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The Hardstyle Kettlebell Challenge: A Fundamental Guide To Training For Strength And Power Kindle Edition

by Dan John (Author), Mark Fisher (Foreword), Mary Carol Fitzgerald (Photographer) Format: Kindle Edition
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 479 ratings
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The HKC—A Magical Method for Mastering Your Body
Want the world’s most effective program for becoming leaner, faster, more powerful, more explosive and stronger—in less time? And want that program to keep you performing at your strongest and best for years to come? Then, The Hardstyle Kettlebell Challenge is for you.
The magic of the HKC program is that you only need three main exercises to deliver these results. Using Dragon Door’s gold-standard HKC kettlebell certification program as his basis, Dan John lays out a field-tested set of protocols for athletic excellence and high-level physical performance, whatever your current condition.

“Dan John is one of the premier strength coaches on the planet. I was thrilled to see him focus a book on the fundamental aspects of kettlebell training, the HKC. The kettlebell swing, goblet squat, and Turkish get-up represent movements that have been a foundation of my own strength programming for both my patients in the clinic, and fitness clients in the gym. I have seen profound changes in health and performance using Hardstyle kettlebell methods, from the fire fighter recovering from a low back injury, to training partners at my Brazilian Jiu Jitsu academy.
 
Dan breaks down the core Hardstyle kettlebell movements like no one else.  I thought I had a firm grasp of the technique, programming, and application of the swing, get-up, and goblet squat until I read this amazing book. He truly goes a mile deep on the subject with no fluff, and filled in the missing pieces for me that I didn’t even know I had. This is an absolute must read for any coach or trainer looking to incorporate kettlebells into their clients’ training. The HKC is also a great starting point for the average person wanting to start strength training but who is lost in the internet sea of (mis)information overload.
 
I give Dan John’s The Hardstyle Kettlebell Challenge my highest recommendation, absolutely essential reading for the coach or trainee.”—
Chris Hardy, D.O. MPH CSCS, Physician and Strength Coach, author of Strong Medicine

“Dan John has put into words so succinct and with laser precision, the absolute value and meaning of Hardstyle kettlebell training. The fact that this comes from such a renowned strength coach gives it a weight that is impossible to ignore.

This book should be in every kettlebell lifter’s library. Even if you have been using or teaching kettlebells for years, there is something in there for you.”—Andrea Du Cane, Master RKC, author The Ageless Body

"If you’re serious about strength training, you study Dan John. If you’re serious about kettlebells, you study Hardstyle. The Hardstyle Kettlebell Challenge gives you both. What more could you want?"—Pat Flynn, author of Paleo Workouts For Dummies

"Coaches with Dan John's breadth of experience and knowledge are few and far between. Even rarer is one who can articulate their ideas so clearly, and in such an entertaining manner.  Dan has an uncanny ability to draw parallels between seemingly unrelated topics and put difficult concepts into words we can all understand.

Mr. John's incredible combination of world-class teaching skills and phenomenal writing talent make The Hardstyle Kettlebell Challenge an essential read for any fitness trainer or serious student of strength.

My primary training modality isn't even kettlebells—it's calisthenics—but this book still gave me ideas and insights I could immediately put to use."—Al Kavadlo, PCC Lead Instructor, co-author of Get Strong
Dan John has the gift of taking extremely complex concepts and making them simple. So much of this book left me nodding my head. The information contained within these pages is indispensable, yet easily approachable. Truly, the author’s humor, wisdom and personal anecdotes make The Hardstyle Kettlebell Challenge a fantastic read!”—Danny Kavadlo, author of Strength Rules, co-author of Get Strong



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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B075SKVD4B
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Dragon Door Publications (September 19, 2017)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 19, 2017
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 12152 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 233 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 479 ratings

About the author

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Dan John

Dan John

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Dan John has spent his life with one foot in the world of lifting and throwing, and the other foot in academia. An All-American discus thrower, Dan has also competed at the highest levels of Olympic lifting, Highland Games and the Weight Pentathlon, an event in which he holds the American record.

Dan spends his work life blending weekly workshops and lectures with full-time writing, and is also a religious studies instructor for Columbia College of Missouri. As a Fulbright Scholar, he toured the Middle East exploring the foundations of religious education systems. Moreover, he continues as a Senior Lecturer at St. Mary's University in Twickenham, England.

His books on weightlifting include Before We Go, Can You Go?, Intervention, Never Let Go, Fat Loss Happens on Monday with Josh Hillis, Mass Made Simple, Hardstyle Kettlebell Challenge, 40 Years with a Whistle and Easy Strength, written with Pavel Tsatsouline, as well as the short piece, From Dad to Grad.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
479 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Doing the basics to a high standard
Reviewed in the United States on January 21, 2024
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This book is simple, to the point, and easy to read. It is filled with a wealth of useful details, tips, and programs. The point made is that doing basic things to a high standard is hard and very important and for swings, goblet squats, and get-ups here is one good way to do that
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Mark McDonough
5.0 out of 5 stars Extremely Worthwhile
Reviewed in the United States on September 30, 2017
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This book is aimed more at the professional trainer or coach than at the average fitness fan - but wait!

I'm a not quite geriatric but definitely older kettlebell enthusiast. I work with a trainer only now and then. I work out in the basement far more often than in the gym. In other words I'm no elite athlete.

And I found lots of value here. I found some exercise sequences I never would have thought of on my own that I could do right away (just did one). I found a lot of useful tips, things to think about, and ideas to explore further. And a lot of hard-won wisdom and perspectives on working out and even on aging.

Money well spent!

Oh, one technical comment on the Kindle version - it would be great if the table of contents also linked to the sub headings instead of just the main sections of the book. It would make the TOC much more useful.
24 people found this helpful
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Chris
4.0 out of 5 stars There is a lot of great content in this book
Reviewed in the United States on October 21, 2017
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There is a lot of great content in this book, and Dan John always explains things very clearly. The one downside is that many of the paragraphs and sections are repeated from previous books. Often, the repetition is nearly verbatim. The amount of new material is limited, and if you have read a few of Dan John's other books, this one doesn't add much. That being said, there are some new drills (such as the standing bird-dog) which are golden. Overall, this book was worth the read, and I don't regret purchasing it.
3 people found this helpful
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5.0 out of 5 stars Dan John doesn't disappoint
Reviewed in the United States on October 10, 2017
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I've bought and read just about everything Dan John has written. This book, like all of his work, really distills the subject matter (basic kettlebell training in this case) and extracts the pure essence of it. He does this while still presenting something that is entertaining to read. Anyone who has read more than a few books on strength training will appreciate what a feat that is, as more often than not they tend to devolve into a mess of scientific sounding terms and marketing for other books. The book itself contains no real ground breaking revelations and the exercises and techniques (with the possible exception of his vertical plank series) have all been written about elsewhere. That said, this is possibly the best text on the basic rkc/sfg fundamental movements I have read. Yes Pavel and co. did it first but Dan has stripped away the hyperbole and fluff and left us with a solid foundational text.
15 people found this helpful
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Gregory P.
5.0 out of 5 stars Very well thought out programming.
Reviewed in the United States on August 24, 2019
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I pretty much own every kettlebell book that is available on Amazon. My passion in life is Health and Fitness. I speak from 25 years of training experience when I say this book is not only one of the top kettlebell books I've read, but one of the best books on overall training. Mainly because of the programming it contains. Many fitness books these days have more "fluff" and not enough programming. I love the simplicity and how it's put together. He incorporates into every workout: push, pull, squat, hinge and press, and in between: core work (planks and bird dogs), and throws conditioning in very smartly without over training: farmer carries, waiter walks and swings. Dan also focuses on mobility work which I like.

I've highlighted many phrases and have learned some good info. In my opinion this book contains priceless info.
11 people found this helpful
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Kindle Customer
3.0 out of 5 stars Excellent if you are a trainer
Reviewed in the United States on January 21, 2019
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This manual and would be useful to have in one's training library if you are a trainer looking for applications of the basic kettlebell exercises in a general program or you are preparing for a kettlebell training certification. Otherwise, Simple and Sinister by Pavel Tsatsouline is the one. Dan John's prose is lively and enjoyable . I appreciated the breakdown of the swing and the mobility drills relating to the get-up. However, for most people Pavel's book is a far superior investment.
10 people found this helpful
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CIL
5.0 out of 5 stars great stuff
Reviewed in the United States on July 25, 2022
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Jam packed with Dan John genius. Loaded with great workouts and insights. Especially useful if you’re a trainer. If you’re interested in strength training, and kettlebells in particular with this book—read Dan John. Your body will thank you.
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B. Welshans
4.0 out of 5 stars DJ goes into great detail on how to get maximum value from your KBs
Reviewed in the United States on February 20, 2021
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I'm a big Dan John fan and have most of his books. This one is highly focused on using the kettlebell, particularly the swing, goblet squat and getup. Very detailed. But also gives some good mobility tips. May not be for everybody but is a good resource for KB newbies and experienced practitioners alike
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Christophe REGNAULT
5.0 out of 5 stars Très enrichissant
Reviewed in France on September 5, 2021
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Les fondamentaux avec le KB.
Beaucoup de conseils issus de la grande expérience de Dan John.
Bien illustré.
Une lecture très enrichissante avec des modèles d'entraînement simples mais extrêmement efficaces.
Je recommande ce livre.
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Straight forward and focused
Reviewed in Canada on March 5, 2020
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I've read through a few of Dan's books in the last couple years and live how they always get me to reign in an over zealous gym ego. This one was again an enjoyable read and will have me continuing with the kind of training that has been proven to result in progression.
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Iván G.
2.0 out of 5 stars Simple and basic
Reviewed in Spain on March 9, 2021
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Muy americano y muy de opinar sin justificar... simplemente por el imperativo categórico de...
Mucha información sobre las kettelbells y movimientos asociados que de hechan en falta, como un snatch aunque sea lineal
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Giuliano Lemes Pereira
5.0 out of 5 stars Melhor livro sobre treinamento de kettlebell já escrito
Reviewed in Brazil on November 20, 2017
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Dan John, de forma simples e eficiente, nos leva a entender que o treinamento eficiente de kettlebell, como qualquer treinamento, é simples e tem suas bases que devem ser respeitadas. O livro é muito bem estruturado, apresentando exemplos de treinamento completos, inclusive o minimo necessário. Imperdível!
2 people found this helpful
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Chris Worth
5.0 out of 5 stars Provides the missing link in kettlebell exercise: the "why"
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 6, 2017
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While I've read a lot of Dragon Door books, this was my first by Dan John. Happy to say it's excellent - for me, for three specific reasons.

First up is the basic philosophy he goes into, which sets the scene for the whole book (and is, I understand, Dan John's whole approach to coaching.) The "relaxed tension" he talks about simply means the body's ability to "snap into action", trained by learning to match strength with skill and getting the best bang-per-buck from any exercise you do. It's not a new idea - goes back to Charles Atlas and "dynamic tension" - but Dan John explains it better than I've seen anywhere else.

Second, he relates the problems of modern living - mainly hip flexor mobility, T-spine mobility, and rotary movement - as the basis for the three core exercises in the book: the swing, goblet squat, and get-up. In other words, the natural human movements most missing from modern lifestyles are the ones best corrected by the HKC! It provides the "why" that's missing from many programmes, and for me was an "Aha" moment.

Of course, there are many variants of the three basic kettlebell moves, and many are listed. But this book, really, is all about the core trio and their correct execution. Dan's not so much a coach as a philosopher, providing the "why" that leads to deeper understanding.

Finally, Dan's timing in publishing the book couldn't be better - a few weeks before I take the HKC myself :-)
7 people found this helpful
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