Since 2008 IKFF has established the global standard for excellence in the development of Certified Kettlebell Trainers 

Certified Kettlebell Trainer – CKT courses standardize safe and effective kettlebell exercise, and guides fitness professionals to excellence in the art and science of teaching kettlebells to the fitness-minded and sporting public.

The IKFF provides a holistic approach to health, fitness, performance and well-being that is based upon the blending of body and mind and is integrated with the 5 Pillars of the IKFF Kettlebell system

• Kettlebell
• Breathing
• Mobility
• Flexibility
• Mindset 

CKT is the only course of its kind that provides the fitness professional with the tools for creating this depth of comprehensive mind-body education centered around the precise use of kettlebells within these 5 Pillars of holistic fitness and health

CKT provides a continuous-education model through 4 levels of progression

CKT Level 1 

CKT Level 2 

What you will learn at CKT certification Level 1

This course focuses development of mastery with single kettlebell exercises, and models how to teach and supervise these exercises to the training public in the most safe and effective manner.

Elements of CKT Level 1

• The driving force underlying all trainers, coaches and teachers-to serve the best interests of the students (customers/clients)
• Ethical standards of practice for fitness professionals
• Principle-based teaching and learning model
• Organization of safe training spaces
• Fundamentals of breathing, posture and mindset
• Comprehensive physiological and psychological preparation techniques and strategies
• Stages and progressions of teaching cues
• Core exercises of CKT Level 1 and the most important variations and assistance exercises
• Corrective exercises for common practice errors
• Mobility and joint-specific warm-ups for pain-free exercise
• Extensive warm-up and cool-down methods and structure
• Flexibility exercises to support kettlebell training
• Practical program design to serve customer goals
• The IKFF Standard for Excellence

What makes CKT so unique among Kettlebell certification courses?

IKFF distinguishes from other Kettlebell certification courses by our holistic approach to mind-body fitness and health. With kettlebell as the primary tool of CKT courses, the integration of our controlled-intensity kettlebell curriculum with education in breathing, mobility, martial arts, flexibility and meditation forms our unique comprehensive approach to kettlebell fitness education.

The IKFF teaching experience is second-to-none, the first truly-global kettlebell certification for more than a decade providing hands-on education to thousands of fitness professionals in over 60 Nations across the globe, and impacting the positive development of kettlebell education to thousands more via DVD and online instructional videos.

CKT dives deeply into the precise study of kettlebell exercise and provides to the student a principled-based approach to sustainable fitness through the mastery of the kettlebell. 

This rich CKT education arms fitness professionals with the ability to offer the highest-quality kettlebell training to the students and clients they serve. 

The IKFF Standard for Excellence

Attending an IKFF certification course is not enough to earn certification. The student must also demonstrate technical competence to earn a prestigious IKFF certification. CKT and CMS students must pass the technical assessment with consistent form to receive IKFF certification

CKT Level 1 Assessment:

CKT Level 1-candidates are required to perform a Fitness Test during the Level 1 course:

Men:

• Hand-hand Swing: 20kg x 100 – switching hands after each rep is completed
• 1 arm Clean& Press: 20kg x 16 reps per hand AND must work for the full 2 minutes on each hand (4 min set); 32 reps total non-stop
• Snatch: 20kg x 60 reps with only 1 hand switch (can do 30 each hand or any combo that totals 60 reps)
• Front Squat: 20kg x 30 reps AND must hold KB for entire 2 min

Women:

• Hand-hand Swing: 12kg x 100 – switching hands after each rep is completed
• 1 arm Clean& Press: 12kg x 16 reps per hand AND must work for the full 2 minutes on each hand (4 min set); 32 reps total non-stop
• Snatch: 12kg x 60 reps with only 1 hand switch (can do 30 each hand or any combo that totals 60 reps)
• Front Squat: 12kg x 30 reps AND must hold KB for entire 2 min

*The 4 exercises are performed one right after the next with no rest or breaks in between exercises

*Women under 45 kg can use 8kg and for men under 60kg can use 16kg; men and women over 55 years of age can use 16kg and 8kg, respectively

The successful completion of the CKT Level test involves completion of the Assessment with strict execution of form. If the CKT-candidate is not able to successfully complete the assessment or to demonstrate competence in one of more of the techniques, the student will receive a Certificate of Participation and will need to subsequently demonstrate correction of the techniques by providing video of the completed Assessment with corrected techniques.

CKT-candidates who are unable to pass the Assessment during the course, or who opt not to attempt the Assessment during the course, have a 3-month period post-certification course to submit their successful Assessment by video, and will receive certification upon grading of the video submission.

Active Certification

All IKFF–certified CKT and CMS trainers will maintain a commitment to continuous growth and development. The IKFF Assessments are how the CKT and CMS shows technical skill and is the criteria for professional standard. All CKT and CMS will stay current with technical practice.

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