Testimonials
 Ken Black, RKC is a strong, patient, and thorough kettlebell professional. You are in good hands. -Pavel Tsatsouline
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"In addition to being a very strong trainee, Ken Black is an exceptional instructor. I have worked with him many times at I am always impressed with his instruction skills and personality. He knows how to motivate without irritaing. Moreover, Ken gets a big rush out of helping others. I recommend his services highly."--Mike Mahler, author of "The Kettlebell Solution For Size And Strength" www.mikemahler.com
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Ken Black is a top notch strength and conditioning coach. He is an innovative mind who brings a creatvity to his training that is guarenteed to make you strong and fit! Whatever your goals, Ken is capable of devising a strategy to help you succeed. Moreover, Kens sense of humor and attitude toward life make your time spent with him very enjoyable. Joseph Sarti Strength and Conditioning Coach For team Shamrock Owner of The 360 Fitness System www.the360body.com ______________________________________________________________

Chikara Strength & Conditioning offers great personal training service in the Sacramento area. If you wish to learn more about kettlebell training and improve your fitness, go see Ken Black, RKC. You won't be disappointed. --Steve Cotter, Full KOntact Kettlebells author of “The encyclopedia of kettlebell lifting”. www.fullkontact.com ______________________________________________________________

The first time I met Ken Black was when he was attending the Russian Kettlebell Challenge certification. He showed a lot of promise then. Fast forward a year-and-a-half to the next I saw Ken as an assistant instructor at the RKC. He has a great understanding of kettlebell training and has a knack for making it easy to understand. If you are looking for someone who can take you down the kettlebell path, there’s no need to look further. - David Whitley, RKC author of “Power circuit” DVD www.irontamer.com ______________________________________________________________

It was my pleasure to have had you as my assistant. You did a great job. You have a lot of talent as an instructor. Good luck with your kettelbell training. I'm sure I will see you soon. Best wishes, Andrea Du Cane SR RKC http://www.kettlebellfitness.com/ ______________________________________________________________

I have been a Chiropractor for eighteen years and have done a lot of different rehabilitation and work-out programs personally and with patients. Kettlebell workouts are by far the most beneficial for overall body flexibility and functional strength. I would recommend Ken to anybody who wants to make a difference in their body with a complete workout program. He is professional, knowledgeable, and a lot of fun. I really enjoy my new kettlebell workouts! Dr. Pamela Fowers ______________________________________________________________

“Having to work out at a gym just doesn't do it for me. I have tried too many times and failed. I have > been working out with Ken and kettlebells for a while now, and for the first time, I really feel that I will be able to reach my goal. Ken is knowledgeable, supportive and easy to work with, but firm and focused on keeping me working towards where I need to be and what I need to be doing. Using kettlebells opens a whole new way to become fit and strong, even for a grandmother like me."
Linda Magill
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The Kettlebell workout is one of the most efficient, fun workouts I have ever experienced. Because of the different movements, it uses all muscles at the same time increasing overall strength fast. Working with Ken has been invaluable. Having great skill is one thing, but being a fantastic coach is another....Ken teaches correct safe body mechanics as well as helping you reach your goals. If you're ready for something fresh and new....call Ken. You will be glad you did! Jennifer Blackburn, Fair Oaks Dropped another 3 pounds, Ken. This kettlebell thing is awesome! Since I've started, I've gone from 225 to 216. Jon Sagara ______________________________________________________________

It was really an eye opener. I have been involved in the fitness industry for close on 15 years and I have been training with weights for close on 30 years. I have not been this excited about training in a very long time. I have designed a program for myself with a starting point and will monitor my progress over the next couple of months. As yet I have not designed a program for my daughter as I am not quite confident in what I am doing. Hopefully I can get some guidelines from you and or some classes. With regards to the actual course, it was well put together and the your coaching was outstanding. You have a great eye for form. It was a real learning experience and was well worth the fee. My philosophy in training and prescribing exercise programs is very simply. “Results count.” I am sure this program will get the desired results. Once again, thanks for the workshop. Greg ______________________________________________________________

You were awesome! I got a lot of comments from viewers. Again, FANTASTIC JOB! Patti Lee CBS13 news ______________________________________________________________

I feel much more confident with the KBs than ever before. Researching how to use the KBs, I have seen some of the more interesting lifts like the Turkish getup or the Windmill but never actually contemplated actually doing them. I am amazed that I was able to do a Windmill and a Getup this weekend, despite a problem back and rotator issues You really opened my eyes to the possibilities of these cannon balls with handles. Cheers, Bill Young ______________________________________________________________

Your small group workshop for my trainers was outstanding! You were well organized and obviously knew what you were talking about. Nice workbook and you kept it simple, laying down the basics first. They were very impressed with your feats of strength, technique, flexibility, and explosiveness. We will definitely have you back again! Many thanks. Doug Dienelt Fitness Together/Granite Bay

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Tom and I had a blast yesterday...though we have redefined the Australian crawl from a swim stroke to "how you move around the day after a Kettlebell workshop with Ken!!" Seriously, it was a great workshop; we both appreciated your expertise and your positive energy. We both walked out going "wow, that was a great workshop"...and are looking forward to attending your Wed classes and your October workshop. I do admit to some painful quads this am, and awareness of about every glut muscle I have...but that is a good thing. Take care, many many thanks again, it was an awesome workshop and it was great meeting you. Kathy Rankin
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“As a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), I attend many workshops and seminars each year to maintain my certification. It is rare to find one that offers as much practical and useful information as I learned yesterday in your Level One Kettlebell Workshop. To get a group of normal middle-aged people to all squat "rock bottom" (pain-free to boot) in such a short amount of time is an impressive accomplishment. I've read books on kettlebells and seen it demonstrated in other events, but nothing replaces the experience of hands-on learning from an expert.” “Kettlebells are a unique tool that if properly used may greatly improve one's fitness and well-being. Improper use, however, could easily lead to injuries and lost time. Having another instructor on board assured that everyone received plenty of attention and understood how to safely perform each exercise in the correct form (you both work very well with each other). By making the experience fun, it was easier for us to learn some pretty complex movements. The only downside is that it was over too soon. We will see you in the Wednesday night class and for the Level Two KB Workshop. Thanks for opening a whole new world to us,” Tom Rankin ______________________________________________________________

“I had a good time at the workshop. I think that I learned some of the finer points of doing some exercises that I had not done because I couldn't quite get the technique on my own. Incidentally, the techniques used for the seated squat and the other squats are the same ones I use with my patients with back pain to teach them how to lift properly. It's amazing how ideas from different directions can lead to the same place.” Mark Hunt

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Despite the fact I've regularly been attending a gym, I've lost a little over 5 lbs since taking the workshop and I haven't changed my diet at all. I didn't believe it at first but the hype about these things is totally real! Thanks a ton! Zach Barlow ______________________________________________________________

The workshop was very helpful and you were a great combo of knowledgeable, professional and friendly. I definitely would do another workshop with you. Michael Drew

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Having the one on one with you helped me grasp some of the techniques I hadn't quite gotten from watching the video. I am going to be working on my form and looking forward to being able to take the second session.” Marianne Ammendolia ______________________________________________________________

First off, I wanted to thank you for your demonstration of the Russian Kettlebells to my cadets at the academy. The exposure of a different style of strength and endurance training opened many eyes that day. There were students who were previously collegiate athletes, strength trainers, prior special ops military personnel, and kinesiology students, and they all were impressed with your display of strength and presentation. (You blew them away with your pistol with the kettlebell!) Second, it has been great training with you on a personal level. I appreciate the one-on-one instruction, and believe it has helped me immensely in my role as a law enforcement physical training instructor. You have a down to earth style that is real, and you keep me motivated to keep training. With your workout designs, I have no doubt I will pass the 2006 RKC on the first try! I look forward to continued training. Respectfully, P (Full name withheld by request) Law Enforcement Trainer" ______________________________________________________________

Kettlebell Ken (Ken Black) is an outstanding trainer. Anyone can tell you how to just pick up a weight, but Ken shows you the proper position during the lift, which muscle groups to engage to support the lift, and how to breathe through the lift. He is a very encouraging and tough trainer with good instincts and lots of ideas for adapting exercises to fit your training needs. Under his guidance, I reached a point where I could lift a 100 lbs dumb bell over my head with one hand. Currently, he is working with me to improve my cardio conditioning for an up coming event. Also, a couple of the lifts he showed me has increased my flexibility and strength in my hips and lower back and given me relief from some pain I have lived with for years. I feel very fortunate to have found Ken and highly recommend him to anyone seeking to improve their health. Corey Davis Elk Grove, Ca ______________________________________________________________

John really liked the kettlebell training and purchased two after your lesson. We want to add kettlebells to our training center at our pitching facility and we will eventually. Take care. Brad ______________________________________________________________

Thank you so much for the fantastic class. I am a bit sore today, but that's good. You are an excellent teacher. You are so patient and clear in your explanations, and I am looking forward to the next class. I will practice the basics we went over starting tomorrow. Thank you again, Jan
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you are a very good coach. You helped with my technique in all the exercises we did. Particularly, I am going to work on being more conscious of feeling the kettlebell weight in the swings and movement and working on translating the jump mode and the feel of the swing from the hips to my tennis body mechanics. Thanks for your generosity in sharing and teaching. See you Tuesday. John ______________________________________________________________

Thank you again for the great work out on Saturday. I did order a 36 lb kettelbell. I am still going to make it to your class this Wednesday night. I was surprised because though I was sore and new I went through a work out I could still function this weekend. Bob Taylor
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I liked this class just as much as the other one, if not then a little more. It seemed as though the amount of actual instruction (both in front of the group as well as one on one) was greater, even though there were more people attending this one. Comparing the new handout you had to the old one, it's great that you put some illustrations in there, and even more pics that dealt with compound movements to show the progression. See you again soon! Zach ______________________________________________________________

Thank You for a great workshop! Tom and I learned a lot, each at our own respective levels. I'm really stoked at my new squat tools and techniques. THEY WORK, and have opened up a long neglected avenue of leg training. Tom really benefited from your one on one instruction. Always beneficial for him to set higher goals, not always easy with his level of athleticism, commitment, and natural ability. Again, thank you for a remarkable workshop. Take care,” Colin ______________________________________________________________

I thought yesterday's class was excellent! You do a really nice job of explaining each of the exercises and then making sure we are striving toward the correct form. It was good having someone else there too to help watch everyone (especially in the morning class when there were more people). Also, I like the way you give us the sheet with all of the exercises and then give us room to make notes. Honestly, I really didn't have any suggestions on how to improve the class. It exceeded my expectations - I wasn't sure I would be able to stay focused for six hours, but it was very easy to do so. Thanks again for the great class yesterday! Jon Lederer
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Your workshop was awesome! You did a great job at explaining and demonstrating the movements of each exercise. It did not matter that we were first time kettlebell users; you were able to rely the information necessary to perform the exercises. I was very impressed with your ability to work with a wide range of clients. Your ability to adapt to the different needs of your clients is a wonderful attribute. In addition, your enthusiasm throughout the workshop shows your clients that you really care about them and the kettlebell fitness philosophy. You opened my eyes and perspective on fitness with this workshop and I plan to make the kettlebell a regular program in my fitness routine. Once again, thank you for coming out to the academy and letting me attend your workshop. I will be keeping in touch with you; you have become a friend and mentor. Very Truly Yours, Brandon Hann ______________________________________________________________

The seminar was excellent in my opinion. You set out a schedule of what you planned to cover and you covered it thoroughly. You were very clear and patient in explaining and describing every exercise in a way that I felt taught it well. The focus on form was just what I wanted and needed. I am looking forward to working with my KBs more. Again thank you for an excellent seminar. Vicki Masterson
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The workshop was very good and was enough where I feel comfortable to cut back on some gym workouts and begin serious kettlebell workouts. Fred Lewis
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I wanted to thank you for the workshop on Saturday. I really enjoyed the class and look forward to attending the Monday & Wednesday classes. The information you provided was very well explained with concentration on form. You also stressed the fact that proper form will reduce risk of injury. I thought that the class was inexpensive for the service provided. All the prices you have suggested seem very fair and after the class well worth the investment. See you in class soon. Kevin


Posted On Dragondoor.com Forum

On June 11 my dad and I attended a level one & two workshop by Ken Black, RKC in Sacramento. All I can say is...outstanding!!! We learned a lot of great kettlebell exercises and Ken was a very knowledgeable and personable teacher. My dad has had "issues" with his squats for years and Ken had him squatting rock bottom like a pro for the first time in his life. We came away from the day with so much information and great ideas that we will be busy for months just slowly trying to incorporate the new material into our respective routines. The tips he gave me for cleaning up my snatches and making them more efficient have helped me significantly increase my reps almost overnight. Ken Black is the man!! If you live in Northern California and you want to learn from a truly genuine, humble and impressive teacher, give Ken a call. Tom Shook RKC from Dragondoor forum
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Ken is an excellent instructor. Steve Knapstein RKC from Dragondoor forum ______________________________________________________________

Ken is an amazing person and a great instructor. He will be able to take your technique and tweak it to a new level. Both Ken and Steve were assistant instructors in my group this past RKC weekend. If you are in the area, make time for his workshop! Ben Eaton, RKC from Dragondoor forum
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Ken's a very solid instructor. Make this if you live nearby. Fireman Tom, RKC posted on Dragondoor forum ______________________________________________________________

YES, I agree the KB workshop was terrific. I LOVED it. Ken has a great relaxed manner but there is no relaxing with the focus on form. He was flexible enough to teach me a couple of moves that were not on the schedule which I appreciated. Thank you Ken. Vicki1 posted on Dragondoor forum