Kettlebell Basics for Strength Coaches and Personal Trainers

This is a review of the training video entitled ?Kettlebell Basics for Strength Coaches and Personal Trainers?. Perhaps I should begin by stating that I?m neither a coach or a trainer, but someone who has just started using kettlebell and perhaps, like many of you, fell in love with the darn things since the first swing. Yet I found the video extremely helpful, both in understanding the principles and technique behind each exercise and executing them safely and properly.

One thing is to be able to do an exercise properly, even flawlessly, another is to be able to teach it. To find someone that can do both is indeed rare. Yet. Bret Jones and Michael Castrogiovanni do just that in the video.

This is not just an audiovisual presentation of someone?s prowess in performing hard to master feats with kettlebells. It is a training tool designed not to impress the audience but to help them learn and master a skill.

Bret first gives a briefing for each exercise, then he explains, and Michael demonstrate, the proper technique repeatedly and from all angles. Next Bret analises what can go wrong, as well as the common mistakes people make when performing a particular exercise and shows various ways to correct them.

The presentation is clear, pertinent and thorough without being pedantic and the material, which is introduced in building blocks, is therefore easy to assimilate and integrate into one?s exercise repertoire.

This is by far the best training video I?ve seen on kettlebells for the reasons I?ve mentioned. Although I have a coach under whom I am receiving kettlebell instruction, I found this video to be invaluable as well as an excellent investment.

As I?ve already alluded, my one and only suggestion is to change the title since those than can benefit from the video are not just the professionals but those, such as myself who are starting out, as well as other beginners.

My thanks to Bret and Jones for this opportunity to share their knowledge and professional experience in a way that is sure to benefit many learn the art of the kettlebell training, improve their health and pass on this great tradition.

Brett Jones breaks down not only the Kettlebell exercises as well as they can be, but really teaches you how to teach the techniques to others. Brett also helps you with how to explain WHY someone would want to use Kettlebells to get in better shape.


Even the most ardent Kettlebell practitioner needs to review this DVD. I guarantee you by the time you are done you will catch something you need to improve on and will know how to do so.


Hands down, a must have DVD. You just can't ask for better than this.

Brett Jones is a gifted instructor who has left no stone unturned and nothing to chance in teaching solid fundimentals in kettlebell technique. A clear, intelligent, quality production that inspires confidence in teacher and student alike. Well done!!

I value this DVD very highly. I've gotten great use from it, and have seen others benefit greatly as well. And I don't see how you could watch it and not like these guys. So, there's the subjective part. But I feel like I owe Mr. Jones and Mr. Castrogiovanni a USEFUL review in response to what they've done for me with their work. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
For me, the factors that define the quality of an instructional DVD are these: . . . . . . .
1. Quality of material / / /
(What do the presenters know? how well do they know it? Do they have the intellectual curiosity and overall drive necessary to even CONCEIVE of something worthwhile?) . . . . . . .
2. Reality of material / / /
(Both for future application, and as an answer to 'is this actually occurring in my world?' The latter speaks basically to how 'present' the presenters seem, as the materials are being used.) . . . . . . .
3. Psychological 'inroad' / / /
(How much the presenters can 'get in your head' and leave things there for reasons I might not be able to understand... likability, identification, admiration...) . . . . . . .
4. "Empowerment" / / /
(Do the presenters make me WANT to go to work with the concepts?) . . . . . . .
5. "Enjoy-ability" / / /
(because it's still a human thing, hopefully about something I find important AND enjoyable.) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
To be brief, this DVD scores very high on all of these counts. My level of practice would be GREATLY compromised if I were to have set out with out this set. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
I am not a great believer in rating thing lower because "there's always room for improvement." In some cases, as when an instructor takes you as far as you need to - or should - go at a given point in time... there just isn't any need for improvement. Also, though the production on this DVD is very good, improvement in this regard simply wouldn't matter to me. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
This is, for me (and I'm picky) a solid 10. I would recommend it to anyone. So, if for some strange reason (say, a current level of sophistication) this DVD is NOT useful to you, please bear in mind that it will make a SPECTACULAR gift for someone well within whispering distance. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
All my thanks and blessings go to Mr. Jones and Mr. Castrogiovanni for this work.

It is simply GREAT and an invaluable resource to return too again and again when it comes to perform and teach the basic drills correctly. Every time I watch it I find something new that adds a lot to my recent knowledge. For RKC candidates it should be a must! You cannot imagine what an excellent support such a DVD can be for you during the preparation for the cert (it was for me)!

Great learning tool for trainers! I liked the detail in the explanations of the movements plus the variations. I highly recomend this product the minute kettlebells are introduced in a fitness center. This is a must!

This DVD set, along with the author's article "How to Prepare for—and PASS—the RKC Instructor Certification Workshop" published in Hard-Style Jan. 2008 was a cornerstone to my training for the 2008 May Budapest Certification.
Brett Jones and Michael Castrogiovanni make a perfect team to show, break down and explain the basic kettlebell exercises. They deliver quality information presented in a simple, easily comprehensible way and demonstrate the movements from different angles. This alone can mean an instant improvement of your own performance.
But there's more to it. Not only do they also point out and show typical mistakes, offer simple drills to correct them effectively, but they really teach you how to teach the movements to clients/athletes, with maximum safety for best gains.
A must have.

This is a no frills product jammed packed with very practical information. I have watched it several times and each time have learned something valuable both in terms of improving my own form as well as how to properly assist others. Always stressing safety first, the proper lifting technique as demonstrated by M. Castrogiovanni is exceptional and is filmed both in front and side view. The assist drills specifically for the snatch and jerk were extremely helpful.

In the future I plan to obtain an RKC Certification and this product will be essential in assisting me in its preparation.

Brett and Mike provided clear and concise demonstrations for safety and procedures regarding KB workouts. The cd was easy to learn from.

Brett Jones presents the 10 basic lifts of KB training in a manner used to not only teach the correct forms,but also to diagnose and begin to treat fundamental weaknesses of the student.Correcting these deficiencies is often more important to successful kettlebell training than just learning more techniques or lifting heavier bells.