KETTLEBELL BY DUMMIES

Beware the completely unqualified kettlebell instructor. As kettlebell training increases in popularity more and more posers crawl out of the woodwork pretending to know how to use kettlebells. They are more than willing to show you unsafe or incorrect technique that is guaranteed to waste time or cause injury just so they can profit or promote themselves.

• Recently Jillian Michaels of Biggest Loser fame has come out with a kettlebell DVD showing horribly unsafe technique. Her DVD has been rightfully criticized by professional kettlebell instructors.  Her worst technique she calls "the swing through" is an express ticket to a ruptured or slipped disc.
  
• I've a stack of fitness magazines with how-to articles on various kettlebell techniques, each showing horribly unsafe and sloppy technique with equally horrible explanations.
  
• Today on Facebook I found this gem demonstrating 8 kettlebell techniques incorrectly with bad form.
  
• A local gym recently opened that advertises kettlebell as part of their body transformation program. The thing is the don't know how to use kettlebells and simply use dumbbell movements with kettlebells. One of their clients has asked my students to please teach them how to use the kettlebell without hurting their wrists.
  
• I've met six clients of a local personal trainer that have ALL been personally injured by her kettlebell instruction because she's under the false impression that she's been certified to teach kettlebell techniques by someone that is reputed for turning out low quality instructors.
  
• A local trainer on Youtube showcases the fact that he uses kettlebells as part of his training program but every video of his demonstrates incorrect or unsafe technique.
  
• A local trainer in Omaha was falsely portraying himself as an RKC certified Kettlebell instructor, just because he's got muscles and people would believe him. He was found out and now trains at another gym where he is free to mislead a new set of clients.
  
• Another personal trainer in Omaha who took a FREE 30-minute intro class from me, immediately went on to teach kettlebell techniques to his clients. I only showed him two techniques, neither of which he was able to perform correct because he would accept instruction. Ironically he is willing to charge clients for his lack of knowledge and experience  but is unwilling to attend even a one-day instructor training course on his own dime.

Beware Kettlebell taught by untrained and unqualified instructors.
You'll know who they are because they will have you doing dumbbell curls, shoulder shrugs, "Squat-Swings" or "pull-throughs".
You'll know who they are because their clients keep getting injured.
You'll know who they are because they randomly throw kettlebells into smattering of random exercises using different equipment every day.
You'll know who they are because they think you can a great cardio workout by swinging tiny kettlebell.
You'll know who they are because they can not or will not provide proof of kettlebell instructor certification.
Instead they'll say something like "I'm ACE/ASCM/NETA certified." when they are hoping nobody will catch on to the fact that these certifications have nothing to do with kettlebell certification or training.

If you have trouble spotting unqualified kettlebell trainers, then simply train with an RKC certified instructor once. From that day forward the difference will be obvious.