When I began this path that led me to becoming an instructor, over 10 years ago, it was in pursuit of strength. Badass, superhuman strength. I wanted to be strong, first and foremost. That’s still what drives my own training. Along the way I found out that I have a knack for communicating this information to others and helping them become stronger. This led me to the RKC.
I believed so strongly in the message Pavel was spreading via the RKC that I had the RKC logo tattooed on my arm. When I got it, I said that if it all went away tomorrow, I would still wear it proudly, it represents a period in my life that had tremendous impact and for which I am forever grateful.
From before 2003 (when I went for the first time) until last weekend it was RKC by Pavel. Now that era is ending, as I said last post, as Pavel moves on to form a new organization.
That organization is called Strong First. It is so new, in fact, that as I write this the website is not yet ready for public consumption. But there is a StrongFirst Facebook page that is live. Please go check it out and “like” it if you like it. The full site should be up and running soon.
What is Strong First all about? Strong First begins where RKC by Pavel ended. In Pavel’s words:
“You can be anything you want. A warrior. An athlete. A hard man or woman ready to handle whatever life throws at you. But you must be strong first.
“Strength is the foundation for development of the rest of physical qualities,” categorically stated Professor Leonid Matveev. It takes priority over all others: endurance, flexibility, etc.
Until one becomes “entry level strong”, e.g., a strict bodyweight military press for men or strict pullups for women, no priority other than strength can be justified for a healthy athlete. Science and experience have taught us that any athlete, even in ultra-endurance sports, who has not built a foundation of strength will fail to reach his or her potential.
Strength has been compared to a glass that can be filled with other qualities. The larger the glass, the more endurance, sport skill, fat loss, etc. can hold.
Be what you choose to be.
But be Strong First.”
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