NDS Instructors

JOSE A. NARTEA JR., Proprietor

Mr. Nartea is Board Certified by the National Athletic Trainers Association as a Certified Athletic Trainer (ATC). He is also certified by the National Strength and Conditioning Association as a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS). In addition to the above certifications, Mr. Nartea is also a Certified Kettlebell Instructor under Pavel Tsatouline and the Russian Kettlebell Challenge (RKC). He is the first RKC2 within the city of Lakewood, CA and represents Long Beach, Cerritos and numerous other surrounding Southern California communities.

Jose earned a Bachelor's Degree from the California State University of Dominguez Hills where he finished with Honors in the Major: Physical Education / Kinesiology - Athletic Training Certification in 2000. Shortly after completing his undergraduate degree, he obtained a Master's Degree in Sports and Fitness Business Management from the University of San Francisco in 2002.

Throughout his academic and professional career, Jose continues to remain deeply passionate in the fields of Sports Medicine / Athletic Training, Strength & Conditioning and Kettlebell Instruction. He was naturally intrigued by the Kettlebell's ability to dynamically load the human body in the most functional way that was inline with his own exercise and sports rehabilitation philosophy. He became Certified as an (RKC) at the 1st Russian Kettlebell Challenge held on the campus of UCLA in August of 2008. He successfully challenged the RKC Level II Instructor Certification in February 2010 on the campus of San Jose State University.

Mr. Nartea continues to dedicate hours of independent study and continuing education to further understand, practically apply, effectively communicate and educate others about these evolutionary fields. His ideas and philosophies derive from an eclectic mix of leaders within the fields of Athletic Training/Sports Medicine, Physical Therapy, Strength & Conditioning and Russian Kettlebell Athletics.

Mr. Nartea has over a dozen years of professional experience working with athletes, patients and clients at all levels. He has had the opportunity to experience many different settings, with a variety of diverse populations and backgrounds. Jose has represented many organizations and their athletes such as the West Coast Sports Medicine Foundation / Team to Win Program, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles Community Colleges District, Kaiser Permanente, Los Angeles Stars, Los Angeles Rugby Club, Los Angeles Avengers Arena Football, Orthopedic Specialty Institute, Desert Orthopedic Center, USC University Hospital, St. Joseph's Hospital, Disneyland Resort / California Adventure, The BOEING Company, Phillippine Basketball Association, FC Long Beach Allstars Soccer Club, US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program, Lakewood High School, Long Beach Poly High School, Mater Dei High School, Los Alamitos High School, SC Blues Soccer Club, Carson High School, Quiet Fire Youth Track & Field, Mizuno Volleyball Club and Lakewood Pacific Junior Football to name a few. Jose has assisted a number of talented 'olympic-caliber' scholar-athletes progress through the youth, high school and collegiate levels.

Jose enjoys being continually active through various exercise and sports. He enjoys all outdoor activities, traveling and  spending time with his family, life-long and new-found friends. A 3rd Generation (Filipino) Southern California native, Jose was born in Long Beach on Oct. 4, 1976, raised in Carson and now resides in the city of Lakewood with his beautiful wife Michelle and their french bulldog, Ziggy.

IVAN BALCAZAR,  Lead Instructor

Ivan is an NDS Instructor and provides excellent class instruction under the NDS functional training template. Mr. Balcazar has been under the tutelage of Jose and the NDS banner before the inception of NDS Kettlebell Athletics as a commercial school in 2007. Ivan has a well-developed practical knowledge-base of functional athletic development and corrective exercise and is an Distributing Associate of USANA Heath Sciences. His expertise in performing and teaching the kettlebell techniques makes him a standalone Instructor and an asset to the NDS KBA community. Ivan continues to dedicate his time to understanding and growing within this kettlebell strength & conditioning community.

Ivan Balcazar is also a Southern California native, born in Culver City February 26, 1987. He enjoys football, reading and spending time with his  family and daughter Aralyn.