IKFF Directors

President and Director

E-Mail: steve.cotter@ikff.net

As the Founder and Director of IKFF, Steve Cotter draws from an extensive and diverse background as a champion athlete and cutting-edge trainer to develop some of the most complete and exciting programs in strength and conditioning today.

Throughout his lifelong study, Steve continues to research and implement the most effective training methods in kettlebells, martial arts, qigong, strength and conditioning, athletics and human performance fields. He constantly improves his skills and abilities to benefit, teach and motivate you.

Named to Men’s Health Magazine’s “100 Fittest Men of All-Time”, Cotter shares his years of experience as a martial artist, world-class athlete and fitness coach to design and supervise programs for those who take their training seriously. While each client is unique, a common theme always presents itself in Steve’s training programs; an unyielding focus, unparalleled intensity and precise attention to detail.

Working tirelessly to share his passion for teaching as well as fitness and heatlh, Steve teaches on 6 continents and has developed qualified kettlebell fitness instructors representing over 40 nations and growing.

Professional Accreditations

• Named one of the “100 Fittest Men of All-time” by Men’s Health Magazine
• Consultant to several professional sport teams, including NFL’s San Francisco 49ers and San Diego Chargers and MLB’s Texas Rangers, Oakland Athletics and LA Dodgers
• Subject Matter Expert to US Navy SEALs at Virginia Beach, VA
• Strength & Conditioning training for US Marines at Quantico Marine Corps Base
• Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS)
• National Strength & Conditioning Assoc. (NSCA)
• Author of Encyclopedia of Kettlebell Lifting and over a dozen DVD series
• Creator of Full KOntact Kettlebells System and best-selling DVD series
• Keynote Speaker at CPTN, the Canadian Personal Trainer Network
• Featured Presenter for industy leading conventions in North Americ, Europe and Asia, including Perform Better Summits, IDEA World, CPTN, Asia Fitness Conference, BodyPower Expo and ECA.

Vice President and International Director of Operations

E-mail: Samantha@ikff.net

Samantha Benzi Cotter is Vice-President and IKFF International Director of Operations, responsible for overseeing several of the diverse facets of IKFF, including media development, educational development, public relations, product development and member services.

She also assists her husband Steve, the founder, director and head instructor of IKFF, in teaching many of the international CKT courses and provides online follow-up support to those students who need it throughout this process.

Mrs. Benzi Cotter’s training in a wide variety of specializations enables her to use her broad experience base to better serve the IKFF and wellness communities globally.

Her training and educational background includes:

• IKFF CKT Level 1 and 2
• Extensive ballet and classical dance training
• Zumba instructor
• Turbokick instructor
• Capoeira background
• Nutrition
• Professional Dog Trainer
• Volunteer in animal shelters
• Veterinary studies
• Pedagogy and Psychology Studies
• International importing

Samantha is guided by some core philosophies:

• Don’t let your past failures and weaknesses define you, use them to refine you.
• If you believe you have a problem, it’s actually your attitude that is the ‘problem’ and your attitude depends entirely upon you.

Samantha was “blessed” with a rarely diagnosed disorder called neurophlogosis, literally inflammation of the Central Nervous System, a sensitization of the CNS that causes the brain and the bone marrow to send strong signals of pain and inflammatory responses to different areas of the body to prevent moving in order to protect the body from further damage.

This pain was so severe that she had to stay in bed for months, not walking. Doctors offered only strong painkillers and anti-inflammatory medications (not helpful at all since neurophlogosis is a CNS issue) and suggesting surgeries for her herniated discs without being able to guarantee results.

The original injuries were related to extensive long-distance running injuries, which she ignored to the point of causing 7 herniated discs. These herniations were further aggravated through her work in the volunteer shelter dog rehab work she was actively involved in.

Fortunately, she found a great physiatrist after years of deep pain, Dr. Luigi Baratto, M.D. in Italy, a leader in this field. Dr. Baratto’s treatments now help to keep the pain under control effectively. This intense and painful experience led Samantha to research more and has taught her to listen to and respect the body more and aim for the long term, progressive and steady progress.

This insight was a blessing in disguise and has helped her develop into a trainer who sympathizes with the struggles of people in pain, and understands how to push her students to their healthy limits but not beyond, by focusing extreme attention on proper technique and avoiding unnecessary damage to the body.

Her personal motto is: “A good coach will push you beyond your mental boundaries, not your physical ones”.

Mrs. Benzi Cotter is available to set up domestic and international events, sponsorships and media inquiries.

International Team Leader/Head Master Trainer/Director of KB Competitons

E-Mail: ken.blackburn@ikff.net

An all around fitness and martial arts training expert, Ken Blackburn is the Interntional Team Leader with the International Kettlebell & Fitness Federation.  As the Team Leader and Head IKFF Master Trainer, Kens travels all over the US and internationaliy teaching IKFF workshops and the very popular The CKT (Certified Kettlebell Teacher) instructor course, as well as helping Steve to develop the international IKFF Team leadership.

His background in the martial arts has created a unique approach to training where the emphasis is on balanced conditioning while developing high levels of mobility and athleticism.

Ken is also one of the top American kettlebell competitors and is the North American Record Holder in the Chair Press. In addition to his high-level and well-round athleticism, Ken is a superb and patient coach and teacher, whose friendly and caring demeanor always puts studnets at ease, creating the relaxed, comfortable learning atmosphere that accelearate the learning and understanding so vital to the educational process.

In addition to his man other talents, Ken is the IKFF Director of Kettlebell Sport Competitions, organizing the very popular IKFF Kettlebell Sports events, which have become the most popular and most well-attended KB Sport events in North America.