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Affilate Essay/Mission Statement |
My fitness journey began 23 years ago when I joined my first gym in high school. It was an old school, hardcore gym. You know the kind - no fancy machines, beat up benches and weights. I learned a lot in this gym. Not only did I learn how to lift, I learned how to be a man. I learned about adversity and competition. I learned that if I wanted to succeed in the gym and in life, I had to push beyond what was comfortable. The hard way was the right way. These men, knowingly or unknowingly, instilled a drive in me to be the best that I could be.
I joined the Army after graduating high school, much to the chagrin of my teachers, parents and girl friend. By joining, I gave up the rights to several full ride scholarships. I did this willingly because of the challenge and opportunity the Army presented to me. It was one of the best decisions I ever made. It was a challenge and I loved every minute of it. So much so that after serving a couple of years as an Arabic Linguist, I decided I wanted to get assigned to a Speical Forces unit. I was assigned to the 5th Special Forces unit at Fort Campbell. Training was intense, I went to a lot of schools - airborne, air assualt, Army Master Fitness School, and many more. I was exposed to camaraderie that can only be built through fear, pain, suffering and joy. It was here where I learned about true team work. How the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. We pushed each other and achieved great things because of it. I built on the lessons I learned from the gym - push until you can push no more - and then try to push again.
After a parachute accident I was forced to leave the military. I was pushed into civilian life. I went to school and became a computer programmer. I stayed in shape but something was missing. I turned back to my powerlifting and bodybuilding roots thinking that I could find the camaraderie and challenges that were missing from my life. For years I worked hard in the gym. It was good, I achieved a lot of personal goals but I wasn't happy. Lifting became a chore. The gyms I joined were impersonal. I started thinking about opening my own gym that was reminiscent of my high school gym. Years passed without action. Then in the winter of 2007 a friend showed me the Crossfit website. I was hooked from the start. It had everything that was missing for me. The only time I ever took a knee working out was in football practice, and some of the Army schools. Never in the gym - that is until I did Linda. Wow. My life changed. I became focused and committed to fitness again. I started eating right, doing the WOD religiously and my life has changed. I am a new man - born again.
I subscribed to the Crossfit Journal almost immediately. I read the website and watched all the videos. I bought all of Mark Rippetoe's books. The more I studied the more I realized how right Crossfit is. I became inspired by the WOD videos. Watching Nicole do Linda humbled me. (It was an honor to meet her in Jacksonville - she's one of my heroes) I decided that I was going to take the first steps to my dream of owning my own gym.
The first step I took was to get in touch with affiliates and see how they ran things. I became friends with CCT Joey of The Chaos Compound in Louisville and Rick of Crossfit of Clarksville. I then realized I was with like minded individuals. I was with people who have the same passion and drive that I do. That convinced me that I needed to open my gym. I went to a Level I certification over the first weekend in June. Again, I was impressed. The instructors, the training, the lectures, and the people were incredible. I thought I was in decent shape and then I saw the like of Adrian Bozman from Crossfit San Fran and Pat from Crossfit Virgina Beach. Amazing people. I knew I wanted to be a part of this great movement.
If my application is accepted, the Crossfit gym I will open will not only teach individuals the Crossfit methodology, it will also teach them to push themselves to the limits and then push again. It will be a place where like minded individuals will push and coach each other. A place where they can chalk up their hands, play their music loud, swear if they need to and sweat their asses off without having to worry about wiping down the machine for the next person. I want my members to understand the "Hard Routine" and how it can make them a better person. Fitness has always been my passion - Crossfit is the means to achieve it. I want the challenge and the opportunity to spread the word.
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