Love. Learn. Live. Grow.
Láska. Učiť sa. Živé. Rásť.
Only last week this quote summed up my life, and my career as a Trainer and Coach. Each word epitomises everything I felt.
Why?
On Thursday 21st August (my birthday) I travelled to Slovakia for a 4 night stay. A little city break, of sorts. I predomintely went over to teach and coach kettlebells to some Slovakian athletes from the Rebel’s Gym in Kosice, and it’s big brother just down the road in Presov.
After receiving an offer from my Slovak friend Manny Mima that was to good to refuse, within a week my flights and hotel were booked. It took me all of a few minutes to decide to accept the invitation. After all it’s not everyday you get asked to go and Coach abroad, in a country you’ve never been to, doing what you love.
Manny asked me to teach his CrossFit athletes and some members of the public the finer points of kettlebell training, mainly the more technical lifts such as the Snatch, the Clean, and the Jerk. The idea was to run 2 x 2 hour workshops. One on Friday evening in Presov, and the other on Saturday morning in Kosice. After the workshop on Saturday morning I was to run a 3 hour Seminar covering the lifts in more detail to give the attendees those little knowledge bombs that would allow them to teach the lifts to others…..eventually.
‘The capacity to learn is a gift; The ability to learn is a skill; The willingness to learn is a choice.’
Brian Herbert
Thankfully both the workshops and the seminars went without a hitch. The athletes that attended did such a good job. They really took everything I was trying to coach on board. Yes, there were a few torn hands, which you generally come to expect when learning something new. But no one complained, they just listened, watched, laughed, and practiced, and practiced, and practiced.
Workshop 1. Athletes from Rebel’s Gym in Presov.
Workshop 2. Athletes from Rebel’s Gym in Kosice.
Thankfully many of the athletes spoke English which was great as my Slovakian, is, well, non existent. For those that didn’t speak English Manny was always on hand to translate everything for me. In total I ended up coaching 41 athletes over the course of the workshops and seminar.
Seminar. Athletes from Rebel’s Gym in Kosice.
Something I never expected turned out to be one of the best experiences of my coaching career. Slovakia is an incredible country. The weather was gorgeous, apart from two horrendous hours in the torrential rain, walking down a mountain. The scenery was incredible. It’s hard to explain what a pretty little country it really is. Every where I turned it was like the world had been edited in photoshop. Even more impressive to me were the people. Everyone was so friendly and welcoming. I think Slovakia may be visited again in the near future, maybe to train and coach, maybe for some relaxation, or maybe for some snowboarding in winter. It’s definitely on my list of places to go back to.
I can’t thank Manny enough for his hospitality. For his translating skills. For his tour guide service. But most importantly for the wonderful opportunity he gave me. I loved every second of it.
D’akujem Láskavo
Steve is a sponsored athlete
and part of Team Kettleguard
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