Weakness

Or: Don't Hassle the Hoff

"So tell me what your biggest weakness is in CrossFit?" asked our CrossFit Werk coach, Florian Hasslehoff. Interesting way to start the evening. I was hoping he would ask me what my FGB score was or my Fran time. I mean those are important, kind of impressive and are my strengths. Nope, Flo wanted to know my weaknesses so he could train me in my worst place. Even better, Sonja and I were the only ones that showed up at the hidden door, in an old rail yard, in south Berlin for the 6pm class. We would be working on a skill for an hour and then joining the 7 pm class for the regular WOD. No hiding from the 'Hoff tonight.

"Rings" I mumbled, knowing I would probably be sporting gigantic blisters on my wrists tomorrow and bruises to my ego from failing over and over. (feel free to Google muscle up progression if you are lost) But we did not work wrist blistering turn overs or tricep killing dips. Instead Flo had us work the fundamentals like shoulder extensions, planks, hollow rock holds and push ups. Bonus points for having us do all of it on the rings no less. Did I bust out my first muscle up? Nope. Will I? Someday. Today was about more than the end result. It was about Flo setting the foundations of confidence and building the skills in me that I would need do a muscle up one day.

I loved it tonight and it was a valuable lesson for me as a future CrossFit coach. Teach people fundamental skills and to believe in themselves through small victories, and they will become powerful beyond measure.

As we were finishing, the UN of CrossFitters walked the the door. Spain, Ireland, Australia, America and Germany were in the house. We all threw down with medicine balls and Toes To Bar for a pretty killer workout Afterwards a new friend gave a us a ride back to our hotel. He didn't really know us, but it worked out fine. I guess sweat and camaraderie transcends all languages.