My Adventures At The RKC

First off, I was sick as a dog (still am), but I totally rallied with large amounts of Sudafed, Advil, Musinex and Monster Energy Drinks.  In fact, I was actually taking a decongestant and an expectorant at the same time just in case either of those would help the never ending flow of snot and coughing that I had going on.  And I think I did a pretty good job, most people probably didn't know I felt half dead the whole time.  Past that, it was all awesomeness.

First off, it was really killer meeting the one and only Amanda Salas!  She's even cooler in person than she is on DDTV.  She's super fun, really funny, and probably the easiest person in the world to interview (interview coming soon!) 

Amanda is smart, funny and a media pro.  Plus she's just a cool chick.  Woulda been cool if we got to kick it more, but we were both doing interviews the whole time!

Awesome seeing Nicole Du Cane again!  Not only did she share some of her storytelling genius (which I totally used what she taught me and it made ALL of the interviews I did at the RKC ten times better), but she informs me she's started deadlifting 'cause of the Sucker Punch Workout!!!!  I'll make sure she keeps us posted on her progress =)

RKC II Dustin Miller, RKC Instructor Candidtate Marion Ingram, and me.

Getting to work with Master RKC Andrea Du Cane was unbelievable, her mastery of the RKC system is beyond impressive.  It's not just amazing everything that sees, but also how quickly and effectively she's able to correct form, tension, and power issues.  And getting to assist with Beast Tamer (that means he one arm military pressed, tactical pulluped, and pistoled the 106lb kettlebell) Dustin Miller was awesome also, the dude is wicked strong and an equally great teacher.

The Awesomeness that is Team Du Cane – taught by Master RKC Andrea Du Cane

Hanging with Shell Go Go and Cortez was awesome and fun and we got to bond over totally random fitness/Seattle connections. Shell and Go Go are really  strong girls who were just so totally great.  They made me happy every time I saw them.  Shell was a college rower, but a couple years ago when she hurt her leg, she actually worked up to rowing faster than she did in college – with only one leg!  She's all healed up and back to two legs now, but that just blew my mind.  Hanging out with Cortez was awesome, dude has been a Team Leader at 4 times as many RKC's as I've ever been to.  And it's cool to talk to another dude that's seen the RKC since back in the day.

They told me that this is called "The Chenwhich"

Had no idea I'd have SO MUCH FUN hanging out with the Assistant RKC's there.  My wolfpack has grown by like six: Andrew “Let's Find Someone Else to Kick Him On Stage” Read (who FINALLY accepted my friend request on Facebook), Neghar “Is Giving Up ____ For Lent” Fonooni (strongest chick ever), Valerie “It's My Birthday” Hedlund (we're gonna start training!!!!),

It was Val's birthday and we all went out to Fogo De Chao!!!!

Alise "Dance Party" Frye (the missile story was the best thing EVER), Dustin “Why Is That Random Girl Peeing Behind My Van” Miller (who enlightened me about stacked presses) and George "Super Hair/Hey Lady” Samuelson (I still haven’t found the 'hangover' pictures you were talking about on my camera) ok maybe this one, but this one is me

I'm actually sober in this picture. 
BTW: Big thanks to George lending me his super hair styling fiberness

were all WAY TOO MUCH FUN.  Seriously, it's crazy to meet all these guys for the first time and have them all be people I'd totally hang out with every day.  And yes my name is McLovin.  Just McLovin.  Chicka chicka what.

I waited three F'n weeks for this mofo to respond to my friend request on Facebook!

Team Du Cane was amazing!   It just happened where for testing Dustin and I basically split who we were watching on the team, where he worked with the guys about 75% of the time and the ladies about 25% of the time, and I worked with the ladies about 75% of the time and the dudes about 25% of the time.  So I didn't get to know all of the Comrades Dudes quite as well, but they all put in some strong, strong work. 

With Master RKC Andrea Du Cane!

Mike was a strong dude with had awesome form.  Lou put in 110% and seriously worked his ass off and was super coachable.  Jason was like a sponge and actively sought out more coaching and asked more questions than anyone else.  And given that he got injured and had to do 75% of the weekend with one arm, it was unbelievable.  Vic was a serious professional, put in strong workouts, and dialed in form one step at a time.  The duo of Aaron and Cullen I just think strong, great form, and definitely not afraid to rock a pair of heavy kettlebells (were they using 63lb/28kg bells the whole weekend?) for 8 hours straight.

With the strong Comrades Ladies of Team Du Cane.

Molly was strong and awesome.  I think if we'd had a technique contest, she could have won.  I can't wait for her interview to get posted on the blog, 'cause her workouts are going to totally blow your mind.  Marion had beautiful form and looked like a natural athlete – only at the end did I find out she'd lost 20lbs with kettlebells and isn't even a trainer, she did the RKC just for fun!!!!!!  Jenn is an athletic trainer, asked really smart questions, and was just as committed to making sure her partner had perfect form as she did.  Crystal was strong, coachable, great attitude, and fun to work with.  Awesome kettlebell trainer.  Steph probably had the biggest transformation of anyone this weekend – I've never seen anyone work that hard to hard-style up their form 100% in that short amount of time.  You've got serious heart, serious fight, and you soaked up every coaching point in the weekend like your life depended on it.  Kate did awesome, rocked amazing form, tuned up her hardstyle at every session.  I was SO SO SO proud of all of the girls.  Not only were they super strong and rockstar lean – but they are all smart, really care, and will make amazing kettlebell instructors.  I could not have been more proud to have played a small part in their training.

I can't believe I didn't get a picture with my roommate Aaron Pierson!  This fellow Colorado dude came in strong and SUPER prepared.  He'd been to the HKC and had had several sessions with multiple kettlebell instructors prior to the RKC.  I could tell just talking to him about his training that he was going to rock.  To give you an idea of how strong this dude is and how hard he rocked it: When they ran out of 53lb (24kg) kettlebells for the guys to take their technique tests with, he offered to test with the 62lb (28kg) kettlebells.  Dude is a badass.

Neghar Fonooni, RKC II, is like the strongest girl EVER

The Blog

It was really amazing to have SO MANY people come up to me and tell me they love the Lose Stubborn Fat! Blog or that they love The 21 Day Kettlebell Swing Challenge. I think at least 30 people came up to me and said something (1/3 of the people in attendence), it totally blew my mind. 

Even some of the people who showed up on Sunday for the candidate teaching test knew me and the Lose Stubborn Fat! Blog. It felt really, really, really amazing to have been able to write something that made a difference for and entertained so many people.

Alise Valene Frye, RKC has been reading the blog since 2005!  She might be subscriber #1!!!!

The 88lb (44kg) Press

Lots of people have been asking about if I pressed the 88lb (44kg) kettlebell, and the answer is no.  In retrospect, it's amazing that I got to be able to press the 80lb kettlebell just on smart workout design and lots of persistance, cause what I need to go to the next level is going to be better form.

Dustin "The Beast Tamer" (and later at Fogo De Chao, "The Cow Tamer") and Tim "Thor in the New Movie" Spencer (who actually evened out his PR press this weekend) both told me that I need to work on stacked presses (one kettlebell bottoms up, with another kettlebell stacked on top), and that I need to get Perfecting the Press by Kenneth Jay.  So of course, I bought Perfecting the Press, and until it gets here, I'm working on my stacked presses.

And Some More Random Adventures:

 

I only got to hang with Doc Hartle for like a minute, and that's about how long it took me to make an ass out of myself.  Doc was a really fun, down to earth dude!

For the three fat loss lessons I learned at the RKC, that you can apply to your kettlebell workouts today, click here: Three Kettlebell Fat Loss Workout Lessons