FOR THE RELENTLESS PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE
So as i write this, I am sitting on the floor in a sweltering room.
No matter what I do I just can’t seem to cool down, ye I could go outside but isn’t that where the sun is?
It doesn’t matter, I just needed to come up with an intro.
But here is what I wanted to write about…..WHAT AN AMAZING MONTH SO FAR.
Summer arrived, Andy Murry wins Wimbledon, The Lions CRUSH Australia in the final match for the series, Josh completes his first PARAS’10 event (a 10 mile speed march carrying 37lbs) and StrongFirst hold their first UK kettlebell certification.
Achievements made by all, well not for StrongFirst, no the instructors didn’t do much except show the skills needed and passion that all us SFG instructors have, no the achievement was made by the 40 plus candidates that didn’t just turn up for the 3 days of not just tuition and guidance but the hard….and i mean HARD 3 days work and up to 12 months prep.
It has been known for candidates to prep for up to a year before taking the cert and there is good reason to do so.
This is the only kettlebell certification where you CAN FAIL, or as we call it referral.
But what I mean is if you cannot complete the strength test, or the technique test or the horrific snatch test (100 kettlebell snatches in 5 mins-weight based on you’re body weight) you get “refured” therefore until you complete it you are NOT able to call yourself a StrongFirst certified instructor, a badge of honor. A proud family.
Its true that this weekend not everyone passed, they are referred and will have to meet the requirements before receiving their certificates and added to the StrongFirst database of instructors.
People may think it’s elitist, but to me those are the people who also come up with excuses when it rains or it’s cold. when they have a sore shoulder or no one to train with.
And who would much rather do a dumbass 6-8 hour kettlebell instructors course “at times having never touched one before” and then going to teach someone.
In StrongFirst there is a saying, we train you to be at a level where we are happy for you to teach our mothers. Not mother in-laws but mothers.
Now who would you want to teach you’re mother not only how to lose some weight, tone up a bit, maybe improve flexibility or gain the strength to walk upright, to pick up an object or ever roll out of bed because to some people that in it’s self is an achievement and to us its why we dedicate our time and bodies to prepare ourselves for this event.
PRACTICE WHAT WE PREACH, if you’re personal trainer cannot do the snatch test yet tells you to run, press and swing the bell what the hell are they doing. How can they aim to help you if they will not aim to better themselves.
In the Paras we call this JACK, they are being Jack on themselves and they are being Jack on you.
This weekend NO ONE was Jack, the fear of not passing kicked Jack’s ass out the building. Honestly Jack would have been scarred to show his face.
Not only did the candidates take on bored a lot of info but there was workouts, oh god there was workouts.
It was beautiful, loud music playing exciting the body and emotions as they swung, pressed, squated and snatched iron.
Sweat was dripping and smiles showing.
Remember these people are not elite, we are not elitist. They come from all works of life and are in all different sizes and ages.
For example one of my students was a 55plus year old gent and yes he had to do the same as everyone else…….and he did, because he worked for it.
We have barriers but no blockades.
Not only do you have the right to do what you want but also the ability to do so. Ye it may be a struggle for some and others take longer but what is the point of doing things if they are too easy.
At the end of the final day we hold the Grad Workout which was led by myself and another instructor.
Now with over 40 people working together after such a great accomplishment I got a little excited and the music drove me hard, i drove the candidates and in return I made my work out myself harder.
As the group did more I made myself do even more, so much that at the end a newly qualified StrongFirst kettlebell instructor approached me and said “goddam what is the matter with you, how did you find the endurance to do almost every set when you where meant to work in pairs”. My response was simple
Because I am StrongFisrt
Ladies and Gents, we can all be StrongFirst if you want it. In everyday life. It Is up to you.
FOR THE RELENTLESS PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE
To view photos of the fist UK StrongFirst kettlebell certification please visit and like our facebook group www.facebook.com/KettlebellStrength
website www.kettlebellstrength.co.uk
twitter @KB_strength
Seb Morgan
SFG
Primal Move
