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Certification Workshop in Denmark

September 2006 Russian Kettlebell Challenge Instructor Certification Workshop — Participant Praise

Lance Mosley, Business Owner, PT, Powerlifter, Sports Cond. Specialist, Boynton Beach, FL

Athletic Achievements, training background or specialty:

Top ranked 220lb powerlifter, train athletes (high school, college, pro), certified sports specialist/PT.

This was one of the most exciting, challenging, and gratifying certifications/course I have ever attended in my life. If you ever have the chance to attend an RKC, don’t even think twice, just make sure you get there.

The training this weekend was phenomenal.

Tracey Whited, Accounting Technician, Sacramento, CA

Athletic Achievements, training background or specialty:

Martial Arts, Kickboxing.

It was the most challenging but yet most fulfilling certification I have ever taken. I have never been put through so much but yet learned so much and loved it. If you think you are physically fit once you experience the RKC you will know the truth.

The quality of training was excellent. The trainers pointed out our mistakes, and explained how to correct them and offered advice on how to improve. Always helpful. Very knowledgeable. I like the fact that there are so many ways to express/explain each drill.

The RKC was the most informative hands on training that I ever experience. I have trained in martial arts and kickboxing but never had my form, skills, techniques, critiqued before in such detail. I know what my problems area are, what to do to fix them and how to fix them. Hands on experience is the best.

I would just like to think Pavel, Dragon Door, Instructors and assistance for their time and expertise. If it wasn’t for everyone and their love of KB’s none of us would be here. Thank you!

Zachariah Salazar, Corrective Exercise Specialist, Colorado Springs, CO

Athletic Achievements, training background or specialty:

Black belts in Ninjutsu-Kempo-Butokukan Karate and Hapkido in addition to training in Muay thai, JKD, Kali and Jujutsu 26 years. Personal Training for 18 years. Certified through several national organizations NASM, ISSA, ACE, APEX.

I have been to dozens of seminars, and spent thousands of dollars and have never seen such dramatic change in form and skill in such a short time, all instructors were firm to the groups but attentive and appropriate one on one. Also, you couldn’t swing a girya without hitting an asst. instructor, help was constant!

Quality – unmatched. Scope – complete. Material – detailed. Practical use – immediate results.

Martin Snow, Boxing Coach, New York, NY

Athletic Achievements, training background or specialty:

Former heavy weight boxer (NY State Champion 1986 amateur) Amateur and professional boxing trainer NYS. Owner of Trinity Boxing Club NYC

Eye opening. I really had to rethink what I thought about conditioning and recalibrate my body to comply.

Unparalled. I have never been to a workshop, and I have been to a lot of them, where everyone, from the lead instructor on down, had as much knowledge and expertise. On top of that, they are willing share that knowledge with no strings attached. No one was pushing their products. I have never seen more knowledgeable or generous instructors and there are no big egos.

There is no comparison. I think that Dragon Door is not just the best at what they do, they are the only ones that do what they do. It seems like there are a lot of Johnny-come-latelys jumping on the bandwagon because they see money in kettlebells, This certification is expensive but worth much more then what I paid. It has been the best training program I have ever attended.

The things I have learned from reading the books and watching the videos have had an enormous impact on how I teach boxing. Attending this seminar will have an even greater impact.

Jill Wineger, Program and Fitness Director at the SweatShop, St Paul, MN

Athletic Achievements, training background or specialty:

Stott Pilates Instructor Trainer. B.A. from the U of M and has 24 years of experience in the fitness industry. Certifications include ACE group fitness and personal training, Johnny G spinning, and Yogafit. Guest instructor for The Golden Door and Rancho la Puerta Spas.

Well worthwhile, excellent instruction and painful!

Greg Premo, Medical Assistant (spine institute of New England), Underhill, VT

Athletic Achievements, training background or specialty:

Former certified Athletic Trainer (ATC) and certified strength and conditioning specialist (CSCS). 5th degree black belt-tae kwon do, 1 st degree jujitsu, 1st degree black belt judo (honorary), studied shindo musokyo, jodo, and wukiang qigong. Current interest-brazilian jj, combativies, systema.

It was truly a life changing experience! It showed me I was capable of more than I thought I could do. In particular, I had never done more than 25 snatches per arm with a 24kg KB, and I failed my test the first try. With the knowledge I gained and the confidence I got through the instructors and fellow “victims”, I passed on the morning of the last day with power to spare even after two tough days of training.

Extremely practical, scope was excellent, and in terms of practicality, beyond almost every course I have taken. Questions were answered with physical proof; not just theoretics, you did it, or the instructor did!

Peter Rizzo, Gym Owner/Personal Trainer, Lancaster, NH

Athletic Achievements, training background or specialty:

Bodybuilder, competed in 2001 NPC wheelchair nationals. ISSA personal trainer, certified in conjugate/Westside method brown belt, second degree shookum. Certified professional logger. Used to compete in forestry competitions and woods mans games, cross country sit skier, power lifter.

Never have I found such a seemingly overwhelming amount of information presented in such a manner that it could absorbed in such a short period of time. I am leaving this class with mental energy and a feeling of enthusiasm to provide these skills on my clients and ensure they reach their goals safely and effectively.

Amazing. Not only was the quality outstanding, you could feel the passion each instructor brought to the table and it was contagious. Only this type of passion allows the student to pick up skills so fast and clear. I looked up to Pavel and the instructor and want to represent them with the honesty and integrity that is co closely affiliated with the RKC.

A lot of other training I have taken fit into one of two categories: Latest fads i.e. swissballl/balance boards etc. or science without application. The RKC provided all the science but only with practical applications. It allowed me to not only understand the material presented but also things I didn’t understand from previous reading and seminars.

Personally, I hope I will be able to “enlarge the pie” as Pavel said and provide the benefits of kettlebells to another hard living group, people with various disabilities. The struggle we face daily are many and I believe the discipline and strength as well as body awareness provided by the kettlebell will assist in both body and mental health of this unique population.

Martine Rizzo, Forecasting Analyst, Lancaster, NH

Athletic Achievements, training background or specialty:

ACE group fitness instructor, spinning instructor BOSU certified. Div 1 NCAA basketball player, 3rd at European basketball championship and 6th at World Champion

It was a great training filled with useful and important information. I liked that it was physically challenging and extremely well organized. I enjoyed that we used every minute of our day, everything was on time and I feel like I am walking away well equipped to share kettlebells with out clients.

I felt that the team was not only extremely knowledgeable, they were also great teachers and very passionate about kettlebells. I think that they all demonstrated superior knowledgeable of the subject, but I also liked that they were genuine about the students.

It was definitely the most challenging training for any certifications I had ever taken but I believe that is a good thing. I felt like all questions were very well answered and material provided was very useful and I will definitely use it and refer to it often.

Eric Namayan, Personal Trainer, Livermore, CA

Athletic Achievements, training background or specialty:

ACSM – Health Fitness Instructor.
Kung Fu (Choi Li Fut), Hsing-I, Gracie JJ

The techniques that were learned in this course were never taught in my college education as an exercise specialist. The RKC course revealed what the body is capable of achieving through simple to learn drills.

I am an ACSM Health fitness instructor which is considered the gold standard certification in the fitness industry. ACSM has a vast amount of great info on aspects of aerobic fitness/strength/etc. However the RKC is much more detailed about what works and what you can use right away with clients, as well as different tools to keep clients progressing.

I loved the entire experience!

Omar Clinton, Personal Trainer/Movement Specialist, Durham, NC

It was a great opportunity to network with other like minded professionals. Many times when you workout on your own you don’t get the opportunity to have even little aspect of your technique looked at. This provides an excellent opportunity to get just that as well as ways to provide teaching techniques for your clients.

I thought the quality of training and instruction was at a level which covered all bases. Technical enough to show there is a reason behind everything. Yet not so complex as to confuse anyone who did not understand the exercise physiology.

Court Wing, Actor/Personal Trainer, Brooklyn, NY

Athletic Achievements, training background or specialty:

1st place, International Competitors Division, International Taigi Competition, Toichigi, Japan August 2003. 3rd degree blackbelt instructor, Ki-Aikido;uchi-deshi to US Chief Instructor-Koichi Kashiwaya, Crossfit Level 1 instructor, BFA in Acting, Conservatory of Theatre Arts and Film at Purchase College, S.U.N.Y.

Attention to detail makes all the techniques yield their maximum, with repeated exposure to the applicability of all strength principles.

Much of what is covered at the workshop is available through Dragon Doors website and literature but that requires a great deal of time, vigilance, and organization to assemble it into a coherent structure that can be implemented. The workshop makes everything readily accessible for your “tool kit”.

A thousand times better than standard “trainer” workshops.

To say that Pavel Tsatsouline revolutionized my physical fitness paradigm would be an understatement of gross negligence. For the last four years, I have followed his work and that of his instructors, and to them all I owe a genuine debt of gratitude. Just learning that “strength is a skill” has opened up a world to me that I previously though un-accessible. I have looked forward to becoming an RKC for years. – I hope to represent everyone at DD with pride. We truly offer something profoundly unique.

Felicia Oh, Teacher, Tarzana, CA

Athletic Achievements, training background or specialty:

Brazilian Jiu-jitsu Black Belt.

The RKC training showed me how to do kettlebells workouts with proper form and techniques. It showed me my strengths and weaknesses and how to correct those weaknesses as well as learning to start evaluating and analyzing others techniques and how to correct them.

The course was very well organized and presented…from the store, to the supplied water and water bottles to the speakers and microphone. It was very well run, The manual is great to take away. Very, Very impressed

Benjamin Lewis, Homebuilder/Apartment Maint., Baton Rouge, LA

Athletic Achievements, training background or specialty:

General athletic background, played all sports- Rugby at LSU. Martial Arts background; won grappling titles but want better athletic conditioning. KB self training for 2 years. I also attended a Mahler workshop.

If you think you have the kettlebell figured out, think again. I learned many small details which I will use to correct use of overpowering the kettlebell. I now have a better understanding of the greatest long term benefit of kettlebell lifting. Longevity via the use of stored tension and economy of motion. Time to go home and practice. Work smarter not harder.

I am very impressed with the knowledge imparted by our Sr. instructor and Pavel. Material was presented in a manner where not only did we understand but people were not afraid to ask questions. This helped open our ear and helped students relate to similar problems and fix them.

I will take this experience with e and try my best to increase my knowledge to the level of these great instructors. There was hard core attitude, but also a feeling of family.

Jessica Carlson, Athlete’s Arena Training Facility Owner/Trainer, Columbia, SC

Athletic Achievements, training background or specialty:

Collegiate athlete, power lifting, fitness, bodybuilding competitor. No military or martial art exp.

I came with minimal knowledge and feel like I gained a wealth of info from basics to intricate details. By Far, the most intensive, informative certification I have ever been too. The instruction is highly informative and demanding which in turn produces an exceptional product!

The instructors were experts in their field and highly respectable and knowledgeable. I felt they carried themselves with authority, yet truly desired to help each of us. Jones and Kirsten were very demanding of me, which was awesome. I have a high level respect for them and their knowledge in RKC because of how they treated me. I also appreciated the variety in instructors, everyone had different backgrounds. It showed how kettlebells can be used in a variety of situations and with any kind of person or athlete. Pavel of course, was incredible. He handles himself extremely well as an instructor. He maintains the high value of the RKC program but is still friendly, approachable and willing to help without compromising the integrity of the program. He set a fine example of what RKC is.

I like how John DuCane did the marketing seminar and the availability of Dragon Door to be a tool to help each other. I love the team/unity attitude and “giving credit where credit is due” attitude. RKC is definitely an organization based on integrity which sometimes lacks in this industry, and the high standards of RKC is what attracted me and will keep me involved. Thanks for everything.

Susan Finley, Gym Manager, Personal Trainer, Columbia, SC

Athletic Achievements, training background or specialty:

I have competed in several small power lifting meets. Best numbers to date: squat 275, bench 145, dead lift 280.

This cert. took me from someone who used kettlebells to someone who understood all aspects of training with kbs and how to use them safely and correctly. It broke down into pieces each exercise and gave me a clear ideas and focus to using them with my clients.

Light years beyond. My other certifications have been mostly classroom base with the focus solely on the de-conditioned client. This was heavy hands on with an emphasis on how to use each exercise for all types of clients. That is the most useful thing.

Gary Berenbroick, Retail General Manager, Ardmore, PA

The Sr. RKC and assistants are incredibly generous with their time and expertise. Their love for kettlebells training and passion for helping others achieve their goals shows in their willingness to assist.

There is no concession made. They tell you exactly what they’ve expressed in their books and DVDs. They don’t hold back any of it. They were also easily approachable, open with experience and very encouraging.

I’ve never experienced anything like this. I’ve heard before that this is an incredible experience but I’ve rarely seen a gathering of talent people who are genuinely unselfish. I’ve impressed with how well organized it is and especially appreciate how the instructors kept a tight schedule.

Steve Meidinger, Student, Colorado Springs, CO

Athletic Achievements, training background or specialty:

I have approximately seven years of free weight training experience and two years of kettlebell lifting experience.

It was brutally fun and life-changing. I thought I knew what professionalism was until I worked with the SR. RKCs…unparalleled in their knowledge.

Pavel is Pavel, he stands alone. Rif, my instructor, was simply incredible. His patience, enthusiasm, and teaching skills are the best I’ve ever worked with. He made my experience what it was.

Nothing else I’ve experienced even comes close to this course. ‘nuff said.

Paul Britt, Police Officer, Martial Arts Instructor, Rockwall, TX

Athletic Achievements, training background or specialty:

4th Black Belt Shen Chuan, 2nd combat Hapkido, S.P.E.A.R. Instructor, 10 years as police, 5 years US Army, published in S.W.A.T.

I feel that the RKC program is life changing. The training helped correct what I thought were injuries and showed me it was improper form. I feel better after 3 days of hard training then 2 days of rest.

I felt that this was the best training class I have attended. It was an honor to have such knowledgeable people freely share their information. The instructors genuinely seemed to care that the knowledge was gained.

Francisco Nunez, Art Dealer and Customer Framer, Surfside, FL

Athletic Achievements, training background or specialty:

I’m x-military (ARMY intelligence) and have been training off and on with kettlebells for about 4 years now. Up until recently I’ve been involved in martial arts, boxing and scholastic wrestling. I have a junior black belt in Oyama Karate and a black belt in Tae Kwon Do.

Overall a great experience, great instructors and I got the opportunity to really refine my form and get a deeper understanding of the RKC system.

Frank Holas, Lab Tech, Spring Grove, IL

Athletic Achievements, training background or specialty:

Personal Trainer, Sports Nutritionist, RKC

It contains multiple aspects of various art forms tied into strength, conditioning and power. Very “information dense”. Very challenging.

Elise Brachtl, Civil Engineer, Spring Creek, NV

Athletic Achievements, training background or specialty:

Personal Trainer @ Gold’s Gym, Elko NV, experience in combat hapkido.

The atmosphere was kept friendly and laid back. This really allowed the focus to be kept on learning and improving proper form and technique.

It was run very closely to the way the International Combat Hapkido Federation teaches their seminars. I enjoyed both very much!

Raul Lopez, Miner, Elko, NV

Athletic Achievements, training background or specialty:

Baseball scholarship upon graduating High School in 1970

Excellent. Money well spent. Exhausting but fun in a sadistic way. It really loosened my shoulders and hips.

Excellent. Have never been to one so thorough.

I would do it all over again.

Andrew Ferderer, Police Officer, Burnsville, MN

Athletic Achievements, training background or specialty:

Ice Hockey, High school and College
Police, SWAT 7 years.
FBI Certified Firearms Instructor.
Kettlebell 4+ years.

No nonsense training. High expectations of students, no free ride!

The training was very good. There wasn’t one question that Pavel or SR. RKCs could not answer. Very professional level of instruction.

RKC – you do it until you get it right. I will use this material every day.

S Delaine Ross, Executive Recruiter, San Diego, CA

This weekend has helped me take my experience with kettlebells to the next level. Being able to learn from the masters and getting hands on training from the best of the best has helped me have a greater understanding of kettlebells, and how they are the ultimate training tool.

This weekends training was the best fitness experience I have ever had. Each Sr. RKC with Pavel has a different aspect to add and the culmination of all their knowledge makes me feel like I have the most “well rounded” kettlebell training possible and a better overall understanding of how to use kettlebells.

The RKC training far surpasses any other fitness training I have ever taken. We gained knowledge on form, marketing, teaching, and program design all in one program.

Timothy Okal, Attorney, Elmwood Park, IL

Athletic Achievements, training background or specialty:

State qualifier high school wrestling. 2003 ISA certification. Black belt tae kwon do. Qualitifier/Finisher 1996 Boston Marathon, 1995-96 Chicago Marathon. 5x Chicago Triathler.

Best course I have ever attended.

Aside from the obvious vast amount of knowledge that Pavel provides both with this lectures and during question/answer periods, I personally liked Mark Reifkind’s style of teaching. I was very impressed with all the instructors broke down each exercise into fundamental parts. That method was very helpful with improving both technique and safe performance.

There is no comparison. I took the ISSA certification but that was like attending kindergarten. The RKC benefits from the fact that a) you are personally involved in performing and perfecting the exercises you are going to teach and you’re trained how to teach each exercise. And b) the teaching staff has a background that warrants your respect -- they “walk their talk”.

Dan Cenidoza, Trainer/Coach, Baltimore, MD

Athletic Achievements, training background or specialty:

NSCA-CSCS, BS in Kinesiology, exercise science. Winner of the 2005 Mid-Atlantic Strongman competition. 5 time national qualifier (NASS Strongman). Captains of Crush (#3 gripper)

It’s not just another certification, and it’s not just about kettlebells. It’s about learning how to use your body properly, how to teach these skills, and how to represent yourself as a trainer.

The knowledge Pavel and the rest of the instructors contain is astonishing, and It’s refreshing to meet people who are practitioners and not just arm chair experts.

Nothing else compares.

Glenn Seth, Massage Therapist, Personal Trainer, Alexandria, VA

Athletic Achievements, training background or specialty:

CPR, ACE certified, NCBTMB (massage) certified. USMC (honorably discharged.)

Honed my skills as a personal trainer. Made me a more effective teacher with additional tools in my tool box.

The training was top notch and I really felt that I was in an advanced certification. All the instructors are well versed in both physiology and kinesiology discipliners.

This was by far the best and most intensive course I have taken in physical exercise. Both physically demanding, as well as psychologically demanding.

Robert Troch, Personal Trainer, Yoga Instructor, Landlord, Brooklyn NY

Athletic Achievements, training background or specialty:

Former distance runner (last run 1996), Ran mile in 4:46 at age 36, marathon in 2:50. wrestled in high school, track, x-country, began Ashtango yoga 1992. became advanced enough to teach for Beryl Bender at New York road runners. Trained runners, intergraded flex-sp. By NASM, father taught me weights, he won Mr. Arizona in late 50’s. Certified as Intrafitt technician.

A tremendous weekend I had a strong “A-ha”- I better realized what is possible for me and my clients. A great learning experience that basic strength is critical to health and fitness and of 46 year sold I hit 2 pr’s in the OH press and snatch! Thanks guys.

Very experience based. Answered questions succinctly and simply. High knowledge base thanks to many different backgrounds. They provided an excellent example of toughness but not over the top toughness. Provided practical – quick solutions. Always keeping safety in mind.

Most other training I have had sometimes makes clear some things but ends up being too complicated. At this RKC we focused on basic moves. Thoughtfully laid out in a logical progression AND based on reality. Heavy iron balls ARE dangerous so the safety emphasis was important too. Good mix of working with athletes and general population. Some programs are all athletes and that is not reality to me (at least).

Carl Feddeler, Attorney, Lakeland, FL

Athletic Achievements, training background or specialty:

College Swimteam, karate, jujitsu/submission grappling, VMI graduate.

This was an excellent opportunity to gain more knowledge and form in kettlebell training. It helped me correct flaws in my own form to created greater power and understand of my body as a whole.

The training and the trainers were excellent, very tough and hard but with a smile. It is very obvious helping others is a goal of each instructor.

The quality and scope as well as the foundational detail was exceptional. The knowledge and importance of this from of training is very practical for any athletic endeavor.

Having attended VMI, a military college, I appreciated the attention to detail and promptness that everything was attended to.

Daphne Pogson, Personal Trainer, San Francisco, CA

Athletic Achievements, training background or specialty:

Ceritified Athletic Trainer, USA weightlifting Club Coach.

The RKC is a great way to completely understand how to perform (execute) the different exercises.

I thoroughly enjoyed what each instructor brought to this workshop. No one wasted anytime by rambling on about stuff that no one cares about – which I have experienced form other seminars. Personal information was only brought up when relevant. Keep it short and sweet. Attention spans are very limited when tired.

What I love about the RKC (and a previous seminar that I attended) is when a student has a question, that student is used as a demonstration to help him/her understand as well as the others. Greatest idea ever. I have never seen any other organization/lecture/workshop work this way.

Anna Shum, Retail Store Manager, Weston, MA

Athletic Achievements, training background or specialty:

NASM certified personal trainer.

Overall, the RKC was a great experience. I got a chance to work with and be closely coached by some of the most qualified and dedicated experts in the field in addition to my fellow prospective RKCers. I would say that this is the most thorough, comprehensive, and physically demanding workshop/certifications that I’ve had the privilege of attending.

Gavin Rulon, Information Systems Manager, Arcadia, IN

Athletic Achievements, training background or specialty:

81-85: Tae Kwon Do AAU Stae and National competitor (81 State Champion)
89-93: USMC, Signals Communicator
99-01: Reserve Police Officer, Cicero IN
Black belt Tae Kwon Do
Co-Owner, Instructor, Phifer’s Karate, Cicero, IN
BJJ-White belt

Extremely enjoyable. Where I am from, no one would practice KB with me. Here at RKC training I found a hundred people as crazy as me.

The RKC training is far advanced from any other training I have received mainly because we focus on safety 1st and we utilize the entire body in all our activities. This fundamental principal is often ignored by other training courses.

Paula Woolson, Nat’l Account Mgr, St Paul, MN

My experience made my expectations and more as the three days were brutal not boring, challenging, educations and engaging. I was so impressed with the efficiency of the schedule and the professionalism.
John DuCane the best.

Mark Wilson, Construction Contractor, Fargo, ND

Athletic Achievements, training background or specialty:

Weight Training.

This was the most intense, knowledgeable exercise training that I have ever been part of. The class shared a team attitude as did the instructors to teach and learn as a whole and become a team.

It by far exceeded my expectations. The combined knowledge and experience in this group is second to none.

The scope of material was excellent without over doing it and keeping it interesting.

I feel that Dragon Door Publications does an excellent job. If people are looking to better themselves as a person through kettlebells – they will look to Dragon Door. I really like the early registration discount.

This weekend brought me much more then an RKC training. I made friends this weekend that will last a lifetime. This is a very unique experience and I will cherish it always. Thanks again for helping me find muscles that I didn’t know I had.

Christopher Beranek, Options Trader, McHenry, IL

Athletic Achievements, training background or specialty:

I have been involved in fitness, and weight training for the past fourteen years, and have been active in Russian Kettlebell training for the previous two.

The Russian kettlebell certification training was a great experience, and a great challenge. I found it to be very informative and educational in every aspect of training.

The training and knowledge shared by Pavel Tsatsouline and the Sr. instructors was very thorough and extensive. It was the most in depth, disciplined training I have received, and I am fortunate to have learned from those with great field experience as well as the accredited teaching of various principles and techniques by the staff of instructors.

Lynda Angelis, Artist, karate instructor, Minneapolis, MN

Athletic Achievements, training background or specialty:

4th degree black belt national karate. Martial arts instructor for 15 years. USA Kettlebells with Ron Morris for 1 year.

The quality of training and knowledge is unsurpassed. I trust the information and deep knowledge demonstrated by each. All were very helpful and showed respect to the students. I really appreciated the personal involvement of Pavel interaction with the trainees.

The quality of instruction again is very honest and deep. The scope of material was vast, but contained and manageable. The practical use in instructing in kettlebell is detailed and useful. Everything was clear and precise and correct. That’s impressive!

I believe that Dragon Door has done an outstanding job in facilitating the workshops. In addition to promotion, the integrity of Dragon Door promotes attractions.

Freddys Garcia, Personal Trainer, Bristol, CT

Athletic Achievements, training background or specialty:

NASM-SPT Muay Thai, Brazilian Juijitsu

The RKC certification was a great way to learn the proper technique as well as teaching methods to get the most out of Russian kettlebells. With a system like this in my tool box, I feel more prepared and capable of helping people achieve their physical fitness goals.

Aaron Larmore, Personal Trainer/Student

Athletic Achievements, training background or specialty:

Four Sport Athlete in High School: 6 time all-state athlete, First Team Baseball and Football College: Played College Football at UNI. I interned with former Husker Power Strength Coaches at Xplosive Edge Performance Center in Omaha, NE in the summer of 2005. Last school year at Iowa I was an intern with the Strength and Conditioning Program and worked with football, men’s track, women’s track, men’s tennis, and volleyball. I will graduate from the UNI in Health and Sports Studies, 12/06. My credentials: ACE personal trainer certified for over 2 years, USA weightlifting Club Coach certified, and I’m a member of the NSCA. I will also be pursuing me CSCS prior to graduation.

I didn’t know really what to expect but I was really impressed by the workshop. I learned a better understanding on how to use kettlebells and produce serious strength.

I felt the quality of instructors at the RKC was great, all the Sr. instructors were very knowledgeable and were able to simplify their knowledge. I felt they could reach anyone, whatever their background and knowledge base.

The training at the RKC was very practical. The benefits of the Russian Kettlebells was realized at this course. Also, I felt more information was shared compared to other workshops form other organizations.

I thought this workshop was very well-organized by Dragon Door, not only did I learn how to be a better trainer/coach but I learned how to better market myself.

Bob Ross, Firefighter/Paramedic, Phoenix, AZ

Athletic Achievements, training background or specialty:

Active Resolve Para-rescue, retired USAF

The search is over on the proper type of exercises, I found it with this workshop.

The quality was consistent throughout the workshop – top notch.
The knowledge and background of all the instructors was top notch.

Steve Belanger, Escrow Assistant, Westminster, CA

Athletic Achievements, training background or specialty:

6 years wrestling-high school and JC Bodybuilding competitor. Power lifting competitor- State Champion. Earned 2nd degree black belt – American Kempo/6 years exp.

A great gathering of life minded people interested in the best kettlebell training available. A good comradery among everyone. Definitely a tough love course but well worth it.

I liked the talk then train, talk then train method that was used. Didn’t get so exhausted that I couldn’t think straight, but got heart rate up while still learning. All instructors were well versed in all areas of the workshop.

It seemed to be on par with martial art testing I have taken in the past. Just like a college course that you have to pass. A physical as well as mental challenge.

Matthew Werner, Flooring Installer, Lawrence, KS

Athletic Achievements, training background or specialty:

Bachelor’s Degree in Kinesiology, black belt in tae kwondo.

A most intense learning experience – weeks of training compressed into days

Top notch – very practical – very understandable – very painful.
They provide a great standard of training to live up to.

Highly focused on the basics and essentials, immediately useable – instructors always near to help with questions.

Jill Knipp, Personal Trainer, Medical Exercise Specialist, Escondido, CA

Athletic Achievements, training background or specialty:

Personal Trainer, Medical Exercise Specialist, Post Rehab Specialist, Past competitive bodybuilder, Past competitive swimmer/swim instructor. College cheerleader

The training was well organized into small enough groups to gain individual attention and correction. The scope of material was presented clearly by using different training/teaching techniques which I was looking to experience. I especially appreciated the extensive marketing lecture which I am sure will help me implement what I learned into my business.

The quality of training and knowledge by Pavel and the Sr. Instructors is very impressive. I appreciate the depth of information available through them all. Their experience and expertise is apparent and evidenced by their ability to handle whatever issues come up. all instructors are very generous with their information and I felt that everyone is interested in our success!

The RKC training compares very well under the highest scrutiny in terms of quality, scope of material as well as practical use. The whole training, from providing water to detailed instruction on the individual level was completely organized and concise. A “very tight ship”.

Christine Staunch, Imaging Specialist, Sole Proprietor, Bayonne, NJ

Athletic Achievements, training background or specialty:

United States Twirling Association (USTA)

NJ State Solo, 2 Baton, 3 Baton, Dance Twirl and Strut Grand Champion, NE Regional Solo, Strut and Dance Twirl Champion. NE Regional Adult Strut and Adult Dance Twirl Grand Champion, SR Dance Twirl Pairs Champion. National Solo Champion, International Cup 2nd Place Team, World Baton Twirling Championship Team Competitor, NY State, Regional and National Team Champions, Certified Coach and Judge. Eastern Seaboard Twirling Association- all around grand champion. NJ Twirling Association- solo, dance twirl, 2-baton, 3-baton grand champion.

This course was extremely beneficial in adding to my knowledge of KBs. If this course never existed I could not train as efficient as I can now. It was a great 3 days!!!

The knowledge of all the instructors by far surpassed any book or video I have ever purchased. Without the instructors, my instructions to clients would be worth very little. They have trained me with the best knowledge I could ask for.

The quality of training at the RKC cannot be substituted. I believe that every instructor here has the ability to give me more info on training myself and others than any other course I have taken. There was the right amount of material nothing in the RKC was overwhelming.

Thank you!! This workshop was very enlightening. I am taking so much knowledge home with me. I am extremely excited to share it with my client. My body never hurt so good!

John Rock, Personal Trainer, Arden Hills, MN

Athletic Achievements, training background or specialty:

Athletic Achievements (x-country skiing)
92-94 Olympic Trials- participant, 89- Tour des Masiffs participant, 98- 3rd (18-24yr old) Great American Ski Chase.

Certifications: NSCA-CSCS, ACSM-HF/I, ACE-Personal Trainer, AFAA- Group Fitness, PSIA- Nordic Track and Skate III Alpine I.

I had fun. I learned to see more detail in technique. I improved my own technique.

Outstanding! High knowledge throughout all instructors. A willingness to respect and use expertise among all the instructors.

The best! You are shown the technique. You practice the technique. Your are given a brief, but precise reason why one would do an exercise.

Marnie Siegel Kenna, Mom, mortgage business, Long Beach, NY

I had a great experience, I feel that Mike, Doug and Sara were great at every detail and simple explanations. Once they made me aware of things, for ex. Swing –making sure I follow through, front squats opening the hips. I can have a mental checklist to improve myself. I really feel I worked on fine tuning myself. A big thanks to everyone.

I feel Pavel and the Sr. instructors were very clear in getting their message across, helpful in anyway to help us really get all the exercises down. As well as help not only our training but also helpful hints for business.

I have only taken 1 certification for pilates and I feel here for 3 days picking 6 exercises and really learning and comprehending them is powerful instead of 6 months course put into 3 days and really not walk away knowing the info. I really feel I can explain, perform the exercises. I think in other programs you get it months later and the workshops don’t prepare to teach right away.

Juan Rolon, Trainer, Longbeach, NY

Athletic Achievements, training background or specialty:

Pilates Instructor, Spin Instructor.

The best training you can get with the leaders in kettlebells field.

Straight to point and effective, easy to understand. Broken down.

I know this program works – some of the other programs I have been to do not provide the total benefits of kettlebell training – strength – flexibility – endurance – and in the shortest time.

Lou McGovern, San Diego, CA

Athletic Achievements, training background or specialty:

Veteran USMC

Prior to cert training, I had very little confidence to instruct movements. I feel that now, any techniques has improved, but more importantly my ability to spot flaws in others, critique and supply a solution. EXCELLENT COURSE. EXCELLENT OVER ALL EXPERIENCE.

The instructors are second to none. I do not think you will attend any other course with the degree of talent and experience of those assembled for RKC, top notch instruction and display of mastery of RKC system.

Quality – head and shoulders above scope – the breadth of the material is very large and may take a very long time of practice to master the techniques, but all the tools are presented in an intuitive, user friendly manner. Many a-ha! Moments occurred from simple demonstrations or visualizations.

Marty (Martha) Larson, Pilates Instructor, Lake Elmo, MN

Athletic Achievements, training background or specialty:

Stott Pilates Certified.

While being very physically intense, it was also mentally challenging. The details/depth that one learns are fantastic as they pertain to each exercise.

It was great. I felt like it was put in easy to understand speak, and not designed to be an anatomy course. I feel the instructors are incredibly knowledgeable and helpful. While I feel my previous training was also very thorough, this certainly stands up to that.

Richard Altieri, Sanitation Laborer, Amsterdam, NY

Athletic Achievements, training background or specialty:

Football coach, strongman competitions, gym owner.

The RKC is a great experience. I would recommend any trainer or anyone who is all about training hard to attend. The kettlebell is a great training tool and can carry over to any sport; basketball, football, MMA, boxing, any sport. The kettlebell and it’s style of training would be great.

Pavel and his Sr. RKC’s did a great job as well as assistants. They were all very helpful and very good teachers easy to understand. They were all very accessible and eager to help.

There is no comparison especially for practical use. So many coaches/trainers come up with long complex system and they don’t work. Kettlebells are extremely practical.

Scott Haile, Warehouse Manager, West Jordan, UT

Athletic Achievements, training background or specialty:

State Champion in freestyle wrestling 4 years in a row, 1978-1981. Enlisted in the Army in 1987. Participated in Operation Desert Shield/Storm with the 101st Airborne Division as a T.O.W. missile gunner. Was Honorably discharged in 1994. Started taking marital arts lessons in 1982 at age 14. Earned my 1st degree black belt in 1984. Became an assistant instructor in 1986 before enlisting in the military. Was awarded my 5th degree black belt in 11/05. and am currently teaching martial arts lessons 4 days a week in the Salk Lake City area.

Outstanding instruction from all of the Sr. RKC instructors. Very detail oriented, but easy to understand.

The RKC course was more than I expected. All of the instructors have a wealth of knowledge and they all know how to apply it verbally as well as physically.

I have been involved in martial arts for 25 years and I would rank this training course right up there if not equal.

Carla Cocco, Web Developer, Poway, CA

Athletic Achievements, training background or specialty:

I have been working with kettlebells since 8/05, had a personal trainer for 4 years prior to that where I worked exclusively with traditional free weights and machines. I like to hike and bike, and climb occasionally in an indoor climbing gym with my niece.

I came to this certification unsure of my abilities and skills, nervous about what would be expected of me, and doubtful of my ability to endure the 3-day training. I leave today feeling strong and confident that if I can do this then I can learn to be a great kettlebell teacher.

I am in awe of the depth of knowledge these instructors and Pavel have. And it’s not just about kettlebells, but about fitness in general, physiology, relaxation, teaching skills, marketing skills, and so on. I feel I could contact this team with questions on just about any of these topics and get a good answer. Fantastic!

Jason Von, Personal Trainer, Livermore, CA

Athletic Achievements, training background or specialty:

NASM Certified, CHECK I Certified, 1 1/2 years of Krav Maga Experience.

A spiritual experience. Everyone works hard to improve to be better practioners. I do not know of one certification where you get a workout and receive so much applicable information.

Pavel is one of the greatest innovators in the fitness profession. To have him present and the workshop the entire time was inspirational and very informative. It was also really neat to meet the Sr. instructors that you read about on a daily basis. The instructors spoke very well and encouraged me to become better at what I do.

I really enjoyed the whole experience. I liked the number of assistants. The instructor to student ratio was good. The scope of the material was good, you always want to learn more, but I really learned the importance of perfecting the skills that we were presented. Look forward to learning more.

Regina Hurley, Accounting Assistant and Student pursuing 2nd College degree, Ellington, CT

Athletic Achievements, training background or specialty:

I grew up playing basketball and running long distance. Started working with kettlebells 15 months ago to lose weight and improve strength. Attended 6 kettlebell seminars.

It was one of the best learning experiences of my life. It pushed me beyond what I believed I was capable of physically and mentally.

Vydashon-Telese Coleman, Personal Trainer, Durham, NC

Athletic Achievements, training background or specialty:

Former distance runner – 1/2 marathons, 1 full marathon.
NSCA-CSCS, NASM-CPT, AFAA – Personal Trainer, 2-Health-R-Phase, 2-Health-I-Phase.

This training is specifically for those who want to take their love of health and fitness to another level. I learned more here about movement and importance of exercise detail and how to apply it than any other training. It was a challenge that I would do all over again (and plan to, so I can be the next woman to tame the beast)!

I thought it was excellent. Each RKC gave me different pointer and tactics during instruction that I can immediately put into practice with my own training and use with clients. I felt everyone made it comfortable for us to ask questions and approach if and when we needed to without feeling like we were asking idiotic questions.

Material – going through the notebook, I appreciate the breakdown of each exercise we learned. Even though most of us are already familiar with exercise, it good to have a detailed breakdown so we con perfect it.

In comparison to other training, this is on a completely different level. It takes my training to a higher level and surpasses any other training/certification I’ve received.

Sean Vincent Burke, Attorney, Philadelphia, PA

For me it was primarily a rebuild of my form and in particular, with certain exercises I thought I was good at, I actually needed the most work. I am my own trainer most of the time (and I ‘m also my only client), but I came here to make myself a better trainer, and I think I know now what I need to practice in order to develop better form.

I expected to be impressed by the Sr. RKC instructors on exercise mechanics, and I was not disappointed. What I was surprised by was how good the lectures were. They were all very coherent and well developed.

Bryant Power, Owner Crossit, Oahu, HI

Athletic Achievements, training background or specialty:

4 years US Army, Sr. USA weightlifting coach, Crossfit certified, USA gymnastics coach.

I had a great experience. I meet a lot of great people. I learned a lot. I took a lot of notes.

I thought the quality of the training was high and the instructors seemed very knowledgeable. IF they didn’t know something they admitted it which was cool.

This training compared well with other training I have taken. I have enjoyed it very much and would recommend it to others. The quality was nice and had a great student to teacher ratio. The scope cover everything needed to be a kettlebell instructor which was what was promised. The practical use will be outstanding as I have learned a lot.

Kirsten Cummings, Personal Trainer, San Diego, CA

Athletic Achievements, training background or specialty:

RKC assistant 9/06

Even after 2 years of kettlebell training and coaching, I’m still learning from these masters!

Pavel and the Sr. RKC continue to exhibit tremendous depth of knowledge in mastering the basics.

This is the 3rd RKC workshop I’ve been to. You have made remarkable improvements every time. Well done!

Steve McNamara, Physical Therapist, Salt Lake City, UT

Athletic Achievements, training background or specialty:

RKC assistant 9/06

This is the 3rd time (June 2003, June 2005 and September 2006) at the RKC. The depth and breadth of knowledge and application is constantly evolving. The experience is also humbling every time. Being around the senior instructors and assistant instructors is rewarding and inspirational.

RKC is leaps ‘n bounds beyond any professional training I’ve ever attended. You can sense the deep commitment to quality on the part of John D., Dennis, Pavel and the entire Sr. instructor staff.