Andżelika Stefańska Kowalik
Trener siły i mobilności
Andżelika Stefańska Kowalik
Kettlebell Trainer - Strength and Mobility
Andżelika Stefańska Kowalik
Kettlebell Trainer - Strength and Mobility
Girls Don’t Fight!
I never imagined that my career would lead me to become a member of the National Kung Fu Team and later a strength trainer and international certification instructor. Even as a child, I was interested in movement, and training in Kung Fu was my great dream, but I wasn’t involved in any sports because my parents couldn’t afford to enroll me in organized activities.
I would release energy through playground games and extracurricular sports (I was lucky to have good teachers). Sometimes I’d grab a stick and pretend to fight like characters from old Asian movies. I loved films with Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, Jean-Claude Van Damme, and all the Rocky series. From a young age, martial arts fascinated me as they showed how body control and strength could be built through systematic work.
I couldn’t join any section since funds weren’t available, and everywhere I heard that “girls don’t fight.”
It's Never Too Late to Fulfill Dreams and Train Kung Fu
Fate directed me towards the world of music, without which—like movement—I cannot imagine a happy life. With punk rock bands, I traveled to concerts and festivals as their tour manager. For many years, my life revolved around the backstage.
It wasn’t until I was 25 that I attended my first Kung Fu training. From the start, I knew I was where I was always meant to be. I was the first to arrive at the training room and the last to leave, attending all camps, shows, and tournaments. I dedicated myself fully to training.
Eventually, coaches offered me the opportunity to lead my own group of Kung Fu kids. I saw it as an honor and a learning opportunity. Yes, there’s no better way to gain knowledge than sharing it with others. You have to understand the topic and find ways to explain the techniques simply and effectively, especially to children. Complex language won’t work. Later, I was called to the National Team and began competing in international competitions and the World Championships in China.
Kettlebell Trainer and StrongFirst Strength Instructor
In 2011, my life turned upside down again. I moved from my hometown to Krakow and joined trainers at IRBIS Martial Arts School. I continued practicing Kung Fu and developing as a trainer.
Seeking new ways to build strength for martial arts, I discovered hardstyle kettlebell. Once again, I found my place. Driven by a passion for kettlebell training, I became a StrongFirst instructor. At that time, I had no one to help me prepare for the demanding technical, strength, and endurance exams required for instructor certification. I had to take care of myself. The beginning was tough, and I didn’t meet all the requirements before the tests. I gritted my teeth and promised myself to give it my all, regardless of the exam outcome. I passed and returned home with a diploma. Soon after, I established my club, Kettlebell Center Krakow (2014), which remains highly regarded.
In 2018, I was promoted to Team Leader StrongFirst, becoming the second person in Poland to join Pavel Tsatsouline’s school teachers. Over the years, I’ve taught many instructor certifications domestically and internationally. In 2022, I received another promotion to Senior Instructor.
I am regularly invited to train instructors in the USA, South Korea, Italy, the UK, China, France, Germany, and Spain. In Poland, I am responsible for developing the StrongFirst school through events like the official StrongFirst Workshops and StrongFirst Open Day. As StrongFirst Country Leader, I oversee Bulgaria and Lithuania, organizing training and certifications there.
Throughout my years with StrongFirst, I’ve helped 15 individuals pass instructor exams. Everyone I prepared for the tests passed easily and became certified StrongFirst instructors. Two of my trainees achieved the Sinister challenge of the StrongFirst school.
Mobility and Flexibility Instructor with Flexible Steel
Thanks to kettlebells, I discovered the Flexible Steel system in 2015. I traveled to Italy for training with StrongFirst Master and Taekwondo Grandmaster Jon Engum. During that time, I learned how to effectively combine strength training with flexibility training, so that neither is sacrificed for the other. Why choose one when you can develop both skills simultaneously? I soon advanced to the role of Flexible Steel Instructor Specialist, allowing me to organize and conduct Flexible Steel instructor certifications in Poland and worldwide.
I want to be the best trainer for my clients!
I continuously travel to many countries to teach others and to develop myself. I participate in numerous trainings, including those on advanced programming conducted personally by Pavel Tsatsouline. I earned the title of Certified Medical Trainer/Movement Therapist from REPs after completing a one-year Blackroll® Therapy training program with distinction. As a reward, I received an internship at the Fizjo4Life facility in Warsaw.
My passion for physical activity, healthy and sensible training, and helping others exercise and move without pain, as well as becoming strong and flexible, is realized under the banner of TIGER-ZONE Better Be Strong. Here, I focus my knowledge and years of experience gained from martial arts and various training and coaching programs. I believe that healthy and safe movement is the best medicine for the body and soul, and that humans are indeed made for movement. Movement represents youth, vitality, and life, while strength symbolizes choice, independence, and self-confidence. This combination has brought me inner happiness and peace, and I have a mission to share what is good with those in need.
TESTIMONIALS
