image 1

It is important to observe a lifter from the front and the side to assess how they move through the movements. Watching a lifter from the side can tell you a lot about their shoulder mobility. Many weight lifters in general put off mobility work and can develop a lifting pattern like you see in Image 1. The force of the weight of the kettlebell is demonstrated by the red line extending down. The weight is well in front of the lifter’s body creating a great deal of force on the shoulder joint and muscles. Notice how the lifter’s hips are thrust forward as well. This is the body compensating for the misalignment. The body wants the kettlebell under its center of gravity or COG. When the weight is well in front of the body, the COG is in the wrong position. The COG is more stable than the shoulder so the lifter will thrust the hips forward to balance the weight over the COG. If you draw a line from the head to the hips on the lifter you create an angle between that line and the line of force from the weight. That angle should be 0 degrees.

image 2

The arm should be parallel with the head and the body so that the weight is directly over the lifter’s COG, as seen in Image 2. Misalignment like Image 1 is often due to poor shoulder mobility. The lifter cannot reach back to align the kettlebell with the body and you get into a position that stresses the muscles and joint in the shoulder and expends much more energy than necessary resulting in increased fatigue.

image 3

Side view can give the observer a good look at a lifter’s movement, but don’t overlook observing from other angles. Watching from the front can tell you a lot about the lifter’s trunk stability. Trunk stability is closely associated with the shoulder joints and the shoulder blades. In fact, when observing misalignment like in Image 3, one can assume there is a problem with one or all three of those. Notice the line dropped from the kettlebell. As with the side view, the arm is too far from the head, body and the COG. The angle between the head and the arm (fittingly represented by a red “V”) should be as close to 0 degrees as possible. This position represents a side-to-side or frontal plane dysfunction of the shoulder. It may be due to lack of mobility or it could be that the shoulder blade can’t sit in the correct position and keep that kettlebell overhead. With either reason, fixation will not occur. Again there is a disadvantage being given to the muscles in the shoulder and torso. At this bad angle, they now have to work harder than necessary to keep the weight up and will fatigue much faster than the lifter wants.

image 4

Now consider the misalignment position in Image 3 and observe the position in Image 4. This position is what generally occurs in a fatigued state. The lifter is showing great compensation just to keep the weight overhead and attempt fixation. Notice the line from the kettlebell in relationship to the head. Again, there is a large angle and too much space. But notice how the line drops and almost sits perfectly between the hips. Isn’t that a good thing? Not in this position. Yes, the hips and COG are now under the weight, but the lifter is demonstrating a major compensation for the weight being away from the head and body. The lifter has pushed their hips under the weight to reduce strain on the muscles and joint of the shoulder in order to save energy and fixate as best it can. As with all misalignments, this position is less than ideal and can fatigue the lifter faster than desired and force the lifter to bow out early.

It is pivotal to be able to identify a misalignment as well as determining why it is occurring. There are many assessment methods and protocols out there to determine how well we move, but for Kettlebell Sport there is nothing better than simply watching a lifter lift. Observing technique from the front and side provides a useful assessment to how the body is accomplishing the task of fixation. Does the lifter immediately show compensation or do they compensate when fatigue has set in? Either way, some kind of intervention must be made to 1) ensure that none of the misalignments discussed here lead to injury and 2) the lifter can achieve fixation and count each rep they earn during competition.

Contributed by
John Campione, DC, CSCS, ART, CES, FMS, WKC
Kinetic Health, LLC
2 S 631 Route 59
Warrenville, IL 60555
630.393.0800
Kinetic Health Newsletter

Where did it all begin?

I had the pleasure and honor of coaching Australia’s best female lifter Emily Friedel from 2009-2011. Emily came to the USA in November of 2009 to compete in the WKC Vegas Classic and attend the WKC Coaching certification in Cincinnati. On that visit, she told me of a very enthusiastic new lifter named Antoni. She said she had been helping him, but that she was directing him to me for more formal coaching. She pointed out very quickly that he was already showing great promise as a lifter. I was extremely flattered for the referral. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that on that 2009 trip to the states, Emily Friedel would become Australia’s first Master Of Sport in Long Cycle. In 2010, she returned to the USA where she would become Australia’s first Master of Sport in Biathlon.

At Emily’s suggestion, Antoni and I started some mild correspondence. I started providing some video feedback and some training ideas to help him. I immediately realized what Emily meant when she spoke about his potential. He had few technical issues, and he demonstrated a natural ability to relax. There really was no “ego” in his lifting which I must say is rare for a newer lifter.

Fast forward to April 2010.

Antoni decided to make the long haul across the Pacific to attend our WKC Coach Certification (and a bachelors party in Vegas, and a wedding or something not important or KB related haha). His first stop on the trip was St. Louis, MO. That’s right. He came to see his new “Coachy”. Antoni and I had a 4-5 hour evening training session in my garage to fulfill the prerequisite for the WKC Coach certification. The next day, he and I had a long road trip to Atlanta to attend the course at Scott Shetler’s gym.

You might ask yourself how I could endure a 9 hour drive with a Spartan from Manly, Australia? I don’t know. Maybe it was the fact that he had a picture of a guy wearing a Borat Mankini in his facebook photos? Maybe it was the fact that Antoni has killer taste in music, i.e. Tool. Maybe it was kettlebells? I am guessing it was a fateful combination of all of those things. I realized on that trip that not only was I a coach with a very promising new student, but I had made a life-long friend.

That has been 3 years ago. Since that time, Antoni has continued to progress as a lifter and a very good coach in his own right. Yes, like many of us he has had ups and downs in training. But, he has never stopped lifting and trying to better himself in this masochistic endeavor we call Kettlebell Sport.

Last weekend, Antoni became the first man in Australia to hit Master of Sport at an IKSFA meet. In addition to that, he set an Australian record in the Jerk by doing 93 reps with 2-32kg KBs. I’ve had some very memorable moments in this sport as a coach and lifter, and this definitely rates as one of the best. It is a prime display of coaching lineage. It all started with Valery Fedorenko!

Congratulations Antoni. I am very proud and grateful that you and I have stuck together over the last few years. I know that your Master of Sports achievement is just a preview of of many more great things to come! Remember what I said, nothing can stop a man in his shiny red shoes!

CI

CLICK BELOW TO WATCH VF SMASH A KETTLEBELL!

The shiny blue kettlebell being dented by our Precision Model is a another (NEW) kettlebell manufacturing process, similar to how WKC® makes its 4kg, 6kg, and 8kg. To keep the same size circumference from weight to weight, and get it as low as 4kg requires extremely thin walls to the body of the kettlebell. Softer steel is used, and the ball is stretched to look perfect. Despite this beauty there is a downside, they dent. They are just not as durable, or anywhere close, to a VF Precision™ kettlebell. Valery Fedorenko and WKC® were the first to consider this new technology, but after receiving samples of many different sizes, it became apparent that they are just not sturdy enough for the heavier weights.

While we are the only ones so far to have tested the new “soft bells” as we’ve come to call them, we are sure others will offer them due to the nice appearance. Buyer beware.

Notice – WKC® suggests the 4kg, 6kg, and soon to be arriving 8kg be used as “Trainer” kettlebells, or light fitness kettlebells. The necessarily thin walls of these kettlebells makes them prone to denting. They are perfect for beginners, as the size is the same as all of our other models, but they are very light and unthreatening. The surface is fully painted, smooth and shiny. You can purchase the 4′s and 6′s now at:
http://store.worldkettlebellclub.com

The shoulder is made up of three bones: the clavicle (collarbone), the scapula (shoulder blade), and the humerus (upper arm bone) and the surrounding muscles, ligaments and tendons. The shoulder joint is called the glenohumeral joint (GHJ). This is where the ball of the humeral head fits into the socket on the scapula. The scapula sits on the back of the rib cage and is connected mostly by muscles. Other than the clavicle, the scapula does not have a bony connection to the rest of the body. This makes proper muscle function extremely important to the stability of the joint. Those muscles are the rotator cuff muscles, as well as the joint capsule surrounding the joint. The rotator cuff muscles sit on top of and underneath the scapula. They attach on the head of the humerus to provide a number of different actions, such as movement at the joint, but also to provide necessary stability to the joint. When you are attempting to achieve fixation, the rotator cuff muscles are working hard to stabilize that weight overhead.

GHJ mobility issue

As complicated as the shoulder is structurally, it’s easy to see how its function can be compromised. While there are many ways the body can be dysfunctional, here are just a few things to look for in the shoulder. Poor range of motion at the GHJ is prevalent in fitness today. Many exercise enthusiasts and athletes just don’t work on their mobility enough. One hint that the shoulder has poor range of motion is to watch a lifter press. If their arm is more forward in reference to their head, they are lacking mobility at the GHJ.

Proper GHJ mobility

A press should result in the arm being in line with the ear and, if looking from a side view, the lifters face peeking out from behind the arm.

Gothic Shoulders

Protracted scapulae or “gothic shoulders” is often a result of or cause for poor range of motion. If you’ve ever seen someone with shoulders rounded forward and a lot of space between their shoulder blades then you have seen someone with protracted scapulae and “gothic shoulders.” This is often seen in workers spending much of their time on a computer.

Shoulder Muscles

Many lifters with this posture often obtain it from overdeveloping certain muscles that attach to the shoulder blades. There are 18 different muscles (on each side) that attach to the shoulder blades, but two in particular are the trapezius or “traps” and the latissimus dorsi or “lats.” The traps, and more importantly for this discussion, the upper traps attach to the top of the shoulder blades and all the way to the base of the skull. They allow us to shrug our shoulders. Overdevelopment of the upper traps commonly results in pulling the shoulder blades out of their proper, stable position. The lats are large muscles that attach to the pelvis, span the low back including a small portion with connection to the tip of the scapula, and then attach into the inside of the upper arm. Overdevelopment of the lats often causes internal rotation of the upper arm applying stress on the GHJ. It can also result in pronation of the forearm.

Take a look at a friend standing with their arms rested at their sides. What direction are their palms facing? If their palms are facing backwards at rest then you’ve got an individual with pronated forearms. The internal rotation is most likely coming from a problem at the shoulder which is why it is important to recognize this dysfunction in lifters.

So how does any of this affect overhead lifting, and more importantly, fixation? Well, fixation can be considered one of the, if not the most important component of the overhead lifts. Without fixation, your rep does not count. Without proper shoulder mechanics, you cannot achieve fixation. Identifying the problem is the first step in fixing poor overhead pressing mechanics. Scrutinize yourself and your trainees when performing overhead movements. Look at them lifting and look at them walking around the gym during reset time. Athletes are excellent compensators, but when you know what you’re looking for, you can make the right correction and see amazing results.

Contributed by
John Campione, DC, CSCS, ART, CES, FMS, WKC
Kinetic Health, LLC
2 S 631 Route 59
Warrenville, IL 60555
630.393.0800
Kinetic Health Newsletter

We know from experience that fixation generally takes a well trained judge just under a half second to recognize. While judges may have the best of intentions, making over 100 split second decisions in a row can be exhausting, and lead to inconsistent judging. Aside from a judges skill and fatigue, we must also hope they are not a corrupt judge who may have political reasons to take points away.

Valery Fedorenko has felt for a long time that a computer could determine fixation much more quickly and accurately than any human judge. After more than a year in development his desire has become a reality with the upcoming app for iPhone and iPad, WKC ® Fix-o-Meter. By strapping a lightweight sensor to the kettlebell, we can now determine fixation with a high degree of accuracy and reliability.

World Champion Denis Vasilev demonstrates the WKC® Fix-o-Meter

The simple bio-feedback offered by this tool breaks through all language barriers. There is no better way to teach a beginner to lift safely with a kettlebell, or to help a professional improve their ability to fixate.

The hardware for our upcoming app is available right now from Variable Technologies. You will need to buy the NODE sensor platform which costs $149. No other sensor modules sold there are required.
Click here to buy NODE

Valery Fedorenko uses his hips when he Swings. He doesn’t over exaggerate it though. Quads/Hams/Back are important with our Swing, and of course the hips move as needed. Snap? That term we don’t like at World Kettlebell Club. Let me stop right there and preface this with a statement. I’ve heard the arguments about hips generating all the power, so please don’t keep going with it. We want to talk about proof of power for a Kettlebell Swing, not anatomy and physiology. Besides, who said we don’t provide enough hip power for all kinds of applications and/or sports? There are those in our club I’d stack up against just about anyone in the world as far as hip power is concerned.

You are free to choose any exercise you deem fit, but we get lots of messages from people asking why the Swing VF does is so different than “the normal Swing” they see and use. We have a pretty big community these days, so there is a growing need to try to answer some of the typical “kettlebell school” disparity questions that come up in our Blog for easy reference.

A typical question to our Support Desk: “They say they generate more explosive power, and I see in their videos it looks and sounds really powerful! Why do you do it the way you do it???” The answer is not apparent. They totally don’t get that Valery Fedorenko mastered the Snatch, and someone say like Pavel Tsatsouline didn’t. But we’re talking about Swings right? I’m not off track. I know some might not want me to throw up that by 19 years old Valery Fedorenko was Snatching more with 32kg inside of 10 minutes than any human on Earth. It’s applicable because kettlebells are primarily about generating power over time, or Power-Endurance. Snatch is a clear test of this generation of power, as it’s not as easy to judge a Swing due to the nature of the exercise and variances. Valery Snatched as a Junior 100 reps each hand, one switch, with a 70 pound kettlebell. To do that, you need to master the portion where you generate most of the power, the Swing.

“Make kettlebell fly…”. I’ve heard Valery say it 1000 times. It is our opinion that anyone can generate more explosive power with his more powerful and athletic way. We prove our power and results by numbers, not by grunts and sounds of air and a visible snap in the hips.

I had the pleasure of teaching a great group of folks at Complete Kettlebell in Niles, OH over the weekend.

Inevitably, the question (or some variation) always arises: To what degree should we emphasize technique with our clients who are only interested in Fitness?

Steven Khuong elegantly stated the case for technique. I’m going to go a step further…..

Anti-Elitism…..

There seems to be an attitude that KB Lifting techniques used in the sport are too technical for the non-competitive masses just seeking fitness. Personally, I think that is elitist bullshit. It stinks of someone who thinks that most people won’t be able to pick up on the techniques at a safe passable level. Sometimes it resembles rank inexperience and it could be that they lack confidence in their own capabilities as instructors to teach techniques in a manner in which folks will grasp. Perhaps they lack knowledge to develop effective programs/protocols with KB exercise selections that are geared towards fitness or could serve as an addendum towards an existing GPP program.

Is the fitness enthusiast going to do the volume or put in the time to perfect the technique with the same zeal as a KB Sport competitor? Probably not. They probably aren’t going to use the same weights or same protocols either. However, there are movement fundamentals and mechanics that can and should be taught to everyone who wishes to pick up a KB regardless of their competition aspirations, and whether they do only KBs or integrate KBs into other training. Everyone can benefit from learning how to breath correctly and how to employ tension and relaxation at the right time..This all heightens body awareness which will have carryover to other activities. Otherwise, they just need to put down any silly free weight and sit their ass down on Machine Row at their local gym.

We can debate those fundamentals, the mechanics and the protocols that should be prescribed to learn them, but I think everyone reading here knows which side of the fence I sit on this matter.

Thinking like an Athlete…..

I’ve been lifting KBs for 7 years now. I’ve been competing in some capacity for over 6 years, and teaching for 5. Over the last 2 years, I have done many things in terms of teaching to get better at teaching. I will teach anyone. You don’t become a better coach or instructor by only teaching athletes who pick up on things easily. I’m a better teacher from taking on the more challenging assignments. I take pride in the fact that I have taught folks who considered themselves to be un-athletic and got them moving better!
One of the most empowering things you can do with your students is to get them to think like an athlete whether or not they will ever step onto the platform. As Coaches or Trainers it is our job to teach people movement (Motor skills, ect) and give them training protocols that will facilitate learning those movements. It is much easier to just put people through a workout and have the effectiveness of that workout measured by the sweat on the ground, torn hands, ect. Teaching skills and getting your trainees at some level to appreciate the skill is far more challenging. Training should be physically challenging and if you are a good enough coach or instructor, you can build skills and find ways to make sure your students still get an effective workout.

Why emphasize skills for those that just want a workout? Well, I won’t talk too much about safety, because it’s already been discussed. How about building coordination? In teaching skills, and good movement, we create body awareness. How about building their confidence? Believe it or not, folks don’t just train for aesthetics. Folks want to feel better, and one way of getting them to feel better is getting them to move better.

Fitness is building the sport…..

Most if not all KB Sport competitors in this country picked up KBs initially for fitness. The sport is actually contagious. Competition gives folks goals and incentives, and many people who never thought they would compete are finding their way to the platforms. Many walked into their respective gyms to lose weight or get fit, and what happened? They saw the challenge of the sport and the ranks and decided to pursue it. I’ve seen this phenomenon occur in several gyms across the country: Ice Chamber, Club Liberty, East Coast Kettlebells, and Complete Kettlebell just to name a few.

Are Kettlebells the only way?

Of course not. Many folks take up Martial Arts for primarily fitness. Martial Arts are another arena in which learning skills is emphasized as much as just getting a workout, but in many cases (Depending on the Art), both can be done. I took MMA classes for years for fitness, but I went to each class and practiced the techniques just as if I were going to compete right alongside the men who did fight.

Any training modality that treats and respects their movements as skills is viable.

Once again Empowerment….

Is it any wonder that many of the folks that are dedicated to training for fitness today have previous athletic backgrounds? It’s been stated that children that compete in sports are more likely to stay fit as adults. So, why not take Adults who don’t have that background and empower them to become athletes whether or not they decide to rank or compete? I for one think it will make their pursuit of fitness much more enjoyable and enriching. They’ll be much more likely to make fitness a lifelong pursuit.

Different Roads……

You may have found your way to Kettlebells because you were already an athlete and you were seeking a new competitive athletic challenge. You may have found your way to Kettlebells because you were looking to get fit and feel better or you wanted something different to add to your current training. Regardless of the road that was taken, everyone should have the benefit of learning the best techniques because everyone regardless of goals can benefit from them.

CI

We’ve heard it many times that dedicated wrist and forearm protection for cleans and snatches is a crutch and that hard living comrades wouldn’t use such girly tools. I probably made that statement myself. However, after teaching hundreds of potential Coaches and Trainers over the years, I realized that the VF KettleShields™ are an extremely useful teaching and learning tool.

Regardless of their training background, everyone must acclimate to having weight on the back of their forearms. For non-timed work where the lifter would be switching hands or only doing 5 reps per hand, the acclimation is not an issue. However, once a new lifter gets on board with the suffering of timed sets, it becomes apparent that even just the bell resting on the back of the forearm and wrist in the rack or overhead position can get very uncomfortable. VF KettleShields™ allow the new Kettlebell Lifter to focus on building the static endurance of timed sets without subjecting them to intense discomfort that is often present in the beginning.

Cleans and Snatches can have a very painful learning curve. Once the athlete perceives a lift as generating pain, they become tense and start making horrid technical compensations. These compensations and tension will often inhibit the power needed for fluid movement. For example, learning lifters will over-grip the Kettlebell to slow the flip and to lessen the impact of the flipping Kettlebell. If the athlete starts with the VF KettleShields™, they can focus on learning the movements and not worry about the Kettlebell hitting their wrist or forearm during the learning phase. The VF KettleShields™ will give enough feedback to a lifter to let them know if the bell is slamming into the wrist or forearm so that they know they still need to make technical corrections, but it will lessen the impact and make the lifter feel “safer” and they will avoid making technical compensations that can greatly stifle learning and technical improvement. Don’t forget that it takes a long time to unlearn bad habits!

Good technique is always the goal. We don’t ever want to provide a long-term crutch that enables poor technique. So, if your lifters don’t want to use the VF KettleShields™ for a prolonged period, or if they compete and they might not be a legal “tool” in some federations, here are some tips on how to acclimate and progress past the VF KettleShields™ assuming technique is adequate.

Have a pair of thick sweatbands on hand. If the lifter is doing multiple sets of Jerks or OAJ, have the lifter start with the sweatbands and then move to the VF KettleShields™ on the final sets. Then the next week, wear the sweatbands for more sets. Once the lifter is comfortable with a thick sweatband for the entire session, try going with lighter sweatbands or wraps if desired or nothing and follow the same progression. Within a month to 6 weeks, the athlete should be where they need to be in terms of minimal protection. After this progression, some lifters won’t need the VF KettleShields™ for competition weight, but they may find they want them for any relatively heavy assistance work. They may also go through the progression again as they move through the ranks.

For Cleans and Snatches, start all of your lifters with VF KettleShields™ when trying to learn the movements. Once the athlete knows that they aren’t flipping the bell over in a manner that will cause impact, they can follow the above progression as desired or needed.

Remember, there is nothing wrong from a fitness perspective if a lifter chooses to never quit their VF KettleShields™.

Our Competitions just look better. It’s not because of the venue or the decor. It’s not the photographer, though Steve does take amazing pictures. It’s not the DJ nor the detailed post-event coverage. It’s not even the little things behind the scenes months before and all the way through and until it’s all over that go unnoticed that makes things turn out so great. No, it’s seeing a large percentage of lifters, almost all in fact, that lift with quality. We think a big part of that process has been our unique rank system, and also continued enforcement of some fairly simple rules, but none of it works unless you the lifters and enthusiasts choose to also seek quality. Thanks again for your help with The World Kettlebell Lifting Championships™ 2012!

For 2013 we have made some upgrades to the promotion of WKC® Endorsed Competitions, and things are already underway with many competitions already planned! These hosts are seeing the value of having Valery Fedorenko lend a hand for their competition by helping with the quality of lifters that will attend.

Elna Elwin of Spartan Kettlebells and Jessica Hägerth of Stockholm Kettlebell Club earned their MS and CMS ranks by video qualification with WKC® and attempted heavier weights at the The World Kettlebell Lifting Championships 2012™.

While most of our hosts will allow beginners to compete, under WKC® rules, they cannot move up to Rank 3 kettlebells without passing Rank 4. This opens the door to unlimited numbers of beginners able to participate, but it also keeps the safety valve and 3rd party expert endorsement in place for ALL our Meets. Judges at WKC® meets will be refreshed to find that their role of quality enforcement is clearly understood and respected by all lifters present.

WARNING – This article begins to expose corruption and propaganda in the kettlebell community, so if you are sensitive to such things and only want to hear positivity, I respect that and urge you to just wait for our next Blog post. Proceed at your own risk. An encouraging story is in the pipeline.

Honored Master of Sport is the highest rank given to an athlete. It’s awarded to a World Champion who has made valuable contributions to a sport. Apparently these “contributions” vary from sport to sport, year to year, country to country, org to org. Originally the rank of Honored Master of Sport (HMS), as well as all the other sport ranks like Master of Sport International Class, Master of Sport, Candidate for Master of Sport, First Class athlete etc., were created under the Unified Sports Classification System of the USSR, said to have began in 1935.

Today, World Kettlebell Club® respects the heritage and uses the same titles for its own rank system, albiet through different qualification steps. In Russia ranks are an “official” title granted by the Sport Department. Once you pass the qualification, you submit and wait, hopefully getting approved with a stamped document, a medallion and in some cases an ID card. Actually, all the former Soviet Republics have a similar system. They rolled it over from the USSR when it fell and now each country handles their own. They all have certain numbers that must be reached with certain weights in order to be qualified for the rank, except for the HMS rank. This rank is a bit vague. Contributions? Sounds like an invitation to buy your way in. Of course everyone considered for HMS is indeed a good athlete, already a World Class athlete in fact, but when you hear too many stories of corruption in these old Soviet systems, you can’t help but be leery.

In the WKC® Rank System, we have things right out in the open. An HMS is granted when a lifter reached a pre-determined number, just like all the other levels in our system. We encourage all pro lifters to come to the World Kettlebell Lifting Championships™ next year and get this rank! We know your Federation bosses might not approve, but we have contracted with some of them to at least give you permission to come. Email WKC and ask how, because it would be cool to have you lift under this system!

WKC® levels may change over time, but the lifter and everyone else knows what they are going for. There can be no corruption, special favors, or just plain ridiculousness that is prevalent in the old systems. I’m not going to name names, but to me it’s ridiculous that Ivan Denisov is not an Honored Master of Sport in Russia yet. Whatever the reasons are for less spectacular lifters to get HMS don’t really matter to me, but when the absolute record holder in all three major kettlebell lifts doesn’t have it after many many years of defending these records, I begin to have doubts about the ones who actually do have the rank. Does it really mean anything? If I was a great, I would also wish for other greats to get their deserved rank, as it legitimizes the whole thing. Also, there aren’t any women HMS yet. Granted, it has not been many years that the Russians allowed women to even lift Kettlebells, but there are several awesome women lifters that likely deserve the highest rank.

Oh, I almost forgot! THE MISSING HMS! It’s Valery Fedorenko! Guys, you can relax. We found him. Last month some people worked together and posted some “incomplete” lists of a few Soviet Republics Honored Masters of Sport. Missing from the list was Valery Fedorenko, the man who introduced real Kettlebells to the USA. Missing from the list was Valery Fedorenko, the first Kettlebell Sport Athlete to open up their high level techniques and training to the World. Missing from the list was Valery Fedorenko, the guy who first brought Russian Athletes to America for seminars and demonstrations. Missing from the list was Valery Fedorenko, the Coach who trained America’s first Masters of Sport. Missing from the list is Valery Fedorenko who certified over 2000 people from around the world in Kettlebell Lifting either himself or through his approved educators. How could ya forget Fedorenko?

Valery Fedorenko was the youngest Honored Master of Sport in Kettlebell Lifting. He did this “work” required for submission to the Sport Department as an official Junior Lifter, 20 years old! He received this high rank partly because he was the first World Champion (in his weight class) of the Sport, but he also set records over 20 years ago that have still not been beaten! In fact, at the First World Championships, he received 3 titles, Junior Absolute World Champ, Mens 80kg World Champ, and Coefficient Champ, all in one performance.

So next time you see a list of Honored Masters of Sport missing Valery Fedorenko‘s name, I hope you have some information to share to help “complete” the list!