With 4 folks vying hard for ascension into the ranks of RKC-certified kettlebell instructors, KBLA was well represented.
Grace Chiplinsky, Dr. Jeff McCombs, and Sensei Gary Toppins are now fully RKC certified. Adam Chiplinsky, whom I wrote about in a prior blog post, came within a hairbreadth, passing all of his requirements aside from missing his snatch numbers by a mere 8 reps!
After conferring with his Team Leader, I will most likely be able to re-test him back here in L.A., and as soon as Adam makes his numbers, he too will be part of the RKC consortium that KBLA is.
Please join me in congratulating these 4 outstanding individuals!.... Then get your arses out to the beach on Sunday mornings at 0700 to feel what KBLA's finest can do for you!!
Showing posts with label grace and adam chiplinsky. Show all posts
Showing posts with label grace and adam chiplinsky. Show all posts
Monday, February 18, 2008
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Courage Corner
You never know what you're made of until you really put it on the line.
One of my students is a case in point with that sentence. Adam Chiplinsky, a computer animator, former Australian full-contact kung-fu competitor, and RKC candidate in the KBLA stable, recently suffered a serious injury to his skull and jaw. He's undergone at least a couple of corrective surgeries VERY recently and still struggles with difficulty breathing.
Today was his first real workout in months.
While Adam didn't exactly make his snatch test numbers due to a lack of endurance, his form was none too shabby. His legs were tired from a lack of training, but his effort was admirable... a solid 40 reps.
He's got bit to go before cleanly passing the RKC Snatch Test, but his spirit is all there. Instead of postponing his participation, he's going to San Jose as scheduled next week. He'll be training alongside his wife Grace, another RKC candidate.
Grace, by the way, like most of the KBLA women, did her snatch test numbers beautifully with just 1 hand. Like I told you, KBLA has the baddest (and hottest) chicks around. :-D
I have every faith that Adam will represent himself and KBLA with his utmost. He's gone from spitting out mouthfuls of blood and stitches to doing some serious snatching with minimal recovery time.
That's spirit. That's balls. That's KBLA.
One of my students is a case in point with that sentence. Adam Chiplinsky, a computer animator, former Australian full-contact kung-fu competitor, and RKC candidate in the KBLA stable, recently suffered a serious injury to his skull and jaw. He's undergone at least a couple of corrective surgeries VERY recently and still struggles with difficulty breathing.
Today was his first real workout in months.
While Adam didn't exactly make his snatch test numbers due to a lack of endurance, his form was none too shabby. His legs were tired from a lack of training, but his effort was admirable... a solid 40 reps.
He's got bit to go before cleanly passing the RKC Snatch Test, but his spirit is all there. Instead of postponing his participation, he's going to San Jose as scheduled next week. He'll be training alongside his wife Grace, another RKC candidate.
Grace, by the way, like most of the KBLA women, did her snatch test numbers beautifully with just 1 hand. Like I told you, KBLA has the baddest (and hottest) chicks around. :-D
I have every faith that Adam will represent himself and KBLA with his utmost. He's gone from spitting out mouthfuls of blood and stitches to doing some serious snatching with minimal recovery time.
That's spirit. That's balls. That's KBLA.
Sunday, November 4, 2007
The best is yet to come!
This morning, we had an OUTSTANDING Sunday beach class! And I say that for several reasons...
1. Mark Toomey, RKC II, took the time out from his LA vacation to come by and teach with me this morning. Toomey & I have ended up at almost every RKC event together, with maybe 1 exception. He's a great friend and a top-notch instructor, and the senior students really got a chance to experience his expertise this morning. Many of the more experienced students, like RKC candidate, Guro John Spezzano, even commented to me after class, saying that they picked up several valuable technical tweaks from him!
Toomey demonstrated the bearcrawl pushup, which left a few of the harder comrades in our group groaning at just the sight of it.
2. The newer students REALLY stepped up! Dr. Jeff McCombs, an RKC candidate, went from struggling on his snatch last week, to demonstrating it with confidence and teaching others how to achieve theirs as well. And our youngest member, Patrick Barnett, demonstrated some manly technique, cranking out his snatches in true Hard Style fashion with a rock solid shoulder and systemic linkage at the top of each repetition.
3. Grace & Adam Chiplinsky, also RKC candidates, returned from Australia, bringing their diligent work ethic and incredible focus to the group. There were several newcomers as well, along with the stalwarts, making for a large and very fun morning! While the circuit at the end of class was hard, many still had plenty of energy to complete a solid trifecta afterwards.
While "the evil Russian" didn't make an appearance as hoped, this morning's class was proof-positive that no matter what the time, time change, or fog, the KBLA group is rockin' Hard Style!
Week after week, I'm so amazed at the progress I see in the group. And I always leave more excited about this great group of people that I'm so lucky to have the chance to work with! The best is yet to come!
1. Mark Toomey, RKC II, took the time out from his LA vacation to come by and teach with me this morning. Toomey & I have ended up at almost every RKC event together, with maybe 1 exception. He's a great friend and a top-notch instructor, and the senior students really got a chance to experience his expertise this morning. Many of the more experienced students, like RKC candidate, Guro John Spezzano, even commented to me after class, saying that they picked up several valuable technical tweaks from him!
Toomey demonstrated the bearcrawl pushup, which left a few of the harder comrades in our group groaning at just the sight of it.
2. The newer students REALLY stepped up! Dr. Jeff McCombs, an RKC candidate, went from struggling on his snatch last week, to demonstrating it with confidence and teaching others how to achieve theirs as well. And our youngest member, Patrick Barnett, demonstrated some manly technique, cranking out his snatches in true Hard Style fashion with a rock solid shoulder and systemic linkage at the top of each repetition.
3. Grace & Adam Chiplinsky, also RKC candidates, returned from Australia, bringing their diligent work ethic and incredible focus to the group. There were several newcomers as well, along with the stalwarts, making for a large and very fun morning! While the circuit at the end of class was hard, many still had plenty of energy to complete a solid trifecta afterwards.
While "the evil Russian" didn't make an appearance as hoped, this morning's class was proof-positive that no matter what the time, time change, or fog, the KBLA group is rockin' Hard Style!
Week after week, I'm so amazed at the progress I see in the group. And I always leave more excited about this great group of people that I'm so lucky to have the chance to work with! The best is yet to come!
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