Brett Jones on Kettlebell Training, Movement Screens, and the Evolution of a Coach

Brett Jones is grateful to the many mentors who have provided opportunities for him and allowed him to stand where he does now in his career. He’s the Director of Education at StrongFirst, the school of strength founded by Pavel Tsatsouline, who introduced Russian kettlebell to the West in 1998. Brett has been teaching—and swinging—the kettlebell over the past 20 years, as well as consulting with professional teams and athletes worldwide. Despite his experience and expertise, Brett continues to evolve his coaching principles and remains dedicated to developing the fitness industry’s quality of education. Brett joins me today to share what he’s learned over two decades of teaching and coaching kettlebell. He discusses the importance of movement screening and evaluation in training and explains why coaches need to do a needs analysis on their program design. He shares how his training philosophy has evolved throughout his career. And last but not least, Brett also describes how he got back to training after battling cancer and underscores what it means to be a leader.   You’ll find that things keep getting added in program design, and at a certain point it’s more powerful to identify what you need to delete from it. – Brett Jones   This week on the Physical Preparation Podcast: * What led Brett to the world of physical preparation * His transition from athletic training to the fitness industry * What brought Brett to the second-ever Russian Kettlebell Challenge * What Brett has changed about his coaching over the past 20 years of doing kettlebell * Why Brett still enjoys coaching kettlebells even after two decades of teaching it * The additive thought process in program design * The pendulum analogy in kettlebell training and embracing the minimalist program design * The role of movement screening and correctives in training and program design * Why evaluation and responsible training go hand-in-hand * How movement screening allows coaches to build credibility, rapport, and individualize their approach * Managing and minimizing asymmetry * Brett’s recent battle with cancer and how he got back to shape after chemotherapy * How his training has evolved after cancer   Resources Mentioned: * Power to the People!: Russian Strength Training Secrets for Every American by Pavel Tsatsouline   Connect with Brett: * Applied Strength * Strong First * Strong First on LinkedIn * Brett Jones on LinkedIn * Brett Jones on Instagram * Brett Jones on Facebook * Brett Jones on Twitter * Email: appliedstrength@gmail.com   Stop the Frustration! Get the Complete Coach Certification Are you a young fitness trainer or coach? Are you frustrated by the results you’re getting or the lack of resources available to learn the skills you need to be successful? Are you struggling to get enough clients or wondering how long you’ll be able to follow your passion for helping others? It’s time to stop the frustration and stop worrying. It’s time to get certified! If you’re serious about improving your results, serious about becoming a better coach,