Sinister

Pavel created a challenge in his Kettlebell Simple & Sinister book. This program involves 100 one-hand swings and 10 get-ups. The 10×10 swings must be completed in 5 minutes by performing 10 swings every 30 seconds, followed by 1 minute of rest and 10×1 get-ups performed on the minute for 10 minutes.

Raye-Johnston-Sinister-Swing

The Task

TimeTask
5 minutes 10 one-hand swings to chest-level every 30 seconds, switching hands each set
1 minute Rest
10 minutes 1 get-up every minute on the minute, switching hands each minute*
*The first get up begins at the top of the 6th  minute (e.g., at 6 :00 start the 1st get up and at 7:00 start the 2nd get up).

Chalk is allowed: belts, gloves, wrist wraps, and other supportive equipment and hand protection are not.

The program has two goals that change based on weight: the Simple and the Sinister.

The SIMPLE Goal

Get-up WeightSwing Weight
Women16kg24kg
Men32kg32kg

The SINISTER Goal

Get-up WeightSwing Weight
Women24kg32kg
Men48kg48kg
Sinister Get-up

One-Arm Swing Standards

1. The back is neutral. The neck is slightly extended or neutral on the bottom of the swing.
2. The heels, toes, and the balls of the feet are planted, and the knees track the toes.
3. The working shoulder is packed.
4. The kettlebell handle passes above the knees during the backswing.
5. The working arm is straight at the bottom position.
6. There is no forward knee movement on the upswing.
7. The body forms a straight line at the top of the swing. The hips and knees fully extend; the spine is neutral.
8. The kettlebell forms an extension of the forearm at the top of the swing; the arm is almost straight.
9. Inhale on the way down; forcefully exhale on the way up.
10. The abs and glutes visibly contract at the top of the swing.
11. The kettlebell floats for a second at the top of the swing.

Get-up Standards

1. Use both hands to lift the kettlebell off the ground to the starting position of the floor press and to return it to the ground at the end of the get-up.
2. The wrist on the kettlebell side is neutral.
3. The elbow on the kettlebell side is locked and the shoulder is packed.
4. The shoulder of the free arm does not shrug up.
5. The heel of the foot on the kettlebell side stays planted during the low sweep, the lunge up to standing, and during the reverse of these actions.
6. The knee touches the deck silently on the descent into the half-kneeling position.
7. The arm holding the kettlebell is vertical or almost vertical.
8. The neck is neutral for the top half of the movement, from the lunge up.
9. In the top position, the knees are locked and the lower back does not hyperextend.
The movement is smooth, without jerky transitions.

Submissions

To be listed below for achieving the Sinister goal, please complete the submission form with a link to your video.

Sinister Filming Standards

Recommended Dress:

  • A short-sleeved shirt or tank to allow the elbows, the shoulders, and the spine positions to be seen clearly in the lifts. The shirt needs to be tight or tucked into your pants.
  • A pair of shorts or leggings so that the top position (vertical plank with knees locked), and neutral spine can be viewed.
  • Wear clothing that is a different color from the background (or floor if doing a Get-up) or ensure the lighting allows the positioning of the body to be seen clearly.

Procedure:

Your Sinister attempt should be a seamlessly running video including:

  • A newspaper or your phone clearly showing the date.
  • Confirm the kettlebell(s) weight clearly.
  • Weigh the kettlebell to show that the kettlebell load is accurate.
  • The completed Sinister attempt of 10 swings every 30 seconds x 5 minutes + one minute of rest followed by 1 get-up every minute x 10 minutes.

Camera Angles:

One-Arm Swing

  • Angle the body45° degrees to the camera to allow for a full body (head to toe) view.
  • Camera is positioned on a box or tripod so the filmed view is level and not shot from the ground (directed up).

Get-up

  • Feet facing camera.
  • Ensure the full standing overhead position is visible.
  • Camera is positioned on a box or tripod so the filmed view is level and not shot from the ground (directed up).

These are the men and women who have achieved the “Sinister” standard from Pavel’s Kettlebell Simple & Sinister program:

SINISTER FEMALE
Lacie Brandts Anna Cannington Roxanne Myers
Mira Gracia Kate Trusewicz Sammantha Kouba
Arianna Zaccagnini Hyun Jin Choi Alicja Gęsikowska
Debbie Hayes Nicole Davis Elisa Pagani
Camila Hermoso Raye Johnston Ula Gronowska
Fanni Stein Lauryn Conlon Eileen Backman
Tana Ross Jenni Holzhauer Holly Myers
Lindsay Cruz Lara Messersmith Glavin Natascia Sannino
Joanna Jaworska Amy Larson Brei Bunker
Analisa Naldi Dorthy Sumruld Ana Cristina Callesen
Ewa Puziak Emily Grandstaff-Rice Magda Wnuk
Teal Price Janaye Rayman Elaine Difeliciantonio
Ekaterina Tabakova Magdalena Boińska Charlene Richardson
Magdalena Kostarczyk Małgorzata Piłat Marina El Haybe
Nina Wtorek Claire Thomson Carrie Cothran
Jennifer Holzhauer Maria Bascetta Melissa Templeman
Cristy Callesen Elizabeth Froberg Fanni Steib
Jeong Yun Kwak Małgorzata Arendarczyk Erlinda Gomez
Jackie Vazquez Juhee Lee Aleksandra Kłeczek
Lauren Kanikeberg Yang Jihyun Marzia Lo Verso
Ewelina Grdeń Malou Fehlbaum Anna Pawlak
Madison Freed Kymm Bontrager Julia Eckart
Meghan Mueller Kristin Scheuerman Jolanta Pawlowska
Emily Watts Elvira Chianello Kristina Kazimourova
Martina Williams Simona Bertucci Yun Joo Lee
Rachel Nard Thalyta Romano Marta Naskręt
Barbara Filipowska Shoshana Katz Jeongsun Choi
Jihyang Park Karen Mooney Magda Kwiecień
Marzena Małota Katalin Vida Marta Brodziejewska
Audrey Bordeloup Melanie Dubnicka Hyun Jung Hwang
Katarzyna Sekula Hana Seo Brooke Droese
Taylor Gall Karolina Gaczyńska Chuanren Lin
Monika Kumosz Joanna Garszko Agnieszka Jelen
Magdalena Jezewicz Joanna Soroka Sheri McAmis
Agnieszka Gwiazdowska Paula Siwik Park Youn Kyung
Agnieszka Nowak Aleksandra Olech Zuzanna Kozłowska
Katarzyna Martyniuk Zuzana Brust Sara Swedorski
Minseo Kim Guadalupe Demoliner Agnieska Dubiel
Anna Warężak Yulianty Wibawa
SINISTER MALE
Stefan Löfström Ivan Masperi Aldo Alberico
Dariusz Reinhard Todd Whelan Brian Myers
Soo-on Kwak Lauryn Conlon Chris Abbott
Noah Maxwell Anthony Steward Jr Stephen Celia
Seong Il Mun Josh Kidd Kevin Cleary
Sean Bryan Max Western Nicholas Heuer
John Odden KangMin Kim Seon Woo Hong
Pil Joon Ko Arryn Grogan Lee YongWook
Tomas Krpelan Tomasz Cierpisz Jun Young Lee
Jong Hun Han Sven Rieger Marco Cusimano
Jin Woo Jung Woo Been Cho Dewen Kong
Maurizio Mottalini Kibeom Bae Jakub Majewski
Anton Hoffman Gwangseon Choi An Sewoong
Jose Luis Cortina Bartłomiej Przybylski Zakary Morris
Lucas Broncato Michal Bieniek Lars Schönemann
Kacper Alfler Pavel Macek Freddy Sanchez
Kiung Kwon Alcides Aleman Michael Nowak
Krzysztof Ostrzyckin Sung Ho Cho Kamil Cyba
Przemyslaw Dyjak Bartłomiej Miziniak Joohoi Kim
Elliot Rayman Grzegorz Wiśniewski Nicolas Stir
Richard Ulm Mateusz Bisikiewicz Vinicius Murad
Subin Han Joseph Glaser-Reich Hyunmin Jeong
Roniel Sales de Araujo

Many of those who have achieved Sinister also hold the hard-earned rank of StrongFirst Certified Instructor.

Visit our Worldwide Instructor Directory to contact an instructor if you are interested in a training session. When you train under a StrongFirst Certified Instructor—kettlebell, barbell, or bodyweight—you are learning from the best.

Power to you!