Is your Kettlebell Instructor (really) Certified?
If you’re considering starting Russian Kettlebell Training (aka Girevoy Sport), you’ll need to make sure that your instructor is certified! Like all other challenging forms of exercise, kettlebell training needs to be done with correct technique so that you don’t end up damaged!
Professional Kettlebell Sport (Girevoy Sport) has one of the LOWEST injury rates when compared to all other professional sports in the world. This is because technique is taught systematically, and athletes are progressed with caution and judiciousness.
In South Africa, over the last few years, there has been a rapid growth in the awareness and demand for kettlebell training; and many personal trainers have been “climbing on the bandwagon” by teaching kettlebells without having done a kettlebell certification course.
Furthermore, several well-known Personal Trainer Schools, (as well as some individuals) have set themselves up to run kettlebell courses for instructors – this being without any of the lecturers/teachers having attended an internationally-recognised kettlebell certification! This is indeed, a disturbing trend, which may very well result in an increase in injuries!
So before starting kettlebell training; or before you, as a Personal Trainer, select a Kettlebell Instructor’s Course, you may wish to consider the following points:
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Is the Institution / Personal Trainer College (or individual) certified by one of the Internationally Acclaimed Certification Bodies such as the IKFF (International Kettlebell and Fitness Federation), RKC (Dragondoor), WKC (World Kettlebell Club)?
If, indeed, they are certified through one of the above, are these local training colleges/ individuals AUTHORISED by these international governing bodies to certify kettlebell instructors?
In addition, do these internationally-recognised organisations oversee these certifications? Or… are these local training colleges for personal trainers simply trading on their good name within the industry?
Instructors/lecturers within a school for personal trainers are not necessarily proficient or qualifiedor authorised to certify personal trainers / instructors! In the professional world, one could not certify as a doctor and then conduct surgery, simply because one has a medical degree. This would be both unacceptable and irresponsible!
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Has your Personal Trainer been “designated” Kettlebell Instructor by the gym manager?
Yes, this happens! Many gyms and well-known health centre chains have “cashed in” on the popularity of kettlebell training. They have purchased some kettlebells and have simply assigned a few of their personal trainers as “kettlebell instructors” – This obviously saves on time and costs. It’s also a sure way of increasing the risk of injuries to the clientele. Furthermore, when injuries do occur, it is far easier to blame kettlebell training rather to take responsibility for their short-sighted approach to this specialised form of training.
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Has your personal trainer simply “promoted” themselves to the rank of “Kettlebell Instructor” because they have a few years of weight-training instructor experience?
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Would you consider doing a shark dive with someone who is solely trained in scuba-diving, but who has NO previous experience diving with sharks?
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Would you have knee surgery done by a guy who has watched the procedure on “YouTube”?
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Establish the Course Content…How thorough is the course? Does it cover the following important issues?
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The technique of all the basic kettlebell moves
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Safety in executing these basic moves
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Troubleshooting areas of difficulty with technique
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How to structure Kettlebell classes to accommodate all levels of proficiency
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Risks and dangers and how to deal with them.
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Does the course have a “hands on” approach or it is simply a bunch of theory?
Nope, kettlebell technique is not something that you (or your personal trainer) can learn by simply watching “YouTube” or from reading a book or an article. A good kettlebell instructor will need to have had first-hand experience of how kettlebell training loads the body. A “hands on” certification will give an instructor insight as to how kettlebells work and why they are so effective. A kettlebell course should therefore have a strong practical element with attention to detail to ensure that each instructor has mastered the necessary techniques before being “let loose” on the general public.
Closing thoughts
Kettlebell training is certainly not weight training simply done with a funny-shaped weight.
None of the traditional weight-training exercises translate into kettlebell training and yet many gym-rats will try to use a kettlebell to do a traditional gym dumbbell move: For example, they will pick up a kettlebell and, more often than not, attempt to do a biceps curl! Or, worse still, they will take a dumbbell and try copy a kettlebell movement such as the snatch! Ouch! This is the same as trying to playing soccer with a rugby ball, or going surfing on a skate board!
Kettlebell training is very different to traditional weight training: It is dynamic, effective and functional, getting you into peak physical condition, fast! It is up to you, however, as the trainee, to make sure that your kettlebell instructor is (really) qualified! Dig around; ask the international governing bodies who is authorised to certify kettlebell instructors in this country – or go to the list of (known) qualified South African Instructors. If they are not on this list, chances are, they’re not qualified! And if you are certified, but not on this list, we will gladly include you on it!
Kettlebell training is enormous fun and the results outstanding! Ensure safety by training only with a qualified instructor and you will enjoy strength, fitness and cardiovascular conditioning for decades to come!