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We are always trying to find the balance between flexibility and stability. These two characteristics tend to lie on opposite ends of the spectrum. The more stable you are, you tend to be less mobile. The opposite can also be true, where your joints are really elastic, and have difficulty moving and supporting loads. The … Continue reading The Best Practices For Mobility →

An age-old addage in the gym is that you can never be too strong. This is partly true. How being strong helps, it comes down to relative intensity.  The stronger you are, the lighter WODs become. Which, when your conditioning and mechanics are also a priority, can only play to your advantage. Local muscular endurance, and … Continue reading Strength vs Conditioning: How to Structure Your Workout →

Daily Derz YouTube Huffington Post, 2 June 2014: My Response to the ‘Why I Don’t Do CrossFit’ Post Business Bod, 12 May 2016: The Hype Behind Cryo: Happy Freezing The GSD Show, 31 May 2016: Building a Team That Thrives Without You & Having a Killer Mindset Stem Cell Review with Dr. Malan, 20 May 2016: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3pdckIK6HY

Whole Body Cryotherapy (WBC) is all the rage on the recovery scene right now. It is celebrated by celebrities and professional athletes alike for its benefits and increasing performance and well-being. Many, however, don’t know what it is or how it works. My intention here is to give the laymen’s version of the how, and … Continue reading The Hype Behind Cryo: Happy Freezing! →

The ever present question for athletes and members. If you dive into the already published literature and infinite blogposts already available you’ll see many examples: 3on1off, 2on1off, 5on2off, etc… The simplest way to put it, getting straight to the point, I don’t believe in rest days for the sake of taking days off from the … Continue reading Training vs Rest: Where’s the Balance →

According to our doc, and our own personal experience with our son, as well the 6 women and 8 pregnancies amongst our members at CrossFit PHX, suggest that it is NOT high intensity physical activity that puts your baby at risk during pregnancy. Alternatively, it is the introduction of said activity, or anything above baseline … Continue reading Training While Preggers →

What is the purpose of weight belts? Should I use one everyday when squatting and deadlifting, cleaning and snatching? The simple answer is, it depends. However, to habitually train at low to moderate loads with a weight belt, can create an element of thoracic instability when you eventually find yourself in a situation without a … Continue reading Weight Belts: How Much Do They Help Really? →

Warm Up & Movement Prep – A Winning Combination There is a huge difference between getting your heart rate up, blood pumping, muscles warm, and actually being prepared for a rigorous work out. When we warm up, we are simply waking the body up and letting it know that work is about to be done. … Continue reading Warm Up & Movement Prep – A Winning Combination →

Intensity Defines Us: The Evolution of the Athletic Female I’ve been in the fitness industry for almost half my life as an athlete, trainer, and coach. Even during seven years in the Marine Corps I was always met with opposition by Marines and clients alike with regards to females and training. A couple of years … Continue reading Intensity Defines Us: The Evolution of the Athletic Female →

You Still Have to Do the Work I’ve been around high level athletics almost my entire life. I spent most of my post-collegiate weight training career in the confines of Gold’s Gym, LA Fitness, 24 Fitness and the like. As a Marine, the base gym is full of Jarheads killing dumbbells and sipping protein shakes … Continue reading You Still Have to Do the Work →