Twice

If you have to do 100 snatches in 5 minutes to pass RKC:
Do twice for at least twice a week.

Do 200 snatches total without setting a time frame
or
Do 10 minutes of snatches regardless the total number of reps.

Get this over with and make it a non issue, end of story.

Some Activities

Saturday, I trained Matt ready for Budapest RKC. A very respective Englishman living in western Japan, it's always good to see him.
I caught Boris at Tokyo station that night, next day Boris ran a workshop along with my students. One of the easiest workshop I hosted, it required less translation.

After the workshop, I picked up Kenneth Lee who came from Seoul Korea. Boris and I trained him following day for his September RKC. I saw Kenneth snatching and I was pretty much relieved that he has good techniques. All he need is repetition. Luckily Boris would be assisting the very September RKC.
Boris left to the other side of Japan, Kenneth and I discussed lots of things about RKC and kettlebells til late at night. Both Boris and Kenneth stayed in a questionably small apartment of mine.
The day of Kenneth's departure, we had a short morning session in the rain. We sheltered under the bridge and done some swings. Snatch descending techniques were covered as well.

Not once in my life I had two RKC candidates and another RKC in one weekend over Tokyo.

Boris Bachmann

I met Boris in Tokyo June 2007, then I met him again in Tokyo June 2009.

Basically he and I don't need a "filling the blank" conversation despite couple years abscence with each other.

Boris ran an excellent kettlebell workshop. My students liked him, and Boris simply liked my students.

My students have good reputations. They take notes on techniques covered, are friendly, laugh, joke, some travel extremely long distance to attend.

I almost stumbled when I saw my student Daisuke wrote his name on the kettlebell. Lots of fun, as always.

CK-FMS Follow Ups

It's difficult to keep scores during CK-FMS class. Things go on in a wild manner where every one has different scores and different solutions. I spent a day summarizing on what they scored and what corrective drills I had them do. 4 pages in PDF and it was good enough.

One attendee had a 1 in hurdle step and managed to get him to 2. Brett's "do/don't" list of kettlebell works based on score and asymetry was in tact. His analysis was a pin point hit. Scoring the least in hurdle step had nothing to do with his inflexibility. Rather he was the most flexible man kind in the room. Significance is he's never had sport experience so nothing traumatic injuries haunted him. Stability was the key.

Another person had quite similar score. He scored better than mine when I was at CK-FMS but the injury history, asymetry on toe touch, love of heavy kettlebell press and bent press showed some similarities with mine. I did manage to fix a few.

So far I've screened 8 people including my parents. More to come.

Fellow student and Alaskan native, Kenneth Lafavour doing 28kg pull up. I think he can do more.

Returning to Tokyo

Not me. I'm always in Tokyo

John "Wild" Buckley will hold a two day workshop in Tokyo July 19(Sun) July 20 (Mon national holiday) in Shinjuku Tokyo. He's done a seminar and helped a workshop last year, now on to his one man show teaching Russian technique of kettlebells never been unleashed in Japan.

Date: July 19(Sun) July 20 (Mon national holiday) 2009

Place: To be solidified soon but Shinjuku mura studio, studio 11 , near Nishi Shinjuku Station

Cost: Til July 11, 20,000 yen per day, 30,000 yen for both days After July 13 25,000 yen per day, 40,000 yen for both days.

For further detail, contact nazonewyork@yahoo.co.jp , representer of OKC.

How can you free up your rigid shoulder and joints using kettlebell and related joint mobility moves.

Secrets of Russians which has never been filtered via United States.

What it takes to become a Russian kettlebell lifter in Japan.

Apply now!

Things Going On in Tokyo

Kettlebell class May 24 2009


Kettlebell Workshop May 17 2009



Kettlebell Workshop April 19 2009

Kettlebell Workshop March 8 2009

Kettlebell Workshop November 22 2008

Kettlebell Workshop November 2 2008

Kettlebell Workshop November 1 2008

Kettlebell Workshop September 21 2008

Kettlebell Workshop September 20 2008

Kettlebell Workshop August 31 2008

Kettlebell Workshop July 6 2008

This isn't every workshop I've done. I forgot my camera at yesterday's CK-FMS workshop. Tripod is useless without camera.

CK-FMS Tokyo Workshop

I ran a CK-FMS specialized workshop in Tokyo. Probably first of this kind in east Asia.

I should post some pictures, however brought my tripod and forgot the camera.
Screening went well, as all students scored higher than my first ever score in Minnesota.

It is always great doing workshops. After a long busy preparation and workshop, it is rewarding to see their smiles. Sense of humor is in tact for every workshop. This one's no exception.

Fart and Minnesota, my thoughts.
June 2008, some group of us were at Aaron and Fawn's place. Rif called a single cab to get us to hotel. There were six of us. We squeezed in and I threatened Katie that I may fart.
Testimonial from Lauren Brooks, author of DVD "The Ultimate Body Sculpt and Conditioning with Kettlebells" on comment section,
http://swingsnatch.blogspot.com/2008/07/rkc-level-2.html
Everybody laughed.

May 2009, a single day of CK-FMS ended that day. We were on elevator, no one was talking. Lulin Tsai said "This is an awkward moment". I decided to have someone fill in the air.
I looked to my right and said "George, this is a perfect moment for fart jokes". Everbody laughed.

Fart jokes work in elevator and vehicle. Never in open area. Irontamer tried that when we were walking at a department store in Tokyo and didn't work.

Why fart jokes are successful:
1. Simply it is funny.
2. People fear and do nervous laughs.
3. People simply laughs because everyone's laughing from reason 1 and 2.

There are more reasons to laugh than standard jokes and everyone can hear it. That's what this makes successful. Don't do this in Japan.

Two other significant Minnesota elevator incidents I saw or experienced.
After day two of my original RKC, a guy who was covered with sweat and dirt almost got into an elevator where a lady with beautiful evening dress rode. He gave her mercy.
After day one of CK-FMS at the elevator. Darrell Banning said to me "Are you going to relax rest of the evening".
I said
"No, I'm going to a kettlebell class." Everybody laughed and I said "I'm serious!!".
Why would I miss Fawn's class?

On a note, Whenever I go to Fawn and Aaron's house, I feel like I'd be visiting them next week even I know I won't be seeing them for a year. It's that natural.
Fawn once said "make yourself at home". This is one place I literally make myself at home.

Jammed Shoulder

Today at class, I emphasized a tall spine on military press, had people do kneeling press with squeezed glutes, tall spine posture.

Then went onto do double military press with tall spine posture. Surprisingly, I had one student who jammed his shoulders doing this. Just couldn't keep his elbow straight.
Tall spine prohibits, or leaves no margin to move the torso but rather have it use core stability and shoulder mobility.
Jammed shoulder doesn't mean I got him injured, but was good enough to reveal his weakness. This I never expected to be this apparent.

Jeff O'Connor did a great job teaching this concept at CK-FMS.

Being a Japanese and a kettlebell instructor
Although I do not object in anyway, it is hard for me to believe people can earn several kettlebell certificates from various organizations. This is partly because of Japanese in me, and second much of those certifications are far away.

Number one concept: Once a master, always a master. No two master in same field should I follow. This is like a nature of our nationality.

Number two concept: Oversea certification costs me roughly 5,000 in USD. That's not all. Certification seldom is recognized here, so I have a lot to do. No place to attend other kettlebell certifications.

Number three concept: No matter how good or skilled a person is in kettlebell, this country will have different views. In my very personal opinion, one has to know how to behave under someone's rooftop. Very fundamental.

I like people who take risks of their own. I detest ones who don't take risks of their own and make someone else take them. I see the latter so much.

Bulldog Swings

One on the left is a vinyl coated kettlebell which I bought as sample.
One on middle is a powder coated red kettlebell used by Hungarian RKCs.
One on the right is Dragon Door 16kg kettlebell.




One arm Bulldog swing, did some 5 reps set and 10 reps set.


At this moment on, handling Bulldog requires chalk, otherwise form gets sloppy.


Hook grip isn't strong enough to handle this weight yet.





On a note, I went to a storage warehouse to observe new loads of kettlebells. I decided to outsource a distributor instead of storing it myself.

A Rant - Oversea Visits

My first oversea experience started when I was three years old. I lived in Rome Italy from January 1973 til July 1977. I was the only child with both parents when I went there, came back to Japan with a sister and a brother.
I can count roughly 11 different countries I've visited in North America and Europe. I can't count Vatican and Monaco simply of their size being more of a district than a nation.

Odd thing is I never went to any Asian country other than my home country. Korea and China are very far in my mind. Any city in United States is close regardless the distant it covers. It's just that. Distant doesn't matter. Previous visits matter, and I lived and was educated under United State's constitution and state of Texas. This is pretty much my home and heartland. And hoping my place of death be in Rome, at a park called Villa Ada.

What does this tell?
I received direct and indirect message from a kettlebell certifier who'll be doing certification in Asia. Seems that Narita airport in Japan is on his way and wants to run things in Japan to earn extra cash.

This, I ignored. I don't know other Asian countries, therefore it doesn't seem to make sense. In my mind North America is closer than any east Asian countries. That's my mindset, not the actual distant measured.

Although seems that I will be connecting with China and South Korea soon. Already business with China and will be having a Korean visitor end of this month. Probably somethings opening up.

Absolute Strength

I did some 32kg clean & press along with front squats with double 24kg.

Lately, I don't sense doing 32kg military press improves absolute strength. Polishing technique and adding joint mobility is the key to press more. I'm not saying this does not work the strength but there should be something better for foundational strength.
Heavy swings - probably a bulldog.

Shoulder mobility first, trunk stability, then strength. That's how the order goes.
Swing, in order of power, strength, endurance, stability, mobility. In reverse order.

Swing, technically is still mobility first, feet and core stability second, hip strength, power, in a reverse order of military press.
Do deadlifts, swings to strengthen press. My hypothesis.

Krav Maga Bloopers

I am one of the strong ones in Krav Maga Japan, however I seem to have lots of blooper experiences.

I was punching, the deltoid struck my jaw and almost knocked myself out.

I did elbow strike, poked my eye with finger.

I was knocked out 15 times in 6 years. These are not full speed sparring situations. I think most people can go through years without being knocked out.

I self defended from a rubber knife, ran away. I happened to stop in front of a different group who was about to stab a defender. I was stabbed there.

And today. I was practicing a back spin kick. My partner raised the target to a shoulder height. I went for the kick, missed the target, flipped my body 3 feet in the air and slammed myself to the floor. I could not get up not because it hurt, but of laughter. More than 10 people around me had a pleasure of watching this blooper. I crawled on the floor just as if I was injured. Instead I couldn't stop myself from laughing.

Russian

I have a Russian gentleman attending my kettlebell class, probably in his twenties and speaks fluent Japanese. He came up to me and said "Any thing you have to relieve my shoulder using kettlebells?". This was after enormous number of snatches and presses.

My response was a bit slow, but told him "Yeah, I have a good one but no kettlebell required. Is that OK with you?".

I had people paired up and did push pull drill from CK-FMS. This was a huge hit. One of my regulars loved it, probably will get his wife partner up and do this drill.
Few months ago, I would have made them do TGU or armbar. Now I'm better equiped.

Plans

I'm planning to get few kettlebell visitors from States, kansai (western Japan) area, and South Korea. Boris Bachmann who's connected to Japan will be running thing in Tokyo, later on I'm expecting little John Buckley to do some kettlebell damages in the very same Tokyo area.

I'll have one RKC candidate to torture which I take pleasure doing, and another one as well.
Possibly one more but I'm not sure yet.

Swing 24kg L/R 10X10
Military Press 24kg L/R 2X5
Turkish Get Up to arch position 12kg 2 reps each

No actual objective for any kettlebell training. However I need to prepare for few things to happen. Shoulder's good and body's good.
Still very sleepy during the day. Am I still on central time zone?

Thorasic Spine Mobility

I'm working on my thorasic spine mobility to straighten up my bad posture habit and seems to be working these days. Only that I make this as habit, I will maintain.

Good posture with some of Pavel's "Loaded Stretch" gave a very solid hook punch. I believe my thorasic spine alignment was jamming the shoulder mobility. But my movement this day was far better than any part of my life.

Practice wise, I haven't touched much kettlebell and done some pull ups. May be swing and Turkish Get Up will be a good addition. Just for now, gaining better posture.

Still Jet Lag

Story has it, that it is in 50 degrees and raining in Minnesota. 10 degree colder than I was there a week ago. And I'm still sleepy in Tokyo on day time, taking a nap is a no no.

I'm still studying on CK-FMS materials, which I don't think it is a mind confusing matter, loaded up with lots of information. I suppose this was organized better than last year. I have til end of September to submit a video to Brett.

My mind set is different before and after Minnesota trip, and I believe I spent some meaningful time during the course. Of the course, spending time with Aaron, Fawn is always on top of the list. My high school football teammate Chris Brooks dragged me into drinking lots of beer.

Something I took from few people were remedial drills for my spine alignment, which I'm doing now. I laid kettlebell works and decided to concentrate on fixing alignments and symetry.

Still Not Sleeping at Right Time

Friend Tyler (on left) at beer festival in downtown Minneapolis
And yes, I admitt I drank nearly 30 different beers this day.







It's nearly a week since I got back here in Japan but still I'm sleeping in odd hours.


I slept (thought I took a nap) at 21:00 and woke up at 1:00. Staying up since.


But this is getting better because once I slept at 11:00 and woke up at 19:00.





CK-FMS remedial drills have helped me athletically. My fighting skill fairly the same, but the amount of energy I'm using is fairly low. I feel better than any part of my life.

Whether believing someone who lived couple thousands years ago, or your friend's mom.

As a kid, you'd had fights and disputes with your best friend.
You don't want to look at each other, talk to each other. But even so when his mom invites you to dinner, table manner counts.

When you finish the last scoop of dessert, word "thank you" in any kind of language or culture must be gestured.

It is a privilage to stay under someone's roof especially during long distant trip. But this is also a testament of how my heart is/is not crooked. A simple household, in my opinion tells whole lot more than religion started couple thousands years ago.

My mother used to smack my head when I didn't say thank you when I was given a privilage. She believes in no particular religion, but probably this was the best lesson I learned.

Kettlebell Workshop

Kettlebell Workshop "Jerk" with Boris Bachmann RKC
June 28 (Sun) 13:15-16:30
Room 24 S Shinjuku Studio Mura 2-1-8 Kita-Shinjuku Shinjuku, Tokyo Japan
Focus on swing, snatch, clean&jerk for beginners and intermediate levels.

Check Boris's profile.
http://www.dragondoor.com/instructor/1051
His blog http://squatrx.blogspot.com/

Boris recognized kettlebell from 1988 Seoul Olympics, destined to handle this tool since. He took the RKC cert, learned from Catherine Imes Master of Sport in kettlebell lifting. He does have the perfect blend of RKC and competitive lifting added up together.
Both fluent in English and Japanese.
Contact Taikei Matsushita taikei@iea.att.ne.jp for details.

CK-FMS Teaming

By the way, I had a pleasure of working with great people in my group. I don't think I can ask for anyone better. Looking over other groups and I still feel I got the best people.

George Spears who I've known from RKC II 2008 pulled out his wisdom and ideas from his long experience. His devotion on giving benefit to others is second to none. I learned alot from him.

Lulin Tsai, member of KBLA group had a great leadership to lead a group. Without her, I may have learned less from this course.

Jonathan Barber who I've known from RKC II 2008 got my shoulder and neck assessed.

A very serious and intense Danish special operator Dennis Frisch. I think he has a character I cannot praise enough. I have alot to say about him.

St.Paul

This is when I finally got to know James Neidlinger RKC in person.
I was there at moment of filming.



This is to Fawn.

Resting

Brett Jones picture from CK-FMS text. Don't ask me what, why, when, who, where nor how.

I'll say "I don't know". Probably the only part of the text which would be forgiven even with slight copyright violation.

I spent time in Minnesota with my body clock Tokyo time. Yesterday, I fell asleep at 11:00 am and woke up 19:00. I'm now living in central time zone USA.

I haven't done any kettlebell works since CK-FMS which would be nearly a week. Still can't believe it has been only 2 days and half in Japan after a week long trip to Minnesota.

The other day, Aaron and I talked about "who's (or what's) Jesus" and both came up with very unorthodox answer. If we discussed this back in colonial America such place as Salem (now Massachusetts), we'd be hung.

FMS Kit

Two FMS kits arrived here at my house. It was a costly task to get them import here despite the fact they are made out of plastics in form of 3 sticks and one board. But I can say I'm on business with this.

I received a phone call from Japanese trade custom service, wanted to know what was inside the package.

I may have told him as an athletic training measuring device. Probably he assumed a high tech measuring tool of some kind.

If so, the custom will take some time to inspect. Then I explained

"It's just a piece of board with inch measurement written on"

"Nothing with electricity????"

"No"

Two sets of these cost roughly worth 4 24kg kettlebells.

Still hard to believe a piece of board is changing trends of how NFL players handle their training behaviors.

Back from Minnesota 2

June 1, I checked in to my flight before noon. I had couple hours til departure.
Delta flight NW19 to Tokyo 15:20.
I knew Chris Brooks was working at the ramp of this actual flight and was hoping to see him.
15:15 - The announcement said flight would be postponed to 15:45 due to mechanical problem.
Chris Brooks appeared at the gate 15:30 with full working gear, as I approached him.
He told me.,
"I got bad news. That thing is not going to fly today."
His advice was
"Go to that bar, get a seat now!!"
I spent next 3 hours drinking various kind of beers, got along with bar tender well, but his quote in the end was "You've gotta know how to order beer!!". I've drank alot during my stay in Minnesota, not one brand I remember. Now that's a bad drinker.

Delta airline got me a hotel. Soon as Chris knew which hotel I'd be staying, he said
"I'll be off at 21:00. We're drinking from 21:30."
My immediate reaction was
"Oh my god!!!"

That night, Chris and I drank, then came Karen and Tyler who I said good bye couple days ago.
Tyler's Karen's 21 years old son who's got great character. I told his mom that I'd be glad to look after him if he gets his ass to Japan. It was over 0:00 when we stopped drinking.

June 2nd - Around 10:00, NW19 to Tokyo departed. Reached my house around June 3rd 13:00.

Lucrative trip. Minnesota is something more than RKC to me. I think I told this to Fawn.

Back from Minnesota

Minnesota trip from May 26 to June 2nd (originally scheduled til June 1st).
I got home 3 hours ago, seemed like a long journey. I attended CK-FMS for 4 days but throughout the week, no single moment was spent at hotel room other than taking shower and sleep. I was almost always away from the room entire day.

May 26 - Checked in Holiday Inn River Centre, St.Paul. I met a high school football teammate Chris Brooks for the first time since 1986. He and his girl friend Karen came over to pick me up, went to dinner. Chris is a 6'2" 220lbs guy who works for Delta (former NorthWest) airline, actually runs my flight. Nothing much has changed this person, Van Halen music in car and Copenhagen dip with dispose cup.

May 27 - Before noon, Aaron picked me up and we went shooting. Aaron along with Fawn have some Asian attributes in their life styles, at least that's what I believe. Had some Fawn cuisine for lunch, my favorite dog Elsa seemed to have remembered me from last year.
In the evening, Chris Brooks picked me up and went to his home in Burnsville. Had some valuable time with Karen's kids.

May 28 - CK-FMS day one. After day one at the elevator hotel, someone said to me
"are you going to take a shower and relax for the rest of evening"
and I said
"No, I'm going to a kettlebell class after this".
Every body laughed.
Fawn's class was harder than entire day one CK-FMS. Her class was enthusiastic, students well trained. Dinner at Aaron, Fawn's place.

May 29 CK-FMS day two. Nothing physical as past two RKC events. Aaron, Matt Schinabeck, Chris Lindquist and I had dinner at hotel restaurant.

May 30 CK-FMS day three. CK-FMS going good. George Spears, Lulin Tsai, Dennis Frisch, Jonathan Barber and I were basically the screening group, and few Houstonians came in and out of this group including Jay Armstrong RKC TL. All had good personal qualities. Their knowledges made things learn easy.
Original plan was to attend the RKC dinner at fire grill place. Then I received a mail from Chris Brooks "I'll pick you up at 18:30, we're going to beer festival" and this was 18:10. Chris, Karen and Karen's son Tyler came to pick me up, went to downtown Minneapolis.

May 31 CK-FMS day four. CK-FMS material not easy but fairly comprehensive. I did not sense any stress from "too much information" brain lockout. It's either I didn't have enough brain to lockout or Brett, Gray, Doc, and Jeff's ran an improved version of it.
Day ended shaking Brett's hand, he was thankful that I took some travel time to attend his certification. Tell the truth, 11 hours plane ride is basically nothing. Brett's a good talker and listener in one package.
I went to Aaron's place, met Sean Schniderjan for the first time, reunited with Jim Ryan. Later on spent some time with Aaron, Fawn and Elsa. Elsa kept licking my hands for minutes.

June 1 day of departure - before noon
George Spears invited me to an early morning Yoga works along with Lulin Tsai, Dennis Frisch. While Lulin had an early leave to catch her flight, we spent 3 hours doing it.
I headed to MSP airport around 10 am. Flight was 15:20 NW19 to Tokyo. I thought everything would go smooth.

Instead, I got some surprising incidents.