The "beast" tamer! So far the first and only member of the "Beast Challenge Hall of Fame" and looking forward to welcoming others to this exclusive club.
Customer reviews of:
Shaun Cairns
Average Rating: 10.0 in 27 reviews
The original Beast Tamer for good reason
Rated 10 out of 10
How do I best describe training with Shaun? Let me put it this way .... If you just want to do some training, go to gym. If you'd rather be superhuman - then Shaun is your man. He has systematically destroyed each one of the limits I imposed upon myself and helped me to exceed every goal I've set myself so far. I'm fitter and stronger and in better shape now than I was at 20! He gets maximum results out of you because he puts the maximum effort into every workout, and has a wealth of knowledge which he gladly shares.
Trent - Johannesburg, South Africa
The Beast Tamer is the Best!
Rated 10 out of 10
I have now had three sessions with Shaun Cairns. From the moment you arrive at Shaun's studio, you feel motivated to give of your best. The studio is well equipped and comfortable. Shaun is frendly and relaxed in demeanour and yet is able to keep students focused while patiently demonstrating, explaining, guiding and correcting. Shaun is an astute observer of body mechanics and is able to assess and correct flaws in technique quickly and successfully. He creates a safe environment to make mistakes and learn from them, and, as beginners, we feel we can stop at any time and ask questions. His depth in knowledge is evident and he shares his insights and ideas succinctly and clearly, as well as with some characteristic touches of humour. Shaun is a stickler for safety and is insistent on correct form. He succeeds in making everyone feel that they are getting personal attention, and offers genuine praise as well as honest criticism. Shaun is in immensely good shape physically and is able to do all he demands of his students and more. He is always willing to invest more time and effort in his students to ensure that they learn the techniques properly and come away feeling as though they have made tangible progress. He breaks techniques down into manageable steps, and has a clear curriculum which he follows, but is able to adapt his teaching to the specific needs of his students. His notes are clear, professionally presented, and well written, offering clear directions that students can follow on their own. Shaun lives what he teaches, and, therefore, sets an example which his students want to emulate.
Byron Sherman - Johannesburg, South Africa
A top level Instructor leading the way from the bottom of the earth
Rated 10 out of 10
Shaun Cairns will alarm you with his build, relax you with his ease, and then learn you of many lifts locked deep within a kettlebell. He is a genuine strong man who Tamed the Beast premier and then led his students to glory and physical grit as well.
Cheers
Will Williams RKC 2005 - United States
Awesome Awesome Awesome
Rated 10 out of 10
I heard of kettlebells through a friend of mine in the UK and I thought I'd like to check it out. I was very painfully, pleasantly surprised!!! It's absolutely fantastic and with Shaun showing me how, it's even better.
I attended the beginner's workshop and, as a gym enthusiast, I have to say I will probably never pick up a barbell or dumbbell ever again!!!
Shaun, thanks a million...I call this my own personal fountain of youth. If you're thinking about trying kettlebells...DO IT!!!
DuToit Potgieter - Johannesburg, South Africa
What I thought I knew about Kettlebells
Rated 10 out of 10
After an advanced session with Shaun I left nodding my head to myself as I finally understood the "science" behind swinging bells. Very shortly into the class I identified small things that had not clicked after all this time of training with bells, the tiny things that make all the difference. Shaun is not only strong but understands the bigger picture when demonstrating excersises, he will not tolerate any way except the right way and makes it clear that getting the bell above your head is only the end of many smaller, definate movements. The elimination of injury and maximisation of strength are all firmly dealt with in his class.
Knuckles forward.
Tony Ernst - JHB, South Africa
Technique expert
Rated 10 out of 10
You have to be stong and use perfect technique to tame the beast. This makes Shaun a great instructor. For the best advice on technique and body mechanics, he is the guy.
Lance Kabot - South Africa
Masterful Trainer
Rated 10 out of 10
Had the pleasure of doing an advanced kettlebell workshop with Shaun which Totally rocked!!!
I can say that I really worked with Shaun. He made me sweat and I definitely ate my words that fateful Saturday afternoon!lol I was impressed by Shaun's knowledge on the body and its mechanics, the way he conducted the workshop and the attention he paid to the slightest detail.
The knowledge he shared and overall patience he had will help any Martial Arts enthusiast!
This makes him a Masterful RKC!!
Thanks again Shaun
Dimitri Mitropapas - Pretoria, South Africa
Incredible
Rated 10 out of 10
Having arrived at a 'group session', and finding myself as the only member of the group, Sean and Marlise lead me through the basics of kettlebells. I immediately felt at ease in their studio and couldn't help but be impressed by their clear command of kettlebells. I learnt an incredible amount that morning.
Sean and Marlise are people people. They work incredibly well as a team and though they are experts in their field, they were able to teach the basics incredibly well. They make it look easy to convey the incredible knowledge and experience they have in an understandable way.
The results? 5 days of total body stiffness and an excitement to do it all again!
Nico Gevers - Cape Town, South Africa
Awesome
Rated 10 out of 10
Shaun is a genuine nice guy who can walk the walk, talk the talk AND teach. I found him an excellent teacher who could watch me do the technique and then tell me exactly what I was doing wrong and how to correct the error / s in my technique, then coach me step by step. I left the session with a clear understanding of how much I needed to improve my technique and what to do to get there.
Thanks Boet - I'll be back.
Jaun Nortier - Cape Town
Excellent
Rated 10 out of 10
Shaun is obviously passionate about kettlebells. At every training session he is well prepared and gives a 120%. His will always guide you on how to do things better in order to get the optimal results. I love the fact that the exercise is always varied and that one can see that a lot of effort is put into preparation so that you can really benefit from every session.I can really recommend the training and trainer.
Wallindi Schirnig - Somerset West
Even though Shaun is such an obvious athlete, and I'm still learning the ropes and obviously out of shape, Shaun has never once let me feel uncomfortable. He's been helluva understanding, supportive and built an excercise programme for me that doesn;t further stress a knee injury I arrived with.
What's more, instead of just leading us through a range of excercies, Shaun also explains what muscles are being worked, what the mechanics are behind the action. Great learning, coupled to an interesting excercise routine.
Michael Schirnig - Somerset West SOuth Africa
KB's are for sissies!
Rated 10 out of 10
Don't get me wrong! all I am saying is that if you want to move from sissy to finely tuned athlete, this is surely the way to do it. Shaun guided our workshop team from barely able to squat to really getting down.
He was able to give each and every person the confidence to push further due to his attention to detail with technique and excellent coaching skills. Honestly the best fun fun I have had in ages, KBs are for sure part of my training for life from here out!
Tracy - Durban, South Africa
I'm hooked!
Rated 10 out of 10
Shaun's ability to demonstrate any specific exercise or movement and break it down so that it's executed correctly is beyond impressive! I thoroughly enjoyed the workshop and the hours flew by. He does everything so effortlessly (the term "The Beast" definitely applies!!)and his professionalism and personal attention is rarely found. What a wonderful experience it was and I cannot wait to learn more at the next workshop! His non-judgemental approach is motivational, and his unbridled enthusiasm to get me hooked definitely worked! I'm using the techniques with my clients and they're loving it!
Tracey Faught - Durban, South Africa
Insightful knowledge of overload progressions
Rated 10 out of 10
I do not know if I am eligible to review an instructor as I have never even met Shaun Cairns. However, after listening to his interview with Geoff Neupert in the Kettlebell Secrets series, I have to say I learned a lot of useful information on how to get stronger and more fit with limited equipment (number and size of KBs) and to make progress without having to spend a bundle of money.
My upcoming training sessions will benefit from his insight. Thanks!
Gino - Montreal, QC, Canada
Strength & Knowledge...
Rated 10 out of 10
I had the chance to be under the instruction of Shaun Cairns at HKC St. Paul, and I thank God that Mr. Cairns was my Team Leader. Not only to mention that Shaun is an extremely strong person and the very first Instructor to Tame the Beast. But Shaun does have the patience to train others and so much knowledge, and the proper technique on how to perform every single movement. If you are doing and exercise in a wrong manner he will correct you in the simplest way possible that you cannot get confused, and I guarantee, you will understand right away. And even when you might think that he is not paying attention, he is. He is very watchful for his students, he notices every movement that you perform, and he will assure that you turn from a student into an instructor. I really recommend him as a trainer, and I would like to tame the beast some day as he has. Thanks Mr. Cairns
Tyrone - Barstow, CA USA
HKC and beyond
Rated 10 out of 10
My first introduction to Kettlebells was at a Workshop held in Durban. It was here that I fell in love with this cannon ball made of steel and decided to pursue my development.
About 6 months later, I was proud to be one of the group to attend the first HKC to be held in South Africa... and what a day it was!
The HKC course is imperative for any fitness instructor who wants to step up their game. Not only are their personal benefits to be gained, but clients will love the time saving benefits and fresh approach to their new routines.
Shaun and Kenneth went through the core exercises in fine detail, ensuring that we recruited every muscle and every brain cell (or punishment ensued in the form of swings... and more swings) All worth it for the cause, as we all left with those details embedded in our muscles and minds ensuring that we impart what we had learnt with the same detail to our clients.
Excellent course!!! thanks so much
P.S. The workshops are a great introduction to kettlebells and to any person who wishes to learn the basics. I would highly recommend a workshop as pre-requisite to attending any certification course.
Tracy - Durban - South Africa
Number 1 trainer in SA
Rated 10 out of 10
I recently attended a kettlebell workshop held by Shaun and Marlise Cairns. I didn't know what to expect from a basic beginner kettlebell class. It turns out that I learn't more about how the body works in those 4-5 hours than everything that I'd learned on my personal training coarse. Shaun is by far the best fitness teacher I have ever met. He teaches things clearly, passiontly, and all with his own personal brand of humor! He is absolutely professional, yet a very humble person, not leaving anyone unsure or unhelped. Shaun gives 100 percent, and his classes are well worth every cent.
Gian-Marco - Welkom- South Africa
BRILLIANT
Rated 10 out of 10
Just attended a Kettlebell workshop with Shaun. Money and time well spent. Shaun's knowledge and expertise puts you at ease giving you the confidence that you are being trained/coached by a world class instructor. He corrects your mistakes and concentrates on the tiny details which you do not get from Books or DVD's. The books and DVD's available on the subject are brilliant, don't get me wrong but they cannot and will not replace training with a Coach or Instructor. The books and Dvd's give you a good idea on how to do all the exercises and techniques but a workshop with a great instructor like Shaun smoothes out all the rough edges. Shaun gave us some extra tips on how to do improve our form and also cautioned us not to do too much too quickly.As beginners we tend to go for rep targets but as you get tired your form deteriorates and that Shaun pointed out is a recipe for injury. Looking forward to the next one....Best Regards
Cassim - Gauteng, South Africa
Made of Steel
Rated 10 out of 10
Shaun is a unique example of an accomplished teacher who has extensive knowledge, skill, technique, and most importantly - passion for what he does. His mentorship in the HKC course is a prime example of his expertise where trainees were taught with a high degree of professionalism, and the gold standard has clearly been set for future instructors.
We look forward to future seminars and courses with Shaun
George Mentis - Pretoria, South Africa
Sensational
Rated 10 out of 10
I had the good fortune to be in Shaun's team at my RKC in June 2010. At the time I found him to be a good guy and great instructor. I felt that his teaching really amplified what Pavel was showing and his help as well as his friendliness made my overall experience a very positive one.
Fast forward 9 months and Shaun has just come to Australia to run the first ever HKC in Australia. I was lucky enough to get to train with Shaun one on one the day before and can say that his experience has catapulted my training forward by at least 6 weeks as I get ready for the RKC II. In one afternoon he showed me many tricks and made correction to my technique that will help enormously in this next challenge.
On top of that he ran a Hardtsyle Kettlebell Certification that blew everyone's minds. His clear and obvious understanding of movement, strength and kettlebells added enormously to the course's inherent value. I know the students got as much as could be expected from the day and all had very positive things to say about the course and level of instruction offered.
He then ran two workshops the next day which were very well received too. Showcasing his awesome abilities with the press his Clean and Press workshop saw every attendee set a PR! Its not too often you'll get an entire roomful of people to set a personal record...
Shaun is quite simply at the top of the game. His wealth of knowledge and commitment to strength are obvious to anyone who stands near him and trains alongside him. I feel lucky to have met him and worked alongside him and can't wait for the next opportunity.
Andrew Read, RKC - Melbourne, Australia
super instructor
Rated 10 out of 10
Shaun is an awesome instructor. His knowledge about kettlebell training and body mechanics is second to none. He also is extremely adept at passing this information on in such a way that it all makes sense, even to beginners. His sense of humour is infectious and his enthusiasm makes you think he has just started kettlebelling. Overall, his hints and tips are invaluable and totally helpful and he is inspiration to those lucky enough to attend his courses and workshops.
Matt - Canberra, Australia
A True Honour
Rated 10 out of 10
Last weekend (20th & 21st March, 2010) I had the privilege, honour and pleasure of being instructed in the art/use of kettlebells by Senior RKC Shaun Cairns at the first ever Dragondoor course to be held in Australia, the HKC. Shaun is an all out nice guy, and a brilliant instructor!!! His attention to detail, and his ability to break down the techniques to their basic elements and pass them on to us who participated was nothing short of amazing. His use of real world analogy's as comparison's made it all the more easy for us to learn and refine our technique. I look forward to the day when I get to train with Shaun again, because once again, it was a true honour.
Yaron Mehr - Melbourne, Australia
Fantastic Workshop
Rated 10 out of 10
From the first moment it was apparent that Shaun is not only very enthusiastic about kettlebells, but also extremely knowledgeable about all aspects of kettlebell training. More importantly, he is very good at communicating that knowledge in a clear manner. I enjoyed his forthright, yet relaxed, approach to the workshop and derived an immense amount of benefit from it. The several, small style changes that I picked-up made a huge improvement in my kettlebell training. The workshop was all worth it!
Another unexpected, but most welcome outcome from the workshop was the effect it had on my lower back. I have an almost chronically, stiff lower back; so much so that I began to accept it as a normal part of life. Given the amount of lower back work that would be required at the kettlebell workshop, I expected my back to be barking sore come Sunday evening. But that never happened! Instead, my lower back felt like a million dollars (which does not negate the fact that I was still very tired); and neither did this change over the next day or so with the normal day-after stiffness you may expect after a tough workout. I now know I can reclaim my back and mobility! So to anybody suffering from lower back pain, I recommend that you get hold of a kettlebell and book a session with Shaun.
Johann - Pretoria
SHAUN & KETTLEBELLS ROCK
Rated 10 out of 10
I attended a refresher kettlebell basic course with Shaun. I learnt even more then the last time. I have been practicing the exercises on my own and came to this Seminar with the idea of brushing up on my technique and understanding kettlebells better.
I was amazed at the knowlege that I gained which was given to me freely and without prejudice. Shauns professionalism and knowledge of the subject is amazing. He is not just an instructor but an instructor with amazing abilities. I was in awe when the Turkish Get Up was demonstrated with a KB held in the bottoms up position to demonstrate the importance of having stability in your shoulder girdle. The man is an inspiration to us students wanting to improve our skills and getting close to what Shaun can do.
Kettlebells have changed my perspective of resistance training. In todays day and age we are all pressed for time and have lots of committments. Kettlebells offer you a whole lot of benefit in a shorter period of time. Shaun & Marlise are doing a great job with promoting Kettlebells in South Africa, they are are friendly, professional and very helpful. I wish them every success for the future. I look forward to other Seminars and am inspired to also become a certified instructor in Kettlebells. I know under their guidance and my own motivation and God's Grace I will make it.
Thanks for a wonderful workshop and for inspiring me to be my best,
Best Regards
Cassim
Cassim - Pretoria
Outstanding
Rated 10 out of 10
Shaun recently took my HKC and he was excellent. Extremely personable, very knowledgeable and extremely able. I can't praise Shaun enough. He is a true gentleman and on the cutting edge of hardstyle kettlebell instruction. I can honestly say that even getting to spend two days (HKC and workshop) with Shaun has made me a better athlete and a more knowledgeable person. Most importantly, Shaun has given me the tools to bridge that gap for other people that i get to interact with.
Piers - Brisbane
Awesome
Rated 10 out of 10
I have recently attended the HKC with Shaun in Brisbane and the workshops the following day, the wealth of information that was passed on in those two days was immeasurable. What i learned about the use of kettlebells and human movement has allready been incredibly usefull to me.Shaun's knowledge and skill as an instructor is incredable. Shaun is a genuinely nice guy and i found him to be very approachable with any questions or problems i had. Thanks to Shaun for coming all the way to Australia and thanks to Andrew Read also for without whom it may not have happened at all, thanks guys.
Eddie - Proserpine, Qld Aus
Great HKC
Rated 10 out of 10
I recently did the HKC course in Brisbane with Shaun as the chief instructor. I immediately felt welcome and sure that this man knows what he is talking about. Although always ready for fun he is taking teaching kettlebells very seriously. Shaun is easy to learn from (as he speaks in lay peoples terms) with his expert knowledge of the body and its mechanics as well as the wealth of experience from other areas of training. The training was fantastic, the instructor great, I would highly recommend Shaun as a course leader to anyone who is thinking of exploring kettlebells. I feel very privileged to have spent time in his company.
Sigrun Bishop - Rockhampton,Central QLD, Australia
