Introduction

By Artemis Scantalides, Co-Owner, Iron Body Studios

My brother, Leonidas (Lee) Scantalides is Physical Therapist (DPT), Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), and a fourth degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do. He’s an amazing martial artist and competed frequently in Tae Kwon Do Competitions in his teens and twenties.  As a high level martial artist, he sustained many injuries to his shoulder, hip and neck, which he goes into detail about in this post.  These injuries plagued him over the years as he experienced pain and set backs with various training modalities. About a year and a half ago he started to train with kettlebells.  After training with kettlebells for a year and half, he writes, “At 34 years old, I am the strongest I have ever been, feel the most resilient ever, and continue to gain progress regularly.  In addition, I have not been set back by injury or pain as I increase in bell size and load with major lifts.”  He has also been using ketttlebells with his patients and clients in both rehabilitation and training settings and has seen tremendous results.  The Kettlebell as a tool and kettlebell training have had such an impact on how he trains himself, his clients, and implements rehabilitation programs that he will be going for his StrongFirst (SFG) Level I Kettlebell Certification in July 2014.

When he started to train with kettlebells regularly and decided to get his SFG Kettlebell Certification, I could not have been more excited and proud.  My brother influenced me to start studying Kung Fu and helped me and encouraged me to leave my office job to pursue my passion in the Fitness Industry.  He knew how unhappy I was working in an office and I could not have had the courage to take the leap to pursue my passion without his support.  It is priceless to me that I now have the opportunity to return that support and guidance to him as he trains for his SFG Level I Kettlebell Certification.

Below is his story as to why he chooses kettlebells.

Why I choose Kettlebells

By Leonidas Scantalides, DPT, CSCS, NSCA-CPT

My name is Leonidas Scantalides and I am the proud brother of Artemis Scantalides, Co-Owner, Iron Body Studios, and recently a Kettlebell Practitioner.  I am a full-time Physical Therapist (PT) and part-time Strength and Conditioning Coach/Personal Trainer.  I work as a PT in a clinic specializing in outpatient orthopedic manual PT serving New York City.  We treat general population, postoperative patients, and athletes (triathletes, marathon runners, crossfit enthusiasts, cyclist, olympic weight-lifters).

(Read more of this post HERE.)