What is RKC Hardstyle?
Originally “hard style” referred to martial art systems like karate which concentrated total body muscle tension into one extraordinary effort—“one punch, one kill”. When Pavel Tsatsouline (the chief instructor of the RKC system) served in the Soviet Special Forces, his unit was among those who had adopted a karate based style of hand-to-hand combat. The hard style of kettlebell training was born to support the hard style of fighting.
Determined to take the skill of strength as far as possible, Pavel researched every possible venue that could be of help, ranging from reading obscure neuroscience papers and old Soviet biomechanics texts to picking the brains of gymnastics, powerlifting, and armwrestling elite.
Powerlifting coach Louie Simmons has said it best: “Pavel has reverse engineered what the strongest athletes do naturally”. This is Hardstyle.
It's Not About the Kettlebell, it's about improving the way you move.
RKC Hard Style created by Pavel Tsatsouline and his elite group of Senior and Master Instructors has reverse engineered what the world's most powerful athletes do naturally. It is a proven system of techniques, drills, protocols and principles that teaches us strength, flexibility and endurance are skills that can be learned by everyone.
RKC Hard Style is NOT about improving performance in a particular sport or with a kettlebell exclusively...
it's about improving the way we move and perform in daily life, in any physical endeavor.
The Kettlebell is the RKC’s tool of choice.
The principles of flexibility, safe movement, strength, power and endurance taught at the RKC are applicable to a wide variety of implements: barbbells, dumbells, sandbags and even rocks. However, no other single piece of equipment is as versatile or can challenge the body in so many ways like the kettlebell.
Despite the awesome potential of RKC Kettlebell techniques and methods, there is nothing magical about the kettlebell. The kettlebell by itself is just a tool when placed in the hands of an untrained individual is nothing more than an oddly shaped weight. It takes the right combination of principles, methods, techniques, protocols and "clean" movement to unlock the Kettlebell's potential, this is what the RKC Instructor is trained to do.
Elite Instruction
Last but not least the RKC is an elite corps of instructors bound by a code of ethics contantly pursuing the highest levels of personal and physical excellence.
RKC Certified Instructors must pass the physical minimum of the RKC Snatch Test (100 24kg snatches in under 5 minutes) as well as 23hrs of actual kettlebell lifting, technique testing and a graduate challenge. Instructors must demonstrate impeccable technique under load & fatigue. Instructors are specifically taught how to teach, must pass a teaching test and must recertify every 2 years. Because of the physically and mentally demanding nature of the RKC certification, the failure rate can be between 30% - 80% among individuals who arrive highly prepared... Highly Prepared! When it comes to kettlebell instructor certification there is simply no higher standard.
GET CERTIFIED
Who is RKC Hardstyle For?
Martial Artists. Military. Physical Laborers. Professional & Amateur Athletes. Weight Loss. Exercisers. Yoga Practitioners. Dancers.
RKC Kettlebell is for Anyone interested in improved physical capacity and cleared by their physician for intense exercise.
While hardstyle kettlebell can be tailored to any fitness level some people may have previous injuries, health conditions or orthopedic reasons that will restrict what exercises can be performed safely or preclude kettlebell training all together. If you are not sure if Kettlebell training is for you I recommend that you first get cleared by your physician (especially a cardiologist) for intense exercise. Upon obtaining your physician's clearance a qualified RKC Kettlebell Instructor will provide further simple screens that will ensure you are cleared to perform specific Kettlebell techniques safely. A FMS or CK-FMS certified specialist can provide a more detailed screen and prescribe corrective stretches and exercises to improve your mobility & stability before attempting to add strength and endurance. By seeking out a CK-FMS your are finding a Kettlebell Instructor that has also been trained in the Functional Movement Screen and taught an additional curriculum for correcting movement with the RKC kettlebell techniques.
