This is a genuine, feel it, get in the groove, focus and mind connected sport. Along with that it’s a relaxed strength which requires submission to the technique. This is NOT weight lifting as we generally know it, rather movement with power and yet a calm composure, intended to be endured for the full 10 minutes. I have come to realize that participation plus training for Girevoy Sport will allow any athlete from any sport to improve and excel at their particular sport but the training for any other sport could not prepare you for GS.
Valerie Pawlowski
Interview With 52 ½ Years Young GS World Champion Valerie Pawlowski
What age were you when you first started kettlebell training? Do you remember something particular about that day?
I was 43 years of age, about 9 years ago now. Yesk, most definitely I recall how it came about. It was while I was ordering some training equipment from a catalog and noticed the Kettlebells. A colleague had always warned me “Don’t use kettlebells, you will rip your arm out of its socket“. Concerned and shocked at that possibility I had not used kettlebells until noticing them in this catalog along with the Providence kettlebell workout DVD from Anthony DiLuglio. I decided to order his video and kettlebells —LOL— a 4kg, 8kg along with Anthony’s Providence video which strongly attracted me. Funny, the weight sizes selected were so small, I had no idea about the appropriate weight and conversion of kg to pounds. I added the 12kg later, still too small but learned and progressed into more.
At what age did you start taking training seriously, or were you serious from the moment you stepped into the world of kettlebells?
As soon as I met Anthony at a seminar I knew I wanted to pursue the training and use this Kettlebell weight to train with. It damn near killed me the first time, huffing and puffing swinging and struggling to catch on. It wasn’t until after opening my Punch Kettlebell gym that we discovered there’s a sport to go with it. When the NYC WKC competition was publicized, there was a moment I thought “hey, let’s go see this” and before I could get those words out of my mouth, I said “let’s go DO this”. Things became serious at that point and a few of us decided to compete.
What records have you set? Do you intend to break any this year?
Interestingly there’s an entirely new pathway and precedent being set at every step of this tremendous journey due to my age. At 52 and 1/2 years of age I’m the first lifter in the veteran age category to go the course of achieving Master of Sport in 24kg Kettlebell Long Cycle and now closing in on master of sport in 24 kg Kettlebell Snatch very soon.
Recent accomplishments are 101 Kettlebell Snatch 24kg on May 2016 which adds me to the rank of becoming one of only 5 women in North America who have achieved 100 or more in 24kg Snatches. And most recently at our NJ Iron Bell Challenge I bettered that PR by 4 reps having achieved 105 in 24 kg Kettlebell Snatch on June 25, 2016.
On a side note, in Women’s Two Arm Long Cycle I set unofficial world record of 113 in (2) 12 kg Long Cycle.
What one or two adjustments have you made to your kettlebell snatch over the years that drastically improved your technique/reps, if any?
Relax, eyes and chest up, leaning back, and gripping as little as possible for only most crucial moments necessary on drop and backswing return. It’s magnificent when it all comes together.
A GREAT day is just beginning…EVERYDAY
Future goals? Anything specific you want to achieve and why?
Setting goals is of the utmost importance. My sights are set on conquering the biggest goal possible and that is to do what the best in the world has done, the ultimate measure of what’s achievable by any woman, Ksenia Dedukina has shown that a woman can achieve 202 Snatches with 24kg Kettlebell. I strive to make progress in pursuit of this goal, and therefore all the success along the way to achieving this would also be magnificent. The immediate goal or stepping stones along the pathway are USA Nationals qualifying in 24kg Snatch to represent Team USA and on to Kazakhstan for the 2016 Kettlebell Sport World Championship.