The Strength Connection #56 - Jeff Sokol: Sokol Strong
In the 56th episode of The Strength Connection Podcast, Mike and our special guest, Founder of Sokol Strong, StrongFirst Elite Instructor in Seattle, Washington, Jeff Sokol, will talk about how he got into strength from a dark part of his life.
Join us in this insightful and captivating talk!
In this chapter, you will discover:
(00:55) Introducing our special guest Founder of Sokol Strong, StrongFirst Elite Instructor in Seattle, Washington, Jeff Sokol @sokolstrong
(2:05) Sharing content from the start
(3:05) What brought Jeff to RKC?
(3:30) Jeff's origin story
(3:45) A sports background
(4:05) Early goal
(4:40) Weight Lifting
(5:05) Getting to RKC in the mid-30s
(5:15) Going to the Military
(5:40) Lack of brotherhood after the Military
(6:10) Life-changing after moving
(7:10) Lack of passion
(8:00) Working for the Department of Transportation
(8:20) Getting depression
(9:00) Losing connection with fitness
(10:35) The housing crash and divorce
(11:30) Starting to drink
(11:50) The plan
(12:30) Ordering the “Kettleworx” infomercial
(13:30) Doing Gunslinger
(14:00) Kettlebell was therapeutic
(14:40) Inviting friend for Kettlebell burn workout
(15:20) Finding Pavel Tsatsouline @strongfirst
(15:40) Buying 24 KG kettlebells
(16:20) Getting back in martial arts
(16:25) “Having a mission of trying to get good at something, this kind of can change everything.” - Jeff Sokol @sokolstrong
(17:20) First professional coaching with weight
(17:50) Doing HKC
(17:55) Shout out to Zar Horton @zarhorton_kbx
(18:30) The funny thing
(19:10) Kajukenbo
(20:00) RKC earlier challenge
(20:20) Getting kettlebell in a martial arts studio
(20:45) Starting coaching accidentally
(21:15) Getting church gym for training
(21:50) A donation class
(22:50) Training for RKC
(23:00) Shout out to Dan John @coachdanjohn
(23:25) The resemblance with the Military
(24:00) The RKC weekend
(26:00) Not an everlasting business model
(26:35) Shout out to Max Shank @maxshank
(26:55) Training the victim
(28:15) Getting certified
(28:40) Starting mentoring
(29:45) Jeff’s first client
(32:10) Shout out to Geoff Neupert @geoff.neupert
(32:40) Just start!
(33:35) What does Jeff love about Strong First?
(33:55) “Strength is a skill.” - Jeff Sokol @sokolstrong
(34:55) Why is it easy to get in a flow state via kettlebell?
(36:50) Bonding with StrongFirst coaches
(37:35) Jeff’s current client
(38:50) Playing football as a kid
(39:35) Jeff’s experience with Kettleworks
(40:20) Shout out to Doctor Lisa Lewis @drlewisconsulting
(41:45) Jeff’s pre covid mission
(45:10) Beauty of Kettlebell
(46:20) Getting on social media
(48:20) Frustration toward early kettlebell practices
(49:45) Keeping things simple
(50:30) “In the gym, variety can be a source of weakness.” - Jeff Sokol @sokolstrong
(51:15) Jeff’s weekly routine
(52:15) Jeff’s programs
(54:45) Where to find Jeff Sokol? @sokolstrong
(52:50) Jeff Sokol on Amazon Halo! coming soon…