Today starts the Russian Kettlebell Certification in San Jose, California. This will be my third time as an Assistant Instructor at the course and I’m excited as ever.
It’s not just that I get to see some people I haven’t seen in awhile and am surrounded by a bunch of like-minded individuals. Not even the fact that I have a blast doing the whole thing.
The biggest reason for my excitement is I get to teach people about kettlebells and training.
And if you want to learn something the best way to do it is to teach it.
I was watching videos of a seminar on an unrelated matter the other day. One of the presenters talked about going out to teach something as soon as he had learned it from reading a book.
Now some people might think this is bad. They’re thinking you can’t possibly teach something if you haven’t been studying for half your lifetime! And I’m certainly not condoning you teach people bad or incorrect things.
But when you seek to teach someone you have to be clear on what you have to do. You have to be able to make it clear to them.
You’ll also bring out any weak points you have. If they ask a question you can’t answer you’ll surely go out and find that answer as soon as you can.
By showing others you get better yourself. If you really want to get something, after you read a how-to book, watch an instructional video or attend a seminar, seek out someone you can teach the material to right away. You’ll retain and use the information that much better.
Every time I’ve gone through this event I’ve gained from it. I’m not just talking about a little refresher but much more than that. You can always get better and refine your technique further.
Not to mention many of the instructors are a wealth of knowledge on other related topics.
I’m going to try to take some video from the three days of training. Get you some insider info. We will see how it goes.
In strength,
Logan Christopher
P.S. A firm foundation in kettlebell training is a must if you want to start juggling them, but once you’re there this is the faster way to get good – The Definitive Guide to Kettlebell Juggling
Filed under Kettlebells by on Feb 19th, 2009. Comment. 
I’ve received many questions about various feats of strength. Mainly what is the best way to get good at doing them?
The answer is of course to work on the feat itself.
There are other exercises that can build your strength and transfer over but nothing takes the place of actual practice of the feat itself.
And that means you are going to need the materials to do it. Just yesterday I plunked down $60 at the hardware store for a bunch of nails and bolts. (Grade 5 Bolts and 12” Spikes in case you’re wondering.)
Considering progress here is one of my main goals it was an easy decision to make. I had some easier nails but I needed these exact bolts and nails as that’s what I’m primarily working on.
Without these tools I wouldn’t be able to do what I have to do to get stronger and better. There is nothing I can do with a barbell, kettlebell, or bodyweight exercises that would help me as much as bending these nails.
Now you may or may not be interested in doing feats of strength. But the same thing applies no matter what you’re doing. Do you have the right tools for the job?
For a lot of purposes this is an easy answer. Everyone has access to bodyweight exercises of all kinds, and as long as you know what you’re doing, you can achieve most purposes.
However, bodyweight exercises cannot help you achieve everything and anything. Other training tools have their place. Each one can be more or less effective depending on the end result you’re looking for.
Make sure you have the right tools of the job. That way you have no excuses.
In strength,
Logan Christopher
P.S. One of my favorite tools is the kettlebell. In fact, I currently own 14 of them. If you want to get one tool that’ll last forever and has huge benefits check out Dragondoor kettlebells.
Filed under Barbells and Dumbbells, Bodyweight Exercise, Feats of Strength, Kettlebells, Strength Training Concepts by on Feb 6th, 2009. Comment.
What a year’s it been. This video gives you a glimpse of just a few of the things I’ve accomplished along the way.
[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJjMUH_q5j8]
Let me set this straight. I am not trying to be boastful here. I’m not saying I don’t take pride in my accomplishments, but my purpose here is to educate, inspire and entertain.
You too can accomplish things you would never dreamed of before if you’re willing to put the work in. And in most cases you have to be persistent, waiting years before reaping the real fruits of your labor.
And this video hardly contains everything I’ve done in this year. Putting it together I realized I haven’t filmed a lot of my normal, everyday workouts. Starting next year I’ll try to even out the filming in that regards.
So I hope you enjoy this video. Personally, I can’t wait to see what the Best of 2009 will be.
In Strength,
Logan Christopher
Filed under Bodyweight Exercise, Conditioning, Feats of Strength, Hand Strength, Kettlebells, Oldtime Strongmen, Videos by on Dec 12th, 2008. 1 Comment.
Late last week I got confirmation that I will be an Assistant Instructor at the Russian Kettlebell Certification in San Jose, CA coming this February.
This will be my third time overall as an Assistant and I have to say each time seems to get better and better. This one will be no different.
There’s high level coaches of all sorts there and it’s a great opportunity to learn from them all. I’m talking about ANY question you have, you can get answered. Plus you have the fun of a group of people doing feats of strength over dinner, doing through several workouts a day, and you even get to apply all you’ve learned at the end.
Back in 2005 when I first went through the event it was a big turning point in my life.
Since they hold several RKC’s every year and have been doing it for a long time they’ve had lots of time to refine the system and it works great. Unlike some other seminars I’ve been to where they tell you ‘your suppose to do this,’ here they’ll give you several drills to make sure you ‘get it’ inside and out.
There’s just a couple spots left open as these things fill up fast. So I wanted to give you a chance to come out and join me.
And if you’re already signed up be sure to drop me a line or comment below and let me know so I can look out for you.
You can check out much more info on it here. San Jose RKC
Hope to see you there.
In strength,
Logan Christopher
Filed under Kettlebells by on Dec 8th, 2008. Comment.
After a long time of practicing kettlebell juggling, I wanted to switch it up. I wanted to revisit just the basic kettlebell snatch and see how far I could take it.
Primarily I was interested in doing a 10 minute snatch test with multiple hand switches and seeing what kind of numbers I could get. The kettlebell juggling had helped me out but its still took a little time to get back into the groove of many repetitions.
200 reps with the 53 lb. kettlebell is known as a good standard to hit. And I had hit it before but now I wanted to surpass it.
Right now my best resides at 207 reps. But I haven’t used that weight for the past three weeks. Why?
A little bit of an experiment. Last week I did the test with the 70 lb. kettlebell and scored 136 total reps. This left me sore for a few days. My main goal here was to get use to a bigger weight.
This morning I decided to use the lighter bell, only 35 lbs. Hit 250 without much trouble. My goal here was to improve speed, which I felt I was lacking earlier. And let me tell you this is a very quick pace. Can’t go much faster at all.
Next week I’ll return to the 53 lb. bell and see how it goes. I’ve no doubt that I’ll improve but we will see by just how much.
Sometimes its to your advantage to work with other weights, for higher or lower reps, especially if you’ve hit a plateau.
In strength,
Logan Christopher
P.S. And after a couple months of this, I’ll probably be back to the kettlebell juggling. You can get started at with The Definitive Guide to Kettlebell Juggling
Filed under Conditioning, Kettlebells, Strength Training Concepts by on Nov 12th, 2008. Comment.
There’s a few new feats of strength up on the site.
We’ve got juggling weights, of course with kettlebells but also the rarely seen barbell juggling.
In addition you’ll find a page on grippers and hand balancing.
Gonna be adding more over the week as well as shooting some demonstration videos.
Head on over to the Feats of Strength page.
In strength,
Logan Christopher
Filed under Barbells and Dumbbells, Feats of Strength, Hand Strength, Kettlebells, Oldtime Strongmen by on Nov 10th, 2008. Comment.
Let me start of by saying that I only recommend products to you that I use or have used and find to be helpful in my training. You’ll never see me endorsing an ab-zapper or a treadmill or anything like that.
Only the best will make the cut if I’m going to put in the time and work necessary to tell you about it.
And of that cut, what I’m about to share with you has to be right near the top.
The Boys Are Back in Town DVD Set
What is it? When you click the link you’ll find out. But to keep it short it’s a three DVD set of footage from a once in a lifetime seminar taught by four guys at the top of their game. The combined years of knowledge of the instructors has to be over a hundred years.
Have you heard these names before? Steve Maxwell, Mike Mahler, Steve Cotter and Nate Morrison.
All of their knowledge is distilled into seven hours of no-fluff content for you to watch from the comfort of your own home.
The Boys Are Back in Town DVD Set
Though I didn’t attend this seminar I’ve met three of the four instructors at other times. They’re all experienced and the best part about this seminar is you coverage on all different aspects of training.
Everything from joint mobility to chi-kung, kettlebell training for high reps and max endurance to low reps and huge explosive power, maximizing hormones and breathing techniques that are sure to be different from anything you’ve ever seen before.
This is one DVD set you’ll be watching over and over again. Personally, I’ve gone through it twice (and some parts of it more) but I think it’s time to watch it all over again.
The amount of material covered is huge and it’s sure to shock you into new gains.
There is plenty more to be said about it. Just click the link to read more including what other people have gained from this presentation.
The Boys Are Back in Town DVD Set
If you only buy one thing on strength training and physical culture this year this is it.
In strength,
Logan Christopher
P.S. The attendees paid $1595.00 to attend the seminar. While it’s usually better to absorb information live, you won’t need to pay anything close to that price now – The Boys Are Back in Town DVD Set.
Filed under Bodyweight Exercise, Conditioning, Flexibility/Mobility, Health, Kettlebells, Lifting Technique, Recovery, Strength Training Concepts by on Sep 13th, 2008. Comment.
Something important in training is to do what you enjoy doing. You won’t make the same kind of progress you if you just go through the motions of a workout you dread, that’s if you train at all.
But when you love what you do you’ll never miss a day plus you’ll be training harder because you enjoy it.
That’s why a lot of the guys at the top of the game are at the top. The Olympic athletes that I’ve been watching late every night. The strongmen I’ve been showing you pictures of and will continue to show.
One of the things I’m best at is kettlebell juggling. People keep telling me how impressed they are with my skills (now if only it was an Olympic sport I’d be golden).
It’s a little surprising to me. For one thing it didn’t even take long to get as good as I am. And two, it didn’t take any real effort. No effort to toss around large weights?
Yes its true. Simply because I have fun doing it. I have fun testing my endurance and coming up with new stunts. While it may be physically demanding my mind is playing around like a kid.
Not everyone wants to throw kettlebells around. Not everyone wants to even use kettlebells. Its a highly personal thing.
But if you are interested my new DVD set covering everything kettlebell juggling has just been released. Go check it out.
Whether you lift barbells or just your bodyweight, you have horseshoes bent across your neck or swim laps in the pool, toss around heavy weights or just swing them is your choice.
Whatever you choose, make sure its something you enjoy, then push yourself and the levels of what’s possible.
In strength,
Logan Christopher
P.S. The DVD’s are at a special introductory pricing and I’m not sure how long it’ll last. Get in on the even sweeter deal now. The Definitive Guide to Kettlebell Juggling
Filed under Kettlebells, Mental Training by on Aug 15th, 2008. Comment.
Thought I’d go into another question today. This one is from Olof in Sweden
Hi Logan
I really like your blog and all you put in to your different sites. By occasion the former 5 time world champion master in Arm wrestling com by my small shop ( its so new so we just put it in order for the moment ) looked at our Kettlebells, told us he never heard about KBs before.
But, he was thrilled, and want me to start training the local Arm wrestling club with Kettlebells.
What sort of work out would you suggest for these athletes?
Best regard Olof
Thank you, Olof. This is a good question. And here’s why. It delves into the topic of when you should be using what tool.
If the guy is the 5 time world champion, I think the best advice would be to stick with what he’s knows. It must work!
However much I love kettlebells, in this case, they are not best suited to the job.
This ties into the discussion of functional strength. His function is to put other people’s arms down. To build that function you need stronger arms, wrists and hands.
From what I’ve seen of high level arm wrestlers, in their training they do lots of curls in various positions and lots of hand work.
The kettlebell does not lend itself to being curled. Yes, you can throw a towel around the handle and curl, but that’s not what it‘s best at.
There are ways you could use it to help out, but once again it’s not the best tool.
If you want to use the kettlebell for general fitness and strength just stick with the basics for these athletes. The swings, snatches, presses, etc.
On top of that they could do their specialization work (which should of course include lots of arm wrestling).
Though it may not be what you have wanted to hear, I hope it helps.
In strength,
Logan Christopher
P.S. Remember you can ask your questions here
Filed under Hand Strength, Kettlebells, Strength Training Concepts by on Jul 9th, 2008. 3 Comments.
There’s a whole new website up. This one’s all about kettlebell juggling.
As you may know I think kettlebell juggling is one of the most fun ways to get stronger and better conditioned. And I’ve gotten pretty good at it over the years.
The site is at www.kettlebelljuggling.com. Nice name, eh?
But all the action is going to be happening at the kettlebell juggling blog.
You’ll notice that there’s another place to sign up for email updates. This one is separate from the emails I’ll be sending from www.legendarystrength.com.
You can sign up to get notified of every new post which will probably be once or twice a week, not as often as on this list. If your interested in kettlebell juggling or just want to see more awesome videos be sure to sign up. There’ll be more showy videos as well as videos that teach the techniques.
And let me know if you like the video. Post your comments on the kettlebell juggling blog.
In strength,
Logan Christopher
Filed under Hand Strength, Kettlebells by on Jun 9th, 2008. Comment.
