Training with Legends

I'm sorry it's been a bit longer than usual since my last blogpost. Right now, I don't think I could possibly be busier unless I changed my name to John Du Cane. Normally, I like to share some insights with my blog readers, but this post is going to be a glimpse into one of the most hectic, yet rewarding, days I've had in ages.

This week, I've had the pleasure and honor of having Dr. Vadim Kolganov visiting me here in Los Angeles. As we both share three common loves (Hard Style kettlebell training, manual medicine, and martial arts), there never seems to be enough hours in the day.

We both couldn't help but realize that +2 hour training sessions felt like barely 30 minutes, even when wearing a thick Judo gi top in the Los Angeles summer heat. Whether reviewing Sambo fundamental mobility drills, throw set-ups & entries, pins, submissions, or Kali blade work with Guro John Spezzano, the training sessions were always over far too soon.

Yesterday was an action packed day. Starting with a morning get-together with Dr. Kolganov & RKC Chief Instructor Pavel Tsatsouline for a brief workout, we continued on with a private training session for Raleigh Enterprises President, Mark Rosenthal, who is graciously hosting Dr. Kolganov at the Sunset Marquis Hotel & Villas, and after a couple of errands, returned back to the Rosenthal house for a powwow with Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu/JKD/Kali expert, Prof. Roy Harris.

To watch two brilliant minds and two high level experts like Harris & Kolganov exchange technique and talk about their favorite techniques in their respective fields of experience and preference was about as cool an experience as someone could hope for in martial arts. Dr. Kolganov gifted a kurtka (Sambo jacket) to Prof. Harris and shared techniques from both Sambo wrestling & Retuinskih's ROSS system, and Prof. Harris shared his insights into Kalis Ilustrissimo weaponry, the JKD mindset of streetfighting, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Later in the evening, Dr. Kolganov & I drove down to the Perform Better Summit in Long Beach and met up with Functional Movement System masterminds Gray Cook & Brett Jones. Every time I meet up with Gray, no matter how short the interaction, I always leave with some clinical pearl (or 10) that leaves me both dumbfounded and inspired at the same time. By the time we made it down to Long Beach last night, I was dead tired. On the drive back, I was re-energized from Gray's insights, keenly aware of how much and how urgently I have to grow and improve as a clinician.

Today.... R&R.

The European Tour - Part 1

Danish Get-Up

I could easily call the span of time from April 24 - May 12th the RKC Trifecta Tour. St. Paul, Copenhagen, and Budapest in 3 successive weekends is making for quite an experience.

I'm typing this just outside of Budapest right now, at the home of Peter Lakatos, head of RKC Hungary and Krav Maga Hungary. Today's been quite restful. And yesterday as well. Spending hours & hours vegging out in CPH and waiting for Brussels Air to post the gate information turned out to be one of the most needed down-time experiences I've had in a long time. Today's essentially more of the same, but in the comfort of a beautifully built home and an ancient city.

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RKC St. Paul, MN

St. Paul was awesome. A long overdue reunion with the man who coined the pronunciation Hard Styyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyle was a joyous thing. Sr RKC Dave Whitley and I got to do some long overdue catching up. RKC TL & TKD master Jon Engum was also there, and we got to steal a few minutes here & there during lunch breaks to trade Taekwondo kicking combos and Shuai-Chiao takedowns/throws.

I got to meet a few people that I'd seen on the forum a bunch of times, including Abdul Mujib and Prof. Amy Jurrens. It was also my first time serving as an assistant under Master RKC Andrea Du Cane. I'd been with her at several RKCs, but never served with her as an assistant. This time, it was very educational to hear the details of her thoughts on the technical proficiency of each candidate. There are certain technical variations that are well within acceptable limits, and the Masters and Seniors have varying insights into what is acceptable and what isn't. While that sort of individuation can lead to mild confusion, Pavel issued a renewed direction to teach "by the book"... in this case, the RKC Manual.

For the newbie, the absence of a well-defined Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) creates stress and potentially danger. Understanding that, Pavel has reminded the Seniors & Team Leaders to remember that and maximize clarity. Just as in martial arts, there's a tendency towards individual expression and personal styles, there has to be a baseline of primary skills and execution methods that are SOP. As the School of Strength grows and evolves, each and every member needs to remember that the School's founder has the last say on toeing the line.

Pavel also promoted Sara Cheatham to the highly exalted rank of Senior RKC. Sara blogged on her promotion by citing the RKC Code of Conduct. And Pavel reminded me of that Code in St. Paul when a couple of students were evidently upset about seeing an instructor drinking during off-hours. When all is said and done, Pavel IS the RKC, and as RKCs, we are a reflection of him, his high standards, and his rock-solid values. It's an honor to be part of his team, to be a member of the select group that he founded, and part of our membership revolves around our ability to "recertify" on a daily basis through his RKC Code of Conduct.

After the cert wrapped up, Master Engum took me to dinner with his family before heading to the airport. We found what might've been 1 of 3 Korean restuarants in all of Minnesota. Seeing him with his son, Victor, and a Korean family with a baby sitting next to us, I had such painful pangs of longing for my own son. Thank God I got to spend some time with him back in LA after St. Paul, even if just for 48 hours before flying off to Copenhagen.

Whitley, Engum, & I might be touring Asia for an RKC prep course. More on that coming up...

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RKC Copenhagen, Denmark

Rannoch Donald RKC was right. Denmark is the MOST expensive place I've ever been to. The US dollar isn't worth beans, and my lunch at CPH airport on my departure date cost me about USD $50... for just a small piece of lasagna and 2 cokes!!! BLIMEY!!!

The RKC itself, however, was perhaps the BEST cert I've been to. The Europeans were far more disciplined and prepared than most of the US RKCs that I've been to, and they showed serious motivation to succeed. As Cpl. "Big Willie" Williams RKC Team Leader said, "The whinyness factor here in Europe is 1/10th of what it'd be stateside, and the candidates are far more prepared." Perhaps something to take to heart, eh?

Also, serving Sr RKC Mark Reifkind again as one of his assistants, I was back in familiar and enjoyable territory. Rif & I have a wonderful synergy, and it's a high listening to him teach and lecture. One of these days, Rif might actually get off his arse and put his "What is the RKC System" lecture on his blog. The first time I heard it a few years ago, it gave me goosebumps. Just like in St. Paul, the RKC cert evolved, and so have Rif's already formidable presentation skills.

Rif's Best Stuff

One of Rif's best moments was when he was explaining neuro-muscular inhibition. If you are a fan of Rif's, you'd have jumped for joy hearing him talk about this. He said that if you're uncertain or uncommitted to lifting a weight or applying a force or doing something, just step away from it because you're destined to fail. Even if you get the weight moving, the odds are that you're doing it incorrectly... using muscles and compensation patterns that you don't need to use. I was thinking about all the times I've said something along those lines to my students, and how many times some of them still manage to defend their weakness instead of attacking it by themselves. Pray that Rif blogs on this more in depth, or pester him to death about it! :)

Pavel also improved his teaching methods for the Squat portion, cutting out a few "extraneous" things to fast track the learning process. Again, this is why I keep saying that the RKC system is CONSTANTLY evolving and improving. Pavel is not dogmatic in his approach to the kettlebells, and he gladly researches any means of imparting knowledge and ability with an eye toward safety. Thanks to that open-mindedness, even if you go to 4 RKCs per year, you learn more & more each time! It's not a stale, dead system, but rather one that requires constant involvement and study to stay current.

RKC Jacob Sondergaard, Kenneth Jay's right hand Dane, represented his mentor with serious Hard Styyyyyyle. His sharp eye kept the candidates in line and training properly, while his serious strength kept inspiring them to push harder. He's my new Danish brother.



Inspiration was the key word of the weekend, and I started off doing my usual psyche 'em up routine... this time by yelling out an impromptu "Spartans! What is your profession?" and hearing the "A-wooooo!! A-wooooo!! A-WOOOOOO!!!" in reply. By the end of the weekend, it was "Team Rif! What is your profession?" And the last reply of the weekend became "A-WOOOO!!! A-WOOOOO!!! RKC!!!!!"

All that aside, nobody can take the place of my brother, Dr. Vadim Kolganov, Master of Sport in Sambo, who was my roommate this past weekend in Denmark. I've blogged on his background before, but now he can add 3 more letters after his name.... RKC!



He rocked all the way through the weekend, and his meeting with Pavel was a Russian Reunion in Hard Styyyyyyyyle. Vadim shared his memories of training with Dr. Valentin Dikul, one of Pavel's heroes, as well as his experiences and insights on the value of Hard Style kettlebell training. Look for an interview with him to come out soon in an upcoming issue of Hard Style Magazine!

The day after the cert, I caught a ride to the airport with Rif, Vadim, & Dr. Ricardo Nieves RKC, who graciously drove us. Nicole & John Du Cane rolled in not too long afterwards, so I got a chance to sit down and have a long chat with Nicole while we were waiting for our flights. What a well-spoken, broad-minded, and down-to-earth person she is!

All that social stuff aside, the last 2 RKCs renewed my interest in the Press. Sr RKC Kenneth Jay had some great explanations of the Seesaw Press, and Rif & I had some ideas about the footwork. This will be on my plate when I get back to LA! That and overspeed ecentrics...

From the last 2 RKCs (Denmark & St. Paul), I got a better idea of how many people are reading my blog and watching the Youtube vids. Folks that were there both as RKC Candidates & victims came up to me and told me how much they enjoy this blog, mail some of the posts to their friends, and use the vids in their classes. I really appreciate the kind of heartfelt, personal positive feedback I got from those of you who stepped up to share your thoughts with me. It made me appreciate what a global influence KBLA has and reminded me of my responsibility to all of you.

Foodwise, Denmark was quite an eye opener. At first, it seemed like the blandest food I'd ever eaten, until I was chatting with my Mom via IM. She made a comment that the food only tasted bland because Americans wildly oversalt their food. I have to agree. Maybe that's the solution to the American obesity issue... charge $50 USD for a tiny portion of lasagna and 2 cokes.

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Budapest, Hungary

The RKC is still a couple of days off, but I've had my first chance in Europe (in my 5 trips) to go into a Catholic church (that was founded in the 1300's) and pray. Budapest is a chill place so far, and the RKC organizer, Peter Lakatos is a first class host and a very impressive man. While I almost thought I'd be roaming around Budapest lost for the first few days of my arrival, he turned all my worries inside out.

At his beautiful home in St. Andrea, just outside of Budapest, I've been able to chill out, catch up a bit on returning e-mails, sleep in late, and hang out with his wonderful family. This soft-spoken, gentle-mannered guy is a hard-ass, though. The chief instructor for Krav Maga Hungary and Hungary's top RKC, he's NO joke.



This afternoon, Peter took me to walk along the Danube, where I spied these ducks swimming along. My son would've been thrilled about them, so I post these "Ducks on the Danube" here in the hope that my wife will show them to him before I return.




The next few days are going to be interesting. Tomorrow, I meet the legendary Gabi of the Hungarian Courage Corner blog!

If you have pics of me from the last couple weeks, please e-mail them to me. Thanks!!!

Still Snifflin'

Damn... I don't know what's taking me so long to kick this thing completely, but my nose is still a little sniffly. It's like Custer's last stand up in there. My lungs are basically clear, aside from the occasional furball (as Pavel would call it), but I'm still not yet at 100%. Bollocks, I say!

Started the morning off with a little more Taegeuk action 5 reps each of 1-3, then hit the beach to train a client. As the session wrapped up, Courtney got to do her workout, and Pavel rolled up wearing the KBLA shirt. I couldn't have been happier without a winning lottery ticket. :)

While my client was taking breaks between sets, I hit the pullup bar to whip a quick 5 reps out (sternum to bar) and demonstrated fine points of the clean, allowing me to sneak in 10L/10R @ 24kg. Later, while Courtney was training and I was watching Squealie, I snuck in a little more GTG'ing. While Squealie was sitting on my shoulders and watching Uncle Pavel doing his TGUs, I did Cub pistols 2L/2R. I also snuck in a few reps of my favorite Kossack-Pistol combo 5L/5R, still with Squealie on my shoulders.

It's amazing how much extra work it is to do something with a moving object. The pistol-Kossack exercise I do usually isn't much of a strain with a 35lb KB, but a 20-some pound toddler on my shoulders felt like more work for sure!

Since today's a relatively family-oriented day (although I have a business dinner from 5 - 10pm, I'm going to try to crank out some more KB work when/if Squealie the Cub goes down for his afternoon nap. Wish me luck!

On another note, I just heard from my dear friend and Scottish brother, Rannoch Donald, RKC, that he has to withdraw from the Denmark RKC to handle some things. While it certainly won't be anywhere near the same without my dear friend and compadre, it will still be a kick-arse time. Vadim Kolganov is coming, and I'm going to have a great time cranking out an interview with him, as well as assisting my mentor again.

That's all for now. Hopefully more in a bit! Going to go down some herbal concoction of mine and hope that it helps me kick the last little bit of this flu.
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OK... after running errands, doing the domestic thing for a bit, and then spending the majority of the afternoon sitting in traffic on the 405 to see my accountant, I'm heading off to my business meeting & running late. Today might have to be my light day, and then I'll just pay for it dearly later tonight or tomorrow AM.... or... maybe I'll just look like a weirdo and sneak in a quick few pistols during bathroom breaks.

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True to my prediction, the meeting ran WAAAAY late. Luckily, whenever one of the participants had to take a loo-break, the pistoling got some GTG love with a rep or two here & there. An end-of-the-day set, however, was not gonna happen. I rolled into the apartment at 11:30pm, kissed my son, and passed out cold.

Recap on Scotland - Kettlebells, Castles, & Camaraderie

What a trip!!!

I'm glad to be back home for a bit, and I'm looking forward to seeing my family this weekend, but what a GREAT trip this was to Scotland. What was essentially a few hours more than 4 days worth of time in Scotland turned out to be far more productive than I'd have ever imagined.

Wednesday evening - As blogged below, I spent the first few hours off the plane by teaching a basic level Combat Shuai-Chiao workshop to Krav Maga Edinburgh.

Thursday - Reviewed Level 1 RKC techniques with my outstanding host Rannoch Donald, RKC, introduced the Level 2 techniques, and then got the physio treatment (also as blogged below).

Friday - Reviewed more Level 1 fine points, and then continued with Level 2 again with Rannoch, then went off to interview Vadim Kolganov. Vadim is a rarity among folks. He's a high ranking Sambo practitioner, a spinal rehabilitation specialist who trained at the Valentin Dikul Institute (yes, the same paraplegic turned strongman Valentin Dikul that Pavel talks about all the time in his writings), and one of those rare individuals who is TRULY a good human being. Despite his skill, achievements, and depth of knowledge in many fields (including kettlebells), Koganov is deeply humble and highly analytical.

He knew of Pavel before I got there, did his homework, and already had both Enter the Kettlebell and Naked Warrior.

I'd already seen video of Kolganov doing kettlebells on Youtube, so I wondered if he might be quite set in his ways. Rannoch, however, was quite sure that Vadim was not the type to be so close-minded, and he was certainly correct.

Anyways, we did a somewhat impromptu photo shoot and interview for Black Belt Magazine, focused on his understanding of Sambo. Kolganov explained a LOT of very good detail to me, as I knew very little about Sambo. Our conversations covered Sambo history, development, tradition, and strategy. I also found out that the founder of R.O.S.S., General Alexander Retuinskih, is one of his teachers.

Saturday - Glasgow Workshop: A sold out appearance for the KBLA/KBS tagteam, and Vadim Kolganov showed up. Not only did Vadim participate as a student, but he also helped a couple of the absolute newbies as well. The Glaswegians did an amazing job with not only duplicating the technique, but also being able to demonstrate their understanding of the finer points. Any professor will tell you that you know how much the students are paying attention to what you're saying by what kind of questions your students ask, and the participants in the Glasgow seminar were absolutely dialed in.

The day finished with Vadim giving me my first pair of Sambo boots, a magazine, & DVDs and encouraging me to come back some time to train.

Sunday - Edinburgh Workshop: ANOTHER SOLD-OUT performance! :-) This was a good end to a busy few days. Edinburgh saw a packed house getting the same treatment as Glasgow... highly detailed information coupled with lots of practice and constant thinking.

The attendees were as varied as they were in Glasgow - young studs who were looking to make a name for themselves in NHB fighting, trainers, physiotherapists, athletes, and retired folks who were simply looking to stay in shape. Both workshops had instructors under Guro Inosanto, and both had fighters. The Edinburgh workshop was graced by a professional British boxer who was perhaps the most intent on improving his form and developing his technique. I was surprised how many people came up to Scotland from England on both days.

After the workshop, Vadim came over to Rannoch's house for a second interview, and brought another slew of gifts - a calendar poster of his teacher, a Russian doll, several more Sambo DVDs, a Russian Imperial Eagle hatpin, a SCOTROSS pin, a Russian bear sculpture, and a bottle of REAL Russian vodka. The writing on the bottle's completely in Cyrillic, so I have no doubt that it's gooooood stuff.

We talked extensively about his feelings about kettlebells, about the Hard Style RKC system, and orthopedic medicine. With Kolganov's background as a spinal rehab specialist trained at the world-famous Valentin Dikul Institute, he had a bag of modalities VERY similar to my own Tui-Na. He told me that he was inspired to look more closely at kettlebells as rehabilitative tools after my seminar, recalling the many feats that Dikul used to do with kettlebells.

For those of you who are dying to get to an RKC post haste, you're in luck. The May RKC in Copenhagen, Denmark is still not yet sold out, and Vadim Kolganov himself has now enrolled. If you want to train HARD STYLE in the land of the Vikings and meet a serious Soviet badass, then REGISTER NOW!

After a great Sunday workshop, a long shower, and a short nap, I woke up early to have Rannoch see me off at EDI, as I began the multi-legged journey home (EDI to London-Gatwick, to Dallas-Fort Worth, and finally to LAX).

Just a little over a week, and I'll be back in the air... This time to Auckland, New Zealand, where Mike Capper, RKC, is preparing a blockbuster workshop. If you're going to be in NZ or have friends in Australia or New Zealand, please send them to THIS page!

Looking forward to seeing you all in the VERY near future, wherever you are in the world!

Scotland - Day 1.5

Landed in Scotland, dropped some bags off at Rannoch's and went straight to Krav Maga Edinburgh to teach some Combat Shuai-Chiao. I'm demonstrating the set-up for the "la" pulling throw in the picture above. The reception was a warm one, and I'm pleased that the martial arts are thriving here in Scotland.

After class, I gorged on fish & chips and then went to sleep far too quickly. The next morning, did some minor adjusting of the Hard Style form with Rannoch and started going over the Level 2 lifts. Training then moved out of KBs and back into martial arts later in the day, as we covered some of the fundamentals of Kalis Ilustrissimo as taught to me by Prof. Roy Harris. Rannoch's elder son, Pete, did wonderfully at it, as did Rannoch.

The late morning saw me visiting the same physio who treats Inosanto Academy representative Guro Rick Young. Kim's excellent. On a par with LA's finest for sure. She had me so knocked out that I could barely stay awake in the car on the way back to the house. Thinking that I'd take a quick nap for an hour and get up to walk in the hills, I ended up sleeping like a brick for +4 hours. Serious therapy.

This morning (now Friday at 9am here), we're going over a bit more kettlebellery and then have an interview with Vadim Kolganov, the Sambo expert featured on Human Weapon. It's going to be quite a fun day!