“…Hanging over the gym’s only clock in the center of the kettlebell room directly across from four wooden platforms is a banner printed on an old roll of computer paper.  In faded Russian red letters, it reads: I Am Champion.  Fedor pointed to it right away and then brought his index finger to his forehead with more to say about it.  “This is not about arrogance,” Valery began to translate, “This is about using your mind and believing in yourself.  You must be the one to think you are a champion in order to become one,” Fedor wisely advised…” READ MORE

Maya and Surya with 15x World Champion Fedor Fuglev

The ladies are back from the World Kettlebell Club’s Ukrainian Sport Camp hosted at the historic training facility of 15x World Champion, Fedor Fuglev (who is 48 years of age by the way, but wait till you see the stuff he does).  With more than 24 hours of travel time and 4 flights to get home, they are a bit jet lagged, but full of immense gratitude for their incredible experience.  Maya and Surya promise to chronicle their most amazing excursion to date on the ICKB site very soon.  Until then, here is a video of their once in a lifetime adventure to the Black Sea.

Best,

Steven

Check out the 2nd Annual Ice Chamber WKC Trainer Certification course from this weekend.  Congratulations to all the new World Kettlebell Club Graduates!

We want to thank all the participants for traveling across the state, country, and world to visit us for this incredible event.

"Take your mind off of the numbers and focus on the elegance of your execution." -Maya

Australia’s 1st Master of Sport, Emily Friedel interviews Maya about motherhood, double jerks for women, and the history of the ICKB Girls:

You are a mother, as is one of your team members, how have you guys achieved such a high level of lifting with so much else going on in your lives?

“…I think kettlebell fitness, as opposed to sport, is far more compatible with my lifestyle right now, but I got into the competitive aspect of this long before I knew what I was up against as a mother (our son was only 10 months old when we first started competing).  The only reason I didn’t give up after a series of disappointments and failed attempts on the platform is because Steve, Jess, Sara, and Surya wouldn’t let me…”

READ the FULL interview HERE

Here is a wonderfully informative  interview Maya conducted with our great friend Catherine Imes.  In her most extensive interview to date,  Cate discusses the importance of proper lifting and fixation, coaching perspectives, and… her favorite T-Shirt.  This is a must-read for both enthusiasts and competitors alike.  Enjoy!

Best,

Steven

Surya claims her Master of Sport victory after her last rep...

Congratulations to ICKB Girls Sara & Surya for earning their Master of Sport rank in the Long Cycle this past weekend at the 2010 Arnold Sports Festival!

Sara at the top of the Long Cycle Clean & Jerk

“Leading up to the moment, Sara was nervous and nauseous, but she fired off her set with classic well-trained speed strength and I didn’t see an ounce of doubt after rep one….”

Read full report here.

We are constantly inspired by women breaking barriers!  Take a look at the world’s best, Russian Champion Oksana Nikifor in action…

Another Ice Chamber exclusive video:

Using visual cues and his undeniable charisma, check out World Champion Fedor Fuglev crossing several language barriers to offer tips and coaching advice to international lifters in Latvia.

Click here to watch video

Enjoy!

The ICKB Girls were invited to Google Headquarters in Mountain View, CA to showcase the art of Kettlebell lifting.  We had the great pleasure of bringing something we feel so passionate about to one of the most innovative companies in the world!

Thank you to all the Googlers for making us feel at home.  And huge thanks for the nice apparel and organic food. 

Enjoy this 3 minute clip of our team’s performance.

Best,

Steven

Here’s a link to a great article on a Russian site for Kettlebell Lifting.  It is an interview with Valery Fedorenko about the emergence of Kettlebell Sport in the U.S.

Valery comes from humble beginnings, but his significance in the sport of Kettlebell lifting is immense.  For those just getting to know him, he is arguably the best 75kg lifter in the history of Kettlebell Sport.  He is the first person to Snatch over 200 reps with the 32kg bell in competition and to earn 3 Titles in 1 performance (Junior Absolute Champion,  Men’s  80kg Champion [there wasn't a 75kg category then], and Coefficient Champion).  He is also one of a few in the sport to earn the Honored Master of Sport Title (Hall of Famer) in addition to World, Russian/USSR, Sportkiada, Belarus, Kazhakstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tartarstan, and European Champion titles, all before the age of 25.  His biathlon record is still unbeaten today if you factor in body weight.

If you can read Russian, here is the link:  http://www.girevik-online.ru/index.php/news/142-interview-with-valery-fedorenko. Otherwise, you will have to use an online translator (like Google Translate) for an English version.

It is a great read about Kettlebell Sport in America from an international perspective.  And oh, the IC Kettlebell Team was also mentioned.

Best,
Steven