Reviews

Chris was one of my team assistants at RKC Chicago (Team Newton) in September 2011. Throughout the weekend, Chris not only made himself available for any and every question I had, but also took the time to correctly tape my hands when the going got rough on Saturday. And when he realized I was struggling with the upcoming snatch test (I told him I did not expect to pass it on Sunday), he took it upon himself to guide me through the post-training that would inevitably come after the workshop ended, as I would be given 90 days to complete the requirements. I took Chris' advice to heart and, when I got back to Texas, employed his suggested regimen. Because of the time Chris took to impart his experience and wisdom on me, and with the assistance of others in the community who did the same, I was able to pass all portions and earn my RKC in November. Chris Erickson is the epitome of what the RKC stands for--a gentleman, an athlete, and a mentor--and if you get the opportunity to train with him, you should do so without hesitation.

I have been working out with Chris for about 1.5 years. He is always professional, on time, knowledgable, and reliable. He has tailored my workouts to meet specific goals and health conditions. I really like that he gives specific instructions for training on days that we are not workingout together.
I would highly recommend him to anyone looking for a personal trainer.

I have worked with Chris about once a week for several years now. I am the worst client in the world. I don't work independently. I don't take care of myself properly. I don't follow his excellent advice with any regularity. BUT, I show up faithfully because he has the patience to deal non-judgementally with my hosility about working up a sweat. And the fact that he works faithfully with me has enabled me to keep myself in line. He introduces new activities all the time. We try different routines regularly. He puts up with my whining and complaining and encourages me to try just a little harder. THANKS Chris!

For years I was an avid runner and thought that it was the only exercise that got it done. After 15 half marathons and countless 10Ks etc., I looked for alternatives that would take the stress off of the knees and feet. I had seen Chris working with other clients and was impressed with his approach. We have now been working together for 3 years. The workouts are intense (but not overwhelming), challenging, and varied so that the regiments are never stale or boring. He is an expert in physical dynamics and can determine during workouts if something is amiss. His solutions are always right on. At one point I was having lower back issues with some degree of pain. A doctor's assessment was that I had degeneration of the lower back. The prognosis was that most people over 50 had it to some degree - part of the aging process. Chris had picked up on it before the medical opinion and had put me on a series of exercises that strengthened the muscles that control the alignment in that area along with streaching regiments. Shortly I was pain free. That continues today. Chris is well versed on proper nutrition principles and has provided great recomendations in that area. At 70 I have the best muscle defination that I have ever had and I feel great everyday. My quality of lfe has improved 10 fold - and that is what it is all about.

RKC is pretty solid when it comes to the capacity its potential instructors must demonstrate--repeatedly--before achieving certification. And my experience has been that each RKC instructor I've worked with has been knowledgeable and competent. But I moved on from each of them, nonetheless--until Chris. So I'll limit this review to the personal qualities which make Chris so exceptional, and let his credentials speak for themselves.

I am always amazed at what I manage to accomplish in training sessions. Chris, however, never seems surprised. I've had a few trainers/instructors who were as dedicated to form and structure, and even a couple who were nearly as good at motivation. But I have never worked with anyone who has such vision for the client. I wanted to lose a little weight, gain overall strength, and find a workout to finally free from me from the brutal hamster wheel of the treadmill. That was nearly a year ago--which was also the last time I stepped on a scale or measured my overall strength by a bench press weight. Chris heard what I was saying, but saw what I was really looking for and gave it to me ten-fold. I am now stronger, faster, and fully open to the reality that I can be even stronger and even faster with a few bells and a mindset (and a couple of frighteningly large tires :) ) than I ever was with an entire gym full of equipment. As much as I'd love to take full credit (because, after all--I did swing 'The Beast'), I must admit that in my two decades of working out that preceded Chris, I had never achieved this level of fitness. And, certainly, I have never before looked so forward to the next workout.

Chris is a master of all the equipment available but what makes him an incredible instructor is understanding of the trainee, appreciating our strengths and weakness and is able to work around them to provide a great work out with incredible psychological and physical results

Chris is a great trainer- patient, motivating, and knowledgeable. Safety is a priority, and he has never tried to push too far too fast. His approach to training is intense but not over-the-top, he just lets you know when he thinks you could be doing more.

Chris is an excellent instructor! He pushes me to do more with every workout, making each one more challenging than the next. He is diligent about monitoring proper form, especially when working with the kettlebells. I was a bit hesitant when I first began working with the bells because I was concerned with injury. We slowly integrated them into our workouts and I believe that they have been a positive addition. They definitely help to keep exercise interesting.

Kettlebells has been great for helping me improve my upperbody strength. Chris has been a great instructor for helping to learn proper form for maximum results. He also pushes us beyond our preconceived limits. I recommend him as an instructor for new and experienced students.

I have worked out my entire life and have for the most part stayed in excellent shape. So...how happy am I to see even more muscle definition?! Chris combines great technique, motivation, humor and challenging workouts that lead to great results. Thanks Chris!

I wasn't sure what to expect with a kettlebell class except being really sore. Chris is a welcome surprise. He is very knowledgeable about kettlebell training, yet also very kind and supportive. He'll push you to try your hardest, but he knows when to step back, too. I've really enjoyed having him as an instructor and would highly recommend him and his class to anyone who asks about it (in fact, I already have a few times). Who knew you could enjoy kettlebells so much?

I've been training with Chris for a little over 2 months and have noticed a dramatic difference in my strength and endurance. Plus the weight is safely melting away. Chris is a patient, thorough and motivating instructor. Kettlebell training was entirely new to me, but Chris made the techniques easy to learn and the workouts challenging. I would recommend Chris's expertise to anyone!

My New Year's resolution took me to a local gym where I asked the manager for a personal trainer he'd recommend for his mom. At 64 and counting, I'm fighting ossification and gravity and not necessarily in that order. What's impressive about Chris is the way he explains the benefit of every move, every muscle involved to make that move, and exactly how to do the move. He's designed a workout that not only makes sense in terms of where I started but also is one that continues to challenge me. By working the plan Chris has for me, I'm beginning to see real results in terms of strength and endurance. The clarity of his instruction, breadth of his knowledge added to his enthusiasm for kettlebells makes Chris an outstanding trainer. Thanks, Chris!

I am new to kettlebell training but have had an awesome experience thus far with Chris. He is super professional and truly interested to make sure you understand what you are doing. He gets down to business and pushes you, but is patient and follows up to make sure you feel good. I trust him 100% and am excited to keep working with him! Thanks Chris!

I started training on Russian Kettlebell with Chris a few months ago. He is very knowledgeable about not only the techniques we use, but also the history of Kettlebell, which I found learning about made working out more interesting. He always emphasizes form and is quick to correct if your form slips! He is great at explaining what specific exercises do to tone and train your muscles. He is also a lot of fun in class and makes each class very enjoyable! Finally, every class I've taken with him really challenges me, but I never feel overextended!

After a lifetime of sport specific training, Chris has re energized my workouts. He's challenged me to achieve another level with his carefully planned and organized kettlebell additions to my workout schedule. Always the motivator, Chris has awakened the old competitor in me and challenges me to get better with every workout. My only regret or complaint is that I didn't begin working out with Chris long ago. If you want to really train, not just drudge through your workout, Chris is the instructor for you.

I have been taking kettlebells with Chris for about 3 months. Chris takes the time with each new student to fully develop the basic skills, and challenges the more advanced students with new and more complex moves. Each class is structured with an assortment of tried and true basic moves, while including new techniques or combinations to keep it interesting for everyone. He challenges us to increase to larger bells, and always works on our form, even on basic moves, to keep us in check. Chris is friendly, professional, and very well-versed in the art and sport of kettlebells. I look forward to his class every week, and have definitely seen an improvement in my muscle tone and overall strength. Thanks, Chris!

Chris is fabulous! He pays attention to both my form and energy, pushing me just hard enough to challenge me, but not so hard that I can't succeed. I have worked with Chris for about three years now. His patience with me is inexhaustible. He encourages me toward a healthy diet and lifestyle. He has suggestions for work I can do at home. He adjusts my program according to what my doctor has recommended. He is simply wonderful!

I've been training with Chris for a couple of months now and the experience has been great! I gained a lot of weight at the end of '08 and could not shed the pounds off. That is when I contacted him and I don't regret it at all! Recently I started to train with kettlebells and the results are awesome! I've seen more definition in the few sessions with kettlebells than with any other type of training! Chris is very knowledgeable about what he asks for and makes sure that I use the proper form. Not only that, he makes the sessions enjoyable which is a big plus!! Thumbs up for Chris!!

I'm a personal trainer myself, but will sometimes seek out the advice of other trainers to refresh my workout or learn a new technique. I sought out Chris recently because I had a nagging 10 lbs that I just couldn't seem to lose and my workouts had become stale. I've noticed how thorough and patient he is from watching him work with his clients and I was intrigued by kettlebells. After consultation with my physical therapist, Chris gave me a kettlebell workout that challenged me but he was careful to ensure that all moves were appropriate for my recently recovered shoulder injury and other limitations. Chris gave very clear instructions and demonstrations and has been very encouraging and patient to make sure that my form is absolutely correct.

I'm happy to report that the weight is finally coming off, I'm recovering pain-free shoulder strength and mobility, and my workouts are fun and challenging again. Once I have mastered this level I plan to consult with him again to learn new moves and keep myself challenged. I highly recommend Chris!

Chris is a great Kettlebell trainer and instructor. I was looking for something new and challenging to add to my work out regiment. Chris was very patient yet challenging and thoroughly explained and modeled each move to ensure that we were using the Kettlebell properly. He was very attentive to what each member of the class was capable of doing and pushed each of us beyond our limits. I completely enjoyed his class and look forward to training with Chris in the future.

Chris is an excellent kettlebell instructor. He has taken me from a person who had used them incorrectly in the past to someone who can use them in the future with proper form. Chris doesn't want you to just make it through the class. He is invested in your achieving excellence. He has no problem constantly stopping you until you get it right. He is extremely concerned for your safety. This is an instructor who really cares about you as a whole in regard to your health and wellness.I would recommend him to anyone looking for a new workout or trying to improve the one they already have.

Chris is a great instructor. He is very through in explaining and demonstrating the basics, and follows it up with careful attention to my form. He is very encouraging and patient, as it took some practice for me to learn a few of the techniques. The workouts are always challenging...he doesn't allow you to plateau. I have enjoyed the class with Chris and hope to move on to the advanced session!

I was looking for something to change up my excercise routine and the kettlebells looked interesting and challenging. These classes with Chris as an instructor have been great. He has definitely made them challenging and pushed me to keep the correct forms as well as increase the intensity of the workouts. Chris provides just the right amount of patience and motivation to make the class fun. I find myself looking forward to the next workout days in advance.

I have observed Chris working out at the gym for a while and noted that is training techniques are different from what one normally sees in the gym. I also note that he is very strong and fit himself. When he started working out with kettlebells, I was amazed at the intensity of his workouts. So when he started a kettlebell class, I joined. He starts each class with a thorough stretching routine and then a warm up. His focus is on safety and proper form first and then hard training followed by a cool down stretching routine. I find his training techniques to be thoughtful and grounded in a broad knowledge of fitness techniques and therefore to be very effective. He's an excellent instructor and a good guy.

Chris began teaching us some Kettlebell moves in our regular workouts, and now we are taking a Intro class. Chris is very knowledgeable about fitness and proper form for the kettlebell exercises. He is able to break down the moves and pays great attention to making sure we are doing them correctly to prevent injury. The workouts are appropriately challenging and Chris makes each workout fun, exciting, and different. I have really enjoyed getting to learn this new form of exercise and Chris is a great, enthusiastic teacher! I look forward to learning more from Chris as our classes continue.

I took the introduction to Kettlebell Training with Chris Erickson, and I have to say that (1) the techniques are great for integrating functional fitness and (2) Chris is an awesome instructor. He is patient, but challenging, encouraging me to work beyond what I considered my own limits. Through his emphasis on learning the correct form, and building exercises that complement one another, he has created workouts that are really great for both strength training and cardiovascular fitness. I would recommend Chris, and his instruction of Kettelebells without hesitation.

Chris is a great personal trainer!! Several months ago he introduced kettlebells into my workout and now I am addicted. Chris is knowledgeable and explains in easy to get terms what I'm doing and why. He consistently watches my form, guiding me to maximum results. Chris regularly adds new lifts, exercises or routines to my workouts, so I am always being challenged. I love the efficiency of kettlebell workouts. Kettlebells are great fat burners and muscle builders. I have lost about 100 pounds over the last year or so and I couldn't have done it without Chris and the kettlebells!!!