Russian Kettlebell Challenge Instructor Certification – Gold Standard in Kettlebell Training

If you’re thinking of learning how to use the Russian kettlebells or even looking to teach people how to do Russian kettlebell workout as a personal trainer or strength coach then the Russian Kettlebell Challenge or popularly known as the RKC Certification is what you should be looking at. The Chief Instructor Pavel Tsatsouline and Dragon Door first introduced this kettlebell training to American back 2001 and since then Hollywood celebrities, elite athletes and top strength coaches and personal trainers have jumped into the kettlebell training. In fact, the first Russian Kettlebell Challenge Instructor Certification workshop was held in 2001. Since then, it’s been a major success with people flying in around the world to attend the course. Now, it has even taken the course out of America and you can find Dragondoor workshops in Hungary, Italy, Australia and Korean.

What is This Russian Kettlebell Challenge Instructor Certification About?

kettlebell workout RKC certification workshop is a 3-day intensive kettlebell training course. It is intense in not only with the instructions and practical information delivered it is intense in the workout that needs to be performed at the course. Therefore, a complete newbie would definitely struggled with this high end fitness course that demands a high level of fitness and knowledge of kettlebell training from its participants sometimes termed as “victims” as it called in the course.

Although this RKC course uses the kettlebells, it’s not geared towards GS (Girevoy Sports). It is known as the “Hardstyle” Kettlebell Training that is focused on power production more than energy conservation. This high level strength & conditioning system uses the kettlebells to enhance your skills to teach people how to be very strong in all aspect of fitness. It is a cleverly put together course that teaches people to lay a solid foundation of general physical preparation (GPP) which is very lacking in most people. That’s why many people injured themselves doing sports-specific or task-specific training.

With this RKC course, you will learn how to best use the kettlebells to enhance your strength, learn high tension techniques to “lighten” heavy bells, train safely and explode your personal and your personal training clients’ fitness to the next level if you’re a personal trainer. And they’re just a few things that you will learn.

One of the most valuable things RKC workshops teaches is the ability to troubleshoot individuals’ shortcomings and run remedial or corrective drills to allow the individuals to train safely and improve fitness dramatically. This alone puts the RKC attendees ahead of most other personal trainers.

Participants are required to display certain level of fitness but can be subjected to changes which is not surprising as it had happened before.

Click on the video below to learn from the RKC Chief Instructor Pavel what is this “Hardstyle” Kettlebell Training is about.

RKC Certification Testing Requirement

If you’re aiming to pass the certification, then you do need to be sure that you’re training or be able to meet the following testing requirement.

For men, you need to pass the following test:

5 chin-ups/pull-ups
100 repetitions of 24kg kettlebell snatches within 5 minutes for bodyweight above 65kg
100 repetitions of 20kg kettlebell snatches within 5 minutes for bodyweight below 65kg
100 repetitions of 20kg kettlebell snatches within 5 minutes for age between 50 to 64
50 repetitions of 20kg kettlebell snatches within 3 minutes for age above 65

For women, you need to pass the following test:

Perform 15 seconds of Flex Arm Hang with Chin above the bar
100 repetitions of 12kg kettlebell snatches within 5 minutes for bodyweight up to 56kg
100 repetitions of 16kg kettlebell snatches within 5 minutes for bodyweight above 56kg
100 repetitions of 12kg kettlebell snatches within 5 minutes for age between 50 to 64
50 repetitions of 12kg kettlebell snatches within 3 minutes for age above 65

Although passing the above mentioned tests will help you towards attaining the RKC certification, it does not guarantee Russian Kettlebell Challenge Instructor Certification attainment. The RKC candidate will also have to display clear, effective and safe teaching instructions and shows that he can perform the Double Kettlebell Swings, Double Kettlebell Squats, Turkish Get-Up, Double Kettlebell Military Press, Double Kettlebell Cleans with high proficiency. To learn more about the specifics of the RKC testing requirement, please check out this link: RKC Testing Requirement

Why is the RKC the Golden Standard in Kettlebell Training?

16kg kettlebell This advanced level strength training and fitness course has been around since 2001 and a massive success. And it’s no accident why it is still around and grown in reputation as the #1 kettlebell training course that constantly sell out with many top strength coaches and personal trainers attending it and holding it in high regards.

In comparison to most other courses, RKC workshop demands high standards in its participants in executing the drills taught and never compromise one bit in the standard required. The School of Strength which refers to the RKC Strength Training System is constantly revolving and never stops at refining to become better. It’s Chief Instructor Pavel Tsatsouline and his RKC comrades never rest to pick the best brain in the business and implement changes in their teachings. That’s why it’s not surprising to find that there are some changes between the course that they run. If you want to stay in the forefront in strength and fitness and kettlebell training, RKC is the one to go to.

Watch this video below and see why people do “Hardstyle” Kettlebell Training:

WARNING! BEWARE OF FAKE RKCs!!!

Yes! Beware of posers. Because of the high standards set by RKC, there are personal trainers who wants to be associated with them and pose and act like they are certified RKCs even though they did not attend the course. They would led you to believe on their websites that they are one. So be aware of those pretenders if you are looking to train with a RKC. Always to check on them by verifying their status on the RKC listing.

Who Should Do the RKC?

The RKC course is a must for any personal trainers and individuals who are serious in their health and fitness and wants to bring their skills to a whole new level. And you do not need to be a personal trainer to benefit from it. There are people who attend the course, skip the testing requirements and learn and did not want to attain the certification. As mentioned, you will be ahead of most people just by learning from this kettlebell course.

How Do You Get Started With Training for RKC course?

One way is to get started is get the “Enter The Kettlebell” Book and DVD set. It’s a highly recommended for newbie and even for beginners who started training with kettlebells. With the DVD, you will be shown step-by-step by Pavel how to perform some of the basic kettlebell moves such as the “hardstyle” kettlebell swings, cleans, Get-Ups, snatches and military presses. With the book you will be given training programs and illustrations of those kettlebell move shown in the DVD.

Obviously, nothing beats having one of Pavel’s approved Russian Kettlebell Instructors to give personal guidance on your techniques and guide you on how you can train “hardsytle” the right way and work towards RKC standards. To check out his list of comrades that are now in many countries, go to RKC Listing HERE.

If you have been doing your homework based on “Enter The Kettlebell” and training with a RKC, you should be able to perform the “hardstyle” swings, Get-Ups and Globlet Squats with high proficiency and do your 5 chin-ups/pull-ups if you are a man and 15 seconds Flex-Arm Hang if you are a woman. And that will be the time to test yourself by going to Pavel’s 1-day entry-level Hardstyle Kettlebell Certification course.

Once you nailed your HKC certification, the next giant step is to train for the Russian Kettlebell Challenge Instructor Certification which can be 3 times harder than the HKC. Be prepared to put in the hardwork and not be at the workshop under-prepared. Sure it is going to be hard but it is well worth the hard work because you will stand out both as a personal trainer and kettlebell instructor. Always seek the expertise of a RKC instructor if unsure.