I'm really stoked to get quoted in the Los Angeles Times!
So, Jillian's kettlebell DVD is finally coming out… and it's probably going to suck.
Three Things About Trainers Teaching Kettlebells
1.) Kettlebells are an amazing fat loss tool, and extremely safe if you use good form.
2.) Kettlebells can really jack you up if you use poor form.
3.) If you are a personal trainer who is on TV, you have a responsibility, given your standing, to teach correct form to your viewers. Every personal trainer and boot camp has that same standing with their clients and has that same responsibility to learn how to teach proper form.
Jillian's Last Kettlebell Instructional
Look, I have nothing against Jillian putting together a kettlebell DVD. I think it's awesome for the kettlebell world, and it shows how mainstream kettlebell training really has become.
We're At A Crossroads in Kettlebell World
Something has shifted, and now every boot camp has kettlebells and does kettlebell swings. It's hard for a trainer to consider themselves up to date as a trainer without including kettlebell swings in their workouts.
Unfortunately, most of these trainers have had zero training on how to teach someone proper kettlebell form.
The kettlebell swings isn't as simple as teaching someone a dumbbell press. It's more like teaching someone a back handspring. You actually have to be taught how to teach it.
The same way that I don't teach my clients Yoga or Pilates (because I haven't been trained to teach them) I would recommend personal trainers and boot camp instructors not to teach swings without getting at least a basic certification.
Kettlebell Basic Certification / Kettlebell Advanced Certification
Where the RKC Kettlebell Instructor Certification is a certification on how to be a kettlebell instructor. Besides being the ultimate course in how to teach kettlebell training, just surviving the course is similar to running a marathon or skydiving – it's a fitness experience unto itself. I totally get that this is a lot more than most personal trainers need to just teach swings and get ups.
The HKC Kettlebell Instructor Certification is a certification on how to teach swings, get ups and goblet squats for personal trainers who want to add kettlebell training to their menu of training options.
This is the perfect option for trainers who want to teach kettlebell correctly, but aren't necessarily looking to become a "kettlebell trainer."
Dragon Door's HKC (HardStyle Kettlebell Certified)
Instructor Workshops- U.S. and Worlwide
The Los Angeles Times
Most importantly, I'm just stoked to have been quoted in the Los Angeles Times! Growing up in California, that's pretty much as big as it gets. This is a really, really cool day for me!
Also thanks to my friend and fitness expert Barry Lovelace for letting me know I was in the article!
Josh Hillis is a Level 2 RKC Kettlebell Instructor 
Author of The Stubborn Seven Pounds and Fighter Workouts for Fat Loss
Glad you mentioned the subject of the trainers responsibilty.
I was a member of UK Royal Air Force, during this time I was left with permanent damage to my back due to an over enthusiastic trainer who encouraged us to perform barbell deadlifts at top speed without any regard for the form.
The only way to do this of course is to start using your back, with the obvious result that I now have.
Well done for getting into your local newspaper, I am from the UK so I am guessing that featuring in the LA Times is a bigger deal than featuring in the Lincoln Echo!
That’s awesome you got quoted in the LA Times! =) Your blog is awesome!
It’s really amazing how many crappy and dangerous trainers there are out there. People don’t get that there is way more to it than just “making it a really hard workout”
Thanks Katherine!!!!!! I was SO STOKED! =)