1. Please, tell our readers something about yourself.
My name is Johan, I’m French and I’m 27 years old. I currently live in London, England but I will be moving back to my home country within the next few months. I am a Personal Trainer and Sports Massage Therapist. I specialise in sports specific training and strength and conditioning.2. What is your training background like?
I have played many different sports so far, from football to basketball and I also have a good martial art background (judo, karate, BJJ, sanshou, kickboxing). I have always been involved in sports since a very young age to fight obesity. In my late teens, I started to use gyms and weights but without really knowing what to hope/look for. I started to lift kettlebells almost 3 years ago and realising how much they improve my stamina and conditioning I have not touch a conventional dumbbell since then.
3. How did you end up training with kettlebells? What was the thing that appealed to you about them?
When studying for my Personal Training and Sports Massage qualifications, my training partner and I came across an ad at our training centre and looking for something new he told me we should have a go at it. We went to buy some and next thing you know, we were swinging, snatching, cleaning and juggling with them…that was weird at the time but it felt so great and natural, I guess our technique wasn’t quite right then but realised how effective they were straight away. We decided to include them in our training routine. The rest is history…BKLF, IUKL and now Academie Francaise de Kettlebell et Girevoy Sport.
4. Are you using kettlebells for other purposes than your own training?
I am using kettlebells with my own training clients and I also train other personal trainer and professional sportsmen and sportswomen with them.
5. What are your personal goals?
I want to be able to promote kettlebells in France as a real conditioning tool and not as a fashion toy. French people need to know about Girevoy Sport and the roots of kettlebell lifting. Also, I want to be able to compete in the Biathlon and long cycle events using 32 kilos only…
6. What is your training week like, how often do you train and what?
I train with kettlebells 3-4 times a week and train in Brazilian Ju-Jitsu as well. Because of my massage business getting more and more popular, I have had to cut down on kettlebell lifting but I cannot imagine not training with them.
7. Is there something you’d like to say about kettlebell training? Something positive? Maybe a word of warning?
Kettlebell training is natural, functional, tough, rewarding and addictive, you’ll always want to go that extra rep, want to push yourself until you faint. This is great physically and mentally. It gives you humility too.
8. What would you like to say to someone who’s just starting out with kettlebells, or considering it?
Make sure you get proper training advice/method and guidance. Too many people claim they are kettlebell guru/instructor/trainer or whatever but nothing will work better than experience (at a high level) and tutorial from world champions or certified instructors. Use kettlebells as part of your training routine and understand that they will not make you a superhuman overnight. It takes gruelling workouts, a strong mind and a strong spirit to become a proper girevik. They will bring a new dimension to your training.
Johan Jaumain
