Omaha Personal Trainer Injuring Clients with Kettlebells

Today I learned of yet another individual injured through kettlebell by a personal trainer attempting to teach kettlebell techniques. Sadly I've heard three first hand accounts now of people being injured by the exact same trainer.

While in the weight room I struck up a conversation with a man performing kettlebell sumo deadlifts. Our discussion began with deadlifting then progressed to the kettlebell swing. I asked if he had considered the kettlebell swing as an assistance exercise from improving the deadlift. His response was he already tried that but was not satisfied with the results. The moment he demonstrated his kettlebell swing I knew that the problem was not program design it was poor technique. When I demonstrated the RKC hardstyle swing his eyes grew wide and immediately he acknowledged that this was a much more useful, explosive and therefore functional movement than he was taught. As we spoke he told me of his experience with a group kettlebell class lead by a personal trainer...

• In his class a man was made to perform 45lb getups during his first kettlebell session without a spotter. The trainer was telling him that as a man he should be able to use even more weight so not being able to do a 45lb getup was inexcusable. Inevitably he lost control of the kettlebell and injured his shoulder.  This individual was out of commission for months due to his injury that was a result of an irresponsible or ignorant trainer.

• During the very same class another individual described as a thin man who was new to weight training was made to swing a 45lbs kettlebell forcing him to lose control as he was pulled forward by the weight and force of the swing. This is an obvious sign that the instructor did not screen the client's movement patterns. The client was lifting his heels and jutting his knees forward. 

• The individual that told me the story is a very strong man. He was also made to do getups on day one with a 45lb kettlebell on his first attempt, without a spotter. He recalled how shaky his technique was and how he was worried about dropping the weight. He knew his technique wasn't good enough for that amount of weight, especially without a spotter.

All three of these scenarios illustrate yet another personal trainer who has not been trained how to teach or progress a client safely. Giving a kettlebell or worse, giving a heavy kettlebell to someone that has not first demonstrated safe movement is like giving a child a loaded gun. Kettlebells don't hurt people, but bad trainers will definitely hurt people with kettlebells.

If this sounds like your experience with a personal trainer teaching you kettlebell techniques, stop immediately.
Just because some is a certified personal trainer does not mean they know how to teach kettlebell techniques, in fact most personal trainers have never been taught how to use a kettlebell, even fewer have ever been taught how to teach kettlebell techniques.

If you are serious about learning kettlebell do yourself a favor and seek out an RKC instructor. RKC Instructors have demonstrated a high level of skill and fitness with kettlebell techniques. RKC instructors have been taught specifically how to teach kettlebells techniques, and more importantly how to teach correct  movement before putting a kettlebell in someone's hands. RKC instructors have a large toolbox of corrective drills that will enforce safe and correct movement.

If you are in the Omaha area give me a call (402) 850-5551. As an RKC I will start by teaching you the swing and getup then progress you to more advanced techniques. I will teach you according the methods taught in the RKC system. You will learn safe technique using logical progressions before you earn the right to use weight. Your body will be given time to adapt to the strain before you advance in volume and intensity.  This may take a few sessions or a few months, but I can guarantee you will become stronger and healthier. The RKC methods will make you a better man, even if you're a woman ;).