#19 Clif Harski: Rejecting Dogma and Finding What Works for You

Clif Harski has been at the heart of fitness education for over a decade, teaching for MovNat, Animal Flow, and Spartan, running a seven-location boutique gym business in California, and now leading the Pain-Free Performance Specialist Certification (PPSC) as COO.So while he’s been deep inside the fitness world, and part of many of its most influential movements, he’s also uniquely placed to step back and ask the bigger questions. What’s really useful? What’s just trend-following? And what are we missing when we make movement too prescriptive?In this honest and often funny conversation with Andrew Telfer, Clif shares what he's learned from coaching over 11,000 professionals, and why he still turns up to coach regular folks every week.The trap of over-correction in fitnessWhy orthodoxy and dogma still dominate the industryRethinking kettlebells, strength, and athleticismThe difference between coaching coaches and coaching clientsWhat he’d change with a billion dollars and a blank slateThis episode is packed with insights for anyone coaching others, building movement communities, or just trying to keep themselves moving for life. It's a reminder that you’re allowed to question trends, and that just because something is popular doesn’t mean it’s right for you.Clif Harski is a coach, educator, and kettlebell experimenter who’s spent the last 15+ years helping people build useful strength and enjoy moving again. As Chief Operating Officer at PPSC, he leads both their flagship certification and the Functional Kettlebell Training course.Since 2010, he’s taught over 450 workshops around the world to more than 11,000 trainers, coaches, and therapists. He’s worked with MovNat, Animal Flow, Spartan, and Kettlebell Athletics, and brings a deep, practical understanding of movement education that goes beyond sets and reps.Before 2020, Clif ran a seven-location gym business in California, serving over 2,000 members each month. His experience as an athlete, coach, business owner, and teacher gives him a rare ability to cut through jargon and meet people where they are.These days, he still coaches in-person regularly, often barefoot, usually swinging a kettlebell in a slightly unconventional direction, and always advocating for strength with a sense of humour.📎 More on Clif’s work:getppsc.com/kb-fkt-home-pageMusic: MeforQueen