10 Things I Learned in 10 Years as a Kettlebell Instructor
On September 17, 2006, I attended my first kettlebell certification course. At the time, kettlebell training wasn’t as widely embraced as...
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StrongFirst
Nov 15, 201614 min read
Solid: In-Between Simple & Sinister
“Start by doing what’s necessary; then do what’s possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.”—St. Francis of Assisi. If somebody...
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StrongFirst
Nov 8, 20169 min read
Group Exercise Class: A Template for Successful Kettlebell Training
Classes can be a fantastic opportunity for professional coaches to help more “regular” people and earn more money in the most...
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StrongFirst
Oct 11, 20164 min read
Upgrade Your Strength with the Soju and Tuba Press Program
Back in spring of 2015, Mark Limbaga came up with the concept of a step/wave hybrid cycle. Once he shared the basic concepts with me, I...
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StrongFirst
Oct 6, 20165 min read
I Am a 12-Percenter — Are You?
I am a 12-percenter. At age 58, I have a 12.4% risk of dying before I turn 68. How do I know this? It’s straightforward crude mortality...
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StrongFirst
Oct 4, 20163 min read
Under Pressure: A Small But Crucial Adjustment to Your Get-up
“The only way to handle pressure is to apply it.”—Darrelle Revis I would add that handling pressure means properly applying it. The area...
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StrongFirst
Sep 27, 20165 min read
The Many Valuable Reasons You Should Be Training the Push Press
The push press is a bit like the clean. The clean gets neglected because the swing and snatch are “so much cooler.” The push press seems...
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StrongFirst
Sep 20, 20164 min read
The Most Effective Leaders Lead by Example
I attended a StrongFirst Level I Certification in Chicago in April 2016. This was the first time I had actually been through a...
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StrongFirst
Aug 30, 20166 min read
The 3 Best Lifts for Developing Overhead Strength and Why
There’s something about putting heavy weight over your head that empowers you. But getting to the point where you have considerable...
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StrongFirst
Aug 25, 20163 min read
My SFG Experience: From Now On, I’m StrongFirst
I open my eyes while, bathed in sweat, I slowly regain my breath control. I’m lying on the artificial grass contemplating the high dome...
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StrongFirst
Aug 9, 20165 min read
Why I Fell in Love with StrongFirst (and How I Failed the SFG Level I)
To be honest, I did not hear about StrongFirst until the last year or so. Kind of embarrassing as a trainer, especially one who...
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StrongFirst
Aug 2, 20164 min read
Patience: The Unexpected Key to Power
“The greatest power is often simple patience.” —E. Joseph Cossman I would add that patience is the key to power. In my last article, we...
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StrongFirst
Jul 26, 20166 min read
4 Essential Mental Tools for Passing the SFG Level I Cert
Ten years ago I signed-up for my first Ironman triathlon. At that time, I had never swum more than 500 yards, never ridden a road bike,...
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StrongFirst
Jun 21, 20166 min read
I Failed the SFG Level II Strength Test
I failed the SFG Level II strength test. That’s how my Level II Certification weekend started, so I might as well start this article that...
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StrongFirst
Jun 7, 20163 min read
A Critical Get-up Transition: From the Elbow to the Hand
A student of mine once described the get-up as being comprised of “frames of a comic strip”—meaning there are definitive positions to hit...
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StrongFirst
May 31, 20164 min read
A Solid Game Plan for Acing the Snatch Test
If you’ve heard of Pavel and follow his teachings, it’s likely you’ve heard of the 100-rep snatch test. The snatch test is a core element...
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StrongFirst
May 17, 20163 min read
What to Do With Your Free Hand During a One-arm Swing
It is one of the enduring questions of inquiring minds. What do I do with my free hand during a one-arm swing? (That, and if you are...
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StrongFirst
Apr 19, 20164 min read
Personal Space Rules When Snatching the Kettlebell
We have all joked about our personal space. From a basic psychological perspective our personal space can be defined as: “[T]he area...
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StrongFirst
Apr 5, 20168 min read
A Comprehensive 3-Month Plan for Beginner Group Lessons
“Begin at the beginning,” the King said. I would like to add, “And then don’t stop.” The following article gives a blueprint of how we do...
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StrongFirst
Mar 1, 20165 min read
The 3 Key Distinctions of the Kettlebell Press
The kettlebell press is a unique overhead press variation. Why would this press be any different from a dumbbell, barbell, or any other...
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