One day before turning 55
I’d been a kettlebeller for perhaps three years when my instructor, Peter Puzzioli, brought Steve Cotter to Toronto in 2006 for his Superhero Strength Kettlebell Symposium.
Steve Cotter earned a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology from San Diego State University.

Stever Cotter smiling at the bottom of a double kettlebell pistol
He was a world champion in full-contact Kung Fu.
And he founded the International Kettlebell and Fitness Federation.
(https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-cotter-45b3271/)
(https://www.facebook.com/ikffofficial)
(https://x.com/SteveCotterIKFF)
He had three decades of instructing conditioning, mobility, martial arts, and yoga.
To this day Steve is the best instructor from whom I’ve had the pleasure of learning.
What made him a great teacher?
He ensured EVERYONE in the room understood his teaching. He explained everything in multiple ways. I’m paraphrasing, poorly, from memory…
“Martial artists will recognize ___”
“Those of you who know anatomy ____
“Acupuncturists know this as point ____
“If you know Qi Gong, you know this as ___
He walked around giving pointers and encouraging each of us individually.
Until then I’d used my 16 Kg (35 lbs; 1 pood) kettlebells exclusively. Steve’s instruction gave me the courage to attempt bottoms-up presses with a 16 Kg kettlebell and another 20lb bell balanced on top.
Steve sensed when everyone was tired and needed rest, and gave us a short demonstration. Short, because despite his achievements, Steve was a humble guy.
First, he performed a few pistols – one leg perfectly straight out in front while squatting on the other. Then he switched legs.
While still on the stage, he did a pistol, and as his base leg straightened, he leaped off the stage and landed on the floor with his same foot.
He landed and squatted into another pistol and from the fully squatted position on the floor he leapt one-legged back onto the stage.
The distance between the floor and the stage was about three feet.
We gaped in awe before closing our mouths and applauding.
Cleaning two 35 Kg kettlebells (77 lbs; 2 poods) to his chest, he performed a few pistols – one leg perfectly straight in front while squatting on the other. Then he switched legs.
Physically I’m larger than Steve although he had much more muscular definition, patience, and peace of mind. His upper arms were the size of my calves.
Energetically he was at least twice my size.
A few years later I suggested to a magazine editor an article about the prevalence of obesity in one recreational activity. Steve was my first choice of sources. He gave me all the time and information necessary. He was so thorough that I changed the article format to an interview.
Eventually, his kettlebell instructional DVDs became free online.
(https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCY3FK4mfGxAO-XpbuSdEAPw)
He began posting online again during the past couple of years. He seemed to have aged in appearance. Of course – I routinely encounter some old guy staring back at me from the mirror.
Recently he sent an email to his list offering a free 30-minute chat about individual health and mobility goals. It was the first he’d sent in a long while. Steve was the opposite of a spammer.
Outside of LinkedIn messages, we hadn’t talked in years. When I replied he encouraged me for overcoming multiple spine injuries and sent his calendar link. He was a busy guy.
That was a bad week for me. I planned to set up a call with Steve the next week. Then I learned he’d died on the weekend, one day before turning 55.
What happened to him?
Heart failure.
Congenital?
Maybe. Who knows?
Traveling the world to teach he likely submitted to the experimental biological agent that coincided with a rash of “died suddenly,” “died of blood clots,” “suffered an unexpected heart attack” and other previously less-common causes.
Taco Fleur wrote a nice article, which is how I learned Steve had transitioned to his next existence.
(https://www.cavemantraining.com/kettlebells/the-passing-of-steve-cotter-ikff-founder/)
Stever Cotter leaves a wife, children, and countless treasured memories.