RKC 2.0 - What's going on?

Q&A  - everything you want to know about RKC 2.0

By Shell Gilkes

What’s going on with RKC – you may know that RKC is a teaching certification borne out of the US publishing company Dragondoor, which closed its doors at the beginning of the year. At this time, a small group of instructors across the US, UK and Germany were trusted to continue the leadership of certifications and have been working hard to rebrand and redesign the curriculum to best fit today’s fitness landscape, modelled closely on the successful rollout of the RKC curriculum redesign across Germany.

What’s so exciting about it right now? So much is happening, and people have put a lot of time, effort and money into reforming RKC into where it once was on the world stage, but even better. This includes a 4-stage certification system, designed to develop instructor teaching skills as they develop their experience and career. It includes a brand-new global booking platform. The booking platform itself will provide all instructors with a base from which to easily promote their services, including RKC standardised workshops and seminars. There will be a standardised system and a structure which allows everybody to benefit. The more you want to do within RKC, the more money you will make. No favouritism, no egos.

What’s the timeline: initial D+C certifications, including transferring of existing RKC status, are taking place in the US and the UK in September and October 2026 and are open for bookings. More dates will be announced – make sure you’re on our email lists to be kept updated and receive discounts https://rkckb.com/ As we roll-out the system, more dates will be added, instructors will certify and the ecosystem will grow.

Can people choose their certification level out of the 4 new levels? No – it’s a system designed to build teaching skills through 4 distinct stages, D > C > B > A. Alongside this, the testing and strength standards increase with each stage, in a way that reflects the content of the certification, and inclusive of a training plan. Everybody needs to start at D, and can work through C, B and A as required for the level they wish to reach.

What are the purpose and requirements of each level:

·         RKC-D is designed to equip instructors with movements, progressions, regressions, specific considerations and structures for teaching drop-in style classes, assuming untrained individuals and those who don’t wish to devote time to kettlebell skill acquisition. Often, this population is hardest to teach! We start here, at “grassroots” level, because being able to teach a wide variety of individuals, put aside your own ego, and create safe but powerful workouts that benefit everyone, is a rare skill in the fitness landscape today. Movements covered include Deadlift, Loaded Carries, Presses, Rows, Squats.

Testing: 100m bodyweight Farmer’s Carry (1/2 BW in each hand).

·         RKC-C introduces kettlebell-specific skills; namely the Swing and the TGU (including all variations). The mobility, timing and coordination of both movements require a higher level of commitment from the student population. The certification includes a big section on developing the required strength and mobility to safely load bodies with these movements, which enables students to progress more quickly and better avoid the usual pitfalls and injuries. It takes a more nuanced level of teaching skill to be able to assess your students’ ability to learn the Swing and TGU, to meet them at their starting point and to progress them in the most efficient way, and RKC-C provides that skill. Alongside this, there is a full programme design section, including templates for you to personalise. At RKC-C level, you are eligible to hold RKC Seminars and Workshops, bookable through the global platform and with templates and agendas provided for you.

Testing: 100 2H KB Swings in 5 minutes (10 reps every 30 seconds, to RKC standard) and TGU technique test – 1L/1R. Test weights: Snatch test sized bell.

“RKC Snatch Test Size” - Women
bodyweight	Open	Master (50-65y)	Senior (> 65y)
up to and including(kg)	Kettlebell (kg)	Kettlebell (kg)	Kettlebell (kg)
45	10	8	8
52	12	10	10
59	14	12	12
79	16	14	12
>79	18	16	14

“RKC Snatch Test Size” - Men
bodyweight	Open	Master (50-65y)	Senior (> 65y)
up to and including(kg)	Kettlebell (kg)	Kettlebell (kg)	Kettlebell (kg)
61	18	16	16
68	20	18	18
75	22	20	20
95	24	22	20
>95	26	24	22

·         RKC-B is where things become much more difficult, technically and in terms of strength and endurance. RKC-B corresponds to the legendary RKC1 certification. Some of you will remember, RKC1 had a high failure rate, due to participants overestimating their abilities and being poorly prepared. In many ways, RKC-B is harder than RKC1 BUT, participants are much better prepared, having achieved RKC-D and RKC-C, and having being provided with a programme at RKC-C level to prepare for RKC-B. We want great kettlebell trainers. We want you to succeed, BUT that needs to come without lowering standards. RKC-B has higher standards, AND a higher pass rate. This is no mean feat. RKC-B is intended to focus on GPP with kettlebells – this different to providing general fitness and basic kettlebell skills (as in RKC-D and RKC-C). GPP encompasses a more committed client base – including athletes in their off-season, and people who truly want to become more athletic and are willing to put the time, money and effort into that.  Your client base will be of a higher athletic standard, and RKC-B will prepare you to surpass their expectations.

Testing: RKC 120 Test - 120 reps in 5 minutes of a predetermined order of movements:

20 Swings (2H)

10 Swings (1H)

10 Swings (1H other side)

10 Cleans (1H)

10 Cleans (1H other side)

10 Snatches (1H)

10 Snatches (1H other side)

10 Front Squats (1H)

10 Front Squats (1H other side)

10 Military Presss (1H)

10 Military Presses (1H other side)

= 120 reps (5 minute time cap)

·         RKC-A – the most advanced training level in the RKC system. The focus is on targeted performance development (SPP), using more advanced kettlebell techniques for individuals who have complex performance goals. These clients might be training for a Snatch Test, 1RM Press, Tactical Pull-Up, or may be fellow coaches who are training for RKC levels D-A, accompanying you. RKC-A level instructors are leaders. This certification teaches not only more complicated techniques, but also more specialist training concepts to help clients achieve the final 10% that makes all the difference. The movements taught and tested are some of the most demanding exercises the hardstyle system has to offer, and the certification develops a deep understanding of tension, timing, control and the art of teaching. From here, RKC-A certified instructors can step into the role of Team Leader, Senior and Master instructors. RKC needs individuals at this level to continue the development of excellent RKC coaches through stages D-B. From here, RKC will continue being the most sought-after kettlebell teaching system in the world – we can’t do it without truly skilled individuals at this level.

Strength Testing – three parts, testing strength endurance, max strength, and stability under load. Three skills that can only be prepared for via SPP methods.

RKC Snatch Test (100 Snatches in 5 minutes with Snatch Sized Kettlebell)

Military Press (1 rep, on either hand. Kg 1/3 bodyweight for women, ½ bodyweight for men

Heavy TGU (1 rep, on either hand. Kg 1/3 bodyweight for women, ½ bodyweight for men

Technical testing - consists of three complex movements: 

Pistol, Windmill and Jerk.

These tests assess precise movement control, mobility under load, stability throughout the musculoskeletal system, and the ability to perform technically clean repetitions even under increased demands.

The aim of the test is to demonstrate that the participant has above-average movement skills – not only under load, but also in asymmetrical and dynamic movement patterns.

Pistol (1 rep, on either leg, with any weight kettlebell used as a counterbalance)

Windmill (1 rep, on either hand, Snatch Test Sized kettlebell, depth of the movement depends on individual flexibility)

Jerk (5 reps, two kettlebells, Snatch Test Sized)

We can’t wait to get started – what shall we do now?: make sure you’re on our mailing list, are following our social media, and get involved in the next workshops as soon as possible!

www.rkckb.com

@rkckettlebell

@rkc_uk

@rkc_deutschland