The Art of Strength Certification.
Intended initially as a way to teach trainers how to teach kettlebell to clients, it has evolved into one of the most comprehensive kettlebell based certifications available. Now designed for anyone at any fitness level, the Art of Strength Kettlebell Certification breaks down each essential exercise by utilizing Vintage Progression, our method of teaching kettlebell routines by first teaching their barbell and dumbbell origins. Knowing where the kettlebell routine came from is as important as knowing the actual kettlebell routine. Using the Turkish Get-up as a barometer for our clients efficiency in movement since early 2004 we've now introduced this screening process, known as Corrective Strategies, to all our participants. Requiring a full range of motion and putting the participant in nearly every plane possible, the Turkish Get-up allows us to spot and address movement deficiencies. Corrective Strategies has become invaluable to us and the trainers that pass through our certifications. In May of 2009 we were honored with having the Best New Cardio Tool of 2009 as voted by Men's Health Magazine. To us, giving Ropes Gone Wild this distinction was a no brainer. Having been a staple in all of our Punch Gyms and Art of Strength Training Centers we knew firsthand how powerful a training tool it was. Long before it's new distinction, Ropes Gone Wild, and it's proper integration into a training regimen, had been an integral part of every certification. Early in 2008 we introduced My First Session, an impromptu "mock" session where the participant trains new comers to kettlebell training, utilizing all that he or she has learned to teach their "client" any kettlebell routine that we assign them with. Whether you're coming through the certification as a trainer or enthusiasts, this is the most important part of your certification. Being able to teach the routines properly is paramount and is something we take very seriously.
Art of Strength Certification bulleted
2 days of training
learn all essential kettlebell routines
learn Vintage Progression
learn Corrective Strategies and implementation
learn Ropes Gone Wild and implementation
My First Session
Breakdown of the weekend:
Friday Night: Meet and Greet Dinner 6:00pm - Location to be determined
Saturday Morning: Certification starts 7:00am - Punch Kettlebell Gym Seekonk
Saturday Night: Business Dinner 6:00pm* - Location to be determined
Sunday Morning: Certification Training continues 8:00am - Punch Kettlebell Gym Seekonk
*this dinner is open to all attendees but is mandatory for those entering into a Punch Kettlebell Gym or Art of Strength Training Center Franchise.
Vintage Progression
Each kettlebell routine originated from similar barbell or dumbbell routines. Many of these routines, having been lost to time, are almost unrecognizable as anything you would see in a present day gym. That being said, these routines are no less important and are actually key in understanding and teaching your body how to move properly through kettlebell exercises. Being "core-centric" in nature, kettlebells require a type of movement and muscle awareness that is nearly completely unknown to many in mainstream society - due in large part to the vast disconnect between modern day fitness and what we consider to be true fitness. Noticing that this lack of body awareness was a hindrance for many trying to grasp the mechanics of the kettlebell routines we took a step back and began teaching the origins of kettlebell training as a progression to the corresponding kettlebell exercise. Before we teach the kettlebell swing, for instance, we first teach the dumbbell swing, a move more resembling the kettlebell snatch, but is no less important in teaching proper activation of the entire posterior chain - something necessary for learning a foundation exercise such as the kettlebell swing.
Corrective Strategies
Early in 2004 we introduced The Turkish Get-up as a screening tool for all of our clients. Recognizing the potential that lied within the get-up as a means to gauge the overall physical conditioning of our athletes and clients we broke it down into its 7 basic parts using each one to assess deficiencies in movement, flexibility and overall conditioning. This process allowed us to better address any found limitations. Corrective Strategies, as a process, is a group of exercises designed to combat any of the deficiencies spotted along the 7 steps of the Turkish Get-up.
Ropes Gone Wild
Honored with the distinction of being named 2009's Best New Cardio Tool by Men's Health Magazine, Ropes Gone Wild has become a staple of all our certifications. Used for general conditioning or rehab, Ropes Gone Wild has become an invaluable tool for our professional teams, athletes, and is now being used in elementary schools nationwide in our Stop the Obesity Program, designed to combat the growing childhood obesity epidemic. Ropes Gone Wild offers unparalleled cardio training, routinely bringing the heart rate near maximum in under 30 seconds and all with no impact.
My First Session
With the influx of "kettlebell certifications" and "certified kettlebell instructors" we deemed it necessary to find a better way to gauge the trainers we are producing. Kettlebell education, specifically the ability for one of our trainers to teach, has always been and will always be paramount in everything we do. My First Session allows us a look into how the participant teaches what he or she has just learned to a newcomer to kettlebell training. We take the inexperienced and novice kettlebell user and pair them with our participants, where they have an hour to teach one exercise utilizing all that they learned including Vintage Progression and Corrective Strategies. The participant's abilities are evaluated by us and necessary corrections in instruction practices are given.