Our Coaches

Joshua Newman — Co-Owner and Trainer

As a serial tech entrepreneur and life-long science nerd, I’ve always sought out the new and the better. So when it came to cross-training for a slew of sports – surfing, climbing, mountain biking, MMA – I spent as much time online scouring relevant research journals as I did in the gym working out.

When I stumbled across CrossFit, I was intrigued, but dubious. I liked the approach in theory, but I couldn’t believe ten-minute workouts would be enough to achieve real results.

Still, empirical to the end, I decided to give that day’s WOD a try – the seemingly simple “400m walking lunges, for time”. The next morning, I missed my subway stop, as I was literally unable to stand up from my seat. I had to wait for the woman next to me to leave, so I could slide across and hoist myself up the side rail.

Needless to say, I was hooked.

Certifications:

• CrossFit Level 2 Trainer
• CrossFit Certifications:
  • Gymnastics
  • Basic Barbell
  • Kettlebells
  • Olympic Lifting
  • Movement/Mobility
• BS in Neurosciencs, Yale University

Court Wing — Co-Owner and Head Trainer

I have always been uncommonly lucky, and that’s how I found my way to the first CrossFit affiliate, CrossFit Seattle (formerly CrossFit North). Home from college for the holidays for Dec. ’03, I decided I should find a certified kettlebell trainer to help refine my form. The two closest RKC’s to my home were Nick Nibbler and Dave Werner of CFN. Although I was told that I had developed a good eye and movement from all my years of Aikido training, I was also told that my strength was not up to par and asked if I had I ever heard of Crossfit. “No, what’s that?”
“It’s a mix of Olympic weightlifting, basic gymnastics and track and field work mixed into as many randomized variations as possible to avoid adaptation plateaus; wanna try it?”
“Oh, that’s OK, I’ll stick with the KB’s.”
“OK, no problem. Here, let’s try a workout where you do 3 rounds of 10 snatches each arm, sprint 25 yards, 10 cleans each arm, sprints 25 yards then do 10 front squats each arm… for time.”
“OK”. Hah! After the involuntary moans and gasping had stopped, and the lingering sense of disappointment that it had taken me 10:15 to finish, I was hooked. I came home and practically yelled, “In five years this is going to be the hottest way to train in America!”

The next summer I came back to train with Dave & Nick for three months nonstop and received my Level 1 CrossFit trainer certification. When I would walk by and they remarked, “There goes CrossFit New York”, I took it seriously.  A bunch of us “early adopters” starting meeting in Central Park in Fall of ’04 and when we got tired of being kicked from place to place, we decided to finally open our own gym in NYC’s notoriously over-priced real estate market, wondering if anyone would ever join us.  Things may have become a little hotter since those early days.

Certifications:

• CrossFit Level 1 Trainer-Aug. ’04
• CrossFit Level 2 Trainer-April ’07
• Coaches Prep Course-April ’11
• CrossFit Certifications:
  • Barbell-July ’08 & July ’09
  • Kettlebells-Feb. ’09
  • Nutrition(w/Matt Lalonde)-Oct. ’09
  • Exercise Science-Feb. ’09
  • Gymnastics-April ’09
  • Mobility-Feb. ’10
  • Coach Burgener Olympic lifting seminar-July ’06
  • Catalyst Athletics Olympic Lifting seminar-Jan. ’09
  • Carl Paoli’s “Gymnastics Freestyle” seminar-Jan. ’12
• Russian Kettlebell Challenge Trainer (RKC)-Sept. ’06
• Voted “#5″ of “Top 10 RKC’s by review ranking” in Hardstyle Magazine
• Assistant Instructor, RKC Certification – April ’08 (public) & April ’09 (US Navy SEALs at Damneck Annex, Virginia Beach, VA)
• Designed fitness preparation program for United Nations (U.N.) “Close Protection Security”(diplomatic security) course
• Z-Health Master Trainer-Jan. ’10, RIST-Phase certified & Sustenance specialty certification
• Featured interview in “Men’s Fitness”-June/July ’10
• IKFF Certified Kettlebell Trainer-Aug. ’08
• Equinox Fitness Tier II Personal Trainer-Dec. ’05
• Ki-Aikido Instructor, San-dan & Shoden-Dec. ’87
• Gold Medal, International Competitors Division, International Taigi Competition ’00, Japan
• BFA in Acting, Conservatory of Theatre Arts & Film, Purchase College, SUNY-May ’05

Hari Singh — Co-Owner and Trainer

In the summer of 2006, my now partner Joshua Newman was working on a theory that middle-aged men don’t get rhabdomyolysis no matter how hard you work them; instead, they just have heart attacks.

The day I walked into his Beginners class, Josh decided I would be perfect for proving his point. He put me through the workout from hell (otherwise known as a typical day at Black Box), but the results were inconclusive; I lived. Josh then decided to do further experimentation, and for some reason, I agreed. Eventually, Josh and Court decided they would be better off not killing me, but instead making me a partner.

It’s been four years now, and in my fifth year of CrossFit I hope to compete in the Masters Division of the 2011 CrossFit Games.

I have an undergraduate degree in electrical engineering from Polytechnic University and an MBA from Columbia. Thus, I understand both how the electricity works at The Black Box works and why we need to pay the electric bill.

My other job is running a mid-sized company. I don’t intend to quit tomorrow–but maybe, the day after.

Certifications:

• CrossFit Level 1 Trainer
• CrossFit Certifications:
  • Basic Barbell
  • Certified Kettlebell Instructor
  • Mobility and Recovery Certification

Allison Bojarski — Trainer/Communications Director

I first heard of CrossFit in 2005 when the New York Times wrote a sensationalistic, inaccurate article about it. Even though I lifted heavy, ran long distance, and considered myself an athlete, CrossFit sounded like more than I could handle. Fortunately, I rediscovered CrossFit’s website in January 2007, read What Is Fitness?, and knew immediately that I wanted to try it. Halfway through my inaugural workout, I wondered if I’d be able to finish it. When I successfully completed it, I felt so proud of myself and knew that I needed to quit my job as a trainer at a GloboGym ASAP and start training my clients and myself in the CrossFit way.

Over the 4 years that I have worked as a CrossFit trainer, I learn something new every day, from fellow teachers, books, blogs, workshops, and personal experience (both as a coach and as an athlete). From crossfit methodologies to weightlifting to paleo nutrition/cooking to client motivation/compliance to meditative practices, I find great joy in being a perpetual student in service of being a better teacher, whether to groups or individuals.

I’ve cut back my group-class teaching hours to free up more time for my personal-training clientele. I specialize in working with true beginners, especially those who don’t consider themselves “athletic” and/or struggle with nutrition/lifestyle issues. Putting people like that through the paces of (scaled-down) CrossFit and helping them develop workable meal plans and productive lifestyle modifications inevitably yields amazing results, both physically and mentally. Getting to be a part of that process gives me immense job satisfaction, making these tasks feel less like a job and more like a vocation. (Please note that some clients use the private training to complete our Elements Workshop [mandatory prerequisite for gym membership] and then go on to “graduate” to the group-class environment while others choose to train one-on-one indefinitely, sometimes pursuing a full crossfit regimen while in other cases focusing on particular aspects of training, such as barbells or kettlebells. I welcome all these types of clients.)

I have recently made my nutrition/lifestyle coaching available for remote clients. If you are not in the NYC metro area but would like to work with me, please email me and we can set something up. Please note that while I cannot supervise your physical training, I can help you find an appropriate training venue/coach and/or advise you on at-home training alternatives.

In addition to teaching classes and individual clients, I have also been our gym’s full-time blogger for the past three years, curating daily links to fitness, health, and nutrition information to help our worldwide readership (2,000 visits per day) learn and explore. I provide website/blog consultations for both CrossFit affiliate blogs and health/nutrition/fitness blogs and websites.

Certifications/seminars/education:

• CrossFit Trainer, Level 1
• CrossFit Kids Trainer
• CrossFit Specialty Certifications:
  • Basic Barbell
  • Kettlebells
  • Gymnastics
  • Mobility and Recovery
• IKFF Certified Kettlebell Teacher (Level 1)
• Catalyst Athletics Olympic Lifting Seminar
• Paleolithic Solution Seminar with Robb Wolf (January 2010)
• Winter Strength Camp 2010 at Bodytribe Fitness
• Exuberant Animal seminar (March 2010)
• Brutal Recess with Chip Conrad (October 2010)
• Politics of Food Conference, Weston A. Price Foundation (November 2010)
• Honors B.A. in English, University of Delaware (1994)

Sara Carr — Trainer

Sara started doing CrossFit in March of 2009 when a friend convinced her to go to a free beginners class. Coming from a strong gymnastics and heavy lifting background, she expected to kill everyone there. Instead, she got smoked by Jacinto Bonilla, a 70-year-old man. Immediately hooked, she left her globo-gym and came to this crazy place we call CrossFit NYC.

CrossFit has literally taken over her life. She is now the Operations Manager for the Black Box, a coach and private trainer, and competitive CrossFit athlete. Sara placed 4th in the NY/NJ 2010 CrossFit games sectionals, competes at the Hybrid Strongman Competitions, and enjoys boxing on a regular basis.

Certifications:

• CrossFit Level 1 Trainer
• CrossFit Certifications:
  • Movement & Mobility
• American Council on Exercise Personal Trainer

Jeffrey Blaugrund — Trainer

Besides an occasional night of karaoke, there is nothing that stirs more passion for me than fitness and nutrition. I love how CrossFit has kept me properly conditioned for skiing, a never-ending tennis season and the occasional long distance running race. Furthermore, I enjoy seeing the athletes I work with consistently set and achieve their fitness goals.

Certifications:

• CrossFit Level 1 Trainer
• CrossFit Certifications:
  • Basic Barbell
  • Running
  • Movement & Mobility

Mike Kalajian — Trainer

I had always been into sports growing up and naturally that evolved into a passion for health, fitness, and training as an adult. In college I began offering personal training sessions to people and loved it! After graduating, although I took on an office job, I always had a vision of getting back into training but couldn’t see myself doing it in a globo-gym.

My sister gets the original credit for introducing me to CrossFit. As soon as I walked into the Black Box in 2008 and did my first workout I knew this was both the way I needed to train myself and the way I wanted to train others.

CrossFit has a way of pointing out the things you suck at, and introducing you to things you might not have tried before. This combination helps teach you how to get better and stronger at all of it. I’ve improved more as an athlete since starting CrossFit than in most of the years beforehand. In 2010 competed in the CrossFit Games Northeast Regional Qualifiers representing CrossFit NYC.

Certifications:

• CrossFit Level 1 Trainer
• CrossFit Certifications:
  • Gymnastics
  • Kettlebell
  • Running & Endurance
  • Nutrition
  • Movement & Mobility
• Mark Rippetoe’s Starting Strength Coach Certification
• Z-Health Movement Integration Specialist (R, I, & S-Phase Certified)
• CPR/AED

Seminars and other:

• Beast Skills Gymnastics Seminar (Oct 2010)
• Understand and Explain Pain Seminar with Lorimer Moseley (Sept 2010)
• Mat Lalonde Ph.D Nutrition Seminar (June 2010)
• Paleolithic Solution Seminar with Robb Wolf (April 2010)
• Z-Health Essentials of Elite Performance (March 2010)
• Blauer Tactical Systems S.P.E.A.R. System & Personal Defense Readiness Combatives Camp (August 2009)
• 2009 Summmer Hybrid Challenge, 2010 NY/NJ Sectionals Individual Competitor, 2010 Regionals CFNYC Team Member, CAINgames 2011 Team Member

Will Lanier — Trainer

“Leaders are not made, they are not born. They are made by hard effort which is the price which all of us must pay to achieve any goal that is worthwhile.” –Vince Lombardi

Will Lanier is a CrossFit Level 1 Trainer at CrossFit NYC. He grew up in Dallas, Texas playing sports and developing a relentless love for an active lifestyle. He has been an athlete from a young age and has an intense passion for fitness and wellness.

While in grade school, Will developed a passion for many sports including football, tennis, and track. He also developed a firm belief in being outspoken, a trait he is known (and respected full well for) within the CrossFit NYC community. While studying Emerging Media and Communications at the University of Texas at Dallas, Will discovered CrossFit Dallas Central and was immediately hooked.

Will moved to New York for a job in Public Relations all the while still training as an athlete with CrossFit.

Will found his passion for coaching after realizing the impact he could have on peoples’ lives. One of the biggest obstacles Will has faced throughout his early years as a competitor was his own fear of failure. Will channels this energy into his training of other athletes. He strives to light a fire within his students and to inspire them to conquer their own fears in the same way he has…with hard work and determination.

Will specializes in functional and strength training and offers personal training for those who are looking to restore their youthful athleticism and those interested in developing and learning new CrossFit skill sets.

Follow Will Lanier on Twitter @williamlanier

Contact Will Lanier: will@crossfitnyc.com

Certifications:

• CrossFit Level 1 Trainer
• CrossFit Certifications:
• Mobility

Craig Peugh — Trainer

My first encounter with CrossFit happened at the most unlikely of places, the dreaded “globo gym.” The trainer I was working with was an unknown regional games competitor, who upon my challenge to “push me” put me through a Hero WOD called “Daniel.” After 62 minutes of absolute torture, I finished a very scaled version of the workout and crawled home vowing to return the next day. I did not, because I couldn’t move for days. I knew this would be something special.

My background is in theatre arts with a focus working as a fight choreographer for the Metropolitan Opera. Throwing my own body and other bodies around large stages, I know the importance of controlled body awareness. CrossFit has given me the tools to effectively perform various strength and conditioning tasks with little to no problem at all.

I enjoy helping people achieve their goals. From dialing in nutrition to pulling a body weight snatch, I like to be a positive influence throughout others CrossFit experience.

Kevin Prowse — Trainer

I started CrossFit in September 2006 when I attended one of the original CFNYC Central Park workouts (before CFNYC had its own space). At the time I was looking for somewhere or someone that worked on Olympic weightlifting, kettlebells, and gymnastics. My training at the time had been leaning heavily towards kettlebells, and gymnastic movements along with deadlifts and presses for a year, so CrossFit seemed a perfect fit. My goal with coaching is to lead by example. Explain the movement, show you the movement, then take you through it step by step so you can learn and apply it as soon as possible. Along with CrossFit, I coach the Olympic lifts (snatch and clean & jerk) and compete in them at local and national competitions. I always look forward to coaching enthusiastic and determined athletes of all ages.

If you’d like to train with Kevin, you can email him at kevin@crossfitnyc.com.

Certifications:

• CrossFit certifications:
• Level 1 Coaching
• Olympic Lifting
• Gymnastics
• USAW Level 1 Sports Performance Coach

Deverell Smith — Trainer

I’ve always had a passion for human movement and sport. Growing up I played basketball, soccer, football, ran track and pole-vaulted. Now I bike race competitively on the road and velodrome. In my other life, I draw buildings. I’ve tried many different training methods. During college, like many guys my age, I trained like the boys on Jersey Shore. I embraced a steady regimen of back/biceps, chest/triceps and abs, with free time spent at GNC. Leg day? For what? Years later I worked needlessly on trying to be as skinny as possible, thinking that it would make me a better bike racer. A couple years ago, I walked into The Black Box and got my ass whupped by a girl named “Cindy” and fell in love. Now I find joy in teaching others about her and her friends, and this wonderful thing called CrossFit.

Certifications:

• CrossFit Level 1 Trainer

Mike “Sully” Sullivan — Trainer

I first heard about CrossFit in 2009 when I was coaching at the leading ski and snowboard academy on the East Coast, the Stratton Mountain School. Several of the ski coaches were training their elite
downhill ski athletes with CrossFit principles and I had to know more.

My background is in professional snowboarding, as both a former professional competitor and as a coach on the amateur and professional level. As soon as I did my first CrossFit work out, I was hooked.
I moved to New York in Summer 2010 and started training at the Black Box. Here, I not only found athletes who shared my enthusiasm, but also a great community.

My coaching strengths include the ability to identify how people learn and teaching them according to their learning style. I aim to make my students feel comfortable in a new environment, and motivating them through positivity. I really thrive on the success of my athletes and want them to leave the workout feeling that they are moving toward meeting their goals.

Certifications:

• CrossFit Level 1 Trainer
• CrossFit Certifications:
  • Strongman
  • Powerlifting
• AASI Level 3 (Snowboard Coaching)
• USASA Level 200 (Snowboard Coaching)
• USSA Coach (Snowboard Coaching)

Lt. Tom Tanzosh — Trainer

Tom studied and practiced Karate for 12+ years and currently holds a Black Belt, 1st degree in Shorinjiryu Kenzenkai Karate. Tom spent several years polishing his Mixed Martial Arts fighting skills, training under Renzo Gracie / Mike Codella to learn Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, competing in several competitions and earning a Purple Belt. A runner, World Police & Fire Games participant, and competitor in adventure races such as Metro Dash, Warrior Dash, and High Rock Challenge, Tom was looking for his next fitness challenge.

Stumbling upon a magazine article listing the toughest gyms in the USA and drawn to the Cross Fit program, Tom confidently decided to try a recommended workout. “Cindy” a 20 minute “AMRAP” (As Many Rounds As Possible) consisting of 5 pull ups, 10 pushups and 15 squats, Tom was painfully humbled and 100% hooked.

Convinced that Cross Fit is the most demanding, intense exercise program he has found, Tom introduced Cross Fit to his fellow firefighters in Brooklyn, NY. After practicing Cross Fit for 2 years, a desire to teach led Tom to pursue & complete the Cross Fit Level 1 Certification Course.

Certifications:

• CrossFit Level 1 Trainer
• CrossFit Certifications:
  • Movement & Mobility
• Lieutenant, FDNY

Avery Wittkamp — Trainer

I randomly discovered CrossFit after scouring the internet for more information on ultramarathons and kettlebells in 2007. I remember the workout of the day called for an insane amount of pull ups (like 50) when I couldn’t even do one. Next, I watched a video called “Nasty Girls” with these amazing, strong looking women – Annie, Nicole, and Eva T. – and I knew that this thing was for me. I just didn’t know where to find it in New York City.

Fast forward a few months later, I’m still spending hours on the elliptical trying to stay in shape, and by chance I meet Court Wing and learn about CrossFit NYC. I attended one of the first classes on 38th street and there was no equipment except for an AbMat and maybe a PVC pipe we all had to share. Just exactly what were we supposed to be doing with these things to get fit? Before I knew it, I was certain I wouldn’t be able to lift my arms up over my head after doing 30 knee push ups. And even though I could run for hours at a time, I was positive that Tabata squats would keep me from walking down stairs for the next week. A few years later, I have come a long way from that first class!

Now as a coach, I have a keen interest in working with athletes that focus on Olympic Weightlifting, while still including CrossFit workouts for their primary conditioning. I also have a special place in my heart for the rehabbing athlete and the beginner who struggles to meet those first milestones like a real push up or pull up.

Crossfit Certifications:

• Level One Trainer
• Movement and Mobility Certification (2x)

Seminars, Etc:

• Basic Kettlebell Seminar with Steve Kotter (2007)
• Balanced Running Seminars by Jae Gruenke (Feldenkrais Method of Movement Education) (2007-08)
• Shoulder Mobility Seminar with Deb Parsons and Alec Hellner (2009)
• CPR/AED Certified (2010)
• 150-hour volunteer internship completed at Hospital for Special Surgery in the Physical Therapy and Joint Mobility Departments (2010)
• 2010 Regionals CFNYC Team Member, CAINgames 2011 Team Member

Ryan Woods — Trainer

Ryan’s passion for athletics developed early when he started playing baseball at six years old. Following his desires to pursue a higher education and continue playing baseball he attended the University of Denver and pioneered the first club baseball program in DU’s history with another student. He graduated in 2011 with a degree in psychology and is currently pursuing his MA in Sport Psychology.

Ryan found CrossFit in June of 2010 after a lifetime of globo gym standing around. Ryan’s first CrossFit workout was “Tabata Something Else” with an impressive score of 0 on pull-ups, 3 on push-ups, 8 on sit-ups, and 0 on squats due to being unable to squat anywhere near parallel. He hated CrossFit. Then 2 months later he was back for more and has been consistently working out 5 days a week. Thankfully, those numbers have all drastically improved, but reaching one goal is just the beginning of another one.

CrossFit has given Ryan the opportunity to continue pursuing his love for athletics and striving
towards goals. He has been coaching since May of 2010 with people from all walks of life
ranging from kids as young as 10, to a group of elementary school teachers, a 2010 regional
competitor, and a 69-year-old gentleman with a recent hip replacement. Ryan’s ability to
understand, yet strategically push people’s limits provides a motivating and effective training
atmosphere.

Email Ryan at ryan@crossfitnyc.com.

Certifications:

• CrossFit Level 1 Trainer

Jeff Yan — Trainer

After transitioning from playing hockey for the University of Pennsylvania to working as an actuary, I was looking for a program to improve my strength and conditioning with less time spent on ice. I spent years following quasi-bodybuilding workouts from magazines with diminishing results, until I decided that I never wanted to touch a stack machine again. I also came to the realization that in order to improve my athleticism, I needed to learn how to clean, jerk and snatch. Internet searching brought me to the CrossFit website. There I read daily workouts unlike anything I had previously seen that both catered to my strengths and, more importantly, exposed the shortcomings in my fitness. Around that time, CrossFit NYC was scheduled to open the doors to its first proprietary location.

Since attending trial classes at CFNYC, an hour in the gym was no longer viewed as time spent burning calories or bulking up. Workouts became real training sessions, investments in knowledge and opportunities to further my fitness learning. Even though the Black Box was farther away and more expensive than my neighborhood gym, it was clear that CFNYC was the most time- and money-efficient way to make real strength progress. The results were not only undeniably obvious, but quantifiable. I let my other gym membership expire and signed up with CFNYC.

Certifications:

• CrossFit Level 1 Trainer
• CrossFit Certifications:
  • Basic Barbell
  • Movement & Mobility
• Catalyst Athletics Olympic Weightlifting Seminar
• Beast Skills Gymnastics Seminar
• Blauer Tactical Systems S.P.E.A.R. System & Personal Defense Readiness Combatives Camp