On the May Cert
WOW!!! That about sums up the weekend I had…. Jeff, Mikki, Cyndi, Nicole and the rest of the Brand-X crew did a phenomenal job in both hosting the CFK cert and in all the information presented.
For those of us that think this is simply watered down CrossFit. Wrong, wrong, wrong! This is CrossFit designed and targeted specifically at developing youth into not only awesome athletes, but giving then life skills that they will always use!
Everything about it was a pleasure! All the way from great information passionately given (both for children and IMPROVING how you teach your adults!!) to watching Allison do some hysterical moves in our games (you rock girl - thanks for such a good time getting to know you) that I know I will be having the adults do!
Even if you never plan on working with kids, you will take away more information that will be immediately applicable to training every age group and painting a better, clearer picture for your athletes!
Anyway, major kudos and Thanks to all the Brand-X staff for the time and energy given. I truly appreciate everything!
John Velandra DIF
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Yes, I too would agree – the CrossFit Kids Cert was phenomenal! I would even say it was a life changing event for my family! I really would like to share an email I sent to the CFKids/Brand X Team describing the impact the CFKids Cert had on my 14 year old son and me this past weekend.
“Jeff, Mikki, Cyndi, Nicole and the BrandX/CFKids Team,
It is difficult for me to find words to express my very sincere appreciation to all of you for taking the time to organize and share your extensive knowledge, expertise, and wisdom. Your passion and commitment to these young people is not only admirable, but contagious! It was apparent to all of us that you have personally witnessed a profound effect in the lives (and bodies) of children and teens exposed to CF fundamentals early on during their formative years. Your message is powerful. You are nurturing a generation of “can-doers” with a “nothing can stop me” attitude, fostering confidence, a positive self image, improving cognitive function (one of the biggest surprises for me) and laying the foundation for a functional, healthy body with a lifetime of benefits!
Equally impressive was the personal change I witnessed in my own son, Peter, upon completion of your cert this past weekend. I brought him with me simply because he had expressed an interest in starting CF. New to CF myself and lacking a formal trainer’s education, I really had no idea how I should go about exposing core CF fundamentals to someone his age. The daily WOD on CFHQ did not seem appropriate for someone so young, nor for someone just beginning to exercise for the first time. I had great hopes that your CF Kids cert would provide him with some sort of foundation from which to jumpstart CF into his own life.
While there, I worried that he may be bored, finding it hard to listen to so many lectures and absorb so much information that pertained mostly to trainers already working with children. He consistently reassured me that he was fine, but acknowledged that he most appreciated the times Jeff took him aside and worked with him one on one. It wasn’t until we returned home the following day that I actually realized the impact your program and cert had made on him.
Exhausted from taking the “red-eye” flight through the night, I came home and immediately put on my pajamas to take a much needed nap. Standing in the kitchen, in my pajamas, drinking water in an attempt to rehydrate myself after spending 2 days in the intense Ramona heat, Peter passed in front of me dressed in workout clothes on his way to our home gym. Noticing my look of surprise (he slept even less than me on the plane) he explained that he had just checked the CF Kids website and was ready to do the WOD. We went to the gym together, me in my pajamas, and completed his first CF Kids WOD. I never got that nap because his younger brother then asked if I would work with him next. The surprises continued when the following morning, Peter called to me from the shower asking if I could help him pack a “healthy lunch” for school. Then at breakfast, not only did he eat well, without having to remind or nag him - he also took his multi vitamin, calcium supplement, and for the first time in his life – fish oil!!
Please understand I am an over the top, obnoxious at times, healthy person. I’m constantly researching the best ways to stay fit and healthy. I count calories, eat a Paleo- Zone Diet and follow the CFHQ WOD religiously. I practice what I preach 7 days a week. Peter has not only been “too busy to exercise” but also very resistant to any recommendations I made concerning exercise or diet. He heard and saw something with you this past weekend that has changed him. This young 14 year old person has internalized your powerful message and now wants to practice it in his own life. Because of his time with you, he will now reap the many benefits you discussed by simply adding CF Kids fundamentals into his own young life. This is the effect of your work.
I have thought of your closing comments frequently upon returning home and resuming my day to day life. After witnessing the success of your program, and seeing the effect you have had on Peter, it seems more critical than ever to spread the word about your work in Ramona. Imagine how different the world would be if each child had an opportunity to be exposed to CF Kids.
With sincere appreciation,
Cheryl”
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Thanks for everything. The cert was incredible. We learned so much. Your staff was awesome. The funny part is that we can apply all the kid rules to our own training as well. And dodge ball is just as fun for adults!!! We are lucky to be able to train with OPT and AFT in Calgary, but if we are ever in the area we are definitely would love/ going to try to hook up with Jeff for a training session. We loved his training philosophy on form and passion for fitness. You and Jeff have established a top notch training facility. We would love to train in that environment on a daily basis. We were disappointed we had to go home.
Look forward to seeing brand x athletes at the games. The kids are an inspiration!! Keep up the great work!!!
Thanks
Gord and Laura MacDonald
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Thanks for putting on such a great seminar. I had a great time. Our kids
have started looking at the web site and are very eager to get to their
workout.
On the last day I talked to Jeff about bringing them up for a class. I
would really like to do this if you have classes on wednesdays? They get
out half days then, and the drive up the hill would be easy to fit into our
schedule.
The other thing about off ice training for the Saints hockey program; I
emailed the director and have not heard beak from him yet.
One more thing, I would like to volunteer myself to help out in any of the
upcoming seminars that you are putting on. L1 or kids; if you think you
could use an extra set of hands let me know.
Matt Burns
