It finally happened… · Kettlebell Dojo

It finally happened…

“I’ll never be a Kettlebell Sport athlete because I don’t have the heart for it…"

Not long ago, I said this, and I meant it. Many people reached out, asking if I’d ever consider competing in Kettlebell Sport. But I always declined. My focus was entirely on building my business. But now, with so much of the foundation laid, I find myself in a surprising place. Just a few weeks ago, I felt an urge I hadn’t expected: The desire to compete…

I’d never truly prepared for a competition. I’d simply grind out workout after workout. Set after set. Rep after rep. Over the last five years, I’ve been quietly honing my technique. And the results? Frankly, they’ve been staggering. I’ve tapped into what I call “Girevoy Muscle”. Muscle that doesn’t just look good but shows you’re capable of real work. I even get accused to be on drugs or TRT just because I'm past 40…

Back in my monotonous bodybuilding days, I’d often feel bored just sitting at machines, waiting for my next set. But with kettlebells, rest intervals feel different. I’m pacing the gym like a wolf, energized and focused, with sweat dripping off my body. This approach reflects the ethos of early Strongman legend George “The Russian Lion” Hackenschmidt. He encouraged constant movement, even during rest. “Keep it moving, walk around, let the blood flow!” the legend wrote in his book The Way to Live.

These days, my training is intense. I’m moving roughly 7 tons in 25-30 minutes, with 80% of it overhead. My program is intentional, my weights have increased, and my bottom line is simple. Never let a week go by without picking up double 32s. Now, back to my competition prep…

Inspired by GS lifters, I don’t really "prepare" for it in the traditional sense. I train to be “always ready”—a warrior in the garden, prepared to enter battle should the occasion arise. And that occasion opens up this coming weekend. For the first time ever, I'll be competing at the 2024 IKFF World Championship, hosted by my Sensei, Steve Cotter, in the Professional division.

Five minutes—Snatch—with a 32kg kettlebell. Angie will be joining me too, competing in the Semi-Professional division. This means five minutes—Snatch—with a 20kg kettlebell for her. After hitting 65 reps in my last workout, I’m confident I’ll reach 70 this coming Saturday.

65 reps, by the way, earns me the title of "Candidate Master of Sport" (CMS). So, I’m set to secure that title this weekend, with my sights on Master of Sport (MS) next year. And eventually, Master of Sport International Class (MSIC) the following year. But I'm getting ahead of myself…

Anyway, the reason I’m sharing this with the Kettlebell Dojo is because I want you to join me. You can watch me perform live this Saturday. Of course, I’ll be making a long-format video about it. But knowing you’ll be there watching live will give me an extra boost.

So click here to save the date and the stream and I'll see you in the stream! 💙

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