Yesterday was a great first day at the Agatsu Kettlebell Instructor Certification (Level 1) in Fort Saskatchewan Alberta. We have a fantastic group that spent a long hard day working on perfecting their form and teaching technique. Day two will start in a couple hours and I wanted to share a small clip from the training yesterday. 

During the warmup on day 1 we took some time to talk about “fitness” and the standards that we have all been exposed to. We often set the bar or standard too low for ourselves. At every Agatsu course participants are asked to question their definition of fitness and to move the “bar” higher for themselves and their clients.

Killer course this weekend at Valley Crossfit A big thank you to Mike Latch and everyone from Valley Crossfit for hosting the course. We had an incredible group with participants from the US and our first Agatsu Kettlebell Instructor from Iceland! This was one of the most experienced groups I have had the pleasure of working with. Many of the trainers had experience and certifications from other organizations and their feedback on the course was incredible. We had two jam packed days of hard core training. Short breaks and lots of learning and sharing. It was amazing watching the teaching portions of this course as these trainers all had unique and very effective ways of sharing their knowledge. I am excited to get back to California in November for the San Diego Agatsu Kettlebell Instructor Certification. 

This weekend I will be out in Alberta Canada for another Level 1 Kettlebell instructor certification. Looking forward to another amazing group.

Congratulations to everyone at the St.Louis Missouri Kettlebell Certification. Everyone did an outstanding job and worked really hard. We had one of our youngest instructors at 18 and our oldest at 63 years young! I am looking forward to seeing everyone for Level 2 and also for the next Level 1 in the area. Thanks again to Mike Diamond at St.Louis Self Defense. Without Mike this certification wouldn’t have happened. You were a great host and great coach. You prepared your people perfectly for the seminar and they all owe you a big thanks. 

On to California this weekend for another course in the San Fernando Valley. Valley Crossfit is hosting the Agatsu Kettlebell Level 1 course and its going to be a killer. We have a really interesting group of trainers coming out to this one and I can’t wait to meet and train with all of them. 

Keep your eyes on this new blog for more course info and some new instructional clips that I will try to get up later this week.

Shawn

Kettlebell Swings

Great first day here in at the Agatsu Level 1 Kettlebell Certification in St.Louis, Missouri. We had fantastic weather and trained outdoors for the full day. Everyone in the group worked very hard and made incredible improvements in a short period of time. The course is made up of people with different levels of Kettlebell training and experience and its exciting to see everyone working with the material and pulling off things that they first thought they weren’t going to be able to. The day ended with the customary and now legendary “Chrissy” workout. Tomorrow is another full day of hard training, minimal breaks and testing. 

Good luck to everyone!

Shawn

Hi everyone. This is the first of many new Blogs on the Agatsu site. I will be posting techniques, training tips, course information and a host of other topics that I hope everyone will find useful and interesting. After a long day of flying I am down in St.Louis Missouri getting ready to kick off another two day intensive Agatsu Kettlebell Instructor seminar. Seventeen new Kettlebell instructor courses were added to the site yesterday and registrations have already begun to come in. 2009 is full of US and Canadian dates that will give everyone a chance to find a location close to home. Looking forward to meeting and training with all of you. 

Keep your eyes on the blog and check in tomorrow for an update on the St.Louis course day 1.

Shawn

The Revolution has begun! New instructor certification courses!!

Kettlebell Instructor Certification Dates

New Agatsu T-Shirts are in!

New Agatsu T-Shirts are in!

New Agatsu Instructor Listings

Canadian Kettlebell Convention!!

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The Revolution has begun! New instructor certification courses!!

Agatsu Inc is proud to announce several new instructor certification courses. Along with our Kettlebell instructor certification which has over 200 instructors in five countries we now offer Advanced Barbell Certification, MMA Fitness (UltimateXT Bootcamps), and soon to come Joint Mobility & Movement, Rings and Resistance bands. Check www.agatsu.com for more information and to register for a course today.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdJhOJZ0VK0]

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Kettlebell Instructor Certification Dates

The last few months have seen an explosion in the demand for Agatsu Kettlebell Certification courses. This past February the Ottawa Kettlebell course was literally packed from door to door with participants from four countries including Ireland, Belgium, Canada and the US.

With courses selling out early across the country we have been adding new dates and locations to accommodate the demand and ensure that no one gets left out. If you do try to register for a sold out course email the head office and we will place you on a waiting list.

Click here for course listings: Agatsu Kettlebell Instructor Certifications

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New Agatsu T-Shirts are in! The new Agatsu t-shirts are now in stock! We have two new style t’s including the original “Pain is weakness leaving the body” and a new model with “I don’t use machines, I am the machine.”

Order yours today

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New Agatsu Instructor Listings If you are looking for a quality instructor to show you how to safely and effectively use your Kettlebellsthere is now an even easier way to find one. We have a new instructor listing system up on www.agatsu.comthat will help you locate one of our Agatsu instructors. Search by country and city to find the instructor that’s right for you. Click here to find an Agatsu instructor near you.

**Instructors must log in to activate their profile- If you are an Agatsu instructor and have not recieved your password to activate your listing contact the head office**

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“Cops & Robbers” Spring workout! Those people in attendance at the April 2009 Toronto Agatsu Kettlebell Instructor Certification were treated to a new Agatsu workout created by Shawn Mozen. Below Shawn explains the concept of the “Cops & Robbers” workout.

“For this workout it is the concept andnot the exercises themselves that I want you to understand. Once you have the concept you can change the exercises or scale them as need be. Cops & Robbers will put two people together in head to head competition. This workout will motivate, push and inspire your clients and give them something to work for rather than just obsessing over the astetic of a particular body part. Take two people and peform the following.”

Cops & Robbers( The robber gets a head start in this workout. The Cop, will have to chase them down and pass them finishing the workout before they do. If the cop is succesfull in finishing first then the Robber must be punished. Punishment can come in the form of tuck jump burpees or another exercise. A fun way to determine the ammount of burpees for the punishment is to use the ammount of time that the Cop finished ahead of the Robber. For example if the cop finished 30 seconds faster then its 30 tuck jump burpees.

Sample workout: 15 pull ups (Robber gets a five pull up head start- you may use Kipping pull ups) 20 box jumps- 25 Kettlebell snatches each arm.

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Canadian Kettlebell Convention!!

The Agatsu Kettlebell Convention- Level 2 andSteve Cotter seminar are just around the corner. May 1st to the 3rd CROSSFITgyms.ca | toronto + queen + dufferin will host the largest Kettlebell event in Canadian history. Friday the 1st some of the top Agatsu Kettlebell instructors will meet to take the Level 2 challenge and become part of the Kettlebell elite in Canada. On Saturday the 2nd Steve Cotter will conduct a not to be missed day long seminar covering mobility, bodyweight and Kettlebell training. Sunday the 3rd the first Agatsu Games will put participants in head to head competition to see who is the “fittest” of them all.

First round of early bird pricing has passed. The second round for the early bird ends this week! Full price starts next week. Don’t miss out, register today.

Happy New Year!

Kettlebell Instructor Certification Dates

Canadian Kettlebell Magzine

Canadian Kettlebell Convention!!

Winter Workout

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Happy new year from all of us at Agatsu Inc to all of you. All the best in 2009. 2008 closed out with instructor courses around the country and record interest in Agatsu Kettlebell training. This year is set to be very special as it marks SIX years since Agatsu founder Shawn Mozen began introducing Canadians to Kettlebell training. We have several big announcements to make starting with a HUGE one about the Canadian Kettlebell Convention. (see below)

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Kettlebell Instructor Certification Dates

Agatsu Kettlebell Instructor Certification dates for 2009 are on-line and booking fast. There are only TWO spots left for the Ottawa course Feb 28th-March 1st. The Calgary date Feb 14th and 15th has limited room left and the early bird price ends next week, last chance to save $100!! There are only 3 spots left for the Thunder Bay course in March. Register today to reserve your space.

Canadian Kettlebell Magzine We kicked off 2009 with a brand new issue of Canadian Kettlebell Magazine. This new issue is in both PDF and flash format and looking incredible. The issue is packed with articles, videos and more. Read the issue for free here: Canadian Kettlebell Magazine

Canadian Kettlebell Convention!! Agatsu Inc in association with IKFF is proud to bring you the first annual Canadian Kettlebell Convention and Agatsu Games. This May Crossfit Toronto West (www.crossfitgyms.ca) will host the first every Canadain Kettlebell Convention and Agatsu Games. This will mark the largest Kettlebell event ever to take place in Canada. Three days of seminars and competition. For more on the games and seminars click here

Winter WorkoutIf you have any energy left after shoveling snow then try the “Chrissy” workout. This Agatsu benchmark workout depends strict form and is done for time. Perform the workout with the best form you can and aim for the shortest time. Watch the video below to see the “Chrissy” workout being done and then follow the instructions at the end. Enjoy!!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCsVnvubjYo]

Agatsu Kettlebell Certification Accredited by CPTN

Instructor Certification Dates for Canada and the US

Free Kettlebell Instructional Video Clips

Markham-ON Agatsu Kettlebell Instructors a Huge Success

Fall Workout

Agatsu Kettlebell Instructors Spreading the Word

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The Agatsu Kettlebell Instructor Certification has been approved by CPTN (Certified Professional Trainers Network) as a continuing education provider. Personal trainers will earn 14 CECs for taking the course.

Instructor Certification Dates for Canada and the US New certification course dates are now on-line. Courses in Canada and the US will book fast so don’t hesitate, reserve your spot today.

Registration for the November Toronto course is on now. Save $100 off of the reglar fee. This offer expires in a few days. Register today! http://www.agatsu.com/8112/Without_FL/TorontoKettlebellCertification.htm

Did you know ?

***Any instructor who has passed an Agatsu Kettlebell Certification may attend any future workshop of the same level free of charge to update and refresh their skills.***

Free Kettlebell Instructional Video Clips Here are two new free instructional video clips for you. Both were filmed during a Calgary 2008 Agatsu Kettlebell Instructor Certification. Begin by mastering the One Arm Figure Eight Swing and then move on to the Gunslinger.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omAvFdCq3h0]

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cny2xOKT9WU]

Markham-ON Agatsu Kettlebell Instructors a Huge Success! Erin Lipsett and Francine Colangelo
both recently attended an Agatsu Kettlebell Instructor Certification in Etobicoke, ON. Both instructors took the course with hopes of improving their technique as well as acquiring the skills to teach in their area. Within a week of successfully passing the course they were up and running offering Kettlebell training to eager client. There was so much demand that they have now added up to four classes a day. To try out a class contact Erin at elipsett @sympatico.ca

Fall Workout

The leaves are falling and soon the parks will be covered in snow. Grab your Kettlebell and head outside for a Killer Kettlebell routine.

20 two hand swings

20 one hand swings right arm

20 high pulls right arm

20 one hand swings right arm

20 two hand swings

20 one hand swings left arm

20 high pulls left arm

20 one hand swings left arm

20 two hand swings

One minute rest between sets, repeat five times. Enjoy!

Agatsu Kettlebell Instructors Spreading the Word

Agatsu Kettlebell instructors have been educating people about Kettlebells longer than any other group in Canada. From functional fitness, weightloss and even bodybuilding Agatsu instructors have shown a wide variety of applications for Kettlebells. Recently Ron Gonzales (Level 2) Agatsu Kettlebell Instructor gave a demo at a bodybuilding competition blowing everyone away with the ease he can handle serious iron. Carol-Lyne Desroches (recently seen in Hello Canada Magazine) used a Kettlebell routine to place third in a Canadian Fitness competition. Congrats to both of these instructors for all of their hard work and efforts in sharing Kettlebell training with everyone.

(Left) Carol-Lyne does the splits with an 18lbs Kettlebell in the bottoms up postion. http://www.purinspiration.com/

Ron (Chi Chi) Gonzales- power, speed, strength and yes even flexibility. No wonder he is a Level 2 instructor. http://www.ronchichigonzales.com/