Why the name IronBody Fitness??

Iron body is a method of toughening the body and mind through rigorous training by repeatedly striking hard objects such as wooden posts or allowing some one else to strike your body. Don't worry, that's not part of the training you will be doing but the name reflects the mental toughness that you will gain using our methods while your body becomes as solid and strong as iron. Strong mind, strong body, IronBody.

What is the difference in Kentuckiana Crossfit and IronBody Fitness?

They are the same people and the same workouts. I added the name Kentuckiana Crossfit when I became a CrossFit affiliate. I chose it more for easy name recognition more than anything else.

What is CrossFit?

CrossFit is a system of training that seeks to bring elite levels of fitness to everyone. They use (as does IronBody Fitness) a variety of tools, from body-weight to barbells and kettlebells. The workouts are varied in intensity, duration, protocols, and tools.

For more on CrossFit read the articles "CrossFit Foundations", "Understanding CrossFit " and "What is Fitness "

 Why train with kettlebells?

Kettlebells deliver extreme all-round fitness!

Here is a short list of hardware the Russian kettlebell replaces: barbells, dumbbells, belts for weighted pullups and dips, thick bars, lever bars, medicine balls, grip devices, and cardio equipment. Here is why the kettlebell dominates other exercise equipment.

Why shouldn't I train to failure?

Training to failure on a consistent basis is training to fail. We want our students to succeed, to push hard and occasionally exceed their limits, but mostly staying just below the threshold of failure.

Training to failure for most people creates a negative mindset and causes undesirable breakdown in the musculo-skeletal and Central Nervous systems.

You should leave feeling better than when you came in and you should be able to finish your day feeling great and with lots of energy.

Our focus is on quality of movement. When you are training to failure your form will degrade to such an extent that you dramatically increase the risk of injury. 

I don't want to get bigger!

If you are female you don't have to worry about this. Getting big bulky muscles requires lots of testosterone, which most women don't have it. You would also have to increase your caloric intake substantially. Working out with heavy weights will make you "toned" and lean.

Here's an article that tells why you won't get big lifting heavy weights: Women, Size & Weight Training

For guys that don't want to put on muscle mass due to weight restrictions in sport such as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) our methods will make you stronger without bulking up.

How hard are your workouts?

First and foremost - we train or practice, we don't "workout". Do you workout at the piano? Approach exercise as practice and you will find yourself enjoying it much more and getting more out of it. You are learning skills to improve your health and well-being.

Our practice sessions can be as hard or as easy as you make them. They are designed to push you hard, but not to failure. If you are feeling a bit off one day simply drop to a lighter weight or slow down. Feeling really strong one day? Increase the weight or do the movement at a faster pace.

Why can't I drop in on a group class and get going without experience? Why do I have to take the Level I Beginners course

• Safety, yours and your classmates. It is all too easy to have a kettlebell slip out of your hand or to use improper form in any movement

• Proper technique - If you don't have good form you could get seriously injured. 

• Your fitness level - One goal of the FitCamp is to allow us to gauge your fitness level and help you learn the correct weight to use and the pace. In some cases you may not be ready to use a weight or a given exercise. The only way to know is to have been assessed prior to class.

• Detracts attention from the group - The instructors job in the group class is to watch everyone and motivate them and give helpful verbal cues to reinforce good, safe technique. They also must keep track of time as the classes are structured around time-based intervals.

Would you "drop-in" on a class that teaches full contact fighting with no experience??

What are Clubbells?

Clubbells are a unique tool based on ancient Middle Eastern training devices called meels. They offer some very unique training methods and outstanding results for gains in strength, stamina and endurance. They really work the grip and there is nothing comparable for shoulder flexibilty, strength and resiliency.

Why do you train with sandbags?

Sandbags offer yet another way to work the body. Sandbags are very unwieldy, like lifting a big bag of dog-food, and it causes a very different response in the body than barbells, kettlebells or other rigid weights. It is MUCH harder to lift a 100 lb sandbag to the shoulder than it is to clean a 100lb kettlebell. Sandbags also work the fingers and grip strength much harder than traditional weights.

Do you do yoga?

Not true yoga at this time, however as a general rule, we use some yoga asanas as compensatory work during our cool-downs.

 How are the classes structured?

Each class starts with joint mobility drills to get the joints unstuck, to pump fresh lubricating fluids through them and consequently to push out the accumulated mineral deposits.

After the JM work we proceed to the main workout. I try to base the workout and its intensity around the training of those who attend class the most, that way tey don't get over-trained.

After the main workout, which can be anywhere from 20 to 50 minutes we do a yoga based cool-down to help break up residual muscle tension. Sometimes we do QiGong (breathing) exercises instead.