Is 10 Years of Experience Really 10 Years? Why Kettlebell Skill Isn’t Just About Time Under the Handle

"So... Do I Have Enough Experience?"

It’s the most common question I get from personal trainers looking at our Agatsu Kettlebell Instructor Certification: “Do I have enough experience?” Sometimes it comes with a humble tone—like they’re worried about being out of their depth. Other times it’s wrapped in confidence, even a little bravado—“I’ve been training with kettlebells for 12 years, I think I’m ready.”

But here's the twist: neither approach guarantees success. I’ve watched trainers with a decade under their belt struggle their way through fundamentals on the first day of the seminar, while someone with just a few months of focused practice absolutely crushes it. Surprised? I’m not.

Because experience isn’t a number. Not really.

It’s not a checkbox. It’s not a badge. It’s not a default guarantee of skill. And the way we talk about it—especially in the fitness world—honestly, it needs a bit of a reality check.

Let’s break this open.

"10 Years of What, Exactly?"

There's this thing people say that always makes me pause: “I have 10 years of experience.” But I’ve learned to ask myself something else—is that 10 years of learning… or one year, repeated ten times?

You know what I mean. You start strong—curious, motivated, testing ideas, filming lifts, tweaking your programming. Then somewhere along the way, the repetition sets in. Not just in the workouts—but in the growth.

Suddenly, you're not evolving. You're just maintaining. And that’s fine if that’s what you’re aiming for. But if you’re trying to teach kettlebells, if you're showing up to a certification and calling yourself a coach, repetition without refinement doesn’t cut it.

Because coaching isn’t just “doing the thing”—it’s understanding the why, spotting the flaws, breaking down the movement for someone who’s never touched a kettlebell before.

Ten years of swinging the bell the same way—especially if that way is off—doesn’t put you ahead. Sometimes, it holds you back. I have been teaching kettlebells around the world for over 23 years! That's right 23 years of not just teaching but also training and learning. Travelling to Russia to refine my skills and share them with everyone. I am sometimes a coach but I am always a student. 

When Experience Makes You Stiff (and Not Just Physically)

Here’s a story: a guy came into one of our seminars, full of confidence. Said he’d been doing kettlebells longer than some people in the room had been personal trainers. Fair enough.

But by Day 2, he was frustrated. He struggled with the nuance of the Snatch technique . His clean was crashing. His timing was off. But the kicker? He couldn’t take feedback.

Every time we corrected something, he pushed back. “Well, I do it this way because...” or “I’ve always taught it like this.” You could feel the tension—not just in his muscles, but in his mindset.

The more “experience” someone thinks they have, the more likely they are to cling to it. To resist change. And that can be the real limiter—not their body, but their ego.

Now contrast that with someone who walks in, notebook out, questions ready, form rough but energy sharp. They’re there to learn. And that attitude? It makes all the difference.

The Power of Showing Up Empty-Handed

Let’s talk about the blank slate. The new trainer. The curious coach. The person who comes in without the baggage of “this is how I’ve always done it.”

There’s something powerful about that.

They’re usually more flexible (both physically and mentally). They’re more open. They try things. They ask smart questions—not because they want to sound impressive, but because they actually want to understand.

You’d be amazed how fast they progress in a weekend. They don’t have to unlearn bad habits. They just absorb. Like muscle memory on fast forward.

And here’s the emotional bit—not to get too corny, but I’ve seen people walk in unsure of themselves and walk out feeling like instructors. Not because of time. But because of transformation.

That’s what experience should do. Move you forward.

So How Do You Measure Real Experience?

Let me give it to you straight. Here’s what matters more than years:

• Have you ever filmed your swing and torn it apart?

• Can you explain the weight transfer in a Snatch to a beginner without confusing them?
  

• Can you spot energy leaks—in yourself and in your clients?

• Are you still learning?

That last one? It’s the most important.

If your "experience" includes study, coaching, being coached, reading, refining, and constantly asking yourself how to get better—then yeah, that’s real experience.

But if it’s mostly “I’ve always done it this way,” you might have a little work to do. And that’s not a knock—it’s an invitation.

Who Thrives in Certification Seminars?

This is the part where some trainers get nervous. Like they’ll show up and be judged or exposed or—worst of all—fail.

But here’s the truth: the people who succeed aren’t always the strongest, the fastest, or even the most experienced.

They’re the ones who:

• Show up fit enough to work hard

• Can take coaching without flinching

• Are open to re-learning everything they thought they knew. 

• Care more about getting it right than looking good

One of the most common reactions we get after a seminar is: “I had no idea how much I didn’t know.” And it’s said with a smile. Because learning feels good—when you let it.

If you’re coachable, ready to sweat, and have a little humility in your gym bag, you’re going to be just fine.

What Should Trainers Focus On Before a Cert?

If you’re wondering whether you’re “ready” for a kettlebell instructor course, here’s what I suggest instead:

Stop asking how much experience you need. Start asking how much attention you’re paying.

You want to prep? Great. Focus on:

• Practicing with intention—not just reps, but reps with feedback

• Filming your lifts and watching them like a coach would

• Reading and watching trusted sources (and comparing them)

• Teaching what you know to someone new—it’ll test what you really understand

• Training for stamina—not just strength. (It’s a weekend seminar. You’ll feel it.)

Honestly, if you can do a solid set of swings, cleans, and presses—and recover well—you’ve probably got the baseline. The rest is learnable.

And if you’re already certified and thinking “This still applies to me”—you’re right. Because experience isn’t a box you check and move on. It’s a loop. Learn, apply, reflect, repeat.

So… Are You Ready? Yeah. You Probably Are.

If you’re thinking about taking the Agatsu Kettlebell Instructor Certification, stop second-guessing yourself based on some arbitrary idea of “enough experience.”

Because experience isn’t a gatekeeper—it’s a process.

And you’re already in it. The fact that you’re reading this, questioning yourself, trying to figure out how to improve? That’s exactly what a great coach does.

Don’t let the number of years you’ve been training—or not training—decide your future.

Let your curiosity do that. Let your discipline do that. Let your willingness to be a student again—even if you’re already a teacher—guide you.

We’ll meet you where you are. But don’t be surprised if, by the end of the weekend, you’re somewhere you didn’t expect to be.

Ready to learn more in a weekend than most do in a year? CLICK HERE