BOB URTIS

Born and raised in Rochester, New York, Investigator Robert Urtis is a 31-year veteran of the Rochester Police Department, and is currently assigned to the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force. He is a former member of the Rochester Police Department's SWAT team, and has spent the majority of his career in the Department's Special Investigation Section, during which time his assignments encompassed a multitude of illegal narcotics and firearms trafficking investigations on both the state and federal level.

Throughout his career Bob has maintained a passion, almost an obsession, for fitness, particularly as it relates to law enforcement officers; that passion continues to this day. He medaled in running events in the New York State Police Olympics held in Syracuse, New York (1981) and also at the United States Military Academy at West Point (1982), qualifying for the National Police Olympics later that year. He participated in numerous 10k and 5k events in upstate New York throughout the 1980s, along with numerous biathlons. He became a proficient swimmer and avid hiker. In 1989, he was one of a handful of officers who were selected and ultimately certified by the Kenneth Cooper Dallas Aerobics Institute, after undergoing a week-long course which was specifically tailored to police officers. Upon successful completion, he used methodologies developed throughout the course to assist other officers who wished to improve their physical condition. As such, he has acted as a mentor and consultant to countless officers, many of whom sought his advice with regard to improving their physical fitness. His passion for fitness went well beyond law enforcement: Since 1990 he has assisted his Aquinas Institute high school friend Dominic Arioli with the Aquinas Mission Bouts, a sub-novice intramural boxing program held in Rochester, New York every year. Bob actively recommends conditioning exercises and routines for the Aquinas boxers.

In 1998, Bob joined the Montgomery Boxing Club located on Lyell Avenue here in Rochester, first as a student, and then as a volunteer amateur boxing coach and trainer, receiving certification from US Amateur Boxing on 8/13/00.  Always striving to improve and add variety to fitness, as it relates to both conditioning for boxing and law enforcement, he first became aware of Russian kettlebells in 2001, and immediately recognized their benefits. He became convinced that anyone, regardless of gender or age, could vastly improve their physical condition and achieve superior strength and endurance benefits through effective workouts of varying intensity with the kettlebells.

After incorporating kettlebell exercises into his own personal fitness regimen, he then methodically devised numerous kettlebell routines for both amateur and professional boxers at the Montgomery Boxing Club. Since then, he has devised kettlebell workouts and demonstrated techniques for law enforcement personnel, students, housewives, white collar professionals, whomever. In 2004, he attended a kettlebell workshop in Philadelphia, where he was instructed by Steve Maxwell and Mike Mahler, further honing his technique on the versatile use of the kettlebell. His persistence continued, and in February, 2006, Bob attended and successfully completed a three day Russian Kettlebell Certification in Montreal, Canada. After undergoing physical training, demonstrating proper techniques of dozens of exercises with the kettlebells, passing a written examination, and devising personal fitness routines for future clients, he received his Kettlebell Instructor Certification by nationally recognized Canadian expert Shawn Mozen. Mr. Mozen's "Agatsu" program (www.Agatsu.com) incorporates a variety of kettlebell and bodyweight exercises and enhances the recruitment of various muscle groups and functional core strength. Also in 2006, Bob and Dom Arioli attended another kettlebell workshop in New Jersey, receiving instruction from Jason C. Brown and Zack Even-esh, both nationally recognized experts in this field.

Kettlebell use is soaring in popularity and is now widely recognized for its calorie-burning and fat-reducing benefits. It is efficient, never boring and can even be fun. Bob continues to devise routines for anyone interested, and is frequently sought after for his advice, often by fellow police officers and Federal Agents, many of whom are former military; some currently assigned to SWAT teams. At the ROC he teaches an hour-long kettlebell class that will include housewives, white collar professionals, cops, firemen, physicians, lawyers, blue collar workers, college athletes - virtually anyone of any background, age or gender (we have students in their 70's) who are looking to improve their physical condition. It's a blast!