35 cross threshold to help base members stay fit

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Tong Duong
  • 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  More than 35 Luke Thunderbolts received verbal and hands-on instruction by CrossFit trainers to become certified CrossFit instructors June 24 and 25. 

In an effort to address relatively small space and only a handful of instructors available at the CrossFit annex, base officials sought to have additional people certified and give squadrons the option to perform the exercises anywhere they see fit. 

"We have 25 squadrons at Luke," said Pernell Stoney, 56th Force Support Squadron Fitness Center director. "Members of a squadron may not be able to get into the CrossFit gym because of the limited number of classes available. Now we can have instructors go to them, whether it's to the track or gym, and be able to perform a CrossFit workout." 

Mr. Stoney fully supports the certification course because he feels some base members who want to do CrossFit are sometimes shortchanged. 

"A maximum of 24 people can use the facility at any given time," he said. "So everybody else has to go to other places." 

Prior to the certification course, only five members, who all work at the fitness center as personal trainers, were certified to lead the CrossFit exercises. 

The 35 members certified were volunteers or chosen by their commanders and have been certified as physical training leaders. 

The CrossFit trainers taught the selectees how to perform the various exercises safely and correctly, the different muscle groups, nutrition and the 10 basic conditioning elements, cardio, stamina, strength, flexibility, power, speed, accuracy, coordination, agility and balance. 

Ensuring Airmen understand what exercises they are doing and that they are being performed properly is important. There is no room for error as far as injures are concerned, Mr. Stoney noted. 

Using the uniquely shaped kettle bell as an example, trainers were taught how to properly swing the weight, how to keep backs in correct form and to ensure proper knee alignment. 

Simeon Maxwell, a personal trainer at the fitness center and one of the course participants, thinks CrossFit is the way to go. 

"Having taken the course, I can now tell people what I've learned and to try and experience it for themselves," said Mr. Maxwell. "If you really want to get fit fast, it is the way to go, as this is a step beyond the requirements of the Air Force physical training. This will help you if you want to be fit-to-fight." 

According to Mr. Stoney, once certified as a CrossFit instructor, members can teach without recertification, but continual education is paramount for optimal performance. 

"In the two days of instruction, members learned how to perform the exercises in a safe manner, but mastering CrossFit requires constant learning because of the multitude of exercise," he said. "Instructors improve by watching the videos as well as performing the exercise. It's a life learning experience." 

Mr. Stoney also said that he thinks CrossFit benefits Airmen as they prepare for their PT test. 

"It builds strength and endurance," he said. "We had a number of people that have come back and said they have cut a minute off their run time, increased push-ups and crunches just by doing CrossFit."