Swing into 2024- Best Kettlebell Courses

Ready to take on a new level of fitness for you and your clients by getting certified in kettlebell training? 

Kettlebell workouts are redefining the fitness industry as it promotes higher fat loss, stronger core strength, and an increase in the body’s flexibility and balance.  Because kettlebells use explosive, power movements that rely on speed and momentum, the proper training and certification levels are crucial to ensure your client’s safety to maximize their workout. 

With many courses to choose from, you need to do your research to find the best course for you.  Good news!  We did the research for you. 

Spoiler alert– here are our 4 favorite courses:

Why Train with Kettlebells?

Why kettlebells, you ask?  Not only did we research the best safe and effective kettlebell courses for you, but we had a look at the science as well. 

The Science of Kettlebells

Are kettlebell workouts really effective?  Yes, they are! 

A University of Wisconsin study in 2012 showed that people who took kettlebell classes twice a week for nine weeks had a 70% increase in core strength and a 10.7% increase in dynamic balance.  Both attributes are essential for helping back pain and stabilizing our bodies as we age.

Another study done by the Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health, where people performed kettlebell exercises three times a week for eight weeks, showed a decrease in both neck and shoulder pain and their lower back. 

In fact, many physical therapy facilities are adopting kettlebell exercises to rehab their patients.

The results are in, and kettlebell workouts are proven to work!

Kettlebells versus Dumbbells

So why kettlebells and not dumbbells? 

If you are a fitness professional or simply into fitness, chances are that you are already using dumbbells, and they work just fine for beginners and basic movements. 

Are you ready for an extra challenge? 

Kettlebells allow for more dynamic movements, varying workouts, and improved grip strength.  While dumbbell exercises target a specific muscle group, a versatile kettlebell session allows for a full-body workout. 

Additionally,  athletes burn up to 20 calories per minute when using kettlebells, accelerating results.

Can Kettlebells change my Muscle Definition?

Kettlebell coach, Taco Fleur, explains that since kettlebell exercises continuously activate your core and consist of compound exercises working many different muscle groups, muscle definition is synonymous with kettlebell training. 

In addition, muscle stabilizers- muscles that stabilize a joint for movement to be completed by another joint – are usually neglected in most training exercises. 

The good news?  Kettlebell exercises work muscle stabilizers resulting in stronger balance and muscle strength. 

If you want muscle definition, kettlebells are your jam.

How do I become a Kettlebell Certified Instructor?

Kettlebell training is not just a fad, and it’s here to stay.  So how do you get started on your certification to teach others? 

To get certified, you need to make sure that the certification course you choose is credible within the fitness industry. 

Not all courses are made the same, and you want to search for training that is directly in line with kettlebell experts who have proven themselves in the industry. 

One of the most important things is to make sure the kettlebell certification process is the company’s primary goal.  It shouldn’t be a company’s side gig.  Now it’s time to get your kettlebell knowledge going.

Benefits of taking a Kettlebell Certification Course

Are you wondering if taking a kettlebell certification course is necessary?  In short, the answer is yes. 

Even if you are not a fitness professional and just want to learn about kettlebells, kettlebell courses give you faster results than trying to teach yourself the proper techniques. 

While some of the courses are pricey, the benefits of educating yourself on the proper methods and having a valid certification far outweigh the cost. 

Getting certified from the top instructors in the industry also gives you an advantage in teaching others, knowing you have the proper skills to offset injury and maximize your workout’s effectiveness.  Plus, as they say, practice makes perfect, and knowledge is power.

What are the Essential Elements for a Course?

Before we list the best courses your money can buy, let’s discuss the essentials that must be considered. Here are the two fundamental principles for kettlebell training.

• Identifying your client’s sound movement abilities
• Becoming an expert in teaching dynamic movements

To go even further, we’ve broken down what the courses should include ensuring those two principles are upheld:

• Strategies to evaluate your client’s movement abilities
• Safe training practices for an effective workout
• Movement screenings and client evaluations
• Regression training is just as important as progression training

So which is the Best Kettlebell Course?

Several training courses are more credible in the fitness industry and will give you more knowledge on how to safely and effectively conduct exercises. 

Dragondoor RKC, a kettlebell certification started by Pavel  Tsatsouline (the kettlebell pioneer), is the most credible, focuses on the fundamentals, and is a 3-day training program. 

The International Kettlebell and Fitness Foundation (IKFF) is another credible course that focuses on the sport of kettlebell and long cycle lifting, a favorite for a kettlebell athlete. 

The Onnit Kettlebell certification puts its value in stepping outside of the box and changing up the fundamental kettlebell moves with different versions. 

Many have also wondered if taking a StrongFirst course is a good idea.  While you will learn some of the basic movements, including the very important kettlebell swing, some suggest that this course is too costly for just 1 day of training. 

As you can see, there are a variety of courses depending on your skill level and kettlebell knowledge so picking the right one for you is essential to your fitness career.

Best Online Kettlebell Courses

Now times have changed and maybe you need a kettlebell course and certification but you can’t make it to an in-person course.  Well, the next two courses are available exclusively online, and once completed, you are certified! 

One course offers you the ability to learn kettlebell basics from the comfort of your living room using audiobooks, training guides, and videos.  The other course utilizes Zoom live classes taught by kettlebell professionals to make you a kettlebell expert in no time! 

Let’s dive in and see what the courses have to offer.

1. The Hybrid Athlete- Kettlebell 1.0

If you’re looking for a quick and easy solution, The Hybrid Athlete’s Kettlebell 1.0 program is the perfect solution. It is the brain child of the Veranne brothers, Joe and Anthony, who are ex-military, certified fitness professionals.

They designed the course based on the premise that kettlebell fitness should be accessible to all budgets and experience levels, making this the most flexible and easy to consumer course we’ve found. Simply buy, read through the first pages of explanation, print the workouts, and do them.

If you’re ever in doubt about the exercise, go back to your phone, tablet, or computer, and click on the exercise to gain more information.

You can simply buy, download the workouts, print them or access them via mobile and follow the program.

There’s extra content on nutrition, rest, and how to maximize gains that are of excelent quality, but to be honest, you don’t quite need them to complete the program successfully.

You will need access to a kettlebell, ideally a few, and nothing else.

You’ll also gain access to a facebook group with other customers.

The price is unbeatable and the delivery is dead simple. For that reason, this is our favorite kettlebell program.

Here’s an example of a week in the program. There is one extra section on the next page. All exercises are linked to a video example / explanation.

We’ve also found that customer support is quick to answer and very helpful.

2. Onnit 6: Kettlebell

If you’ve been reading our articles for a while you might have noticed we are somewhat of an ONNIT groupie.

We’ve done almost all their training programs and we universally love them.

The ONNIT 6 Kettlebell course is no exception.

At 6 weeks, it’s somewhat short, though its price point reflects that. We’ve also found that it’s quite easy to transform it into a 3-month+ program by modifying the workouts slightly or staying longer in each difficulty level.

3. Caveman Kettlebell Training Course

Ready to take a kettlebell course but worried you won’t have time? 

The Caveman Kettlebell Training Course is perfect for you because you go at your own pace.  All of the training documentation is emailed directly to you upon sign up via audiobooks, videos, or PDF so you can learn the material whichever way works best for you. 

Not only that, but there are different courses available based on your experience level and objectives.

There isn’t a timeline so you can create a schedule that functions best for your current situation. 

The beauty of this course is there is no rush.  Get it done on your time.

IFKK Certified Kettlebell Trainer

This course is proof that the pandemic will not slow us down.  Get certified from the comfort of your home via live Zoom classes and learn the kettlebell basics from trained professionals. 

This kettlebell principle-based teaching method educates you on how to be a professional in the fitness industry while training you on breathing, proper technique, and the importance of warm-ups and cooldowns. 

The program also shows common errors in kettlebell training.  This helps to ensure the safety of you and your customers as they reach their fitness goals.

Best Kettlebell Courses with a Certification

As we said, you need to find a credible course and focused on how to safely and effectively use kettlebells.

Sit back and relax because we compiled a great list of the best certification courses, and it’s time to break it down. 

Let’s rock and roll.

1. Dragondoor RKC Certification

Get certified from the course that brought kettlebell training to the forefront of the fitness industry. 

This program has accolades from Olympic bronze and silver medalist Dennis Koslowski, who stated this program would have won him gold medals had it been around in the 80s. 

A state of the art program, the Russian Kettlebell Certification features a 3-day intensive training that teaches you the six fundamental kettlebell lifts as well as more intense lifts to challenge your clientele. 

A mobility complex to evaluate your clients and an extensive program design with ladders, sets, loads, and variations solidifies this training as top-notch. 

Also, for a limited time, the best kettlebell certification around is offering $100 off if you register before January 29, 2024.  Mic drop!

2. SFG 1 Kettlebell Certification

This certification goes above teaching the basic movements and focuses on the principles behind them. 

The SFG 1 Kettlebell Certification uses instructors that are highly trained in all kettlebell movements to ensure that they are teaching you precise techniques that will eventually lead to your customer’s success. 

With such a reputable certification, your clients will know they are being trained by the best of the best.

3. Onnit Kettlebell Certification

Check out Onnit Kettlebell Certification and learn the effective fundamentals of kettlebells as well as new, innovative movements. 

Their “think outside the box” mentality gives a different slice to the six basic kettlebell movements and brings some variety to your customers. 

This course teaches you how to design creative, effective workouts that will change your customer’s physique in no time at all.  You will help your clients achieve the title of strong, competent athlete by making their success your goal.

4. Living Fit Kettlebell Certification

Take a course that promotes safety first and foremost.  By the end of this course, you will not only have mastered the main kettlebell movements and their variations, but you will also learn the importance of breathing throughout your workout. 

With movement assessments for your clients as well as screenings to keep them safe, this course has all you need to become a kettlebell rockstar.

Final Thoughts

In the end, whether you pick a state of the art course like Dragondoor RFC or an online course where you go at your own pace, the right course will promote your fitness education to the next level and have you mastering the basic skills. 

The top movements to master — the deadlift, squat, press, two-arm swing and farmer’s walk — are the backbone to kettlebell training and will lead you to greater success as a fitness professional. 

Check out The Fitness Tribe’s Top 5 Kettlebell Exercises You Should Master to get more detail on each of these movements.