Welcoem to posts!!
in the future - u will be able to do some more stuff here,,,!! like pat catgirl- i mean um yeah... for now u can only see others's posts :c
Here is my first announcement of 2025 - my collab with @johnsonwearofficial 🫶 They crushed it. My logo on their high quality shirts!
This is a great way to support my online brand & you're working with their team, not me 💯🙏 Ive really struggled with apparel & Johnson Wear has stepped & given me the assist I really needed. They also have many other designs!
johnsonwear.shop/products/harder-to-kill
Dont forget to use my code to save you some $$ "LEVI15". You can also find the direct link in my bio!
2025 comin in hottt 😁
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Many have asked & we're ready! Code LEVI15 for some sweet training Ts. Or if you're like me, Church Ts 💯
johnsonwear.shop or linked in bio
big thanks for your help @johnsonwearofficial. Im making another order!
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Last week I received my official MS cert from a previous competition & found myself on the IKO Ranked Athlete list 😁❤️:
www.kettlebellworld.org/iko-ranked-athletes
The effort was an American Record for my weight class too. Don't get me wrong, there are FAR better performing Gireviks & most are even lighter 😳. But this feels like a lifetime achievement award for me 💯. I started training for 2 bell competitions in Jan '21 at the age of 42. This adventure was very humbling & seemed to generate far more questions than deliver answers. Master of Sport in Longcycle was never even a real goal when I started. It seemed too far out of reach. And it took literal years of intentional training. All for one goal. Injuries endured & a surgery recovered from - all for a title very few understand & a piece of paper 🤣
Every rep was worth it
I learned more about myself in this process than i ever could have imagined. This was more difficult mentally & physically than any athletic or wellness pursuit I've encountered.
My entire athletic career always came up short. I was rated #2 in State & never placed as a senior in HS. I was able to end my collegiate career as a NAIA AA finishing 6th, but that was well below my goals (& perceived ability). Every KB comp prior to this ended up as shit. Two trips to Europe only to vastly underperform 😑. FINALLY I was able to achieve a performance goal! Ive never been at peace, competitively, until now. Stepping off that platform last Apr 27, '24 is the first time I felt complete as an "athlete".
If you've read this far, congrats on earning a MS in reading incoherent ramblings 😉.
A very big thank you to Michael Son for the programming, patience, & leadership. You've changed my life & business forever. And also to Denis Vasilev for continued modeling, inspiration, & the only organization I wanted to earn MS ranking in (IKO).
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had a great conversation with @lebe-stark a few days ago. Gregory does a great job of keeping the convo fun and moving forward. If you don't follow him or his work with @kettleknights now would be a great time to start! he's had some legends as guests!
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“Levi Markwardt is a world-class Kettlebell Sport Competitor & member of Team USA's World Marathon Team, recognized under the International Kettlebell Marathon Federation (IKMF). His exceptional skill in Kettlebell Sport is highlighted by his achievement as IKMF Master of Sport World Class in Pentathlon & Master of Sport in Longcycle (IKO). Levi has become a prominent figure in the kettlebell community, not only for his competitive successes but also for his role in elevating the sport's profile.
In addition to his competitive pursuits, Levi is passionate about teaching & training others. Through his role at Levi's Harder To Kill Training, he offers specialized kettlebell workshops, individualized programming, & one-on-one virtual coaching. His training programs are renowned for their effectiveness, attracting kettlebell athletes from various levels across the globe, including six USA Marathon Team qualifiers who train under his guidance with multiple reaching IKMF Ranks of Master of Sport & Master of Sport World Class. Levi's expertise in kettlebell training makes him a sought-after coach for athletes looking to excel in this challenging & rewarding sport." Dani Pele Marks
This was a wonderful experience for me & it’s officially LIVE 🙏 Two days of filming KB continuing education for @nielasher produced nearly three hours of video content & a live podcast with Dani (& Chris behind the scenes). Then I spent countless hours writing a manual & exam for this class. Search “kettlebell” at nielasher.com/ for a introductory rate of $49.95! Or you can use the link in my bio
I never imagined, when I started using bells, I’d compete with the National Marathon team or achieve the Ranks I have. But that was far more likely to happen, IMO, than being chosen to help create a continuing education platform for a company as prestigious as Niel Asher! Over the years I’ve been asked why I don’t do instructional videos or offer training for beginners - now I officially do 😉. You’ll get plenty of me talking, demonstration, & writing (with hyperlinked demos to exercises & training samples) to my unique style of KB training. Of course more traditional Sport programming is offered & the Basic Membership through my website is still available
I started my journey with RKC & did the whole $1200 3-day weekend cert. I’ve driven across the country to learn from GS World Champions in person & invested untold time & resources into my own development as a coach & competitor to develop this style of training - both to prepare for the platform or whatever life throws at you. Point being, the value of this online class is beyond affordable!
Dani & Chris were great (I need to work with professionals more often) & doing a podcast in person is much better than online. Grateful to be a part of this project & Niel Asher Continuing Professional Education! Again, you can find all links in my bio
Lastly, I cannot thank Shai enough for stepping in at the last minute to be me. I love to remind her she’s “the best of me” & she once again lived up to that phrase. This was scheduled months in advance, Dani was flying in from Israel, & I ended up needing surgery on my arm & was not cleared to use a bell. No worries, #shailenlevisdotter to the rescue! And of course many, many thanks to Coach Michael Son for taking this (at the time) 40 y/o baby American under his wing & teaching him the way of the KB. Forever indebted
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"I am happy to share that Episode #37 with Levi Markwardt is live on all platforms!
Levi Markwardt is a world-class Kettlebell Sport Competitor and member of Team USA's World Team, recognized under the International Kettlebell Marathon Federation (IKMF). His exceptional skill in Kettlebell Sport is highlighted by his achievement as IKMF Master of Sport World Class in Pentathlon. Levi has become a prominent figure in the kettlebell community, not only for his competitive successes but also for his role in elevating the sport's profile.
In addition to his competitive pursuits, Levi is passionate about teaching and training others. Through his role at Levi's Harder To Kill Training, he offers specialized kettlebell workshops, individualized programming, and one-on-one coaching. His training programs are renowned for their effectiveness, attracting kettlebell athletes from various levels, including six World Team qualifiers who train under his guidance. Levi's expertise in kettlebell training makes him a sought-after coach for athletes looking to excel in this challenging and rewarding sport."
This was a wonderful experience for me 🙏 Nearly two days of filming KB continuing education for @nielasher, this podcast with Dani (& Chris behind the scenes) & a big assist from @shai.markwardt too!
Dani & Chris were great (I need to work with professionals more often) & doing a podcast in person is much better than online. Grateful to be a part of this project & Niel Asher Continuing Professional Education (LEVI15)!
open.spotify.com/episode/0F4gBYBUJ4rcyyMQ5VjFcX...
https://youtu.be/jpDzPt4fMgM?si=tB2AH...
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Some form of the following questions are the most asked I get on Social Media. And the next screenshot about commitment & discipline is definitely related
- “Can you really build muscle just using KBs?”
- “What else are you doing with bars & DBs?”
When scrolling I generally get snapshots of random exercises strung together. Or people using KBs like they’d use a DB. Or maybe the ever popular KB Flow. What I don’t see very much of is actual training. Now, that could be a marketing tactic. Maybe they are just showing a few reps of different movements they use when actually training. But you, the consumer, only see what I see. And if you copy what I’m seeing, it's no surprise I get these sorts of questions. Copying randomized routines leads to thinking, “I wonder what else these guys are doing?” because to your untrained eye, you see me using bells & have no idea that I’m NOT doing what you think you’re doing. After all, we don’t know what we don’t know
As I answered in the screenshot, yes, KBs can certainly be enough for nearly all of the exercising population UNLESS you compete in a strength sport where max speed or load are necessary. Examples that come to mind: Strongman, Powerlifting, Weightlifting, & sports like American Football (OL/DL), etc. Variables matter so you need to address your calorie needs with quality foods & intelligently progress your training (at minimum). Showing up without a plan & exercising based on feel is not recommended. Lasting results require an intelligent strategy while taking much commitment & discipline
My plan for this next training week is basically set because I’ve recorded everything I’ve done for years on end. Everything I do is “same but different”. Small tweaks in pace, loading, duration, rest, & GPP remove the guesswork, keep consistency high & allow me to improve in some aspect. I look/perform like I do because I’m committed to the process
What does this mean for you? Michael Son & I are looking to meet training needs through unique KB programming. This could be Girevoy Sport related but certainly does not need to be. We feel the best way to start this process is by answering questions & we'd like to do this through a joint webinar. Our intent is to find similar minded people who enjoy the process of the journey, but have a hurdle or two they need help getting over. Individuals who first & foremost value themselves & see training results as a return on investment over time. If you have a few moments, this survey includes 20 questions & will help us prepare for future communications. Thank you
Michael & Levi - forms.gle/kNoBc2iiaTyd3M4w5
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My online community keeps growing 💯 so i wanted to take a quick min to say thank you ❤
A gentleman from Madagascar just joined the online Membership thru my website & it really made me pause & reflect. The whole reason i started the website was to continue my Dad's legacy by sharing the impact his passing had on my life #hardertokilltraining This has become a lifestyle more than anything
Thanks to the internet & social media his passing has impacted countless individuals 😳 Off the top of my head, Ive been able to work with people either directly or thru the Basic Membership from Turkey, Poland, Russia, Israel, Norway, Italy, Greece, Sweden, Peru, France, Canada, Mexico, California (honestly diff country 😉)... a heartfelt thank you ❤
From the left pic to the right, its been an amazing journey. I never would have guessed the impact bells would have on m physically, mentally, or emotionally. And never had i ever considered Merle Markwardt's life could reach so many from my little gym in Spirit Lake, IA. I dont know how you found me or why i stand out to you, but im grateful youre here 💪
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Message from my Coach, Michael Son (translated from Hebrew)
Do you want a killer program?
Like, for free and that.. 🤪
For the lovers of challenges - here is the latest training block I built for a man and legend, a dear friend Levi Markwardt (For those who don't know - it's for you, really! )
The link to the program is in the first response.
Angoy 💪
❗Travel warning: the program is in the nominal language 😉
My addition:
people watch the clips i post of my training and then DM questions. Everyone wants free training advice...
well, for reasons beyond my understanding, here is what my coach - Michael Son - has me doing over the month of March.
Michael has programmed for me since late 2018. My half snatch half marathon in Spain was 399 (pre-Michael). My best since then in the UGC series is 472 (32kg x30').
In competition preparation in the last 14 mos (2 KB focus) I've hit:
109 2x24 Half Snatch (10') in "Battle of the Gireviks" (IKMF)
89 2x28 Half Snatch (10') Amber KBs Champion
100 2x24 Longcycle (10') as a random training set
I list those results because my inexperience with 2 KBs and age (43, 44 in May) have not limited me in my progress with him 🙂
The training block:
wayofape.blogspot.com/2022/03/levis-bmf-double-kb-…
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Day One 15 yrs later
Oct 2nd will forever be an important date in my life. Its the day i finally drew that line in the sand when quitting no longer became an option. It was time to stop stopping & realize i do deserve this
This is the first before & after (countless since) I ever posted on SM. I tagged @rosstraining as a thank you for his guidance & he was kind enough to write a blog about it on his website. That's when it clicked for me 😳 Since then i started to build a brand, even if i didnt know it (& still have no idea what im doing 🤦♂️)
rosstraining.com/blog/2012/10/the-decision-to-chan…
#levishardertokilltraining is #merleslegacy & i couldnt be more proud. Beyond that, getting healthy has allowed me to live a life i never imagined. From being fat, sick, & lazy 15 yrs ago to not only traveling the world teaching & competing but more importantly, building memories with Shai & my wife 🙏❤ none of this happens without that original #decisiontochange but also remember, this journey of self-awareness doesn't just stop. Changing your life is continuous - wt regain is the overwhelming norm. Im very proud of making the changes my normal & not going backwards
healthblog.uofmhealth.org/health-management/weighi…
Thank you as well to all my members - online & in-house - that allow me to live this life. #athleticrepublicspiritlake doesn't happen w/o you either 💪👊
Do what you need to do to live the life you want on your terms. Short term sacrifice will have a big return.
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My main motivation is to honor my father’s life and what he’s given me by helping you to get your life back. To become HARDER TO KILL! The stronger we are, the higher our quality of life. Everything starts with strength. Becoming stronger is basically the answer to every question we can ask regarding our health and wellness.
So how am I going to help you become HARDER TO KILL? With simplicity! By keeping things simple we are able to remove excuses. Don’t get me wrong – simple does NOT mean easy! It just means we don’t need to over complicate things that don’t need to be complicated. You’ll become efficient in your movements, improving range of motion, stabilizing joints, increasing confidence in all aspects of your life.
IKMF Master of Sport World Class (Pentathlon)
IKO Master of Sport (Longcycle)
Levi