Gary Toppins, RKC
RKC February 2008 · Chinese Kenpo · Riverside, California.
Gary Toppins started training with kettlebells in 2006 under the tutelage of RKC Team Leader Dr. Mark Cheng, one of the top kettlebell and martial arts instructors in the Los Angeles area. He became an RKC-certified kettlebell instructor in February 2008.
Martial arts background
Mr. Toppins’ experience includes an extensive background in martial arts, dating back to his service in the U.S. Army Airborne. In 1974 he formally began training in Bok-Fu Kenpo, a form of Chinese Kenpo, in Northern California. In 1981 he moved to Riverside, California and opened his own school, specialising in private instruction.
He has taught and achieved rank in Chinese Kenpo, Bok-Fu Kenpo, and Shootfighting, and is a member of the Chinese Kenpo Hall of Fame. He is also a practitioner of Yang-style Tai Chi under the guidance of Sifu Mark Cheng.
From machines to kettlebells
In the mid-1990s, Mr. Toppins became a certified fitness trainer, working with clients on strength and cardiovascular conditioning using free weights and various workout machines to reach their goals.
After discovering the benefits of kettlebell conditioning, he moved over entirely — now training his clients and martial arts students exclusively with kettlebells, reporting faster and greater results. That is a notable switch from someone who had spent years working the conventional way, and it is the kind of endorsement that carries more weight than a testimonial.
Teaching in Riverside
Mr. Toppins has taught kettlebells at East Wind Martial Arts in Riverside, serving the Riverside County and Inland Empire area. See kettlebell training in Riverside County for the wider picture of options in that area.
The websites historically listed for Mr. Toppins are no longer active martial arts sites, and no current contact route has been confirmed. If you are seeking kettlebell instruction in Riverside County, see the Riverside County page or contact Kettlebells Los Angeles.
Common questions
Is kettlebell training suitable for older trainees?
Yes, and it is arguably more valuable with age rather than less. Kettlebell work trains hip power, grip strength, and the ability to get up off the floor — three of the strongest practical markers of independence later in life. Loading is scaled, and the get-up in particular is used specifically as a restorative movement.
Why would a trainer abandon machines for kettlebells?
Machines fix the path of movement, which makes them easy to learn but means the stabilising muscles never have to do their job. Kettlebells demand stabilisation on every repetition and train the body as a coordinated unit. Trainers who make the switch generally cite better carry-over into real activity, not better numbers in the gym.
Are there kettlebell classes in Riverside?
Kettlebell instruction has historically been available in Riverside through East Wind Martial Arts. Current availability is unconfirmed — see the Riverside County page for what is known and for alternative routes to finding an instructor in the Inland Empire.