Two of our youngest Steve's Club Camden CrossFitters have completed the first CrossFit Open WOD, and they definitely rose to the occasion!
Justin, age 13, and Brandon, age 10, took on the mentally and physically demanding task of a seven-minute AMRAP ("As Many Reps As Possible") of Burpees.
Justin (pictured, left) achieved 55 burpees in seven minutes, and Brandon (pictured, right) achieved 69 burpees! Both fantastic scores.
Steve's Club athletes Danny, Kevin and CJ are what Steve's Club Camden and Steve's Club National Program are all about. There is absolutely nothing more extraordinary than seeing young people working to their full potential at every opportunity. It's a value many adults never even learn, and to see people establishing that foundation of consistency and dedication at such a young age is truly remarkable.
Reaching and exceeding expectations is a choice, and it's one these young gentlemen make each day. We are so grateful to have the opportunity to coach these individuals.
A special thank you to Hearty Films for capturing the spirit of Steve's Club.
Sports has to be the most convergent of all human activities because athletes know that there is no fundamental difference between body, mind, and spirit. To be truly great, an athlete must develop all three together, exercise them all together, and bring the strength of all of them to bear on the contest. Only then is greatness possible, and only then does victory have universal meaning because it reflects the fullness and richness of the human heart.
Muhammad Ali
Steve’s Club National Program understands that a kid’s personal development rests not just on the development of strength through Sport, but – as Ali put it – it’s about the development of body, mind and spirit. When we do our job right, we’re exercising “all three together.”
Steve’s Club National Program has several local clubs that are dedicated to that idea, and we want to recognize their great work.
This Local Club was started by Brian Terpak, a teacher at the Girard Academic Music Program, a magnet school in South Philadelphia. He’s a Crossfit L1 trainer with additional certs in Olympic lifting and Mobility, and has built his program using the school cafeteria space, where he trains a group of kids after school.
Brian uses “the principles of CrossFit to inspire and invigorate the bodies and minds” of his students. What his program is all about:
“We move to build. We build muscles and invigorate spirits. We build dreams and conquer nightmares. We build community and develop selflessness. We build faith and abandon despair. We are The Movement Program.”
Below: "Charlie's Angels" from The Girard Academic Movement Program.
This Local Club, spearheaded by Laura Cook of CrossFit Covington, started with an open house back in November to get the community involved.
Laura says of the program, “The community not only acts as a positive support but provides youth with role models, and guidance. As an affiliate we are very excited to share our passion for fitness with youth and watch as this program positively effects one youth at a time...”
It’s truly amazing to see our National Program thrive in so many different parts of the country. Those who have been inspired to start Local Clubs are uniquely acquainted with the needs and challenges of the kids they serve, and are able to address those needs with a perceptive and willing spirit while helping kids to develop in body, mind and spirit.
Danny, a Steve's Club Camden athlete, hit a 210 lb. clean at just 130 lbs. bodyweight - and he's 14 years old! Amazing work, Danny. A truly awesome achievement!
As many rounds as possible in 20 minutes:
10 push presses (115lbs)
10 kettlebell swings (55lbs)
10 box jumps (24″)
We did a group workout today bringing together the kids from Steve's Club King Of Prussia and Steve's Club Camden. The workout was skyped/telecasted to troops in Kandahar, Afganistan who did the workout along with us (It was 11pm in Afghanistan). After the workout the kids wrote letters and we will send it all in a care package. We also sent - per their request -a most needed set of supplies gym chalk, PaleoKits, etc. Such a memorable event!
“The saving of our world from pending doom will come, not through the complacent adjustment of the conforming majority, but through the creative maladjustment of a nonconforming minority.” - Martin Luther King, Jr.
