Meet the Affiliate: CrossFit One Way

Affiliate Owner: Luis Cofresi Jr. 

 

Affiliate Since: March 24, 2012

 

Location: Coral Springs, Fla.

 

Square Feet: Too much to know! (Recreational Park)

 

Number of Members: 30

 

Describe your affiliate in six or fewer words:
We are in this together!

 

How did you get your box started? 
 

Started off as some boxes did — training in the outdoors with minimal equipment, boot camp/ underground style. I totally remember carrying this huge coral rock I found planted in the ground at a manmade hill. I used cinder blocks for our farmer walks and a wheelbarrow where we chucked in anything we could to load up in there for a wheelbarrow run. Homemade med balls made out of a basketball, a dip stand out of PVC piping, car pushing to save on gas … pretty much whatever we could think of we did. 

 

The front porch to our house was the “meet n' greet,” and we stayed there until our members' cars started to block the road. Then, I figured it was time for a real place. Our first location was a 400 square foot box. Nothing fancy, but enough room for a pull-up rig, weights, kettlebells, dumbbells, and some med balls — enough to whoop anyone into shape. 

 

Fast forward a little bit, we finished the lease on the 400 square foot box and got ourselves our new home: a 1,300 square feet box for more sweat, pain and fun! As we transition between boxes, we've been training in the park. I have been lugging the weights in and out of my car for each WOD until we are officially in on Oct. 15.

 

Do your members compete in the CrossFit Open/Games or in local competitions? 

 

Right now, one member and I have registered for our first local competition in Miami, Fla.

 

The focus is to have every member try and compete in one competition. After all, it's all about having fun.   

 

What do you and your members do together besides train?

 

Couple barbecues and beach days, and checking out local competitions. I'm working on getting a night out with all of us. It's good to see everyone out of gym clothes once in awhile.

 

Best lesson you've learned so far: 

 

Ups and downs are inevitable in any business-- you will have both.  To be successful you need the ambition to keep pushing forward or "falling forward," as I like to put it. I'd suggest taking the down time to reflect and expand on what you need to do for yourself, your members, the box, and the community.

    

Advice you wish you had been given: 

 

Take the time to talk with more affiliates before you start.

I feel that the more I can learn from other affiliate owners’ past mistakes and triumphs, the more awesome my box can become. I can add their lessons to my arsenal. I know I can never be perfect at what I do, but the more I learn the more I can give back to my members. 

 

What question you would love to ask other affiliate owners?

 

I love all the unique logos of our affiliates. I'd love to ask what the meaning behind their logos are and why they picked them. 

 

Why do you do this? 
 

It's plain and simple: my passion to help others. Coming from a paramedic/fire fighting background, I know the feeling you get after you help someone. That ability to help is more rewarding than words can describe.

 

To be able to do it in the field I truly love is something I don't take for granted--and never will. With CrossFit, I have been given a vehicle to help make a positive impact in people's lives. That's what I strive to do.

I get the best feeling when one of my members overcomes an obstacle. When someone is afraid of performing a movement or has been trying hard to achieve something, and then boom, she gets it ... it's great to see her face and her sense of accomplishment.

 

Tell us something cool, unusual, or just slightly different about your affiliate.
 

Besides training at the park right now, along with other boot camp sessions going on?

 

How we came up with our affiliate name is unusual. Back at our old box, there was a One Way sign where we usually started our WODs. On our long runs we always ran that direction. I would drop the bar for a few quick breaths and look up and read that sign.

It just grew on me. In any aspect of life, in sport, in training, and in life in general there is only one way to the top. To achieve the best and to achieve what you deserve, you must work hard for it. That's the one way. CrossFit One Way. 

 

Is there a story in your affiliate that needs to be told?

 

During our temporary transition to the park I have seen numerous achievements and strength gains. Those who were intimidated to do a handstand have done it and held it. Those who thought they were stuck at a 65-lb. push press are now killing it with 75 lbs. Those who have already had their handstands are handstand walking. Those who thought being at a park would maybe calm things down and be less difficult, found themselves challenged in new ways. Training outside has changed the pace for the better!

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