Warren Hodges
L1 Coach Hello, my name is Warren Hodges. I have been doing CrossFit for over a year now, and I LOVE IT! Here is a little about me. I was born and raised in Baltimore, MD. In high school I was a three sport student athlete, excelling in football, basketball, and track and field. After high school I joined the U.S. Navy, were I spent 14 years as a structures and hydraulic airplane mechanic, and as a recruiter. While I was in the Navy I discovered the world of minor league football. While playing minor league football, I became an All-Conference player at 5 different positions, offensive tackle, center, tight end, defensive end, and defensive tackle. Unfortunately football did take a huge toll on my body and I suffered a fairly debilitating leg and hip injury. I had a hard time doing the simplest of tasks, like running and squatting. Going to the gym became nonexistent and I quickly became morbidly obese, weighing in at over 350 lbs. I discovered CrossFit with the help of Michael Staderman, one of the other L1’s at AKP. At first I thought to myself, there is no way that I will ever be able to do any of these exercises. I doubted myself constantly, but I never thought of quitting, it just wasn't an option. I did not want to let down my coaches, Mike, Amelia and Kerry, seeing that they had invested their time in me by creating movements at weights that I could handle. All the other athletes around me also pushed me to be a better athlete, and a better person. The CrossFit community created a much stronger bond between myself and the other athletes, way beyond any team I have ever been a part of. This is one of the reasons why I decided to become an L1. CrossFit has given me so many things, new friends, better quality of life, and has returned me to the sport that I love, football, where I currently start as a defensive lineman for Wright State University’s club football team at the ripe age of 36. I want to give back to the Crossfit community by helping people get past any physical or mental blocks they have, and to make them a better athlete and person, like the one I have become. My vow as a Level 1 CrossFit Trainer is, to coach, and push every athlete in the safest way, to help unlock their potential, or find something inside of them that they never knew they had. So, when you see me around the box, please say hello and please do not be afraid to pick my brain on anything that you may be having issues with. |