Anton Summers
RKC 2007 · CK-FMS 2010 · Santa Monica and Culver City.
Anton is the senior-most kettlebell student of Dr. Mark Cheng, and has been training with him since he was fifteen years old. Over the years he has spent countless hours studying the finer points of hardstyle kettlebell training and Chinese martial arts with Dr. Cheng.
Anton had the rare opportunity to train under the watchful eyes of both Chief Instructor Pavel Tsatsouline and Dr. Cheng on a weekly basis, perfecting his technique until passing his RKC with flying colours in 2007 and becoming a CK-FMS in 2010.
He was an assistant instructor at the first RKC held in Los Angeles, and has assisted in the training of Marines at Camp Pendleton, receiving a certificate of commendation from the United States Marine Corps.
Teaching approach
Anton has a deep understanding of the hardstyle method of kettlebell training and can work with anyone regardless of their level of fitness. His teaching focuses on developing perfect technique in order to minimise the risk of injury and improve coordination and movement.
He has also trained extensively in Tui Na (Chinese manual medicine), Swedish, Shiatsu, and sports massage, and has a solid understanding of anatomy — which shows in how precisely he can identify what is going wrong in a lift.
Martial arts background
Although the majority of his martial arts training has been with Dr. Cheng, Anton also holds a black belt under the late legendary Hapkido master Bong Soo Han and a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Professor John Machado, as well as practising boxing and Savate regularly. He has trained in Yang, Chen, Sun, and Zhao Bao styles of Tai Chi, and holds a black belt in Kali under Dan Inosanto.
Where to find him now
Anton teaches Tai Chi at the Culver City Senior Center — a class he has run for many years and which has become very popular — alongside park classes and private instruction. His practice today runs under the name Westside Tai Chi.
Anton’s work now centres on Tai Chi rather than kettlebells. His current site is westsidetaichi.com, where his class schedule and contact details are listed. His former kettlebell class at Clover Park in Santa Monica and his old website are no longer active — contact him through Westside Tai Chi to ask about kettlebell instruction.
About Anton
Does Anton Summers still teach kettlebells?
His teaching today centres on Tai Chi, under the name Westside Tai Chi, rather than kettlebells. He remains RKC and CK-FMS certified from 2007 and 2010 respectively. If you want kettlebell instruction specifically, contact him via westsidetaichi.com to ask about availability, or see the other instructors.
Where does Anton Summers teach?
He teaches at the Culver City Senior Center as well as in local parks and privately. Senior Center classes are restricted to members; park classes are open to the public. Current days and times are listed on the Westside Tai Chi site.
What is CK-FMS, which Anton earned in 2010?
Certified Kettlebell Functional Movement Specialist — a qualification combining kettlebell instruction with Gray Cook’s Functional Movement Screen, teaching instructors to identify movement restrictions and asymmetries and programme around them rather than loading a broken pattern.