A family history of bad knees, bad backs and arthritis was catching up to me at age 55, and I was having trouble moving without pain. Going to the gym for years and had done a little to help me feel better, but it was boring and I was not motivated to push myself harder. I was not looking to be a body builder, I just wanted to be able to walk upright in 10 years! I knew about kettlebells and had one in my basement for a year, but the workout looked scary on the DVD that was included and I decided that I needed a trainer to teach me how to do it properly.

I ran across the Precision Kettlebell information booth at the Malvern Festival and I decided to sign up for the 8 week introductory course. It was a little intimidating at my age, I was skeptical that I was up to the challenge, but Mike assured me that I could do it. After the very first class I was hooked. It was the hardest workout I have ever done, but it was fun too! Mike spends time teaching correct technique so we do not injure ourselves and carefully monitors what everyone is doing. Mike has this very positive, calm faith in his students. He constantly encourages everyone to push ourselves farther than we think we can go and does it in such a nice way that you want to do it and actually can do it. His classes are always challenging and fun, and no two classes are the same.
In less than 2 months I have seen many changes in my body, and the constant pain is almost entirely gone. I continue to feel better and stronger each week and I have noticed several unexpected side benefits of kettlebell training, one of which is that my musical ability has improved! I have played the clarinet for 45 years and I recently noticed that my breath control has improved markedly. I can sustain difficult notes for far longer than I ever have in my life!
I am delighted with Mike Barbato and kettlebells, and I am looking forward to continuing classes with him.

After being a “gym rat” for a few years and exercising regularly I felt as though I needed something to take me to the next level. I had heard about Kettlebells, but didn’t know much about it and was a bit intimidated. I finally decided to sign up for the classes and was looking forward to training outside and not stuck in the gym scene again. I am so happy with my decision and love the different physical strength the class has provided. Mike is a motivated and strict instructor, but doesn’t have the attitude that goes along with it. He genuinely wants to help each person learn and become a stronger and healthier person through kettlebells. His patience speaks volumes, as you can join in a class where there have been people training with him for years, and he will give you the personalized attention you need not to get discouraged. Only after 2 months, I feel my body starting to transform. I feel stronger and have much more energy then in the past. Each class I can’t wait to see how Mike is going to challenge me and I challenge myself in return.

A few years ago, I decided that exercise needed to be a priority in my life. I hit the gym at least 5 days a week, only to notice small changes in the way I felt and looked. I was very discouraged. I had no idea what I was doing, so I hired a personal trainer to teach me how to workout. I paid him lots of money over several months and saw no results at all. I love to workout and I was looking for a real challenge.

I stumbled upon Precision Kettlebells and figured I’d give it a try. I made an appointment for an intro lesson with Mike Barbato. I was a little nervous and figured I’d be meeting some muscle-head with an inflated ego. This is so far from the truth. Mike is one of the nicest guys I’ve ever met. After simply teaching me the basics of kettlebells, my nervousness quickly disappeared. He’s great at explaining how to execute each exercise. He’s not a crazy trainer who screams in your face to get you moving. He has a way of motivating his students without really saying much. He walks around class and offers guidance and encouragement when needed. His classes are challenging and lots of fun. I really look forward to each class. I’ve only been training with Mike for about 6 weeks. I’m down a dress size and I’m amazed at how great I feel. It only took 2 classes for me to fall in love with kettlebells. I can’t get enough!!! Mike is a great guy and an awesome instructor. I look forward to training with him for years to come.

After training for Mike for a few months I decided its time to tell everyone out there what this guy has done for my mental and physical state. By no means am I in even decent shape, however, Mike is changing that class by class. Every time I arrive at the park I am ready to be challenged and worked. Every time I arrive at the park Mike is there with a challenge and encouragement that makes we want to keep coming back for more.

What makes Mike such a great instructor is that he genuinely cares that you receive quality instruction that is safe and done to maximize impact on your fitness. Many instructors have a routine they follow and don't deviate from it. However Mike has days where we get to choose what we do in class and he goes with the flow. That attitude of giving us what we need serves him well because we respond to the opportunity to control our own work out.

Now after spending an early Saturday morning with the whole Precision Kettlebell crew doing the LiveStrong walk I can tell you that I have never been more proud to be part of a workout group. The feeling of power and pride I felt walking the last 60 yards with my new found family was the best feeling I have had in a long time.

If you want a place to work out where you run in do 30 minutes of "exercise" and run home don't come to work out with Mike. If you want to get in the best shape of your life, feel better about your body than ever before and do a workout where you feel like you're with friends come to Valley Creek Park and swing some bells with Mike and company. It’s a trip you will not regret.

I wanted to wait until I had trained with Mike for several month before I wrote a review. I wanted a really good feel for him before I wrote something.

Naturally Mike has excellent form and is knowledgeable like you would expect from an RKC II; but the thing that really strikes me about him is that he has the heart of a teacher. That teacher in high school or grade school that inspired you and showed you that you are capable of more than you ever imagined? Mike is that teacher. He is a natural with people from every sort of background and experience. He deftly picks up on peoples personalities and quirks and immediately turns over that information into better ways to communicate with them, thus better training, and thus better and faster results.

Mike does this all while being a truly genuine, humble, and affable. Mike is a great RKC but the real truth is that his gift for teaching is almost wasted on corporate drones like myself; he should be coaching at a university.

I just recently started training with Mike and find his instruction to be superb! I was reluctant to try Kettlebells, due to my age, but after my first lesson with Mike, I felt confident that I might be able to continue. He is very patient and his passion for training is evident. He encourages you to push further, while at the same time mindful of your condition. I have tried several different gyms/workouts over the years, and this has been the most challenging and rewarding. I look forward to my workouts with Mike. Thank you, Mike.

I highly recommend Mike to anyone looking to become stronger, more conditioned and simply feel and look their best. I am a mother of 3 which will not reveil her age but will say I am in the best shape of my life and I attribute it all to kettlebell training. Taking Mike's classes are always fun yet very challenging. Mike constant support

I started back in September of 2010 when a friend gave me a gift certificate...I always loved to be physically fit but after years of pretty much "doing nothing" except paying for a gym membership which I never used, I decided it was time to stop being an excuse maker for not working out and try something new. Well, I have to tell you that Mike has made me a "kettlebell junkie." He is so patient when you first start, showing you all the moves over and over and not making you feel embarrassed because you are the new person when there are so many experienced people in the class.
His dedication to his class is bar none and way above any expectation I ever had. He always asks if you have any "questions, comments or concerns". He is truly an amazing instructor.
My whole attitude has changed, I feel so much better inside and out. I actually look forward to all the classes, and on those days everything else is second..
Thank you, Mike, for being a great instructor...keep pushing us to our limits...you know we can do it better than we know ourselves...AND THAT IS SUCCESS.....

I have been attending Mike's Kettlebell classes for about 8 months. I had no previous experience with Kettlebells. Mike has proven himself to be an excellent instructor by taking the time with everyone in the class to ensure that we understand and can execute the various swings and techniques. Mike always personally demonstrates each exercise which I find very helpful given my limited experience with Kettlebells. He is also very good at monitoring his students to make sure they are continually using proper techniques so that they may realize the desired benefits. I have belonged to a gym and have tried to keep a regular workout schedule for many years. However, I never achieved the fitness level I was looking for as I wasn't able to maintain enough motivation. I have no problem with motivation for Mike's Kettlebells as I look forward to the workouts because I actually enjoy them. Mike is constantly "mixing" things up which keeps it interesting, challenging, and even fun. I'm 57 and my goal is to be in better shape than I was at 37 and, thanks to Mike, I'm making real progress!

Mike changed my life. I had been doing other types of exercise with no results, it was getting depressing. Last fall I started training with Mike at Precision Kettlebells. Mike told me that I could not skip any classes that I had to make a commitment to this program. So I started learning how to do Kettlebells, it wasn't hard it was fun! Mike was always on me on my technique," if you don't follow the right form it wont give you maximum benefit of the exercise and you might hurt yourself." he would tell me. So the summer came around and it was pool time. I went to the pool I usually go to every summer I got some strange looks from people I see every summer. One woman said to me," Sharon? Is that you? What happened to you? You lost weight and you look so firm everywhere." I said "I've been doing kettlebells with Mike Barbato as my trainer." She replied," Well whatever you did keep it up you look great!" Mike has an investment in each and everyone of his students and their success is his success too. THANK YOU MIKE!!