Reviews

I had a great experience working with Steve Milles, at first to rehab a hamstring injury, that had never responded to other approaches (yoga/pilates/stretching). Over the next series of weeks we worked on broader functional movement and strength training exercises. He made me stronger and gave me more mobility much quicker than I would have expected. I was completely new to this type of training, especially kettle bells and other strength exercises, and he was patient and customized a training regimen carefully around my needs and body. After just a few weeks, my hamstrings felt better than they had in a long time, with no pain (!), and I gained strength and more flexibility quickly in other areas. Steve is a brilliant trainer and thoughtful person to work with, with a calm but focussed presence. I recommend him highly!

My wife and I are in our mid-fifties. I have been training with kettle bells based on Pavel's book, and encouraging my wife to train also. Our aim is to remain strong and healthy, not compete. We live in Switzerland, so finding an instructor is difficult. We were visiting NYC and wanted one session to correct our technique.

From my first email exchange with Steve, I found him courteous, respectful and encouraging.

Steve clearly understood what I needed, and provided us with exactly what I had asked for. My wife and I both felt we learnt a lot and went away feeling confident to continue training by ourselves. My wife left happy, which was critical to me. All through, Steve remained courteous, respectful and encouraging.

During our session, Steve drew on many techniques and demonstrated a profound knowledge of the mechanics and psychology of training. I was impressed.

I write this having just returned home and done our first training session together. We aim to work out together 3 times a week with the program Steve shared with us.

I recommend Steve without hesitation.

Not only does Arjan Steve know ALL of the Dragon Door system--ketllebells, indian clubs, CK-FMS, and body weight--but he also utilizes these different tools to develop new skills and improve your strengths in order to reach your workout goals. As a teacher, he gives necessary instruction always with a foundation of safety and therapeutic concepts. His explanations are simple and to-the-point, which helps you improve your performance. He exhibits adaptability and patience in his regular classes or one-to-one sessions. He has the ability to see your mistakes and release the real potential that you have, even if you didn't know it was there. He is a great teacher, humble person, and inspirational instructor. I cannot recommend him highly enough to anyone who wishes to learn the Dragon Door system or improve his or her fitness levels. Thanks for everything, Arjan Steve!

You know you've found a special trainer when he can take you from reaching your goals of becoming fit, to training you to compete in muay thai, to then training you through an entire pregnancy (muay thai kettle bells), then bringing you back postpartum to be even more fit and stronger than ever. That's Steve Milles for you. I started training with Steve about 5 years ago just wanting to become healthier and fit overall. I mean i love cheeseburgers, but my ass didn't. He made working out so much fun, that i was motivated and inspired to make a total healthy lifestyle change. Steve is a unique trainer because he is adaptable to different personalities and fitness levels and can bring anyone into the best shape of their life. (I've seen it over and over) Ask him any question about fitness, the body, nutrition, or anything for that matter and he will always have an answer for you and gladly explain it. One of my favorite things about training with Steve is that working out is always FUN, even when you feel like your lungs are going to explode you're still having a good time. Now it's one thing to train someone to get in shape or compete, but my respect for Steve grew even higher as he trained me through my entire pregnancy. It is a testament to his vast knowledge, adaptability, and patience. Steve knew some of my biggest concerns while pregnant were being able to continue working out and gaining too much weight. We continued to train in muay thai and kettle bells, but he just modified everything. This really keeps a pregnant woman's spirits and energy up. He inspired me to keep running 5 days a week, do padwork, kettle bells, leg raises, and pullups up, until i gave birth. Steve then took my postpartum body and morale and became a miracle worker. I started training with Steve again 6 weeks after giving birth. His combination of muay thai and kettle bell training inspired and allowed me to run my first half marathon 10 weeks after having a baby, return to pre-pregnancy weight in 7 months, and I actually became stronger and more fit than before having a baby. Steve can take anyone full circle.

Though his modesty and humble nature does not allow Steve Milles any room to gloat about his expertise in the field of physical fitness, underneath his calm demeanor is a wealth of knowledge coupled with years of experience. Because he is so well versed in many different areas with a keen eye for detail and technique, his classes are always full, never boring, and frequently attended by students who want to learn something new. Regarding the world of physical fitness, Steve is what I would consider a "one stop shop". His clients and students feel comfortable asking him questions that range from nutrition, to kettlebells to Muay Thai techniques, and he is always happy to answer them. Even though Steve is a talented and decorated athlete and trainer who is no stranger to praise, one of his most endearing traits is his generosity with words of praise for others. Steve does not hesitate to compliment his students on their progress and has a great memory for the individual's success.

I had the pleasure of working with Steve with my kettlebell training. To give a quick history I attended a work shop at 5 Points. It was for the HKC Certification at which I fell short of passing at that time. I reached out to Steve for help. With his coaching and instruction I tweaked my weaknesses and perfected my kettlebell techniques. Within Two weeks I submitted a youtube video and passed my HKC certification. I recommend Steve highly to anyone who really wants to learn and grasp what kettlebell training is all about. He represents the RKC/DragonDoor organization well. I plan on taking the RKC certification next and will be working with Steve again.

I can't speak highly enough about Steve as an Instructor and as a person. I've been a student at Steve's 5 Points Academy for almost a year now. My schedule doesn't allow me take many of Steve's Muay Thai or Kettlebell group classes. However, when I spoke to Steve about taking the HKC he selflessly offered to help me with preparation. After passing the HKC, I asked him what he thought of me doing the RKC and, without my asking, he offered to help me train for that as well. I went into the RKC confident and well prepared (both mentally & physically). You literally feel as though your game has stepped up after each session with Steve. Even the smallest comment from Steve can yield dramatic gains.

I've known Steve Milles for many years. We met training in MuayThai in the early 1990's. The things I admired about Steve in Muaythai was his quiet intensity,work ethic, intelligence as a fighter and attention to the details. Those qualities that made him a champion Muaythai fighter (and now a teacher of champions) are what he brings to Kettlebell instruction. I learn something new in every class and he has a subtle way of inspiring people to work and accomplish more than what they may think they can. This is a rare quality. From a technical standpoint: he has a thorough understanding of Kettlebell training and how that training is applied to martial arts. He can demonstrate all of the movements with precision,power and grace.
He also knows how to make Kettlebells accessible not only martial artist but housewives who want to get in shape,people training for the first time and people working through or recovering from injuries.
I recommend him highly and consider it my good fortune to have access to his knowledge on a regular basis.

i had the pleasure of training with kettelbells for the first time with Steve at Five Points and it was amazing!..working out with kettelbells was everything that i've read about and much much more..in fact i had the urge to cry out for my mommy after the 1st 30 min LOL which was a very good thing..Steve was challenging yet so helpful and patient guiding me through the toughest times i expereinced...i will be joining Five Points for kettelbell training so i'll be looking forward to working with Steve and the others.

I interacted with Steve in and around the NYC June 2010 HKC. I was extremely pleased to find him to be a very helpful and kind instructor. Don't be misled by his being \ soft-spoken, unassuming and no-airs kind of guy. His cues for various moves were right on the money, and he watched every candidate keenly all the way up to the skills test.
I would dearly love to have a trainer and mentor like Steve, and I cannot recommend him highly enough to anyone who wishes to learn kettlebell training in New York. I, for one, will keep visiting him at Five Points, or wherever he may be in the future.

Steve was highly recommended to me by a Senior RKC Instructor and an RKCII I met earlier this year. I live 2.5hrs from NYC, and wasn't sure it would be worth the trip, but as soon as I met Steve at Five Points Academy, I knew I was in the right place with the right teacher. Steve is the quintessential professional instructor: he's not only solid in his knowledge of kettlebells, but also has a gift for communicating that makes it easy to "get". I plan to train with Steve regularly in order to arrive at the RKC certification later this year fully prepared. I honestly can't say enough good things about his teaching style and personality without it sounding corny! I sincerely recommend Steve to anyone interested in learning how to train with kettlebells.

I've been training with Steve Milles for about 15 years mostly in Muay Thai then recently, for the past several months, with kettlebells.

I started using kettlebells last year as part of crossfit training then transitioned completely to kettlebells with Steve. He has a vast knowledge of functional training using kettlebells and understands what it takes to keep people motivated. He possess the ability to explain and simplify complex movements in order to minimize the chance for injury and maximize the fitness potential of his clients. Steve is not only an outstanding instructor but he is always a student of physical fitness. He is never satisfied with the status quo and constantly seeks to improve himself and his clients. I am confident that anyone who trains will Steve will achieve their fitness goals using kettlebells.

Steve Milles was raised by kettle bells...... in Detroit.
Steve Milles is one of the most underrated welterweight champions in Muay Thai.
When I arrive at 5 Points at 7am, Steve has already been training for at least an hour by himself. That never fails to inspire me.
July 20, 1969 - NASA astronauts land on the moon, find 16kg kettle bell. Steve complains of sore arm.
Steve can't help being proud of you for training hard and doing your best because Steve can't help getting you to train hard and do your best. It's almost like you both don't have a choice.
I've never belonged to a gym longer, or attended more frequently, than I do at 5 Points Academy, and a lot of that has to do with Steve.
Once every year, it is rumored Steve meets with the most powerful people in the world in a luxury hotel in the Netherlands and trains them. Hopefully we never find out what for.
Steve never stops. His work ethic is infectious.
Steve has the candor and the knowledge to train any skill range from beginner to champion, so he does. He trains them all under the same happy roof of 5 Points.
September 19, 1976, Iranin AirForce pilots report electromagnetic interference and visual sightings of what appears to be an unidentified flying object in the shape of a 24kg kettle bell over the skies of Tehran. Steve complains of sore shoulder.
Steve has the best ringside manner in the business. He's calm, direct and always has a plan.
When I fight, I make sure I train with Steve first and that he's in my corner come the bell.
Steve has a way of making you forget about your fears, or if not forget, drop a 20kg kettle bell on them. They pretty much go away after that.
Steve will make you stronger, faster and more accurate with your technique. He will also make you understand why and how.
If this were a movie, Steve would live bearded in mystery on a clouded mountain top that you would have to spend perilous months traversing in order to prove you are worthy of being his student. This is better than a movie. Steve is clean shaven and you only have to go to Broadway and Canal and he'll be happy to train you.
If it weren't for Steve, I definitely would not be competing at the same level, or probably any level.
Fall, 1989, prelude to the tearing down of the Berlin Wall, East German citizens are offered their first glimpse of the western world through massive 28kg sized hole near the Brandenburg Gate. Steve complains of sore wrist.
If you want to learn Muay Thai or Kettle Bells and you aren't training with Kru Steve, you may not be learning and you certainly could be learning more.

I love Steve.

I've had numerous coaches with instructional styles that are of military caliber or your prototypical loud and aggressive high school/collegiate varsity coaches, Steve Miles is not of that type, but he is an effective coach and instructor who goes beyond loud and bombastic.
But most important, even if your a beginner and have had no previous athlethic experience, Steve can bring the best out of you and with the addition of kettle bell training and Muay Thai, he delviers an enriching experience.

Steve is a fantastic teacher/trainer. He is demanding but subtle, he understands how to gradually "raise the bar". He is serious without judgment-his demands meet your desire to improve. His knowledge of technique and physiology is a match for anyone at any level. It has been a privilege to work with Steve Milles.

Kru Steve teaching in muay thai and kettlebells is very good. Learning muay thai from Kru Steve make me want to compete and learning kettlebells from him make me want to be an instructor.

Steve is a trainer who will profoundly impact and change your life. Whether its muay thai, kettle bells, or overall fitness he is someone I trust, and recommend (if not push) to anyone who is looking to improve their health and dramatically transform their bodies. I started training with Steve as my interest in muay thai grew, and I immediately experienced his extensive knowledge of training, understanding of the human body, and unique approach to teaching. His love for teaching is always apparent, and his patient manor is encouraging. I now see that none of the workouts I've done in the past, will ever compare to the newly found training routine with Steve. He has helped me create a healthier lifestyle that will be lifelong. If you go to Steve with any kind of injury or pain he will recommend a natural approach to healing, or give you a few snaps and twists that often put you back in place. He's also a walking google if you want to know anything about everything. You will never see Steve tired, no matter how many people he has trained that day or how hard he has worked out himself- he will always give you a quality workout.

I sought Steve out after being ordered by my doctor to deal pro-actively with a serious health problem and Steve has literally changed my life. Until I met Steve I spent most of my adult life not exercising in any regular manner and through his careful and expert guidance, I have reversed my insulin levels and have never been in better shape. Weight loss was a wonderful benefit to accrue but the change in my overall strength and fitness level is what I am most happy about and what has been so profound a change. I was initially intimidated by Steve's background in muay thai and status as a champion fighter but his patient disposition and supportive teaching approach mitigated any fears and anxieties I had. I am delighted to be a part of his devoted clientele and know that he is simply the best.

(KRU) Steve Milles has been a fixture in the new york muay thai and fitness scene for well over a decade being a multi-federation champion in the ring as well as bringing many champions to the ring. he's co-owner one one of the premier muay thai schools in the united states and now bring his expertise in coaching and instruction to the format of kettlebells.
i can only see his fighters and clients becoming stronger, faster, and better skilled by leaps and bounds under his top notch tutelage and am proud to be part of his team of trainers at 5 points academy.