Kettlebells 4/8

10 Things I Learned in 10 Years as a Kettlebell Instructor

Nov 29, 20168 min read

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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Group Exercise Class: A Template for Successful Kettlebell Training

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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Upgrade Your Strength with the Soju and Tuba Press Program

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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Under Pressure: A Small But Crucial Adjustment to Your Get-up

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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The Many Valuable Reasons You Should Be Training the Push Press

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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The Most Effective Leaders Lead by Example

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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The 3 Best Lifts for Developing Overhead Strength and Why

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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4 Essential Mental Tools for Passing the SFG Level I Cert

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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A Critical Get-up Transition: From the Elbow to the Hand

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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A Solid Game Plan for Acing the Snatch Test

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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What to Do With Your Free Hand During a One-arm Swing

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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Personal Space Rules When Snatching the Kettlebell

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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A Comprehensive 3-Month Plan for Beginner Group Lessons

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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The 3 Key Distinctions of the Kettlebell Press

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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