I highly recommend checking it out. I’m a 52 year old Gulf War era Marine and have been doing CrossFit for over 3 years. I‘m also a Chiropractor in private practice and with a Division 1 University Sports Medicine Department. I work out 5 days a week and feel healthier and stronger than ever. Finding the right gym and coaching is critical. The community is amazing. My gym family is like a second family. My favorite workouts are when my teenage kids join me. Check it out.
I have been coaching and training CrossFit for the last 10 years and I love it! The experience you have at each CrossFit affiliate varies greatly. Each affiliate (or box) tends to take on the characteristics of its owners/and coaches. I recommend trying to find multiple gyms in your area and take a class at each one. The best ones tend to have a close knit community feel that focuses on developing skill and technique before applying load and intensity. Once you have a spot you like jump in with both feet and seek out the best version of yourself!
What‘s up crew! My name is Zach and I’m currently a Marine Officer Recruiter in Springfield, MO. I coach CrossFit in Republic which is where I live and is south of the ”city.” Michael is right when he says that finding a gym with the right community, culture and ownership is the key. There are a lot of gyms out there that aren’t capable of appealing to both the stay at home mom that just needs to move her body and restore her confidence and the fire breathing experienced athlete he who Com-RXs all the WODs and probably has a FitAid tattoo within one of his arm sleeves. It’s good to be surrounded by sound, well-rounded athletes but that’s definitely not what makes the community strong.
Adam I find your journey really interesting due to the fact that I constantly take on new athletes in my classes due to the growing popularity and community of our gym spawning from a multitude of reasons. Most of these people are in their 30s, 40s, 50s and even 60s. As someone that has some good experience, what do you think were the most affective coaching styles with you that kept you going and didn’t put a bad taste in your mouth when you decided to pick up the sport later in your journey?
Understanding the concept of scaling was huge. If scaled properly everyone should have the same stimulus but at their appropriate weight and skill level. We were also encouraged not to CrossFit more than 3 to maybe 4 days a week for the first 6 months to prevent injuries and overtraining. Our coaches also really stress proper technique and progressions as strength and skill increases. Everyone can do CrossFit but CrossFit isn’t for everyone. Having a welcoming community with no games and bullshit helps too. For years in Chiropractic practice I heard horror stories of people hurting themselves doing CrossFit. When I finally checked it out and took the time to really understand the beauty of the methodology I realized those outliers were usually people that did not listen to their coaches or did not do things properly. I’ve drank the cool aid and I’m hooked. Again I stress and agree with others, the coaches, community and the culture can make or break your experience. Look around, talk to people and find the best box for you.
That’s really awesome advice. I appreciate that a lot. I think the simplicity of what is taught in the curriculum for coaches sometimes gets lost as time goes on and one of those basic principles is certainly scaling. Just like being in the military, it’s important to make sure that in order to be an actual professional (in this case, coaching CrossFit) you need to always get back to the basics and refresh with the raw fundamentals. Slowing it down seems like the key and increasing intensity (speed and load) with proficient is the key strategy.
Have you all ever heard of the Heart of America Competition in Springfield, MO? Usually hosted at CrossFit Springfield which is now renamed Proximal Strength. They unaffiliated after the Glassman stuff earlier this year. That’s a whole different topic though. Interesting fact about that gym, there was an Marine infantry reservist who went through the Officer Selection Office in Springfield and used to coach there. 1stLt Will Thompson. He passed away due to natural reasons back in 2018 and they do a hero WOD for him every year. A lot of the boxes in this area are extremely tied in with military and first responders. The propensity for service related events and such is there.
No, but curious if you train crossfit how do you enjoy it and do you recommend?
I highly recommend checking it out. I’m a 52 year old Gulf War era Marine and have been doing CrossFit for over 3 years. I‘m also a Chiropractor in private practice and with a Division 1 University Sports Medicine Department. I work out 5 days a week and feel healthier and stronger than ever. Finding the right gym and coaching is critical. The community is amazing. My gym family is like a second family. My favorite workouts are when my teenage kids join me. Check it out.
I have been coaching and training CrossFit for the last 10 years and I love it! The experience you have at each CrossFit affiliate varies greatly. Each affiliate (or box) tends to take on the characteristics of its owners/and coaches. I recommend trying to find multiple gyms in your area and take a class at each one. The best ones tend to have a close knit community feel that focuses on developing skill and technique before applying load and intensity. Once you have a spot you like jump in with both feet and seek out the best version of yourself!
I’m at Norwottuck CrossFit in Western Massachusetts. What box do you belong to?
One of the potential Co-captains for this club owns a crossfit gym. Our other captain definitely does not crossfit
I helped open my CrossFit gym with the now owner. My only request was a lifetime membership once we opened. Very cool to have a CrossFit co-captain!
What‘s up crew! My name is Zach and I’m currently a Marine Officer Recruiter in Springfield, MO. I coach CrossFit in Republic which is where I live and is south of the ”city.” Michael is right when he says that finding a gym with the right community, culture and ownership is the key. There are a lot of gyms out there that aren’t capable of appealing to both the stay at home mom that just needs to move her body and restore her confidence and the fire breathing experienced athlete he who Com-RXs all the WODs and probably has a FitAid tattoo within one of his arm sleeves. It’s good to be surrounded by sound, well-rounded athletes but that’s definitely not what makes the community strong.
Adam I find your journey really interesting due to the fact that I constantly take on new athletes in my classes due to the growing popularity and community of our gym spawning from a multitude of reasons. Most of these people are in their 30s, 40s, 50s and even 60s. As someone that has some good experience, what do you think were the most affective coaching styles with you that kept you going and didn’t put a bad taste in your mouth when you decided to pick up the sport later in your journey?
Understanding the concept of scaling was huge. If scaled properly everyone should have the same stimulus but at their appropriate weight and skill level. We were also encouraged not to CrossFit more than 3 to maybe 4 days a week for the first 6 months to prevent injuries and overtraining. Our coaches also really stress proper technique and progressions as strength and skill increases. Everyone can do CrossFit but CrossFit isn’t for everyone. Having a welcoming community with no games and bullshit helps too. For years in Chiropractic practice I heard horror stories of people hurting themselves doing CrossFit. When I finally checked it out and took the time to really understand the beauty of the methodology I realized those outliers were usually people that did not listen to their coaches or did not do things properly. I’ve drank the cool aid and I’m hooked. Again I stress and agree with others, the coaches, community and the culture can make or break your experience. Look around, talk to people and find the best box for you.
That’s really awesome advice. I appreciate that a lot. I think the simplicity of what is taught in the curriculum for coaches sometimes gets lost as time goes on and one of those basic principles is certainly scaling. Just like being in the military, it’s important to make sure that in order to be an actual professional (in this case, coaching CrossFit) you need to always get back to the basics and refresh with the raw fundamentals. Slowing it down seems like the key and increasing intensity (speed and load) with proficient is the key strategy.
Have you all ever heard of the Heart of America Competition in Springfield, MO? Usually hosted at CrossFit Springfield which is now renamed Proximal Strength. They unaffiliated after the Glassman stuff earlier this year. That’s a whole different topic though. Interesting fact about that gym, there was an Marine infantry reservist who went through the Officer Selection Office in Springfield and used to coach there. 1stLt Will Thompson. He passed away due to natural reasons back in 2018 and they do a hero WOD for him every year. A lot of the boxes in this area are extremely tied in with military and first responders. The propensity for service related events and such is there.