Building Power & Strength: Q&A with Darren Dawidiuk

At Northern Gym Equipment, we believe that the right fitness equipment is important; the intention and goal behind your training is what truly delivers results. To help on your fitness journey, we talk with our athlete ambassadors, ranging from ex-professional rugby players to strength specialists and pregnancy fitness experts.

In this exclusive Q&A series, they reveal the most versatile gym equipment in their kits, the secret fitness equipment you’re likely underestimating, and the common mistakes when using these equipment.

We started with Darren Dawidiuk. Between his years as a professional rugby player and founding Awakening Strength Gym, Darren’s approach to strength and conditioning is elite-tier. He’s all about training with intent—no ego, just results.

What pieces of gym equipment do you use most in your training and why?

Darren: I use a real mix of gym equipment across the week because my training is structured with intent. I run two strength workout sessions, one bodybuilding or accessory-focused session, two conditioning days, and one hybrid mixed-modality session. So naturally, I’m using everything.

That means barbells for compound strength work, kettlebells and hexagonal dumbbells for unilateral control and stability, sandbags for awkward load and real-world strength exercise, slam balls and plyometric boxes for power output, and all the ergonomics, treadmills and assault bikes for conditioning workouts. Each gym equipment has its place depending on the stimulus I’m chasing.

But if I had to narrow it down, I probably reach for dumbbells the most. They allow freedom of movement, help address imbalances, and build solid, honest strength. They challenge stability, coordination and control while still allowing you to push intensity.

For me, dumbbells are simple but effective. No ego lifting. Just quality reps, full range, and intent behind every movement.

What piece of gym equipment do you think most people underestimate?

Darren: For me, it’s the sandbag.

Many have been underestimating this gym equipment.

It looks simple. It’s not flashy. But it’s one of the most brutally effective fitness equipment in the gym. It’s a total body movement, especially once the weight gets challenging. The awkward shape forces you to create tension, stay connected and move well under load.

Everything comes down to the set up and the pick from the floor. During the sessions, you have to keep your body low, chest over the bag, roll your hands underneath and pull it tight into you. What we often see is people standing too tall too early and trying to lift it in stages. They end up fighting the bag from the waist to the chest and then wrestling it onto the shoulder.

If you get the set up right, you pull the bag straight from the floor into the chest while staying low and tight. As you stand, it’s already in a strong position, making it far easier to generate power onto the shoulder. That’s the correct way to do a sandbag workout that builds strength and delivers results.

It teaches positioning, patience and real-world strength.

Simple tool. Serious payoff.

What common mistakes do you see people make with kettlebells?

Darren: Like the sandbag, it all comes down to the kettlebell workout set up. Most people who haven’t been coached properly turn the kettlebell swing into something it’s not.

The biggest mistakes I see are the bell swinging too low past the knees, the chest dropping too far forward, excessive knee bend turning it into a squat swing, and a rounded lower back. All of those are red flags. Over time, that combination puts unnecessary stress on the lower back and joints and completely removes the power element of the movement.

When we coach the kettlebell swing, we keep it simple and nail the fundamentals first.

• Knuckles down so the kettlebell aligns with the hands, wrists and forearms.
• The bell should feel like an extension of the arms.
• Firm grip. No floppy kettlebell.
• Stand tall first, set the shoulders slightly back, and keep a soft bend in the knees.
• Hinge at the hips to build the swing, not squat. Keep the chest tall and head neutral.
  
• The kettlebell should travel high through the thighs. That keeps the back straight and allows proper power transfer from the posterior chain.

Consistency in the form also transforms the kettlebell swing from a simple exercise into a full-body conditioning workout.

Get the set up right, and the swing becomes powerful, safe and effective.

Want to find more expert tips from real pros? Check these talks below with other Northern Ambassadors: 

• Building Power & Strength with Darren Dawidiuk
• Build Explosive Power & Speed with Craig McGill
• Strength & Confidence for Midlife with Katie Vinten