KETTLEBELLS AND BEYOND
Functional Strength Training and Conditioning
"Using Old School Tools for the New Age"
| First rate trainer | Rated 10 out of 10 |
| I've been with Steve since February 2007 and can say that he's a 1st class trainer. His easy going and friendly manner make our kettlebell sessions that much more enjoyable. He's genuinely concerned about my progress and committed to my success, and that's why I've continued with our sessions (not to mention that I'm very happy with my progress!).If you are looking for a knowledgeable trainer (and a nice guy too!), then Steve's your man. Felix - Los Angeles, CA | |
| True Student of the Iron Game | Rated 10 out of 10 |
| I have been training with Steve Belanger at Old School Barbell for over a year now. I met Steve at his first meeting of the Southern California Kettlebell Club, and subsequently began lifting with him that very day. While training with Steve, I was able to bring my deadlift up 100 pounds in just one year to 407# at 173 pounds body weight. Steve's knowledge of powerlifting, kettlebells, and many other aspects of strength and conditioning seem boundless. He is always willing to answer any and all of my questions and dispell suggestions and advice with an easy-going attitude. With 26-plus years of experience in the strength game, he is capable of helping anyone at any level of strength and conditioning achieve their goals, from novice to elite. Caesar Marciales - San Pedro, CA | |
| Great Instructor | Rated 10 out of 10 |
| I have trained with Steve for a little while now. I have had two surgeries for shoulder dislocations in the past, and on my first visit he prompted the discussion of my shoulder health. He immediately prescribed some exercises I have not seen before, and I now perform as a warm up to all of my kettlebell workouts. My shoulders feel very healthy as a result. Under his instruction I have been able to improve my technique greatly. For instance, before seeing Steve I was stuck at the 16kg kettlebell for reps on the snatch before seeing Steve, and this last week I was able to get up to 50 total with the 24kg kettlebell in a 10 minute set, way past previous numbers. He has likewise helped me improve in many other areas: swing, clean, press, and jerk in particular. He consistently checks my form and provides valuable update even when I am performing my gasser circuits at the end of the workout, and he does this in a very easy going manner. In my opinion this is the key to a good coach, the reiteration of the basic rules throughout instruction. His workouts are not just the basics though, and he provides new and interesting ways to improve. On the last workout we concentrated on swing variations which incorporated a larger agility and hand eye coordination component. This was very fun and very hard at the same time, and I can see my kettlebell workouts reaching far beyond what I originally thought. Steve is a great instructor, and I wish I had found him sooner. Scott - Huntington Beach, CA USA | |
| Top-notch instruction | Rated 10 out of 10 |
| I am 50 years old, and though I have trained with weights for years, started using kettlebells just recently. As I was getting to the point of lifting heavier, I knew I needed to get some formal instruction, to make sure I was doing the lifts correctly. There are no RKCs near where I live, so I scheduled a session with Steve while visiting Southern California. You may think one session is too little information to go on, but let me tell you that this single session has had and will continue to have a major impact on my lifting. Steve is one of the most personable and friendly guys you could imagine. He has a easy-going, low-key style that helps you focus on the task at hand. It was obvious that he knows what is effective, and that his recommendations are based on sound research, personal experience and experience working with a wide variety of lifters of all ages. Steve was attentive to my goals for the session, which were to check my form on basic kettlebell exercises and deadlift. I was immediately able to deadlift 25 lb. more than I had been currently lifting, just based on the changes he suggested, right then and there. When it came to kettlebells, Steve identified improvements I needed to make to my cleans and snatches. In some cases, he had me do drills that immediately fixed the error. In other cases, he demonstrated and described the correct form and coached me through it until I had incorporated the right movement. (Or at least until I had made significant improvement and understood what I still needed to work on.) Steve also took me through new drills to help improve my flexibility, as needed. He finished up by introducing me to some KB juggling which should add some fun to future workouts! I would recommend Steve to any of you that are looking for a great, knowledgeable, likeable instructor that will help you reach your goals. No matter what your level of experience, I am confident he can help you get there! Tim Weber - McAllen, Texas | |
| Helped me lose over 30 lbs. | Rated 10 out of 10 |
| Steve is a great instructor and i'd recommend him to anyone willing to work. He has trained me now on and off for about 5 years mainly in powerlifting. Near the end of june i finally decided i would try to get back on track lifting again. With the help and guidance of such a knowledgable instructor i was able to lose 30 lbs. in less than 3 months. I started at a hefty 208. With a waist size of 46inches. With proper dieting and daily kettle bell work i dropped down to 178 and have a 39 inch waist now. Steve knows what he is doing and knows more than just his kettlebell training. He is very knowledgable and again i recommend him to anyone who needs to get in shape and get stronger. Jeff - Westminster, California | |
| Fun and Challenging Workshop! | Rated 10 out of 10 |
| I really enjoyed Steve's Kettlebell Basics workshop! He presented each technique in a way that was easy to understand, and he made sure each participant was given helpful, personalized instruction. It is obvious that Steve is not only a talented coach, but also sincerely cares about each person's progress and overall fitness goals. Steve is truly a pleasure to learn from! Leslie Keehn - San Diego, California | |
| Great course - outstanding instructor ! | Rated 10 out of 10 |
I just took my first k- bell course ever, with Steve this past weekend. Steve is an old school style coach and mentor, very dedicated and interested in his students. He loves what he does, and it shows. He's a former wrestler, and a martial artist. Great introductory class, yet he's equipped to coach advanced athletes, as well. Randy Siegel - Costa Mesa, CA | |
| A master of his craft! | Rated 10 out of 10 |
| I have only been training with Steve for a short period of time but I can honestly say that I've learned more over the last couple of months than I had in my previous 10 years of training. Steve's knowledge, expert instruction, and incredible passion for the iron game are taking my training to new heights. He is truly a master of his craft. I only wish I had found him sooner. Ken Thornton - Fountain Valley, CA | |
| A Great Workshop & Awesome Saturday! | Rated 10 out of 10 |
| Right from the onset, I believed that this workshop was going to be great! Steve did not disappoint. He was sensitive to my current level of fitness and strength and to an injury I sustained by jumping from airplanes for the good ol' USA. Steve was very professional and positive, a natural teacher. He kept me very motivated and scrutinized my style with a knowledgeable eye. I can't wait to share this experience with others. Presently, I am looking for colleagues in my teaching profession to take another workshop with me. It was off the hook! Charles A. LaMantia - World's Finest Dee Jay - Norwalk, CA | |
| Passionate Instruction with Individualized Programs | Rated 10 out of 10 |
| I have known Steve for many years. I only recently asked him for personalized instruction because I didn't think my needs were serious enough for his training sessions. After only one visit I was hooked and was very surprisingly pleased. Steve's goals are YOUR goals. He sits down with you and makes a program to fit your needs, your physique, your goals and your body. He is constantly looking out for your well being by not forcing your body to strain itself unaturally and showing proper technique. He is constantly checking on your body's performance with each exercise by asking how you feel and adjusting accordingly. He is very patient and always lets you know what a good job you are doing which builds up your confidence. He does not get frustrated when you have to be shown more than once how to do something properly. He just comes up with another angle and voila! You have it down. You come out of his sessions feeling empowered, accomplished and ready for the next visit. His knowledge and personalization maximizes each session's potential for the student. If only all trainers could be so compassionate for their students to succeed! Erin - Midway City, CA | |
| Beginner Class | Rated 10 out of 10 |
| I just took a 4 hour beginner's course with Steve Belanger. I would recommend this class to anyone interested in getting educated regarding kettlebells. I am a writer and performance coach and found it very informative. Steve was professional, took his time to help each individual in class and I came away with the right knowledge to get me started. Thanks Steve! Thomas Ritz - Thousand Oaks, CA | |
| True Professional | Rated 10 out of 10 |
Steve is a true professional. He takes the time to train his clients safely and effectivly. He interviewed me to determine what my goals are, my current ability and any past injuries I have had in order to train me safely. Steve does not use cookie-cutter approaches to training and will tailor a program to the individual which is unique. This is exactly what someone should look for in a personal trainer. I would definitly recommend Steve. As someone with previous athletic expericence in wrestling and boxing I wish I would have trained with Steve while competing. Chris - Orange County, CA | |
| Inspiring and Informative | Rated 10 out of 10 |
| Steve Belanger is an exceptional instructor. From the moment I walked in the door, completely new to any actual KB use, Steve made me feel right at home. His Basic Kettlebell Workshop covered all the exercises from the Enter the Kettlebell book and he broke each one down to really explain the subtleties of each exercise. His knowledge of the exercises and how they apply to a variety of other trainings is fantastic. He was enthusiastic and professional for the whole seminar which was over 4 hours long. With his excellent instruction, I was able to go from book to bell quickly and with ease. I have been training for over 25 years, but he opened a whole new door of understanding in exercise and inspired me to make KBs the foundation of my own fitness training. I traveled over 500 miles to take this seminar and I will look forward to any future seminars he offers. David Comfort - Santa Rosa, CA USA | |
| Coach Belanger at his best! | Rated 10 out of 10 |
| Steve is a great instructor that firmly believes in educating his clients along with training them rigerously. I have had five sessions with Steve and have on multiple occasions exceeded 90 minutes from just learning techiques and utilizing them for better gains. My goals are his number one importance when training with him, he is openly critical about flaws in performance, and requires perfection through education and practice. I will continue to train with Steve and retain my weight lifting experiences. "give a man a kettlebell he lifts for a day, teach a man to lift a kettlebell and he'll lift for a lifetime." butchered qoute, but it fits perfectly. Thanks Steve! -Josh Jones Josh Jones - Huntington Beach, CA, USA | |
