20 Jan, 2019

Just Kettlebells is currently in the midst of their first annual January Swing Challenge. I say first annual, because I am pretty sure we are going to do this every year. The challenge was to set a goal for how many kettlebell swings (any style, and snatches count too) that you could do in the month of January. If at the end of the month, you meet your goal, you win a free class or a $10 just Kettlebells gift certificate. And the person that has the most swings in the month will win 5 free

26 Jul, 2018

I often wonder when I meet someone new – particularly a new client---what they think about my scar. It’s not like they don’t notice it (though it is rare that anyone comments). It is a pretty long scar from the top of my shoulder half way down my arm. Beneath the scar is a metal plate and fourteen pins that have been doing a substantially phenomenal job holding my right humerus together. It’s quite impressive really :). But I sometimes worry if they think that I somehow injured my arm from

22 Jul, 2018

For the first 40 years of my life I did not exercise at all. Okay, I did have short stint with running when I was 18 (until my ankles blew up like balloons), and an even shorter stint with swimming in college (hindered by my inability to keep the water from going up my nose). But I was never was one of those people that liked to exercise. But I did like being active. I was always relatively thin (and sometimes very thin). As a young kid I played outside (remember those days?) and I rode my pink

04 Jun, 2018

So after 14 months of training toward the Sinister Achievement, I have crossed over to the other side!  When I started, I did not realize that I would be at it for 14 months!  And although it was hard work, and at times, really hard work, it was awesome being so focused on one goal. Honestly, as I sit here typing, I can still hardly believe I did it!   Here is the passing video submission:  And now, after a moment (or two or three) of basking in my own success, I find myself feeling a little

22 Dec, 2017

As those of you who follow my Just Kettlebells Facebook page know, I have spent much of 2017 Chasing Sinister. That was not my intention when I started the year, my only goals were to re-certify my Level I, and hopefully get an opportunity to assist at the Dome (which I did and it was amazing). But the idea came to me to program a modification of Simple and Sinister Training for my Level II am class. At that time I had been working with the same 5 class members for over 6 months, and I thought

21 Nov, 2017

Thanksgiving: Being Grateful for the Difficulties I know, it is that time of year we are supposed to recite how we are grateful for all of the wonderful things in our lives. And trust me, I have many joys and gifts for which I am thankful each and every day. But when it comes to my pursuit of strength, it is the struggles I am most grateful for. So in my Thanksgiving Blog this year, I would like to share about some of my difficulties – you know, the crappy things that happen — that turn out in

06 Nov, 2017

I was reading an article this morning about the problem with kettlebells. And the author’s complaint was the kettlebell trainers tend to be elitist – thinking that kettlebell training is the true way to perfect conditioning and that all other methods fall short. And perhaps because I have a business named Just Kettlebells, you might think that I am a kettlebell elitist too. And if you thought that, you would be wrong. I have dedicated my group classes at Just Kettlebells  to just kettlebells

16 Oct, 2017

“It’s Your Posture, Stupid.” Is what I wish my doctor had said to me when I came in to see him 12 years ago with chronic lower back pain. Instead, he just handed me some pills. It also IS what my StrongFirst trainer said to me when he saw my first training videos. Ok, he didn't call me stupid, but he told me that my posture was “lacking”. And improved posture – specifically, being more aware of posture (which is the first step to improved posture) — is the number one comment I hear from

10 Sep, 2017

"It sucks getting old, doesn’t it?" I can’t tell you how many times in recent years I have heard people say this (or something even a bit more colorful), in reaction to aches, pains and injuries. If you are over 40 and have bad shoulders, weak knees, back pain, sprained ankles or pulled hamstrings or any other of a whole host of ailments, we invariably attribute them to the inevitable decay of our aging bodies. Well, I am going to suggest that is (mostly) bullshit. The way I see it the decline