus, being certified shows others that you’re serious, gives you more credibility, lets you charge higher rates … it’s just the right thing to do.

2. You want to further your knowledge and be the best you can be

I thought I knew quite a bit about kettlebell training before I got certified … and was humbled at the RKC weekend 🙂  Even if you’ve got experience working in the fitness industry, being around others who have enthusiasm and knowledge in your topic of interest is fantastic – as they say, knowledge shared is knowledge multiplied.

3. You want a mental and physical challenge

Several of my own training clients have gotten their kettlebell certification for this very reason … they’re ready to take their training program to the next level and they want the mental and physical challenge that goes along with getting their cert.

If you read this blog on a regular basis, you probably know that I’m impartial to the RKC system.  And I don’t have any other kettlebell certifications, so it’s true that I don’t have anything to compare to.  However, I do have several other ‘nationally accredited’ personal training certifications … and I can tell you that the physical challenge I endured at the RKC weekend, as well as the amount of knowledge I gained, was amazing compared to the rest of my certs.

When I say physical challenge, here’s a video to give you a little idea of what I mean:

Now just imagine three 10+ hour days of that 🙂

Another cool thing about the RKC system is that you have the option to get in with a ‘low barrier of entry’  – the HKC. For more details about that cert, you can check out the full post I did on it here: The HKC Kettlebell Certification

Basically, the HKC is a one-day kettlebell certification that teaches three basic moves – the Get Up, the Swing and the Squat. The physical test is a little easier than the RKC, and it costs about 75% less.  Additionally, it’s offered at a lot more places than the RKC … you can see a list of locations and learn more by clicking the banner below:

HKC (HardStyle Kettlebell Certified) Instructor Workshops

If you’re looking to go right for the RKC, click the banner below for more info on that:

RKC Certification

So if you’re thinking about getting your kettlebell certification, hopefully this post has given you a few good reasons to make it happen … let me know what you think in the comments!

Kettlebell Shirts, Hoodies, Stickers and more – 10% off through Sunday!

On By adminIn General2 Comments

Kettlebell T’s, Hoodies, Buttons and more from KettlebellBasics.net and Forest Vance Training, Inc. are now officially available! Check out our store by clicking the link below:

Kettlebell Gear – Shirts, Hats, and More

1. Show Your Kettlebell Pride
If you’re like me, you love kettlebells.  And a shirt, hoodie, or hat shows everyone how much you like training with them.  And it’s a good converstation piece. 🙂
2. Quality Kettlebell-Themed Gear Is Hard To Find
It’s actually hard to find quality kettlebel-themed shirts, hats, and the like.  So you’ll have unique clothing that will be the envy of all your kettlebell enthusiast
friends.
3. You Can Save 10% If You Order By This Sunday
You’ll save 10% off of every item in my store if you order by Sunday, July 25th.  On Monday the 26th prices will go up on everything by 10%.  So if you’re thinking
about picking up a shirt, hat, or hoodie, now’s a great time!
What are you waiting for?  Grab your kettlebell gear at 10% off by clicking the link below:
<a href=”http://kettlebellbasics.net/kbbasicsgear>Kettlebell Gear – Shirts, Hats, and More</a>

If you’re thinking about ordering some gear for yourself, here are three great reasons why you should do so now:

1. Show Your Kettlebell Pride

If you’re like me, you love kettlebells.  And a shirt, hoodie, or hat shows everyone how much you like training with them.  Plus, it’s a good converstation piece. 🙂

2. Quality Kettlebell-Themed Gear Is Hard To Find

It’s actually hard to find quality kettlebel-themed shirts, hats, and the like.  So you’ll have unique clothing that will be the envy of all your kettlebell enthusiast friends.

3. You Can Save 10% If You Order By This Sunday

You’ll save 10% off of every item in the store if you order by Sunday, July 25th.  On Monday the 26th prices will go up.  So if you’re thinking about picking up a shirt, hat, or hoodie, now’s a great time!

Grab your kettlebell gear at 10% off by clicking the link below:

Kettlebell Gear – Shirts, Hats, and More

3 Tips To Improve Your Kettlebell Swing

On By adminIn Basic Kettlebell Drills, General, Tips and Tricks, Videos2 Comments

Here’s a short video that didn’t make it into the final KettlebellBasics.net Quick Start Video Series … the audio quality isn’t great, but I still think there’s some good info here.  I cover:

  • The importance of a proper hip crease during the Swing
  • Why you should feel like you’re hike passing the KB back during the ‘bell’s decent phase
  • How to ‘lock in’ your upper body throughout the exercise

Enjoy!

To grab your free copy of my training video ‘Kettlebell Rx: 3 Common Training Mistakes and How To Fix Them’, sign up for the KettlebellBasics.net newsletter!  Just drop your name and email into the box at the upper right of the page.

The Dumbell Complex

On By adminIn General, Tips and TricksLeave a comment

Time to time, you might find yourself away from your kettlebells – maybe on the road for work or vacation – and still in need of the fast and efficient conditioning-style workout you get with your KB’s. The Dumbbell Complex is a great alternative.

Istvan Javorek is the strength coach who has recently popularized the dumbbell complex concept – here’s a video of the Javorek Complex #1:

Quick summary of the complex in the video if you missed it:

Dumbbell Upright Row X 6
Dumbbell High Pull Snatch X 6
Dumbbell Squat Push Press X 6
Dumbbell Bent Over Row X 6
Dumbbell High Pull Snatch X 6

Perform In A Non-Stop, Continuous Order As Listed Above.

Five Exercise X 6 Reps = 30 Reps/Set

This complex can be done once or twice for a warm-up or three to five times for a complete workout.

Enjoy and have a great weekend!

P.S.  Did you like this quick kettlebell training tip?  Sign up for our newsletter to get more like it delivered straight to your email inbox!

Kettlebell Basics Combo #3

On By adminIn Kettlebell Workouts, Tips and Tricks, Videos1 Comment

It’s time for Kettlebell Basics Combo #3!  Here are links to the first two videos in the series in case you missed them:

Kettlebell Basics Combo #1

Kettlebell Basics Combo #2

Kettlebell Basics Combo #3 incorporates four basic kettlebell drills into a giant circuit: Clean and Presses, Snatches, Goblet Squats, and Hand to Hand Swings.

To complete the circuit, you’ll perform 2 Clean and Presses on each side, 4 Snatches on each side, 12 Goblet Squats, and 16 Hand to Hand Swings.  Repeat this circuit 5 times for an amazing, efficient, full-body-blasting workout!

Don’t forget: You can get free access to the Kettlebell Rx video and a free copy of the Beginner’s Guide to Kettlebell Training by signing up for our newsletter!  Just drop your name and email into the box at the upper right of the page.

5 Reasons Why You Should Train Barefoot

On By adminIn General, Tips and Tricks1 Comment

Do you realize the impact the footwear you choose when training with kettlebells has on your strength, balance, and cordination? Kettlebell training – and most other training, in fact – is best done with no shoes at all.

According to this article in New York Magazine:

How We’re Wrecking Our Feet With Every Step We Take

Prior to the invention of shoes, people had healthier feet. The modern Zulu population, which often goes barefoot, had the healthiest feet in a study sited in the above article. Europeans, the habitual shoe wearers, had the most foot problems.

So here are five reasons why you should think about losing your shoes for your next kettlebell training session:

1. ‘Feel’ the floor

Going barefoot allows you to build a nice strong base from the ground up for performing kettlebell drills. Also, cross trainers or running shoes may have elevation in the sole as to pitch your feet forward and impair mobility.

2. Strengthen the foot muscles

You get this only with barefoot (and some very unique footwear that I’ll mention in a bit) training. Plus you can use your toes to grip things better.

3. Improves balance

This is almost immediate.  Just try it and report back.

4. No tension loss

If you follow Pavel’s teachings, you know that tension is strength. So cushy shoes are out.

5. Proper gait

Wearing shoes makes natural gait impossible. And chronic shoe wearing can result in lower and upper back pain.

So now let me address the common objections I get to this:

“I train in a gym and I can’t take my shoes off”

“I train at the local park and don’t want to cut my feet/step in dog poo/etc.

“I don’t want to drop a kettlebell on my foot”

Stop being a sissy 🙂

But if these are serious problems for you,Vibram Five Fingers are a cool alternative footwear that are well worth a look. Wearing a pair of Vibrams is, from a biomechanical standpoint, like going barefoot, but gives you some protection against the elements.

vibrams

Check out this article on Tim Ferriss’s Four Hour Blog for more about problems with wearing shoes and the Vibram Five Fingers:

Vibram Five Finger Shoes: The Barefoot Alternative

I don’t personally own a pair of Vibrams (I just train barefoot), but I know a lot of kettlebell people who love them. It comes down to preference and convenience in the end.

What kind of footwear do you sport in your kettlebell training?

Kettlebell Showdown: Top Brands Compared

On By adminIn General, Product Reviews6 Comments

I know I’ve talked exclusively about Dragon Door kettlebells on this blog – and that’s truly because I think they’re the best. I’m not personally biased one way or the other just because I’m an RKC – I just want the best ‘bells. And it’s funny, as kettlebell brand seems to be a kind of sensitive topic for people in the kettlebell community.  So I thought I would put together a list of major brands of kettlebells with a few of the good and bad things about each.  This list is by no means exhaustive – feel free to leave your opinion on the best kettlebell brand in the comments section. If there are any brands that you like and use that I’ve left out, feel free to point that out as well.

1st Tier Brands:  Ader + Dragon Door

It seems that the kettlebell brands most widely used are Dragon Door and Ader – this is just from personal observation and other discussions I’ve seen about this topic.

Dragon Door:

  • Generally agreed upon that the ‘bell is more comfortable
  • DD ‘bells have a nice, flat bottom that’s great for stuff like renegade rows
  • Nicely built and well balanced ‘bell
  • For a more detailed review of the Dragon Door ‘bells, click here

Save up to 30% on Dragon Door's classic Kettelbells

Ader:

  • Harder to grip, which could be a good or bad thing depending on how you look at it
  • Generally well reviewed bell and slightly cheaper price than Dragon Door

2nd Tier Brands: Powermax + Apollo

These ‘bells aren’t as good quality and aren’t as well made – they’re also considerably cheaper.  Reviews aren’t as good across the board.  But, the lower price makes them attractive to some – and if you’re just planning on doing some occasional swings with them – maybe using them for CrossFit workouts or something – they’re probably just fine in all honesty.

Adjustables

This is a new kettlebell breed. The purists like myself would never consider something like this, but for some, it may be a good option.  Positives are that one can have only one kettlebell and adjust the weight as you get stronger, switch exercises, etc.

So there you have a review of the different kettlebell brands! Which one is your favorite?

While you’re here, make sure to sign up for the KettlebellBasics.net newsletter and claim your free bonuses today if you haven’t done so yet … and have a great weekend!

Mastering The Art Of ‘Kettlebell Flow’ – Two Cool Videos

On By adminIn Kettlebell Workouts, Tips and Tricks, Videos1 Comment

What in the heck is ‘kettlebell flow’?

Well, first, take a look at this ‘body weight flow’ video to get an idea of what I’m talking about:

Body Weight Flow Video

And here’s an example of a ‘kettlebell flow routine’:

Kettlebell Flow Routine

Pretty cool, huh?

Each movement ‘flows’ together, you keep your heart rate up, and get a great workout – it’s awesome. And you look like a kettlebell master 🙂

So what’s the secret?

It’s practicing the basic movements and getting them down cold. No ‘secret sauce’ – just practice.

The pitfall you want to avoid is jumping around and doing a million kettlebell exercises just for the sake of getting fancy. This is a little like what I tried to do when I first started training with kettlebells – and it didn’t work very well. Once I really focused in on the basics – the Swing, the Get Up, the Squat, the Snatch, and the Clean and Press – is when it all kind of came together.

Keep practicing those kettlebell drills!

P.S. Don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter while you’re here – and you’ll get a free copy of Kettlebell Rx: 3 Common Training Mistakes and How To Fix Them!

My Favorite Kettlebell Training Resources

On By adminIn General, Product Reviews, Tips and TricksLeave a comment

Quality kettlebell training advice can be hard to come by- here’s a short list of resources I’ve used to build my kettlebell knowledge over time – I hope you find it useful:

DragonDoor.com

The premier source of kettlebell training info. Pavel Tsatsouline, the man behind The Russian Kettlebell Challenge, Enter The Kettlebell, Return of The Kettlebell and lots of other books from Dragon Door, is largely responsible for popularizing kettlebell training in the U.S.

Enter The Kettlebell by Pavel

The best book, in my opinion, on getting started with kettlebell training. Keeps things basic for you, and Pavel has a both highly effective and highly entertaining way of teaching.  A must have for your KB training library.  The Enter The Kettlebell DVD is also a great tool.

YouTube

A good resource with a lot of good stuff – and a lot of bad. I might sound a little like I’m condradicting myself after this post – the rule is to use YouTube at your own risk and, after looking at all the other resources I recommend here, use your knowledge as a ‘filter’ and decide what’s good and what’s not.

The CrossFit Journal

This is, at $25 a year, one of the best investments you can make in furthering your general training knowledge.   I know the jury is out on CrossFit (I wrote a post about this recently on The Fitness Monster, in fact – you can check it out here), but I think their journal is an awesome resource. There’s not only a lot of kettlebell info here – much of it from Jeff Martone, a former RKC guy – but lots and lots more on every imaginable topic.

Viking Warrior Conditioning

This is a killer book if you’re looking to improve your conditioning.  A word of warning: the program is hard 🙂  But if you can survive, you’ll probably get into the best shape of your life.

Another cool thing is that Kenneth Jay, author of Viking Warrior Conditioning, has extensive research that he’s performed himself to back up what he’s saying.

Return of The Kettlebell

What to do once you’re done with Enter The Kettlebell.  Covers advanced kettlebell training methods, most notably double kettlebell drills in detail – again, don’t even think about it until you’ve completed the Rite of Passage!

MikeMahler.com

Another former RKC guy, has an awesome free e-book on kettlebell training you get for signing up for his newsletter. Also has a ton of training dvd’s and holds various workshops across the country. Highly recommended.

ArtofStrength.com

Great YouTube channel, Art of Strength and Punch Kettlebell Gym is headed by Anthony DiLugo, who got his start with the RKC – seeing a common theme here?

There you have it – a short list of kettlebell training resources that should keep you busy for a while! This list is by no means exhaustive – in fact, feel free to leave links to your favorite places to find kettlebell training info in the comments section.

Keep training hard!!

Positives And Negatives Of YouTube For Learning How To Use Kettlebells

On By adminIn General, Tips and Tricks3 Comments

So I’m typically not one to say anything negative about other ‘fitness approaches’, if you will … with all the conflicting information out there, I think there’s a lot of perfectly fine ways to reach a goal, whether that’s gaining muscle, losing fat, etc.

However, I just wanted to give a quick example of what I’m talking about when I say that YouTube has some questionable instructional material with regards to kettlebell training … even when it comes to videos that have hundreds of thousands of views!  One of the main problems is that there’s some very good stuff on YouTube as well, and if you’re a newb, it can be hard to filter out the good and the bad.  If you will, let me know what you think about this particular video in the comments section of this post – I don’t think you even have to know much about kettlebell training to wonder wtf is going on here:

The moral of the story is to make sure you’re getting good, quality, qualified training advice.  If it’s kettlebell instruction you’re after, an RKC instructor is going to have the knowledge and experience to get you quality training and to help you learn the basic kettlebell movements safely and effectively.  ‘Nuff said.  To find one in your area, click here.