Respect comes with understanding- and now I have a deeper understanding of kettlebell training and a much higher respect for the 16KG kettlebell!
A few weeks ago, WOD Nation Coaches Aaron, Ferdi, and I were fortunate enough to have been able to participate in Steve Cotter's kettlebell conditioning workshop over at the Project Lifestyle Manila studio in Ortigas. I love these enlightening experiences. At first, I'd have to be honest that I wasn't really that excited to be joining the workshop. I was just curious to see if I'd learn a new thing or two. But man, I was in for for a ride.
16 KG KB. Respect it. |
Thanks JP for the refresher! |
Coaches Ferdi and Aaron practicing the double kettlebell front rack. |
Steve explaining a training progression to the jerk. |
Also, can I just say that I have huge respect for Steve Cotter and what he does. I've been very fortunate to have come across instructors with genuine skill in both teaching and performing their methods, like my coaches Richard and Ryan Gialogo for arnis, the uncompromising Ido Portal for bodyweight strength and movement, and my fellows Aaron for powerlifting and Ferdi for triathlon. With Steve, it was truly amazing to see such a high level of stamina and accuracy with the kettlebells. He was able to lead us and demonstrate all the exercises up to the finest standard consistently throughout the whole day, all the while clearly explaining and making sure we understand the how's and why's of these exercises.
I always feed off of these displays of conditioning and skill. It motivates me to witness with my own eyes how much I can still improve myself. Just when I think I've gotten far, I realize that I got long, long ways to go. Daunting, and yet invigorating as well. I think I'm a masochist. Haha!
We capped off the workshop, with a quick team workout. Challenge yourself! |
Along these lines, one realization that I believe needs special mention is how the one arm swing develops (and taxes!) grip strength. Actually I already knew that my grip had long ways to improve since before, so I'd always keep that in mind and train for it as much as I can. I've been accumulating forearm and grip strengthening exercises and trying them out. And now that I can more consistently bend bottlecaps with one hand when before I couldn't, I could see that my grip strength did improve over time. (Cute party trick too! Try it our some time. hehe.) But with the one arm kettlebell swing that Steve had us do for timed intervals, I realized how the stamina of my grip left a huge gap in my conditioning. Another way to improve and challenge myself!
Like they say, knowing is half the battle.
Thanks to Steve Cotter, Nico and Summayah D'haenen, JP and the rest of the PKC, Toffy Ilagan and Project Lifestyle Manila for the great workshop! |