Kettlebell training that fixes you instead of breaking you.
Hardstyle kettlebell instruction in the lineage of Dr. Mark Cheng — built around technique, joint health, and getting strong without getting hurt.
Why kettlebells
A kettlebell is a cast-iron weight with a thick handle set off from its centre of mass. That offset is the whole point: it forces the body to work as one coordinated unit rather than one muscle at a time.
Strength and cardio together
Because the lifts are ballistic and full-body, a short kettlebell session trains strength, conditioning, and mobility in the same movements — instead of splitting them across three workouts.
Built around the joints
This lineage came out of rehabilitation work. The screening and progressions exist so people with cranky backs and shoulders can get stronger without aggravating what already hurts.
Small footprint
One or two bells and a patch of floor. No machines, no gym membership, no commute — which is why it survives busy schedules when other programmes don’t.
Who this is for
Kettlebells Los Angeles started as a training practice in West Los Angeles — Brentwood, Santa Monica, Venice, and Pacific Palisades — and grew into a network of instructors across Southern California. The people who found their way here usually fell into one of a few groups:
- Professionals with demanding schedules who needed a workout that fits into the gaps, not one that requires an hour at a gym.
- Athletes looking for power and durability rather than size.
- People carrying old back and shoulder injuries who had been told to stop lifting entirely.
- Police, fire, and military personnel who need tactical strength without added bulk.
- Anyone plainly bored of what they have been doing.
The answer for all of them was the same: learn a small number of lifts properly, then load them progressively. Start with what a kettlebell actually is, then look at how training is structured.
How to get started
- Understand the tool. Read What’s a Kettlebell? so the terminology on the rest of the site makes sense.
- Pick a format. Group classes for cost and camaraderie, private training for technique and privacy, or a workshop for a specific subject.
- Find an instructor. Every instructor on this site trained directly under Dr. Cheng. See the roster and contact them directly.
Common questions
What is hardstyle kettlebell training?
Hardstyle is a method of kettlebell lifting that emphasises maximum tension, sharp hip drive, and full-body bracing on every repetition. It was popularised in the United States by Pavel Tsatsouline and treats each rep as a display of power rather than an endurance stroke. The alternative approach, kettlebell sport (or girevoy sport), optimises for efficiency over long sets and looks visibly different.
Do I need to be fit before I start kettlebell training?
No. The first sessions are about learning the hip hinge, the rack position, and how to breathe under load — none of which require existing fitness. Weight is added only once the movement pattern is sound. Small-framed beginners routinely end up lifting bells that look implausible for their size, because technique, not mass, is the limiting factor.
How heavy should my first kettlebell be?
The traditional starting points are 8 kg (18 lb) or 12 kg (26 lb) for most women and 16 kg (35 lb) for most men, with lighter or heavier options depending on training history. Buying too light is the more common mistake: the swing is a hip-driven lift and an underweight bell teaches the arms to do the work. An instructor can tell you in one session which size to buy.
Can I train with kettlebells if I have a back or shoulder injury?
Often yes, but it depends on the injury and it should be screened first. This lineage grew directly out of rehabilitation work — Dr. Cheng came to kettlebells while rehabilitating his own lower back and shoulder — and the instructors here are trained to modify or withhold lifts rather than push through pain. Clear it with your physician, then work with an instructor rather than a video.
How long is a typical kettlebell session?
Group classes run about an hour. Private sessions run roughly 45 to 55 minutes. Once you know the lifts, a productive solo session can be considerably shorter — ten focused minutes of swings and get-ups is real training, which is why the method survives busy schedules.
Where is Kettlebells Los Angeles based?
The practice began in West Los Angeles, serving Brentwood, Santa Monica, Venice, and Pacific Palisades, and instructors trained in this lineage have taught across Southern California including the South Bay, Orange County, and Riverside. There is no single storefront gym — instructors are contacted directly. See the instructors page.