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The Goal: Impart Knowledge Knowing how to move an external load safely is one of the primary goals of the StrongFirst SFG I certification process. If you cannot get a student to move safely, they will eventually hurt themselves. It’s just a matter of time. As I’m sure you know, injury is the biggest reason …
Co-authored by Thomas Cerboneschi, StrongFirst Certified Elite Instructor In Spring 2021, as quarantine was finally ending in France, my coach Thomas Cerboneschi, StrongFirst Certified Elite Instructor, and I opened a small gym in my office basement and began to teach StrongFirst classes. We did not start with high expectations. It was mostly an experiment to …
How’s your Brettzel? Do you ever ask yourself that? In the world of fitness, there is no shortage of movements utilized to measure physical capacity. Whether a PR deadlift, a max pullups effort, or a timed 40-yard dash, these movements and others are frequently discussed when indicating progress concerning strength, power, speed, and endurance. However, …
Backstory In 2018 I was teaching a weekly kettlebell class together with my good friend and fellow StrongFirst Instructor, Luca La Torre, as part of a free offer throughout the summer by the city of Stuttgart for its citizens. We would have up to 40 or more people of different ages and from all walks …
The Imitation Game—Improve Your Coaching Without Saying a Word Read More »
Five years ago I wrote an article “10 things I’ve learned in 10 years of being a kettlebell instructor.” It’s now been ten years that I’ve owned a gym so I figured it was time that I write this piece. Before we begin, let me first say that my gym, Baltimore Kettlebell Club, is a …
“It is the achieving of the perfect strike which is the goal of Kendo. You are given the rare opportunity to concentrate single-mindedly on one simple, yet unattainable goal: the perfect strike.”—Zen Master Dogen The above quote is referring to the martial art of kendo, the way of the sword. I will simply replace the …
“Wax on, Wax off.” This iconic saying from the movie The Karate Kid is familiar to many children of the ‘80s and ‘90s. But what does it have to do with clear, effective communication and training your coach’s eye? In the famous scene, Mr. Miyagi uses a principle pattern and creates context in order to …
I would like to begin by expressing my gratitude for the road I have chosen to professionally pursue. Having a chance to learn a little bit more about the human movement in each new challenge is undoubtedly one of the strongest fuels in my life. I think that as coaches we walk in a unique …
“Understanding variation is the key to success in quality and business.”—W. Edwards Deming I would add to the quote above that variation can be a key to success in quality teaching and learning not just business. A subtle shift in language or a specialized variety drill can lead to overcoming obstacles to progression. For example, …
So you are a competent athlete who has attended their SFG certification, passed all the tests, survived the weekend and come home an informed and motivated (if not very sore) SFG. So, now what? How do you take all you’ve learned, practiced, and performed personally, and break it down into a language your students can …
Becoming a better coach: Quality instruction through demonstration, cueing and analogies Read More »