Kettlebells Los Angeles Restorative · Rehabilitative

Resources

Programmes, certification bodies, gear guidance, and the academies connected to this lineage.

This page has been rebuilt. The original version was a long list of product links to a retailer that has since closed for business, and most of those links no longer resolved. What follows is the short version that is actually useful.

Dr. Mark Cheng’s programmes

The most direct continuation of the material taught on this site. Dr. Cheng publishes his own instructional programmes, courses, and rehabilitation material — including the Tai Cheng system and his kettlebell rehabilitation work.

Certification bodies

If you want to become an instructor, or want to verify someone else’s credentials, these are the relevant organisations.

  • StrongFirst

    Founded by Pavel Tsatsouline in 2012. Issues the SFG (kettlebell), SFL (barbell), and SFB (bodyweight) certifications, and maintains a searchable instructor directory. Dr. Cheng holds the rank of Certified Master Instructor.

  • RKC — Russian Kettlebell Challenge

    The RKC certification, founded in 2001, which certified most of the instructors on this site between 2007 and 2008. It now operates independently of its original publisher.

  • Functional Movement Systems

    The organisation behind the Functional Movement Screen, the assessment methodology woven through the training taught here. Dr. Cheng serves on its faculty.

Buying your first kettlebell

Rather than link to a specific retailer, here is what actually matters when you buy:

  • Get the weight right. 8–12 kg for most women, 16 kg for most men. Buying too light is the more common and more expensive mistake — you outgrow it in weeks and it teaches the arms to do the hips’ work. See What’s a Kettlebell?
  • Cast iron, single-piece casting. Avoid bells with a visible seam or weld on the handle; the handle is where your hands live and a rough seam will tear them.
  • Handle diameter and finish. A smooth, matte handle around 33–35 mm suits most hands. Thick vinyl or rubber coating on the handle is a nuisance for cleans and snatches.
  • Flat, stable base. The bell needs to sit steady for renegade rows and get-ups.
  • Buy used without worry. A cast-iron kettlebell is effectively indestructible. Second-hand bells are frequently the best value in the entire fitness market.

Martial arts academies

Schools with direct connections to the instructors and training in this lineage.

  • The Inosanto Academy of Martial Arts

    Guro Dan Inosanto’s academy. Dr. Cheng has taught kettlebell and movement work here.

  • RCJ Machado Jiu-Jitsu

    Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu academy. Dr. Cheng has trained Rigan Machado and taught within the Machado network.

  • Harris International

    Roy Harris’ organisation, another of the groups Dr. Cheng has taught for.

  • Westside Tai Chi

    Anton Summers’ current practice in Culver City — Tai Chi rather than kettlebells, but the same movement principles.

  • Kettlebells South Bay

    Founded by Joe Chalakee in Torrance, now under different ownership and based in Harbor City. Still running kettlebell classes.

A note on outbound links

The original version of this page linked to roughly twenty products and banners, nearly all of which were dead. Links here are checked, but the web decays — if you find one broken, let us know.

Gear and resources questions

What size kettlebell should I buy first?

8 kg (18 lb) or 12 kg (26 lb) for most women, 16 kg (35 lb) for most men, adjusted for training history. If you are choosing between two sizes, take the heavier one — the swing is hip driven, and a bell that is too light teaches the arms to lift it. One session with an instructor will settle the question.

Are expensive kettlebells worth it?

Only up to a point. What matters is a single-piece cast-iron body, a smooth seam-free handle of roughly 33–35 mm, and a flat base. Beyond that you are paying for finish and branding. Second-hand cast-iron bells are effectively indestructible and are usually the best value available.

Do I need gloves or chalk for kettlebell training?

Not gloves — they add thickness, reduce feel, and tend to bunch, which causes rather than prevents tearing. Chalk is genuinely useful for high-volume swing and snatch work. Beyond that, callus management and a handle that is smooth rather than aggressively knurled do more than any accessory.

How do I check whether a kettlebell instructor is genuinely certified?

Ask which organisation certified them, in what year, and who their teacher was — a legitimate instructor answers immediately. StrongFirst maintains a public, searchable instructor directory you can check names against. Vague answers about a “kettlebell certification” with no issuing body are the thing to be wary of.