#27 - Louka Kurcer: From Prison To Purpose

In the 27th Episode of The Strength Connection Podcast, Mike and our special guest the Owner and Head coach at Hardstyle Kettlebell Montreal, StrongFirst team leader, and flexible steel instructor Louka Kurcer will talk about strength training, quick & the dead, simple & sinister, Religion, spirituality, and Buddist lifestyle and how Louka found more purpose after prison 

Join us in this insightful and captivating talk!

In this chapter you will discover:

(1:50) Introducing our special guest Owner and Head coach at Hardstyle Kettlebell Montreal, StrongFirst team leader, and flexible steel instructor, Louka Kurcer @Kettlebeast

(2:10) The power of a consistent message

(2:15) Shout out to Jhonatan Goodman Linkedin: Jonathan Goodman

(4:10) The problem of getting distracted with too many methods and doing things poorly

(5:30) Louka’s origin story

(5:40) Louka spent 7 years in prison

(5:50) Louka’s early addiction and his tough childhood

(7:15) How Louka got caught

(8:20) Religion, spirituality, and Buddist lifestyle

(8:40) “It’s okay to be with myself all the time, just if you learn your mind you are okay with everything that happens.” - Louka Kurcer

(9:00) Louka’s prison experience

(9:40) Gym, Softball, and other activities in the prison

(11:45) Prison worked as a catalyst Louka’s fitness journey

(12:40) Learning hyperrealistic drawing and different mediums in prison

(14:00) Studying Men's Fitness, Muscle and Fitness, Men’s Health, and Iron Man Magazine to get better result

(14:50) Arnold Schwarzenegger's bodybuilding for men in prison @schwarzenegger

(15:40) Creative full body workout to increase efficiency

(17:00) Workout diary from day 1

(17:25) Art and science of training

(18:20) Using kettlebells after reading Pavel Tsatsouline’s @strongfirst books

(19:45) Sticking with one program for a year

(20:00) Creativeness of kettlebell training

(22:05) Training was meditation and reduced stress level

(22:45) Goal of become a personal trainer

(23:00) Becoming a personal trainer and starting a business

(23:30) Kettlebell club in Montreal

https://kettlebellclub.ca/ 

(23:50) Learning business during the pandemic

(24:50) Pavel Tsatsouline @strongfirst, a boss, mentor and friend

(25:45) Studying Charles Poliquin, other powerlifters, and bodybuilders

(26:25) Pavel Tsatsouline’s unusual approach

(27:30) Shout out to Gray Cook @functionalmvmt, Brett Jones @brettjonessfg

(27:50) “Leaders don’t ask to lead, they are called to lead” - Mike Kurkowski

(35:00) Shout out to Karen Smith @_coach_karen_

(35:35) “There’s always another way you can work with stuff.” - Mike Kurkowski

(38:10) Shout out to Dan John @coachdanjohn

(39:35) StrongFirst senior instructor Alexey Senart’s ZA Challenge

(42:45) Shout out to Pavel Macek @pavelmacekcom

(43:55) Simple & Sinister by Pavel Tsatsouline

https://www.amazon.com/Kettlebell-Simple-Sinister-Revised-Updated/dp/0989892433 

(46:10) Learning through teaching

(49:45) Prison and therapeutic community

(53:45) “Dreams come true, if you spend time visualizing it and thinking it and wanting it, you can make it happen.” - Louka Kurcer

(55:00) Louka’s training approach

(58:55) Where to find Louka Kurcer? Youtube: Hardstyle Kettlebell Pro Instagram: @Kettlebeast https://www.youtube.com/c/HardstyleKettlebellMtl 

Chapters

• 1:50 Introducing our special guest Owner and Head coach at Hardstyle Kettlebell Montreal, StrongFirst team leader, and flexible steel instructor, Louka Kurcer @Kettlebeast
• 2:10 The power of a consistent message
• 2:15 Shout out to Jhonatan Goodman Linkedin: Jonathan Goodman
• 2:50 The basics work and the power of repetition
• 3:10 Do the basics very well until they're perfect
• 3:10 The amazing StrongFirst System
• 4:10 The problem of getting distracted with too many methods and doing things poorly
• 5:30 Louka’s origin story
• 5:40 Louka spent 7 years in prison
• 5:50 Louka’s early addiction and his tough childhood
• 6:25 Louka’s motivation and high risk job
• 7:15 How Louka got caught
• 8:20 Religion, spirituality, and Buddist lifestyle
• 8:40 “It’s okay to be with myself all the time, just if you learn your mind you are okay with everything that happens.” - Louka Kurcer
• 9:00 Louka’s prison experience
• 9:40 Gym, Softball, and other activities in the prison
• 11:05 Kettlebell vs Dumbbell
• 11:35 Louka’s fitness routine before prison
• 11:45 Prison worked as a catalyst Louka’s fitness journey
• 12:40 Learning hyperrealistic drawing and different mediums in prison
• 14:00 Studying Men's Fitness, Muscle and Fitness, Men’s Health, and Iron Man Magazine to get better result
• 14:50 Arnold Schwarzenegger's bodybuilding for men in prison @schwarzenegger
• 15:40 Creative full body workout to increase efficiency
• 17:00 Workout diary from day 1
• 17:25 Art and science of training
• 18:20 Using kettlebells after reading Pavel Tsatsouline’s @strongfirst books
• 19:45 Sticking with one program for a year
• 20:00 Creativeness of kettlebell training
• 21:15 Training in prison improved mindset
• 21:35 Training from home during the pandemic
• 22:05 Training was meditation and reduced stress level
• 22:45 Goal of become a personal trainer
• 23:00 Becoming a personal trainer and starting a business
• 23:30 Kettlebell club in Montreal
• 23:50 Learning business during the pandemic
• 24:50 Pavel Tsatsouline @strongfirst, a boss, mentor and friend
• 25:45 Studying Charles Poliquin, other powerlifters, and bodybuilders
• 26:25 Pavel Tsatsouline’s unusual approach
• 27:30 Shout out to Gray Cook @functionalmvmt, Brett Jones @brettjonessfg
• 27:50 “Leaders don’t ask to lead, they are called to lead” - Mike Kurkowski
• 28:00 Pavel Tsatsouline’s training’s consistent result
• 29:00 The Kettlebell in the past
• 30:45 Somethings work, some doesn’t
• 32:15 Starting with StrongFirst
• 35:00 Shout out to Karen Smith @_coach_karen_
• 35:35 “There’s always another way you can work with stuff.” - Mike Kurkowski
• 35:45 Louka’s leadership
• 36:50 Louka’s current Q and D program
• 38:10 Shout out to Dan John @coachdanjohn
• 38:30 Keep adding weight
• 39:35 StrongFirst senior instructor Alexey Senart’s ZA Challenge
• 42:45 Shout out to Pavel Macek @pavelmacekcom
• 43:55 Simple & Sinister by Pavel Tsatsouline
• 46:10 Learning through teaching
• 49:45 Prison and therapeutic community
• 53:45 “Dreams come true, if you spend time visualizing it and thinking it and wanting it, you can make it happen.” - Louka Kurcer
• 55:00 Louka’s training approach
• 58:55 Where to find Louka Kurcer? Youtube: Hardstyle Kettlebell Pro Instagram: @Kettlebeast