Giving these athletes main character energy!
Many of them have been competing at the AAKO from the very first year and the others have been to more than one. Why do they keep returning? Because they know the AAKO can be relied on as a professional, safe, and fun event! Welcome back!
Register now at allamericankettlebellopen.com
Don’t wait another second!
The goals of your training matter.
What are you looking to get out of it?
How you measure progress means a great deal as well.
For me, strength endurance is a great means to an end and my favorite way to pursue that is the pentathlon. In classic kettlebell sport disciplines, you’re more than likely training one of the three disciplines, long cycle, jerk, or snatch. Unless you’re chasing down a biathlon or triathlon score. To me the pentathlon has the largest carry over to everyday life. You specialize yourself in 5 disciplines and work them in a way that builds your capacity unlike most other methods of training. It’s a fully self sustaining system that lays out all the metrics for you. All you need is a good understanding of how to build and deload a training block then the goals can be infinite. If you haven’t given it a go you should try it.
Lose fat, build your endurance for the mats, or get stronger for everyday life. Personally, I love the pent because I work full time as an elevator mechanic and I have 3 kids that keep me super busy so I need a training system that’s efficient and removes the guessing game.
I’m still out with a distal bicep tendon rupture. The most common question I’m asked is if it happened while working out and that answer is no, I popped it doing some everyday simple tasks that I do all the time at work. I’m am elevator mechanic by trade and I was simply extending a ladder out across a hoistway. Anyway, I’m finding myself antsy and anxious to get back to training. I’m close but not quite there yet. While I’m making progress with the arm it’s been very tempting to “test” myself but I’m holding on to the fact that if this one goes south there isn’t a 3rd time to do the repair. So for now I’m going to reminisce and stay the course.
Heavy clean and press is one of my favorite total body builders. Out of the Pentathlon this one is very slow compared to the other lifts but it is probably my favorite. This and half snatch! That’s probably why I usually combine these exercises in a stand alone session. That and when I was being programmed and coached by Denis Vasilev he would write it this way. I found that it’s an enjoyable combo.
When you can look forward to your training that’s a good sign you’re going to stick with it. Yea I get it you gotta do the hard shit that you don’t wanna but believe me these are hard and also very rewarding. There’s something about pressing up a heavy weight that could give no fxcks if you drop it on your head or feet. If it’s not respected it can and will hurt you. Even this lift is highly technical and can always be improved on.. from your posture or to something as simple as timing of the breath.
For me, training for something keeps me pushing forward. It keeps me hot with the desire to be better than I was. It helps put my mind at ease. Doing these hard things makes almost everything in daily life easier. Cliche? Maybe, but that shit has truth to it.
I’m pushing 40, the clock is going to keep ticking and this is one of the ways I like to spend my time. Is it helping me to keep with the feeling like I’m a young buck? Meh, debatable, I’m still sore as hell and sometimes I grunt when I stand up but that’s all good. After a solid training session my mind is clear and quiet and that’s good enough for me.
I still have about 6 weeks before I can put any significant weight on my arm. I’m dreaming about the day I can get back under some bells! Really no point to this except to have some freedom of expression. Go do some Clean and Press and get strong!
Registration is live for the AAKO 2026 at the Mr. America All American Sports Festival in Atlantic City New Jersey. Inside the Tropicana!
This isn’t about fancy graphics or celebrity hype. This is the core of what I teach and how I train.
The RazeBells Pentathlon is my flagship 12-week program. I designed it for the garage lifters, the busy parents, and the veterans getting back on track. If you’ve got 45 minutes and a kettlebell, you have enough to change your life.
What’s inside:
✅ 12 weeks of structured progression.
✅ Focus on the 5 pillars: Clean, Long Cycle Press, Jerk, Half Snatch, and Push Press.
✅ Built to increase work capacity, grit, and functional strength.
✅ A fully written manual on each lift and the guidance on the program.
✅ Video guidance introducing the pentathlon and each lift.
Why is it only $19.99? Because I’m a blue collar guy. I believe real training should be accessible to anyone willing to put in the work. You don’t need a massive budget; you need a plan that works and the discipline to follow it.
Stop overcomplicating your fitness. Join the Flagship. Raze your limits.
- Coach Dana