As I write this, Alan Lyon is currently driving home from Steve Cotter's CKT weekend in Leeds. Alan first trained with me at a beginners workshop in April 2010. He had never lifted a kettlebell before. He was dedicated to Kupso martial arts training, and he was keen on fitness through running clubs and regular spinning classes at Garioch Sport Centre in Inverurie.
18 months later, he is skilled and qualified in kettlebell lifting and this is recognised by the head of the IKFF himself!
Make no mistake about it, the IKFF is a global first class professional organisation with fantastic foundations and high standards. This is NOT just about swinging a lump of steel about, trust me. On the course was fitness professionals, personal trainers and fitness enthusiasts. There is a fitness test required to be passed as well as being capable of performing LOTS of kettlebell exercises to a high standard over a 2 day weekend. I am delighted to say that Steve commented highly on Alan's ability and focus. Alan completed the fitness test confidently at the beginning of the weekend and therefore could enjoy the full weekend ahead of him learning from Steve.
Alan called and chatted to me on the Saturday night. He sounded just like I did when I was doing my certification, and I would call home to rave about the day! haha. I think its amazing that an ordinary 46 year old guy, i.e. not a fitness instructor, personal trainer or the likes, can go and achieve such a qualification based on enjoyment, interest, passion and desire to test himself.
Alan has trained with me when I have went to train with Rannoch Donald & Gerry Higgins from Scotland, Mike Mahler from Las Vegas, Alvaro Romano from Brazil to name a few in the fitness / movement world. And in the martial arts world, Marc McFann and Marc Denny from the USA, Benjamin Rittiner from Switzerland. Exposure to these high level instructors have been influenced by training with Kettlebells Aberdeen and also from the Aberdeen Martial Arts Group.
I am influenced by my martial arts instructor, Pat Davies, sadly passed, that it is so worth while passing gradings / certifications / tests with a high standard. High standards are achieved by having fantastic foundations. All of the experts we get exposed to through our kettlebells and martial arts emphasise good foundations, solid structure. How is this achieved? Repetition. But!... it's repetition of high quality, tried and tested material.
I know Alan achieved this weekend with a high standard!
Over the 18 months training with kettlebells, Alan has attended numerous beginners workshops, taster classes, and timetabled kettlebell classes where the foundations are repeated and repeated. When mastered, developing the advanced stuff becomes less scary and really achievable! An example of this is when I spoke on the phone to Alan on Saturday - rather than speak about the "new kettlebell exercises" that Steve maybe did, Alan spoke about the finer points exposed when doing familiar drills - biceps close to ears on presses, efficient breathing cycles, where the thumb should be pointing in the overhead rack etc. ....Brilliant!
It is important to recognise that the IKFF continually develops. The certifications I have attended previously have undoubtedly evolved, and thats great! Steve Cotter thrives on being a student. He seeks the best he can find (kettlebells, martial arts, movement, etc) and he learns from them. He digests his material and experience, and passes it on through his sought after workshops and qualifications. (A trait very much like my martial arts family at AMAG!!) Therefore, having missed the weekend myself, I am keen to train with Alan and learn from him what Steve has been developing and focusing on recently.
Congratulations Alan on achieving CKT1! I'm really happy and proud of you mate!
And anyone interested in learning about kettlebell training should definitely give Alan a shout. Give him a cuppa tea and he'll pass on the secrets!! LOL
