RKC vs Girevoy Sport

Because I am very much a kettlebell novice, I'm not even going to try to describe in my own words the difference between the two styles. Instead I'm going to refer you to a couple of useful essays on the subject, one written by Scott Stevens, RKC:


http://omahakettlebell.blogspot.com/2009/01/rkc-system-vs-girevoy-sport.html


and the other by Steve Cotter, IKFF:


http://library.crossfit.com/free/pdf/59_07_Cotter_Kettlebell_Methods.pdf



Both, I think, are fair discussions, which is why I chose those two as opposed to some others. Let's just say that the proponents of the two styles can get a bit passionate about the subject :)


As a bonus, this blog post authored by Dr. Mark Cheng, RKC Team Leader, does a great job of explaining the hard style lock that it pretty much the foundation of the RKC style of training.:

http://kettlebellslosangeles.blogspot.com/2008/09/hard-style-lock.html

Master it, and you will have the ultimate stability and strength that will enable you to get massive amounts of iron up over your head without killing yourself. Get REALLY good at it and you'll even be able to get up on your pointes. I'm serious: the only real difference is that when you're en pointe it's the tips of your big toes , not your heels, that are driving down through the floor. The knee lock and the glute clench are identical, as are the bracing of the core and the depression and retraction of the shoulderblades. Your ballet teacher won't think to phrase it in quite that way, most likely, but physiologically it's the same thing happening.

Even so, do not attempt to swing, clean, press or snatch a kettlebell en pointe. It just sounds like a really bad idea. (It's a shame I'm so lazy about taking pictures, because this would be a hilarious "what not to do" photo assuming I didn't kill myself.)