Who Runs This?
Joshua Newman, a.k.a. The Ant, co-owner and Coach
As a serial entrepeneur, and a life-long dork, 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 actually 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 decide 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 Trainer Level 2
- CrossFit Certified Gymnastics Instructor
- BS in Behavioral Neuroscience from Yale
- "Strapping," at least according to Premiere Magazine
Court Wing, a.k.a. Rick Deckard, co-owner and Coach
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. '02, 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 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 weighlifting, 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.
Certifications:
- CrossFit Trainer, Level 2
- Russian Kettlebell Challenge Trainer (RKC)
- Voted "#5" of "Top 10 RKC's by review ranking" in Hardstyle Magazine, February '08
- Z-Health Certified Trainer, R-Phase & I-Phase
- Equinox Fitness Tier II Personal Trainer
- Ki-Aikido Instructor, San-dan & Shoden
- B.F.A. in Acting, Conservatory of Theatre Arts & Film, Purchase College at SUNY
Hari Singh, Co-Owner
In the summer of 2006, Black Box cofounder 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.
On the first day I walked into his 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, so Josh turned me over to Keith Wittenstein for further experimentation.
Keith taught me most of what I know about CrossFit and to this day, he routinely reminds me that I still don't know nearly enough. (He's right, but don't tell him I said so.)
I have an undergraduate degree in electrical engineering from Polytechnic University and an MBA from Columbia. Thus, I understand both how the electricity at Black Box works and why we need to pay the electric bill.
My job is running a mid-sized company. I don't intend to quit tomorrow--but maybe, the day after.
Certifications:
- CrossFit Level 1 Trainer
Michael Pommerening, a.k.a. Coach P, co-owner and Coach
"What's the point?" That is what I thought after 20 years of working out. Crossfit training has answered that question and provided the means to ask many more like: "Why wouldn't I be able to do more and be more?" Training the body is the beginning. Building greater levels of work capacity gives the mind visions of limitless possibilities. Where one might think otherwise, after Crossfitting for 3 months to a year, there comes a fundamental shift to: "I can do that!" That is the point.
The shift in business practices will produce the same level of limitless results. That is also the point.
When Keith and I met at the Boston cert in 2006, I knew we would be fast friends. When I meet Josh and Court, it was clear we had something special. We have met many like minded people since, and we look forward to many more.
Thank you, Coach, and know that CrossfitNYC is proud to continue the mission.
Certifications
- CrossFit Trainer, Level 2
- CrossFit Running and Endurance Training Certification
- CrossFit Olympic Lifting Certification
- RKC, Level 2
- RKC for Combat Cert.
- BS Exercise Physiology, Brockport University
Jacinto Bonilla, Trainer
I am a 68 year-old retired radiographer. Around 1997 I began to wonder what I would like to do once I retired. I am the type of person who eats healthy and has always followed a workout regimen, so physical fitness and helping others seemed to be a perfect match. My goal is to work with the elderly and help them get back into fitness. In 1998 I began training friends and family members with wonderful results which motivated me into getting certified through the National Personal Training Institute. In 2006 I heard about Crossfit and how intense the workouts were. I found The Black Box and I got hooked fast and knew this was where I wanted to be and what I wanted to do. In April of 2007 I got certified as a CrossFit Level 1 trainer and in November of 2007 a Level 2 Trainer.
Certifications:
- CrossFit Level 2 Trainer
- Certified Personal Trainer, NPTI
Allison Bojarski, Trainer
I first heard of CrossFit 2 years ago when the New York Times wrote a sensationalistic, inaccurate article about it. Even though I lifted heavy and considered myself an athlete, CrossFit sounded like more than I could handle. Fortunately, I rediscovered CrossFit's website a year ago, read What Is Fitness?, and knew immediately that I wanted to try it. A quick glance at the affiliates listings revealed a brand-spanking-new Black Box here in NYC and I took my first class the very next day. 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.
Keith, Court, Mike and Josh have all done so much to make me a better trainer and a better athlete. I learn more on a daily basis about proper form, true effort, and elite performance than I could ever have imagined. I also learn so much from my clients. I specialize in working with true beginners, especially those who don't consider themselves "athletic." Putting people like that through the paces of (scaled-down) CrossFit yields amazing results, both physically and mentally, and getting to be a part of that gives me immense job satisfaction.
Certifications:
- Level 1 CrossFit Trainer
Justin Algera, Trainer
Ever since I coached my first freshman football team back in 1993 to a perfect 5-0 season, I knew that one day I would be a teacher. In the summer of 2005, after about a year and a half living here in the city (I am a Florida boy transplant to the Big Apple), I learned about a website called Crossfit.com. I didn't think too much about it but it was interesting. Something about that website must have caught my eye because I kept going back and reading it. By the beginning of 2006, I had fully drunk the Kool-aid and was strictly doing Crossfit as a training method and shortly there after, began training with Crossfit NYC (Josh and Keith). I truly believe that crossfit and its ideology are the best way to get into the greatest shape of your life. And no better place than to learn these principles then here at the Black Box!
"If you train hard, you'll not only be hard, you'll be hard to beat." Herschel Walker
Certifications:
- CrossFit Level 1 Trainer
- BS Exceptional Education University of Central Florida
- Florida State Board Certified Behavior Analyst
Rob Egan, a.k.a. Robzilla, Trainer
I was never an athletic person throughout general education as well as through college. Before I started working out at Crossfit I was going to a commercial gym for almost a year and to a climbing wall for about 6 months. When I was climbing one day I told a friend that I needed to work on my pull-ups. He pointed me to Crossfit and I was intrigued. I scoured the pages of Crossfit.com looking at the workouts and thinking that they are impossible and even if I had the strength to do them I didn't have the knowledge on how to do them correctly. This went on for months before Crossfit NYC opened, which I immediately joined. Working out at Crossfit has given me a solid body and a sharper mind. I have achieved, and learned, more about fitness than I ever expected and my journey has just begun. As a trainer for Crossfit NYC I hope to give back and help others realize a potential that they never thought possible.
Certifications:
- CrossFit Level 1 Trainer
