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| Fit Club coaches |
Crossfit Level 1, NASM-PES,Co-Owner
The Who:
I am the proud husband to Tanya and father of Mitchell and Ellie. I am an adjunct faculty member in the Sport and Exercise Studies Department at Columbus State Community College and full time trainer and coach at Fit Club. I believe in performance-based fitness and athletic programs. Life is about function, not fluff. That is, how well you move through the activities of life (function) matters far more than how well you can keep up with the latest fad workout, exercise, or diet put out by "fitness" industry magazines and advertising (fluff). I believe constantly varied functional movement at high intensity is the safest, fastest, most rewarding path to a level of health and fitness most people only dream of. I believe it is for everyone willing to work for it, regardless of age or ability, and I believe it is for you – if you commit to it.
The Why:
I train because I love it. I love the focus and simplicity. I love the feeling I get from doing something really hard that most people wouldn't even dare to try. I love the physical feeling I get while I'm immersed in an intense activity. I love the mental focus I get when I eat real food and I love knowing I can eat the bad stuff and burn it off in an instant because I'll "go there" the next time I work out. I love that I can control my health by eating and doing things I enjoy. And I love the clarity of purpose and independence it gives my life. Moving better, bolder, more freely, stronger, quicker, balanced and without pain improves you physically, mentally and emotionally. Helping people do that makes my day/week/month/year/life. I love the feeling I get when someone accomplishes something great, whether that's a gold medal, a first pull-up, attending three classes a week, or being able to see their feet again). I train personally and professionally for the same reason: to help people get more out of life. I train CrossFit because in my wide experience, it yields the best results in the least amount of time.
"If it's important do it everyday" – Dan Gable
Ricardo Wilson
Crossfit Level 1, ISSA
The Who:
I am the head coach of Fight Club, originally Do Jung Ishu (the Art of Fighting).
In 1982 while attending the Ohio State University, I trained with Dr Wu for a year in Wing Chung because Bruce Lee had set the world on fire and I wanted to be like him. In the same year I met Fred Karimian who would not only become my instructor but my friend and roommate as well. In 1983 I started training with in what he would later call Do Jung Ishu. I spent the next 10 years with him kicking and punching bags of stones and sparring almost every day. I assisted him with the training at The Ohio State University but I worked with him privately in what we call basement workouts. These were grueling workouts with a few of the advanced and private students who ranged from PKA fighter, military members, boxers, and bouncers from the bars in the area. These were the toughest workouts I have ever done. To date, even the classes I instruct have not come close to the raw animal-like passion that I experienced in those basements workout sessions.
In 1985 Fred said he wanted me to help him train anyone who wanted to learn and that he had a new structure for the class at Ohio State. We would train in groups: advanced groups would spar and train together while the others practiced and improved. Advanced students would assist with the teaching and continue the basement workouts.
In 1991 Fred asked that I take over and instruct the class at OSU while he completed his masters degree. I would instruct the class on a regular basis for the next 10 years while also working as a personal trainer. My students in martial arts have fought in almost any full contact competition that has come to the Columbus Ohio area including Tough man, Bando kickboxing, and MMA tournaments.
The How:
25+ years fitness and martial arts instructor
10 years certified ISSA Fitness Instructor
Ohio State University BA in Communications
The Why:
I never met Bruce Lee, but I could not have asked for more of a pure martial artist to train with than Fred Karimian. Bruce Lee was Fred's inspiration and Fred made me see martial arts as a way to live life. If you are going to do it, then do not just be a member of the group. Instead, always ask for more from yourself.
The second reason and biggest surprise is the pure joy I received from seeing people change their bodies, watching their confidence rise and their self image change as if by magic. There is no greater joy that I have found than to hear someone thank you for your help in assisting them to find a stronger more confident self. I could not have asked for a better gift from my students in both fitness and martial arts than their trust and hard work.
The Who, How, and Why:
Kandi started her yoga journey with Ohio Fit Club. One fateful day after a MMA class she decided to stay and see what this whole yoga thing was all about. She was instantly hooked with her first sun salutation and amazed with the effects of yoga. She genuinely enjoys instructing and sharing all of these great benefits with her class. Why does she do it? For the yoga high! It gives one a great feeling inside and out. It also brings her great satisfaction to see her students progress and elation when they're able to achieve a goal they have been working toward.
