Author: Sven Rieger
Sven fell in love with kettlebells in the fall of 2010, when a friend introduced him to these “cannonballs with a handle.” While not immediately sure what to do with it, he was certain: “This was what I was searching for so long.” Shortly after, he found Pavel Tsatsouline’s material and was hooked.
After taking two workshops in the spring of 2011, he set a goal of becoming an instructor. On the way, he completed his FMS Level 1. When StrongFirst was founded in 2012, he knew that this was the place for him. In only a few short years, from August 2016 to November 2019, he completed his SFG, SFL, SFG II, and SFB, becoming a StrongFirst Certified Elite Instructor and in 2020 he became a StrongFirst Certified Team Leader. He has also attended Plan Strong and Strong Endurance to learn how to create effective training plans for his students.
Sven studied Healthcare Management and works as a strength and fitness coach in Stuttgart, Germany.
StrongFirst is built upon universal strength principles that are applied to the three modalities we teach: kettlebell, barbell, and bodyweight. Although our focus is on these specific modalities, our principles can be applied to any training tool. StrongFirst principles translate complicated, scientific methods into simple, applicable programs that can be immediately applied to training. Our […]
In the fall of 2020, I decided to take on a unique goal: lifting the Dinnie Stones in Scotland. Having watched STONELAND multiple times and seeing John Odden, StrongFirst Certified Elite Instructor, and Jason Marshall, StrongFirst Certified Master Instructor, lifting the “Steens” aroused the urge to achieve this great feat. Little did I know that […]
Introduction From the outside, the StrongFirst Bodyweight Certification (SFB) may look like the least “shiny” of the three certification StrongFirst offers, but for many it´s also probably the one they will have to work the hardest for, both physically and mentally. But what you get from the SFB when you put yourself in the (possibly) […]
Lifting the Dinnie Stones is a challenge for which strength enthusiasts from all over the world travel to Scotland. Donald Dinnie not only lifted but carried the “Steens” across the Potarch Bridge in 1860—a feat that would not be replicated for more than a century. In 1972, somebody was finally able to do what he […]
A few weeks ago after seeing StrongFirst Certified Master Instructor, Pavel Macek, do a Goblet Squat with a kettlebell equal to his own bodyweight I had a great conversation with him about achieving such impressive results. He said, “I am stubborn, patient, and I think a lot about the stuff I do when I practice.” […]
We believe that strength has a greater purpose—and that purpose goes far beyond the ability to lift weight or move loads. Being physically strong is great. Especially when you consider the alternative. Being weak is less appealing. But the importance of strength shows itself when it transcends what you do in the gym. The strength […]
