The Value of Professional Kettlebell Training

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1 The Value of Professional Kettlebell Training A Brief Introduction to the Agatsu Kettlebell Certification By Robert Dobó The Agatsu Kettlebell Certification consists of a three day course, Instructor are taught the fundamental exercises, and how to break them down to teach them to anyone. They learn how to incorporate joint mobility drills, Kettlebell training, and bodyweight exercises to create a complete fitness routine. Also learnt is the ability to create sport or goal specific programs for their clientele quoted from The three day course also consists of a written exam, and at the end of the final day; an endurance circuit test is administered to measure the student s technique and overall physical fitness. The students receive hands on training and guidance from other instructors. Having worked with a few AKC instructors, and I can attest to their abilities to teach and guide students through their Kettlebell training.

2 Agatsu Workshops: Having just returned from an Agatsu Kettlebell Seminar, it s fresh on my mind the value one can receive from Professional Training. We had the advantage to be a part of a small group, and hence, received a lot of personal attention. The instructor we trained under was Shawn Mozen, owner of Agatsu Inc. Shawn performing an 88lb windmill at the June Agatsu Kettlebell Certification The demographic we had at the seminar was diverse, from me, a Kettlebell Enthusiast and a little overweight, Marc Lebert a gym owner and professional personal trainer, to Dale Mitchell an OHL Hockey player with the much revered Oshawa Generals, to my mother a 56 year old lady who s only been using Kettlebells for a few weeks. My mother (Connie Dobó) said I was really worried that I would be the only woman there, and that my physical condition would leave me at a disadvantage to the

3 class, but once we started training I was able to keep up the pace and got a great workout from the workshop, and learn tons of new things Though we were a diverse group Shawn was able to teach us all at our differing skill levels with great success, My mother was quite worried she would look like a fool at the seminar but Shawn s skills put her mind at ease and she performed wonderfully. At the beginning of the seminar she had never perform an exercise other than the swing, by the end of it her swing was better, and she even performed alternating snatches with two Kettlebells. Marc Lebert had to add The Kettlebell course was excellent! Shawn was a very informative instructor and the pace was just right. We also enjoyed his sense of humor! Fuel Fitness Seminar, June 16, 2006 I have been toying with Kettlebells for a couple years now, I say toying because after having received some professional training I realize I have a long way to go to truly be considered a Girevik. In the class we covered the basics, basics is a bad word to describe it though, and fundamentals would probably be the more accurate word.

4 The simple two handed and one handed swings alone took up half the class, with various tricks of the trade we were learning to ensure the technique was flawless. Shawn is not the type of trainer who tries to teach you an encyclopedia of exercises, he is much more concerned with building a solid foundation of basic exercises so the trainee has the tools they need to progress in their skills and training. Kettlebells themselves are not an implement that can not be mastered overnight; they require great skill and focus to master. Just hold a 32 kilogram Kettlebell over your head and perform a windmill and you will see what I mean. You have to have focus to perform the exercise it s not simply something you do while thinking about what a stressful day you had. Your attention needs to be on your technique and your mind needs to be clear of anything else. Any thing else, and you risk injury. Books and DVD s are great resources but nothing can replace hands on training with a qualified instructor. In our Agatsu training we spent nearly an hour simply working on our swings, the foundation of almost all kettlebell exercises. No DVD of mine spends more than 5 minutes on the swing before they move on to a new exercise, and because of that I had major flaws in my technique. This was my second opportunity to work under Shawn, having worked with him in Rochester a few weeks ago along with other Agatsu instructors Robert Urtis and Dominic Arioli. We went over the same things I had learnt from him at our first meeting. My technique had improved, but still needed improvements. We worked the fundamentals and refined my technique. I was even taught the proper form for snatches, all this time I didn t think I could do snatches in my basement exercise room but with the right technique I no longer have to worry about putting the kettlebell through the ceiling. This is instruction I could only receive by personal instruction with a qualified instructor. No DVD could have told me my swing was wrong, that I wasn t sitting back far enough, that I was losing technique after several reps, etc.

5 Bob Urtis (left) dishing out some helpful hints during the Agatsu Workshop in Rochester An Agatsu instructor can teach you these things, they can teach you how it feels when you make a perfect swing and how it feels when you don t, my training has come a long way with only two seminars under my belt, but I still have a lot to learn. I intend to take advantage of any or every chance that comes my way to learn under Shawn and other Agatsu Instructors either through personal training or at Kettlebell seminars. I have a goal of one day becoming an Agatsu Kettlebell Certified Instructor myself, I can reach this goal but in order to do so, and be a good instructor, I need good instruction myself. If you have the opportunity to be taught by a Certified Trainer, take the opportunity, and use what every resources you have to become a better Girevik. DVD s and books are great, and you should always read all you can and absorb as much information that as possible, but to be the best you need to work with the best and that means you need a certified instructor. Shawn Mozen has put together a very effective Certification Program, Agatsu instructors are knowledgeable, capable, and qualified to teach you everything you need to know about Kettlebells. Canada is lucky to have the opportunity to have instructors of their caliber.

6 Robert Dobó an UndergroundStrengthCoach.com Enthusiast, and is the owner/operator of a site devoted to functional strength resources and its impact on mental well being. For more NO BS reviews on Underground seminars, products and more, go to You ll also find tons of innovative articles and audio interrogations from the leading Underground Strength Coaches in the world!