Happy Monday Everyone 

On the 28th of July I successfully passed my SFG Kettlebell Instructor cert with StrongFirst.

It was an incredibly challenging 3 days with multiple workouts each day to challenge and test one’s spirit and resilience. 

After some brief introductions and mandatory removal of shoes we got straight into it. Day 1 was all about the Swing, Turkish Get Up and Press. 

Day 2 was the Double Clean, the Double Front Squat and the Kettlebell Snatch. 

Day 3 we spent the morning refining, reviewing and preparing. The afternoon was crunch time where we were meticulously tested on everything we had learnt followed by the dreaded snatch test. That is snatching a 24kg kettlebell 100 times in less than 5 minutes. 

I stuck to the game plan (5 sets of 10/10 on the minute) and finished my 100 with around 5 seconds to spare. All was good minus the two ripped calluses.  

The final chapter was the graduation workout a gruelling double kettlebell onslaught of cleans, presses and squats. It was the workout that just kept going. After the first 3 rounds you’re hoping that the next round will be the last… but no.  It just keeps going and going and going. By the 20 plus minute mark I was praying for it to be over and finally there it was. 

The Strongfirst SFG was a journey. I have been using kettlebells for well over 10 years and last June I started a six month specific preparation for SFG in November. On my way to Brisbane I got sick and couldn’t get on the plane. After a month off I resumed my training in prep for round 2 in July. This time I battled injuries, shoulder bursitis and tendonitis in both wrists. I had to carefully balance my training as to not doing too much to irritate my injuries and doing enough to get through the 3 days. Somehow I managed to pull it off

Strongfirst was an amazing experience. A very well run course and I am honoured to be a graduate of the Strongfirst community. Here’s to level 2 and a half bodyweight press… I better get training 🙂 

Paul ‘where is the 44kg kettlebell for my press’ and Krystie ‘I’ll stick to being the water girl’ Miller