I've been using and teaching Kettlebells since 2005, we carry them around in our trucks. I have been a student of Pavel's since 2002, training all kinds of athletes since 1999.
Before that I spent 10 years in the US Army, 4 active, 6 reserve. There I served as Paratrooper, Long Range Surveillance Scout, Sniper, Pathfinder, and Infantry Squad Leader. I also did a combat tour in the Persian Gulf War. Let me make clear that the American military does everything as wrong as wrong can be physical training wise. Luckily for me negative examples can be very instructive. You won't find me doing Hollywood style fitness "Bootcamps," calling myself "Sergeant Pump," or any other such nonsense.
I have always been an avid jock and outdoorsman, competing in a lot of different sports and activities. Some of my favorites were Judo in college, soccer, football, XC skiing, rock-climbing. My favorite lately is Scottish Highland Games.
I was also a weldor and ironworker for a few decades, something I started when I was 13 years old. This experience has shown me an awful lot about the physical challenges faced by the working man and woman. I am on a crusade of sorts getting workers to take a more informed and pro-active outlook as regards their health and physical ability.
Since 1994 I have worked in the theatre, and many of my friends and students are acrobats, dancers, and other physical performers. I met my wife Alison in the theatre, she has been a professional athlete and physical performer for about 15 years. We have a training business called Form is Function which in the beginning focused on the needs of advanced athletes and performers. My other crusade is showing these professional and semi-professional performers how to take a more constant-improvement and career-longevity attitude toward their abilities.
Our students have been, soccer players, competitive powerlifters, martial artists (students and instructors), personal trainers, bellydancers, professional acrobats, bicycle racers and messengers, actors and musicians. Recently we are training more outdoor sportspeople like skiers and snowboarders, wakeboarders, kayakers, triathletes and rock climbers. We also have some more mellow folks nowadays like novelists, massage therapists, ceramic artists and engineers. Our training atmosphere is one of mutual respect, based on the "Adult education" model, a meeting of equals. Our students are all getting very strong, fast and limber, and making us look good.
Although we live in Colfax, Alison and I are constantly traveling to the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond to teach and to learn. If you are ever in Gold Country give us a call.
Eric Kenyon: Images
Donner Lake.
Customer reviews of:
Eric Kenyon
Average Rating: 10.0 in 10 reviews
Composer Bends Barbell
Rated 10 out of 10
I began weight training with Eric Kenyon in 1999. In the next 5 years, I found myself under a barbell with 515 lbs on it. Eric's approach has always been the same. Efficient workouts that are absolutely focused on results. I've never encountered a person as willing to explore multiple avenues of fitness to achieve a training regimen that is realistic and effective, yet malleable enough to adapt and evolve. Eric is gifted at training. He has the knack for getting complex ideas across to those new to strength training. Coupled with the deep knowledge of complex body movement, flexibility, and strength training, and dance his wife Alison has, they are quite the training team to be reckoned with.
Dave E - Oakland CA
Highly recommended instructor
Rated 10 out of 10
Eric is a knowledgable instructor. He is patient and thoughtful. He understands body mechanics and physiology of movement. Importantly, he knows how to build real strength without injuring the body. Eric has helped me greatly and I highly recommend him.
Raj Singh - Oakland, CA
Xtreme exercise
Rated 10 out of 10
I had been a dancer most of my life (first ballet, then modern, then bellydance and butoh), but never had done any strength training. Eric coaxed me into pushing my boundaries (heavier weights and faster health benefits), without overdoing it. He's aware of the importance of recovery and healing - he's not about over exercising and ending up exhausted and drained.
Besides working slowly with an individual to get them on a healthy path, Eric had some great tricks to get me out of my own way to being stronger than I would have guessed. In a year I was squatting more than my body weight and actually enjoying it.
I recommend Eric and Alison as teachers to meet fitness goals and have a good time doing it!
Iris - Oakland, CA
As solid an instructor as can be.
Rated 10 out of 10
I worked with Eric at the Jan. 2009 Camp Pendleton RKC. He is direct and to the point in his instruction and corrections, and unlike myself does not feel the need to deliver a 30 minute dissertation on how to keep your heels down. His views on military physical fitness are right on point, and he is being pro-active as part of the solution.
Jordan Vezina RKC - Palo Alto, CA
Say Goodbye to That Lower Back Pain!
Rated 10 out of 10
Eric Kenyon knows the business of getting fit for life and living a healthy lifestyle. He recently introduced me to the benefits of Kettlebell training and I haven't looked back. Over several sessions Eric took me through the Kettlebell routines and coached me with the proper form and function. Eric is a naturally gifted athlete who inspired me to lift my own game and to work my way back to total body fitness. Eric showed me some warm-up routines and stretching exercises even before we got into the Kettlebell training. He diligently demonstrated each Kettlebell exercise and then patiently helped me work on the correct form. Most importantly, Eric inculcated the benefits of Kettlebell training and helped me understand the reasons behind this unique style of weight lifting. Eric is a natural trainer and teacher who will work with you every step of the way to achieve your goals and objectives.
Kettlebell training has gone a long way to alleviate my lower back pain caused by various muscle strains. I'll let Eric explain the science behind Kettlebell training but this training improves your core body strength. It has helped me gain back some agility and strength that I haven't experienced for many years. I spent over 24+ years in the U.S. Army where the physical fitness program was predicated almost entirely on running ability. In my time the military never did achieve a total body workout program anywhere near as effective as Kettlebell training. I could have saved a lot of time and effort had I been introduced to Kettlebell training years ago. Kudos to Eric for introducing me to this type of training and for motivating me to make it happen.
LTC Frank Twarog, U.S. Army (Retired) - Greenfield, MA USA
Feel better now
Rated 10 out of 10
I have had 4 sessions with Eric so far. I am really impressed with feeling better overall. Less back pain, stronger core, better all round balanced feeling. I will do more in the future. Eric is very personable and enjoyable to work with.
Brion - Nevada City, CA
Best instructor I have ever trained with
Rated 10 out of 10
I have worked with Eric off and on for a year and a half. He is by far the best instructor I have ever worked with. Most trainers just show you an exercise and count off your reps, NOT Erick. He is so good that he teaches skills, technique, reasons behind the movement, and pointers for advancement ~ all so that I may workout effectively and efficiently on my own (safely & with confidence). I am always highly motivated when and after I am around him. His depth of knowledge is incredible. He continues to ask me my goals, reviews my form, and assists me in improving my abilities each time I work out with him. Broadly, my goals are some form of improved strength, greater flexibility, and increased stamina. These goals have been met and are continuing to be re-challenged. He is an excellent teacher, motivator, and an over-all great guy. I highly recommend training with Eric.
Leah Barretta - Grass Valley, CA
trainer opens my eyes
Rated 10 out of 10
I am 20 years old and am currently studying with ISSA to be a personal trainer i played football and was a comptition cheerleader in highschool. Both of these sports focused on extremes football on strength and cheerleading on flexibility. When I met eric he opened my eyes to the functionality of kettlebell style training the melding of strength and flexibilty! Since I have started training with eric I have aleviated shoulder, neck, and hip problems i aquired from the poor form and heavyweight used during my footall years. Thanks to Eric i have had enormous strength and flexibility gains as well as a overall sense of well being
Anthony West - Nevada City,CA
Sixty six and finally fit
Rated 10 out of 10
Eric is a fabulous instructor. He helped me define my goals and set realistic training routines to achieve them. For the first time in my life, I am finally strong and fit. My thrity year problem with tennis elbow is over! My arthritic knee no longer bothers me. My strength, endurance and lung capacity have improved. These changes are due to Eric's amazing skill in teaching proper form and motivating me to do more reps with heavier kettlebells. If you are ready to take training seriously, I highly recommend Eric.
Darcy Briel - Grass Valley, California USA
Eric Shapes Nationally Competitive Judo Athlete
Rated 10 out of 10
Eric's complete dedication to his students, attention to detail and thorough understanding of training methods provides the perfect combination for realizing an individual's strength, fitness and health potential. He has helped me build the strength and stamina I need to compete with the top athletes in the country in the sport of Judo; typically nearly half my age. I have been training regularly with Eric for about one year and this year I finally made the roster of nationally ranked female Judo athletes (currently only 8 in U.S. in my weight bracket). My core strength and body intelligence has increased significantly since I started training with him, among many other things too numerous to list. Whatever issue I bring to Eric, whether it be making weight, increasing speed, increasing flexibility, repairing injuries or building strength, he always provides me with the tools I need to make it happen. Eric always puts in the extra time it takes to make his students successful and is reliable and professional. As owner of Grass Valley Judo Club, I recommend him to all Martial Artists and Judo athletes who train at my gym but I would also recommend him to someone of any level of fitness.
Abigail Beck - Grass Valley, CA
