I can smell the bullshit from 300 meters away...

I try to reserve true passion for things that really matter, ya know - the things that add depth and purpose to your life. In no particular order, for me, these things are friends and family, justice, travel, good food, men, and CrossFit. Making the decision to start CrossFit two years ago changed my life completely. I drank the Kool Aid, and it was freaking delicious. Waxing on about what it does for your body, confidence, habits...that's easy. But, what makes CrossFit a true passion for so many are the factors that are difficult to put into words. I tried anyway:

• It’s not how you look, not how much you can lift
• It’s all about who you are, and who you choose to be in insanely challenging moments with yourself
• It’s cheering on the last person to finish, and not moving any equipment til they do
• It’s being the last person to finish, and appreciating the previous rule more than you know how to say
• It’s being in a community of people who may be the polar opposite of you politically, socio-economically, racially, religiously, you name it…yet being a part of something that unifies despite those factors
• It’s waking up in the morning and looking forward to working out that day…this is a foreign concept to the majority of the world

It's also so, so much more.

I was lucky enough for the first CrossFit affiliate in my state to be what popped up at the top of my google search a few years back. Planning and researching isn't exactly my style, so I just dropped by that one. It was exactly what I needed. The training was unmatched compared to anything I had known or done. The people were (and still are) some of the most kind and generous I've met. Visiting other CrossFits around the world has proven to be just as awesome an experience...we are the best cult ever.

So, when someone disrespects my community, my passion, my support staff, I will not stand idly by. Hearing that someone I know to be shady in business decided to open a facility that he initially called "CrossFit" (but then must have been clued in to the legal ramifications of doing that, and now just says "CrossFit classes") roughly 300 meters from these wonderful people I've come to care so much about sparked a bit of intrigue. Finding out that lies and false pretenses were what this business is built on fanned those flames into rage. And, the local CrossFit community responded with similar sentiments.

This is where it gets a little complicated, and where I feel a bit like a frat dude. CrossFit is hard to understand if you're not a part of it. I can see how those outside of this group see it as a bunch of masochistic weirdos. But, I'm not talking to those outside of it right now.

I'm talking to the guy who claims he knew nothing of our gym being so close, yet his agents came by to ask about our enrollment numbers. Enterprise Drive in Edmond is about 800 meters long...that's the grand total. You drive down it once and you can name the businesses lining it.

I'm talking to the guy who doesn't seem to understand that business and ethics are not separate entities - that CrossFit gyms respect each other and want to see each other succeed. It's for reasons like this they do not set up shop across the street from one another and holler to the ignorant masses about how "advanced" they are. CrossFit affiliates that are doing it right don't have to do much to market themselves. The product speaks volumes.

I'm also talking to the aforementioned ignorant masses, blindly supporting something and someone they know nothing about (not that this is a new concept...nonetheless, it remains aggravating). It would be wise to look into the reasons your fearless leader is being criticized.

Despite all the crap those who own and run my gym are dealing with in this situation, the thing that concerns me the most here is the adulteration of CrossFit. Someone attending classes they think are CrossFit at a place that is not an actual affiliate and having a less than positive experience is what induces the most anger. This is a time, with all the Anthos bs being aired, that CrossFit has to stay truest to its life-changing roots. The model it's built upon is what makes it successful. This isn't something that can be bought - not by a random idiot in Oklahoma City and not by a massive corporation.

Don't mess with our amazing community, guy. Don't ruin this experience for anyone. And, don't fuck with us.