Matt’s Backstory
Many years ago, I was browsing a website that focused on military-style fitness. There started to be multiple references to “kettlebells” and how military units, special forces, police forces, etc. were incorporating kettlebell work into their fitness plans. They did this because it was efficient and effective. So I looked into it. In the USA, DragonDoor.com is the home of kettlebells, as far as I’m concerned.
I bought my first kettlebell in September 2003, a 16kg (35lb) unit, as recommended. I also got a book and a dvd to learn the exercises. I began using it and was seeing some great improvements, mainly in my endurance and recovery times. I was seeing some increases in muscle tone and definition, especially in my upper body.
I remember a backpacking trip the next summer, where I went with a few other adults and a group of 14-18 year old boys on a mountain adventure. Let’s see, I was about 38 at the time, so I was not the youngest buck in the herd. However, due to my kettlebell work, I was able to reach camp before most of the others and felt great doing it.
Before that, I had been KB’ing pretty regularly, without a lot of running in preparation for the Bolder Boulder, a big 10-k race in Boulder Colorado. I wasn’t super fast, but was able to keep on going at a fairly comfortable pace through the race. I probably could have picked it up towards the end, but didn’t know about that. I was surprised by my endurance and how quickly I recovered afterwards.
In both of those instances, I needed less rest, and my recovery time was faster than it would have been the previous summer. Now, I’m not trying to brag, and I’m definitely no Superman, but I know I would not have been able to complete either of these events as easily had I not been KB’ing.
I wanted more, so I bought a 24 kg (53lb) kettelbell in August of 2004. It was difficult at first and I practiced on and off for a few years with that bad boy, occasionally getting more serious about it, then having periods where I didn’t do much. Not an atypical story.
In 2008, I was having conversations with my co-worker Clif about kettlebells. He ordered a 16kg and was just getting into it. In October, I began again in earnest to accomplish something with my kettlebells. I began following the “program minimum” as described in the book, Enter the Kettlebell. I was able to go through that with the 16kg pretty easily, then I moved to the “Rite of Passage” with the same kbell, which was also not that challenging, but was a good workout.
The inevitable winter blues took their toll, and I slacked off again. In May of 2009, Clif and I decided to set some goals and establish a solid program that we could both work on. We would report back to each other, creating some accountability, which has really helped.
Our goal was to complete the Rite of Passage with the 24kg by the end of 2009. The final exam for that, so to speak, is the “SSST” (or Secret Service Snatch Test) which is 200 snatch reps in 10 minutes, and press half your bodyweight one time with each arm. That press will be the equivalent of pressing both my kettlebells at the same time, or around 88lbs.
Clif’s Backstory
My story begins a little after Matt’s. As he stated, I found myself in a conversation with him one day at work and before I knew it was researching kettlebells on the internet.
My background was one of swimming (high school and college) and lifting weights specific to that. What my KB research showed me was that I was missing the boat. KB’s are probably more swim specific than most exercises. Of course, I’m 15 years removed from competition, but that was no reason to not join the Party.
So, it was off to the races. I purchased a 16kg and Enter the Kettlebell book. I completed the 1st part and moved onto the ROP. During the end of 2008, I was able to complete the C&P ladders with the 16kg and for Christmas my shiny new 24kg arrived.
2009 started with a bang, and I was more determined than ever. I was progressing nicely until a few trips got in the way. Italy (work), Las Vegas (fun), home, and then the beach and before I knew it May was almost over. I looked back over my training schedule and realized I had hardly worked out from Mid-March to Mid-May. Something had to be done!
In May, Matt and I decided to set some goals and establish a solid program that we could both work on. We would report back to each other, creating some accountability, which has really helped.
He pointed out the goals in his post and our high level plan, so no need to re-hash them here. What I will say, is that the the time we invested in researching and developing our plan has paid off. I re-read Enter the Kettlebell and researched all sorts of web-sites and its paid off, I now feel like an “expert” in the knowledge required to be successful in my goals.
Of course knowing and doing are two different things…
As we start down this path, I am excited and a little nervous as I know that to finish our goals I will be pushed well beyond what I think is possible!
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