New to NZBB from Wellington (Jon Dyer)

[Jon Dyer]

Hi,

My name is Jon Dyer, I am 35 years old and live currently in Lower Hutt City/Wellington.

I have been actively involved in martial arts for the past 20 years, with a diverse background, cross-training in everything from Aikido, Ninjitsu, Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Kung Fu (more or less concentrated on this as my major) and also have some experience with Phillipino Arnis/Kali.

Roughly a year ago I got interested in Ketlebells for a way to get fit, to which I purchased a couple of solid RKC shape bells and started to practice by myself at home. My initial interest was just as a conditioning tool, but as time progressed and I started to look into it more, my interest led me into Girevoy Sport (Russian Kettlebell Sport).

Girevoy Sport's requirements are all about strength/endurance, which translates at the ability to move weight over a prolonged period of time (10 minute set). Due to the ballistic movement of the Sport Kettbell lifts, there is very little hypertrophy, so the lifters can still maintain small athletic figures, but capable of moving huge amount of weights.

For example my Coach, Rudnev Sergei, performed 156 reps with a 32kg bell in snatch at a bodyweight of roughly 66kg.

This past February led me to Singapore to participate in the IKSFA (International Kettlebell Sport and Fitness Federation) certification and also the 1st Singapore Kettlebell Competition, in which I placed 1st prize in snatch (136 reps in snatch with 16kg bell) which I was pretty disappointed with as my PR with 16kg bell was 199 reps.

But since 1st time competing was more for fun and experience than anything I guess it is OK, next time I will make sure if I have to go overseas, I will give myself enough time to climatize properly.

Anyway just popped in to say "Hi" and to meet people with similar interests.

Feel free to hit me up about anything related to KB's or GS, if you live in the Wellington area I can give KB instruction in basic GPP (general physical preparation) and once/if the individual has a firm grasp of the basics I can then teach them the GS lifts.

Thanks

Jon Dyer.

[Pseudonym]

Aikido

\:D/

That's a solid martial arts background, Jon. We've had quite a few MMA athletes here at various times. Perhaps they'll sing out if they're still around.

I hadn't realised there was an kettlebell federation with international competitions. Interesting!

[Jon Dyer]

Aikido

\:D/

That's a solid martial arts background, Jon. We've had quite a few MMA athletes here at various times. Perhaps they'll sing out if they're still around.

I hadn't realised there was an kettlebell federation with international competitions. Interesting!

Hey Pseudonym,

Girevoy Sport is huge in Russia, Ukraine and other parts of Eastern Europe, with each country having its own federations. Russia have IKSFA, RGSF (Russian Girevoy Sports Federation) as well as probably a host of others I am not aware of. But as producing the most World and European Champions, IKSFA is where its at.

In USA you have WKC/AKC (World Kettlebell Club/American Kettlebell Club) which is run by Valery Fedorenko, IKFF (International Kettlebell Fitness Federation) run by Steve Cotter and Ken Blackburn and RKC (Russian Kettlebell Challenge) run by Pavel Tsatsouline.

The RKC more or less concentrates on generic fitness and conditioning and as far as I know they don't compete in GS. Though I know of a quite a few members that belong to both "hard-style" and GS.

Hard-style is great for fitness and demolishes calories like nobodies business, but it is not really suited for competing in endurance feats like are required in GS competition.

Girevoy Sport is more or less a sibling of Olympic Weightlifting and borrows terminology as well as their own use of the clean, jerk and snatch.

It is a very demanding sport, but very addictive, I hope to get some people together who would like to compete overseas and even host our own Kiwi based competitions here.

Jon

[Ninja]

I did oly lifting in high school and still use it from time to time in my training. This sounds pretty interesting might have to give it a try

[Jon Dyer]

I did oly lifting in high school and still use it from time to time in my training. This sounds pretty interesting might have to give it a try

Hey Shinobi, I don't know of any people doing specific Girevoy Sport up in Auckland City, though there are a few trainers from the IKFF up there, I would probably check out Damian Halforty from the IKFF, he has a very strong tactical background (worked with the S.A special forces/Police) as well as Pekiti Tersia Kali here, which is a great system.

You are always welcome to train with me if you are down these windy ways, all the best.

Jon D

[BIGKIWI]

Welcome Jon hope you enjoyed the sun over easter. I would definitely like to catch up with you one day to say hi and see if we can pick each others brain, all the best

[Jon Dyer]

Welcome Jon hope you enjoyed the sun over easter. I would definitely like to catch up with you one day to say hi and see if we can pick each others brain, all the best

Hey Justin, though we have never met, we went to Upper Hutt College together and I know a few of the same people you do.

Always keen to catch up with people with similar interests. I have been trying to find some gyms in the area where I could teach some small classes, but I have found that a lot of gyms are ill equipped when it comes to kettlebells.

I checked out Les Mils in Lower Hutt and I only saw like half a dozen pieces, which were of the cast iron RKC shape, which are OK, for some generic fitness, but are not suitable for GS as GS has a standard size which does not change as the weight goes up. So 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, etc have all the same size, but the filling is more dense. I have looked into bringing over some bells from China, but I would have to commit to 3 to 5 tonne and then I have to work out the shipping.

In Russia one of the training methods is to do pyramid sets with ascending and descending weights, they also have bells available in 1 or 2 kg increments, which makes the training progression very smooth. I see some people try and jump from using a 16 to a 24kg bell, but IMHO this is not a good idea as GS is all about proper technique, you can only get so far with muscling the bell and because the lifts are ballistic, you have to have good technique otherwise you will get injured.

For example with the snatch lift, when the bell is flying up you need to assist the bells flight, which means you are hardly gripping the handle at all and as it gets to a certain height your hand inserts into the handle. If the insertion is too late, the bell will pull your shoulder back too quick and you will get hurt, this wont be obvious with a light weight, but once you start snatching 24kg and heavier this will be very obvious.

If people are just interested in doing swings, presses, Turkish get-up's. etc, then you can get away with a heavier weight as long as you can manage it.

I dont believe the kettlebell is the "be all end all" to fitness and conditioning, like some trainers are making it out to be, but like any tool it is only as effective as the one using it.

If people want to increase muscle hypertrophy for size, etc, then conventional bodybuilding is the way to go, but kettlebell training if practiced properly will build very dense, functional muscle, if you need any proof, then search youtube for (Rudnev Sergei, Sergei Rachinsky, Sergei Merkulin, Ivan Denisov or Valery Fedorenko) which are the superstar's of Girevoy Sport.

[Deez]

Hey Jon, I am also from Wgtn/Lower Hutt and have done martial arts in the past. I used to train under Geoff Grant at GSW back in 2009/2010 when he ran a class in high street lower hutt but moved away grappling and took up Muay Thai at Alpha/Redden Fight Club in porirua. I have tried kettle bell training in the past and it helped with my core fitness for sure. Welcome to the forums.

[Jon Dyer]

Hey Jon, I am also from Wgtn/Lower Hutt and have done martial arts in the past. I used to train under Geoff Grant at GSW back in 2009/2010 when he ran a class in high street lower hutt but moved away grappling and took up Muay Thai at Alpha/Redden Fight Club in porirua. I have tried kettle bell training in the past and it helped with my core fitness for sure. Welcome to the forums.

Hey man,

I also used to train with Geoff Grant, but that was a long time ago, though I still keep in contact with some of the members. Would love to go back, but would have to do day classes as I am working nights 6 days a week.

I see you are also from the Hutt too, I currently have a small group doing some KB's and we also do some Kali, Arnis, also.

Jon

[Wiremuf]

Hi Jon,

I'm in the live in the Hutt too and have been training with KB's since 2007. Mainly for fitness and convenience. I've done a basic intro workshop in Auckland with two RKC instructors Mike Capper and Paul White but am kinda wanting to get into GS as well.

I'm doing a Level 1 workshop with Steve Cotter up in Tauranga in November to go over the basic GS moves.

I've got 2x16kg, 1x24kg and 1 32kg comp bells and 2x20kg RKC style bells. We should catch up for a blat one day?

Cheers,

Will.

[Jon Dyer]

Hi Jon,

I'm in the live in the Hutt too and have been training with KB's since 2007. Mainly for fitness and convenience. I've done a basic intro workshop in Auckland with two RKC instructors Mike Capper and Paul White but am kinda wanting to get into GS as well.

I'm doing a Level 1 workshop with Steve Cotter up in Tauranga in November to go over the basic GS moves.

I've got 2x16kg, 1x24kg and 1 32kg comp bells and 2x20kg RKC style bells. We should catch up for a blat one day?

Cheers,

Will.

Hey Will,

Great to meet you on here, I am also from the Hutt Valley (live and work out here).

I know Kirsten who is hosting the seminar in Tauranga (wont put the name of the business, in case mods take that as advertising).

For Steve's course, I am not sure if he is going to be doing strictly GS (I think he is covering basic material from CKT level 1) but he might scratch upon it, if I was you hit him up with any relevant questions as Steve is a nice guy and loves to help out people.

Give me a call on 021 256 0056 (or leave a message at work/5682-085) and we can catch up and have a yarn. I am available most days as at the moment are only working at night. Monday is my night off.

Jon