Quick training Prep - foam roller, aslr, t-spine, hips, rolling 24 kg get-up to elbow x 5+5 Pistols x 10 alternating 24 kg Snatch 20+20 2 min rest 15+15 1:30 rest 10+10 5+5 Stretch Rested as long as it took to complete the snatches Nice and easy

How to Prepare for and PASS the RKC

By: Brett Jones Master RKC, CSCS

Over the past 9+ years I have been involved in the RKC program and have  seen many certification attendees come through the three days that make up the RKC experience. My goal in this article is to provide you—the RKC hopeful—with a template that will have you prepared for the RKC. This is important because it is a physically  demanding weekend where you must still learn large amounts of technique, corrections and principles. If your body is not up to the challenge then you will not learn effectively. And that just will not do!

Unlike most 200 question multiple choice weekend certifications, you will earn your RKC with sweat and hard work. In addition, you will be tested on demonstration of proper technique in the basic RKC drills and the ability to assimilate application of the proper

corrections at the right time—it is an instructor’s course. Read the testimonials if you need proof. Again—you will  earn this certification.

Where I think the preparation process goes awry is in two main areas. These are:

#1—Too much emphasis on the snatch test

#2—Not preparing for three,  8+ hour days of work.

While the snatch test is important, it is only a starting point. It is a requirement  because we—as instructors—need to see that you have the base level of conditioning and overhead stability to even begin the course, proving to us that you have at least picked up your kettlebell and that you have some experience with the tool. But it is not ‘the test’ of the certification—as I stated it is only a starting point. Because RKC hopefuls get focused on the snatch test they tend to forget that three days of 8+ hours of practice of the basic drills and corrections await them, and this does not include the three (or more) 20-30 minute workouts during each day

Step #1 -

is to find your snatch test requirements and read and understand the rules. Ask questions on the dragondoor.com forum if you need to do so.  Now go one weight class up and prepare for those numbers. This will provide a comfortable cushion and allow you to relax going into the snatch test. Steve Freides has written an excellent article on preparing for the snatch test available on dragondoor.com. There are other excellent articles available as well, so do some reading and be prepared for your snatch test.  Also scroll down the blog here on appliedstrength.com for a post on how to prepare for the snatch test.  

Step #2 -

is to get prepared to demonstrate proper form in the basic kettlebell drills. To do this I would recommend a session with your local RKC so you can eliminate mistakes and prevent grooving any bad habits. If this is not possible, then you will have to rely upon DVDs and books. I would recommend:

Enter the Kettlebell! bookand DVD, Kettlebell Basics for Strength Coaches and Personal Trainers DVD set, and the original RKC book. This will provide you a set of resources that will give you ample information to prepare for the certification and arrive prepared.

Step #3 -

is to get physically ready to handle the RKC weekend. Below I will lay out a template of practice that will help in preparing you and I will make suggestions on mimicking the weekend so that you will not be caught by surprise and have to battle the physical demands placed on you. The template lays out three different workouts for three consecutive days where one drill will be emphasized as the other drills are practiced in between. Perform 1-3 circuits of the drills in the order listed. Perform 5-8 reps per set except on swings where you can feel free to increase the reps as long as form stays perfect. You will not need a day to emphasize cleans or snatches as you will

be performing enough of those during the other drills and with your snatch test practice (which is to be performed in addition to these workouts on at least two of the days).

Workout #1

Swing

Clean and Press

Swing

Clean and Front Squat

Swing

Get-up

Swing

Snatch

Swing

Workout #2

Clean and Press

Get-up

Clean and Press

Clean and Front Squat

Clean and Press

Swing

Clean and Press

Snatch

Clean and Press

Workout #3

Clean and Front Squat

Swing

Clean and Front Squat

Clean and Press

Clean and Front Squat

Get-up

Clean and Front Squat

Snatch

Clean and Front Squat

This is about practicing the drills and perfecting form while increasing conditioning specific to the weekend. Hence, you will be performing the three consecutive days of  training in addition to the snatch test preparations. I would even suggest that you make Friday, Saturday and Sunday your workout days—then rest on Monday and work additional snatch test workouts on Tuesday and Wednesday and then rest on Thursday before beginning again on Friday. This will get you in the groove for the weekend. You will also need to rotate intensity of volume and weight—16 kg for 5 circuits one day and 24kg for 3 circuit the next— Single Kettlebell drills one day and double  Kettlebell drills the next etc…(be sure you put time in on the drills with double KBs).

I would also recommend Super Joints drills to keep your body ‘tuned up’ and prepared for this type of training.  Be willing to reduce the volume and weight if needed—DO NOT GET INJURED preparing for the RKC. BE SMART!

So there you have it—a training template that will have you physically tuned up and ready for the demands of the RKC weekend. Nothing is more frustrating for us as instructors than people arriving ill prepared for the RKC. So put your time in and remember that you will earn your RKC. You have been warned.

Kettlebell Snatch Test Requirements

100 Kettlebell Snatches in 5 minutes

The sum of both arms is scored. Depending on the gender, age, and bodyweight, the candidate must perform the following number of reps in the specified time:

Men Open Class up to 60kg/132lbs

20kg

100/5min

Men Open Class over 60kg/132lbs

24kg

100/5min

Men Masters (50-64)

20kg

100/5min

Men Seniors (65 and over)

20kg

50/3min

Women Open Class up to 56kg/123.5lbs

12kg

100/5min

Women Open Class over 56kg/123.5lbs

16kg

100/5min

Women Masters (50-64)

12kg

100/5min

Women Seniors (65 and over)

12kg

50/3min

If you do not pass the snatch test at the Certification, you may retake the test no later than 90 days after the course. You may retake the test in person with a Master, Senior, or RKC Team Leader in your area or send the video to your team leader.

So how are you going to prepare for this requirement?

The sample training routine below is specific to the 24 kg requirements but you can adjust it accordingly for your KB weight requirement.

This is about as simple as I can make it:

Day one: Heavy One Arm Swing

32 kg One arm swing x 10 min - Goal of 10+10 x 8 sets

Day two - 24 kg Snatches

Density Training = certain number of reps at the beginning of a minute then rest till the start of the next minute and repeat

5+5 x 15 minutes

6+6 x 13 minutes

7+7 x 12 minutes

8+8 x 10 minutes

9+9 x 9 minutes

10+10 x 7 minutes

Stay with a workout until it is “easy” then progress to the next step/level

at 10+10 x 7 minutes you will have passed the snatch test + 2 extra minutes

This means 40-45 seconds of snatches with 15-20 seconds to set the KB down and shake it off and recover.

Why 2 extra minutes?

Because you should go into your RKC knowing that you OWN the Snatch test.

Day 3 - 16 kg Snatches

16 kg snatches x 10-15 minutes 

Higher number of snatches (20-30) per arm will build more grip endurance, condition the skin on the hands, and give you a day of volume without beating you up.

So you have a heavy day of swings to build power and grip, a day specific to the snatch test, and a day 

of volume for extra conditioning but not a beating.

There are many, many strategies for attacking the RKC Snatch test but this is a simple way to 

accomplish the task, save the hands and have lots of energy left for the weekend.

(You’ll need it!!)

Training today

Prep - Foam roller, ASLR, T-spine, Hips, Rolling

44 kg Get-up to elbow x 4+4, 3+3, 2+2, 1+1

Circuit of:
40 kg MP x Right x 2 + Left x 1+1negative x 3 sets
Chins - One arm Band assisted x 3+3 x 3 sets
Pistols (bodyweight) x 5+5 x 3 sets

Ropes x 12 min
(1 min alternating + 1 min symmetrical)

Band assisted one arm chins are with one arm on the bar and the other hand holding a jump stretch band - like Step 9 in the CC progressions

Another day of training...

I was sore (pleasantly) from my session Monday and only did movement work/stretching yesterday but decided to hit it again today.

Prep - Foam Roller, ASLR, T-spine, Hips, Rolling
Chins with two 16kg Kbs hanging from the feet x 3, 3, 3, 2+
16 kg Rack Pistols - Clean Right = 1 right + 1 Left - Clean Left = 1 Left + 1 right
X 4 sets
DL - 315 x 3, 3, 3
HSPU - full range x 2, 2 - 2" short of full range x 2
Stretch

Also worked (a little) on muscle ups and one arm iso holds at the top + negative

Feeling good

Great day of training yesterday

Prep - not much - did some movement work during the morning but launched right into training

Chins + 90# x 2 x 5 sets
Pistols (bw) x 10 alternating legs x 5 sets
DL (semi-sumo stance) x 315 x 3 x 3 sets
Handstand Push-ups - at various ranges using 2 adjustable steps
Full range x 1, 1
2" short of full range x 2
4" short of full range x 2
hands on ground x 5
Stretch

Also hit my first Muscle Up - haven't been practicing - just decided to do it and after a few missed reps I got it.  I'll be keeping some of these in as I work on my one arm chin.

Foam roller later in the day

good and sore today - in a great way - perfectly worked

DL was a semi sumo stance (little toes lined up with the rings on the bar) and hook grip.
Starting back nice and easy on the DL

Website is coming but this will likely be the blog for now

Thanks for reading

With any luck this will be a temporary situation and as soon as I can get my web hosting worked out and download and figure out my new Website Software I will be up and running on the website again.

For now the training has been mainly bodyweight GTG work on Pistols, push-ups, HSPU, etc...

With Kbs added in when possible.

For today for example:

Prep - Foam Roller, ASLR, T-spine, hips, Rolling

Bodyweight Pistols x 2+2

32 kg Get-up x 1+1 x 5 sets - no rest between reps or sets

32 kg Rack Pistol x Right side clean with 1 left + 1 right and Left side clean with 1 right + 1 left

32 kg SLDL x 10 alternating legs

32 kg Bent press x 5 +5

Stretch

Having fun and staying busy

On the new website I will transfer over all of the articles etc... from the other website

Your eyes are not playing tricks on you!

I have had to revert to my old blog site on blogger since Mac eliminated the MobileMe web site hosting whe you upgrade to iCloud - my first and VERY negative experience with Apple.

I will get this cleaned up and ready to roll very soon.

Thank you for your patience.

Brett