It’s a week since I finished my IBBC certification, my limbs have finally stopped aching and the experience is still settling in. The 2 day course is tough and very demanding both physically and mentally. The preparation plan will get you through the tests, the mental side comes down to how committed and driven you are to succeed at this course, it’s not enough to show up you need to perform.
Day 1
Saturday morning was an early start, as I travelled to the training centre I was thinking about my preparation and wondering what to expect. I have worked with the guys from Optimal Life Fitness before so I had a good idea of what was coming. When I arrived I was greeted by Tommy and introduced to Steve we chatted about the course and how my prep had gone. Soon the niceties were over it was time to get to work, after a very thorough warm up came the first exam…..the spin test.
The spin test had been at the front of my mind from the start of my preparation for the course it’s a good test of skill, discipline, fitness and technique with the bag. It’s tough but by no means impossible. My moment of truth had arrived the last 5 weeks of work were about to come to down to 3 and a half minutes. I had a plan for the test, when they asked who was going to go first it was always going to be me. I stuck with the plan, Steve counted me in and I just let it flow, I wasn’t trying to make quick movements but make them as smooth as possible. By set 4 my lungs and muscles were burning I could hear my classmates cheer me on and I wasn’t going to let myself quit. The last 10 push ups were a struggle but Steve was telling me I was ok for time. As I stood up I was tired but all I wanted to know was my time. 3:06 was a new personal best and well inside the pass time. First test done!
We took it in turns to do the test, everybody finding it a different challenge some passed, some didn’t but the support was constant. After the tests we sat down for a talk on the history, and technical side of the bag. After a short break it was time to put what we learned earlier into action. Steve and Tommy put us through our paces learning the skills of the bag and making the moves our own. Lunch time came and went the afternoon was spent with more learning followed by a couple of tough workouts. Day 1 was a tough one when 5pm came it was welcome rest, off home to fuel up for Day 2.
Day 2
Sunday is traditionally a day of rest, nobody told the IBBC that! I took my aching tired limbs to the training centre and we got started, there was a second chance at the spin test for those who didn’t pass first time and another set of tests on program design, teaching and technical skills. After a short break we came back for a talk on some more theory on the bag before lunch.
Lunch was followed by a written paper, it was tricky but we had covered all the information in the course over the 2 days. While Steve was correcting our papers Tommy took us through a few workouts and introduced us to a few of the advanced moves with the bag. We went through a final workout using the bags, H.I.R.T.S. trainers, gladiator wall and plyometric boxes. Tired bodies and sore hands were a standard by the end but so was a feeling of accomplishment that only comes from hard work.
Steve read out the results of our written paper and it was time for us to break up. It had been a tough weekend but friends had been made and we all had a new love and respect for the Bulgarian Bag.
The course showed me just how to get the best from this versatile training tool, I’ve already adopted it into my regular training regime and I’m introducing it to my clients. Everybody finds something different to like about the bag, for me it’s the integration of movement across my whole body and the sheer physicality of the work outs. i owe a huge thanks to Steve Nave and Tommy Mathews for their hard work and expert tuition. I can't wait to work with you guys again.
Now! I’m off to get bag fit!
