In the pull-up you will be required to start from a dead hang, pull up without kipping, and finish by touching the bar with your neck or chest using the thumbless overhand grip. Women will be tested with their bodyweight only. Men will be required to hang a kettlebell on a foot (a weight belt is not allowed). Kettlebell sizes: 24kg for up to 220 pounds bodyweight; 16kg for over 220 pounds. Men masters (over 50 years old): 16kg up to 220 pounds; bodyweight; 12kg for over 220 pounds.
In the pistol you must be able to descend at least to parallel and come up exercising control. You may hold a counterweight. Successful performance of the pistol with one leg is sufficient.
Successful performance of the windmill, bent press, and push press with one arm is sufficient.
The jerk will be tested with two kettlebells of the size required for the snatch test.
In addition to the technique testing of the Level II exercises you will be tested on your clean and military press strength. Men will be required to press the kettlebell closest to 1/2 their bodyweight. Women will be required to press the kettlebell closest to 1/4 their bodyweight. Masters of 50 years of age and older will have a separate list of requirements.
One Arm Kettlebell Clean and Military Press
RKC Level II Requirements
Men
| Bodyweight, Lbs. |
Kettlebell, Lbs. |
| Up to 117 |
53 |
| 118-132 |
62 |
| 133-150 |
70 |
| 151-168 |
80 |
| 169-185 |
88 |
| 186-203 |
97 |
| Over 203 |
106 |
|
Men Masters
(50+ Years Old)
| Bodyweight, Lbs. |
Kettlebell, Lbs. |
| Up to 132 |
44 |
| 133-150 |
53 |
| 151-168 |
62 |
| 169-194 |
70 |
| Over 194 |
80 |
|
Women
| Bodyweight, Lbs. |
Kettlebell, Lbs. |
| Up to 122 |
26 |
| 123-158 |
35 |
| 159-194 |
44 |
| Over 194 |
53 |
|
Women Masters
(50+ Years Old)
| Bodyweight, Lbs. |
Kettlebell, Lbs. |
| Up to 122 |
18 |
| 123-158 |
26 |
| 159-194 |
35 |
| Over 194 |
44 |
|
Note that the above numbers are simply —not easily, but simply —achieved by following the Right of Passage plan in Enter the Kettlebell!
The Strict One-Arm Military Press
Standard
- Performance of the C&P with one arm is sufficient.
- Chalk is allowed.
- The girevik will clean the bell with one hand.
- The girevik must initiate the press with the fist of the working arm below chin level.
- The girevik must press the kettlebell overhead to a full lockout for one repetition.
- The girevik must be standing still during the entire press attempt.
- There must be a distinct pause between the clean and the press, the girevik and the kettlebell motionless.
- The knees must be completely locked during the attempt.
- The girevik must demonstrate full control at the lockout. The girevik and the kettlebell must remain motionless until the head referee's "Down!" command.
What disqualifies an attempt?
- Failing any of the above standards.
- Using the legs in a push press fashion.
- Bouncing the kettlebell off the chest.
- Downward movement of the kettlebell after the pause between the clean and the press.
- Raising one or both heels, moving one or both feet.
- Leaning sideways so the press turns into a side press. Look for the elbow angle: if it increases at any point during the attempt without a simultaneous elevation of the bell, the girevik has leaned away from the kettlebell and thus has turned a strict press into a side press.
- Excessively leaning back during the attempt.
- Rolling the kettlebell onto the shoulder.
The Tactical Dead Hang Pullup
Standard:
- The girevik must perform one strict dead hang pullup with a kettlebell on his foot.
- The bar shall be set high enough not to allow the girevik's feet to touch the ground when hanging with the arms and legs straight.
- The grip must be thumbless overhand. The width is not specified.
- The girevik may use a box or similar object to reach the bar.
- There must be a distinct pause in a dead hang before an attempt is made.
- The elbows must be straight at the start; the legs may be straight or bent.
- The neck or chest—not the underside of the chin— must touch the bar at the top position.
What disqualifies an attempt?
- Failing any of the above standards.
- Kipping, swinging.
- Raising the femurs above parallel.
If you fail any of the above tests, you will be given three months to retest with a Master RKC, Senior RKC, or RKC Team Leader. Your RKC II Instructor certificate will not be issued until you have passed all the tests.
Testing Exemptions
In rare cases a highly accomplished, national or international level, coach or athlete may be exempt from some of the technique and/or performance tests due to a chronic injury. The candidate would need to demostrate his ability to coach the Level II skills effectively.
IMPORTANT RKC 1
TESTING AND RECERTIFICATION UPDATE
Regardless of how recent your Level I cert is, in addition to the above Level II requirements you will be retested for Level I: the technique in the six Level 1 basics and the five-minute snatch test. This will recertify you as a Level I RKC for two more years. Note that the get-up will be tested according to the Kettlebells from the Ground Up standard, with a high bridge.
If you fail any of the Level I tests you will not be certified as a Level II instructor, even if you have passed all the Level II tests. You will not be recertified as a Level I instructor either.
If you fail any of the Level I tests, you will be given two months to retest with a Master RKC, Senior RKC, or RKC Team Leader.