Kettlebell Certs

How do most of the mainstream kettlebell certs stack up against each other. If I'm under the right impression, IKFF is more geared towards the competition aspect, while RKC is the oldschool way of lifting... I guess I'm just ignorant to the whole thing. What's your experience with the different kettlebell certs?

They're all way too fucking overpriced and the only people that really give a shit are other KB-only aficionados. I mean, what's a basic level RKC go for these days? Isn't it close to $3k? Are you kidding me?

And why in the holy hell are there so damn many KB certs? You've got your different levels of RKC, IKFF, Agatsu, Xfit, Renegade (though I do like Coach Davies), Anthony Diluglio (or however you spell his name), and who knows how many others.

All to lift a friggin' iron ball w/a handle.

Yet, if I tried to create a DB lifting certification, people would call me a retarded moron.

KB certs - as well as most (not all, but most) certs in general - suck.

I studied videos for a few months and swung the kb on my own before going to the HKC (mini-RKC/ short course). I had picked up a lot of bad habits that needed proper coaching to rectify. If you don't have a qualified coach to help you through the "posture" issues, IMHO you dramatically increase the possibility of injuring yourself just learning the exercises.

If you want to BE that qualified coach, then you need to attend training to safely share the info. The ballistic arc of the swing is quite different from the typical lifts with db and bb.

inf0 -  lol ^


I have a KB certification. It is one of the certs Wiggy mentioned. I won't specify which one.

In all honesty, I look back and have no idea why I wasted my time (and money) on that cert. It has not benefited me at all. I could have learned everything on my own or with an instructor for a 1/4 of the price I paid. Waste of money, IMO.


 I've done two of the certifcations the HKC and Martone's CrossFit. I had been messing with KBs since Pavel first book came out but still learned a great deal of stuff at both certs. I could list some critisms of each program but overall I got a lot of value out of the certs.



If your goal is to just learn a few of the moves then get a book and DVD. Practice and then find a coach and invest in a lesson or two. It's a hell of a lot cheaper than going throuhg a whole cert. 


LOL @ me. LOL

Glad to be of service. I still feel like I learned alot. It cost me about 500 for 9 hours of training so I don't feel it was an outrageous price to pay.

I think it's important to consider how the messghe of dragondoor has shifted in the last few years.

At first, it was "buy a KB, a book, and a dvd and you're good to go. You don't need a coach to teach you."

Now (that they have a new product, i.e. coaches, that they are trying to push), it is "buyy a kb/book/dvd, then meet up with a RKC in your area. You will be injured if you try to teach yourself."


I'm not super familiar with most of the certs, but I know RKC is geared around Pavel's Hardstyle-type training which is ideologically and technically departed from the girevoy sport (lifting KB's for max reps in a certain amount of time). The main difference is in the type of high-tension lifting pavel recommends (and the wide exercise selection; Girevoy sport is just snatches and cleans/jerks), as girevoy sport tries to move the bell while staying as relaxed as possible.

IKFF is more girevoy sport oriented, but the folks over at irongarm (who endless debate which school of thought is best, albeit in a hilarious fashion) seem to think that hardstyle is better for S&C programs and Girevoy sport is better for girevoy sport.

A rarely spoken fitness truth for you e-bros: FUCK ALL CERTS.