Testimonials

"At age 31 I am in the best shape of my life thanks to CrossFit Oahu. I'm back at my high school weight and I'm stronger than I've ever been. The training and coaching I've received at CFO has been phenomenal. It has pushed me to level of fitness I never even dreamed was possible.

I was a 5-sport athlete in high school and a 3-sport athlete in college. I've coached gymnastics for 7 years and college track and field for 5. I have a Master's in Sport Psychology and a PhD in Health Psychology. In all my years of training, coaching, and education, I've never found anything else as successful as CrossFit for its overall positive impacts on physical fitness, flexibility, strength, group cohesion, community-building, motivation, and mental toughness. Thanks CrossFit Oahu!"

-Katie Heinrich, PhD

"I'm about to tell you about the best thing I've ever discovered. No exaggeration. My friends know all about it because I won't shut up about it. But in this review, I'm going to tell you why.

I had a review on here for CrossFit Oahu a while back when I first discovered Yelp, but it was deleted, along with a lot of other 5 star reviews that came in on the same day. And to an outsider, I could understand how it could look kinda suspect.

Let me assure you that #1, I'm a real human being, and #2, I have absolutely no financial interest in CrossFit Oahu. I'm just an ordinary dude who discovered something that really is THAT good.

I'm prefacing this review with that for a reason, and that is when you read what I have to say, you'll wonder exactly what's in it for me. There's no possible way I could be ranting and raving about all this just because I want to share the goodness, is there?

Well, I'm so excited about this because all my expectations about this were not only met, but exceeded to a degree I couldn't even imagine. How many times in your life can you say that about something?

CrossFit Oahu is not your typical gym. There are no mirrors, machines, or air conditioning. There's nothing posh about it, unlike most sports clubs that offer fresh towels, hot tubs, and a complimentary protein shake.

Instead, it's situated in a warehouse. Fans cool down the place. Black rubber stall mats cover the floor. A pullup bar/monkey bar structure sits at one end. Rather than state-of-the-art fitness equipment, you'll find tools that have been used since the dawn of sports conditioning. Dumbells, medicine balls, gymnastics rings, and kettlebells, to name a few.

And with this, we're all in the best shape of our lives.

There are a couple principles that guide what we do. First of all, everyone does the exact same workout that day. The only difference is that the workout is scaled according to a person's abilities. It doesn't matter whether you're a Navy SEAL, an MMA fighter or a retiree who is recovering from hip replacement surgery, every movement is scalable. The coaches will go over each movement with the class, and help you determine how to scale it for your own needs.

Second, every day is different. When you walk in, you have no idea what you'll be doing that day. That keeps it interesting, and even more importantly, prevents your body from adapting to a set workout.

The workouts are high intensity - you're being timed. How fast can you complete the workout, while maintaining proper form? You find yourself pushing yourself harder than you've ever worked before. The coaches have a way of pushing you to give your best. This is the most fun I've ever had in a gym!

And while most people track their progress based on how much weight they've lost, people at CrossFit also gauge improvement based on their learning of the skills. Most people walk in and can't do a single pullup - and that's great, because they quickly learn how! It's amazing watching people's progress, the sense of empowerment is unrivaled.

And yet, there are no egos at CrossFit Oahu. In fact, the community is nothing short of incredible. That's the thing that took me by surprise the most. I could see how I could get into amazing shape in a place like this, but I never imagined I'd meet so many wonderful and encouraging people. I've walked in and out of Globo gyms for years having never said a word to anyone. Within several days at CrossFit, I met countless people, all who have become great friends of mine. We work hard, and we also play hard! We're developing quite a social scene. You'll find a ton us taking over Rum Fire for a going away party, Du Vin for a birthday, or Waimanolo beach on a holiday weekend.

I can't fathom any other gym being like this.

I'm going to warn you right now, this may be the most addictive thing you ever do, and I won't be held responsible. Consider that a fair warning.

If you choose to ignore my warning, I invite you to join us. Drop in, meet us on the black mat, and get ready for an experience that will change your life!"

- Mike G

"Crossfit Oahu is all about people who are passionate about fitness and want more interaction than at a "conventional" gym.  I have been attending classes at CFO for a year now. The trainers and the methodology they use is excellent. In workout sessions, individuals are encouraged by trainers and participants alike. There is definitely a spirit of pride and community that can be felt in each class. I guess what I'm trying to say, is if you don't quite feel like you are getting the most out of yourself in a conventional gym, or if your normal gym routine is feeling a little bland. Check out Crossfit Oahu.  Bring an open mind and a towel. You won't leave disappointed. Aloha!"

 -Will C 

"We're all familiar with the routine.  Go the gym, move some weights, slowly make gains, NEVER GET FIT!  Why do people settle for the same mundane crap?  It's their body, their life, yet these gym circus freaks choose to swell a few vanity muscles as if they were balloons.

Enter CrossFit Oahu, where your body is a machine, where all parts work in tandem, and where fitness is not expressed by tiny little gym shirts, but as a lifestyle and a journey.  The coaches of CFO provide insightful group and one-on-one instruction throughout every session.  A vibrant and friendly community of CFO loyals are always present to encourage and to push.  Music pulsates and booms, weights crash to the floor.  

This is not a gym, it's an experience.

Best of all, fitness is merely where CrossFit begins.  CFO coaches have gone the extra rounds to provide regular nutrition clinics to help their members energize their machines with precisely the amount and types of food to consume.  There are no smoothie machines here.  You will not find a vending machine with potato chips and candy bars.  

CrossFit Oahu has set a new standard for health and fitness.

It's time to break the routine and treat yourself to some CrossFit Oahu.  Your sweat angel will thank you, your myriad new lovers will thank you, and most importantly, your machine will thank you."

-Tom H

"After years of going through the motions with the same old workouts, my motivation to be in shape needed a jump start.  A friend mentioned Crossfit and a visit to the main site pointed me in the direction of Crossfit Oahu.  That was several months ago and I haven't looked back. You will encounter an intense workout that looked deceptively easy but leaves you gasping on the floor .  You will feel like you're achieving something in the gym, and there will be others to cheer you on and push your limits .  Come for the workout but stay for the community atmosphere and for the excellent instruction of Bryant, Marcus, Courtney, and Cheryl.  Just give it a try and see if you have what it takes to keep going.  You might think it's crazy and it could be your last visit . . . or it might change the way you think of fitness and be the beginning of a transformation."

-Greg S

"A la suite d’une profonde et penible discussion avec Bryant, j’ai decide d’ecrire quelques mots en francais meme si j’y risque ma peau. Depuis au dela d’une anne que je fais partie d’une merveilleuse communaute. Cette communaute est CFO et je suis fier d’en faire partie"

-Remy C

Thank so much for allowing me to workout at Crossfit O'ahu. I had a great time and really enjoyed getting to know and work with you and many of your coaches. Your instruction on proper form for some of my lifts also was great and augmented the Crossfit Fundamentals course that I just finished last month at Combat Crossfit in Kansas City.  I have to say that your facility is outstanding and it was very motivating to be able to workout with a large group of highly motivated and fit individuals. As someone who has been involved in some form of weight and cardio training since the age of 14 (I am now 47) and who is still involved in full contact kickboxing and other martial arts, I have found Crossfit to be an excellent and challenging system for improving my fitness and enjoyment of training. I also like the fact that most of the exercises and WODs can be modified to accomdate injuries and disabilities, since I accumulated my fair share in my youth and during my time in the military. However, I have taken your advice to heart about challenging some the limitations I was told that I would have to live with by gradually reintegrating exercises I thought I could never do again. For example, on one of the days I trained at Crossfit O'ahu, you encouraged me to get back to doing dips (ring dips were part of the WOD) using the assisting straps. I had not done dips for nearly 20 because I tore a pectoral muscle in my final years of powerlifting and was told that I could never do them again.  However, I tried them that day and was surprised that I could do them, with assistance, but also without significant pain.  Since getting back to KC, I have made a point to practice them and have gotten back to being able to do multiple sets of full bodyweight dips.  This is very exciting for me because it represents recovery of function that I was told would probably not happen.  I am now testing out what is possible for me with some of the limitations I have lived with resulting from other injuries (e.g., torn right bicep and low back degenerated disk). 

The timeI got to spend with the olympic lifting coach and one of your trainers, Bryan Heinrich, at Crossfit O'ahu also was helpful in this regard because I was able to get some pointers on improving my form so that I could start back with regular deadlifts and powercleans, two of my favorite exercises that I also had given up for many years.  So now I am back to regularly including deadlifts and powercleans into my workouts either because they are part of the WOD or because I want to practice them.  While I doubt that I will get back to my max lifts when I was a competitive powerlifter, I decided to make it my goal for next year to be able to complete the WOD called "King Kong" (three rounds of Deadlift, 1 rep with 455lbs, muscle ups for 2 reps, powercleans from the floor, 3 reps with 250lbs, and handstand pushups for 4 reps...I saw this WOD on t he main Crossfit webpage and thought it looked cool).  So, thanks again for the role you and your staff played in helping me challenge and overcome some physical limitations that I thought would probably follow me the rest of my life. I truly enjoyed the workouts at Crossfit O'ahu and will come there when I come back to Hawai'i for vacation and visits.  In the meantime, my son and a couple of friends are doing Crossfit workouts (using the website for guidance) at our gym and having a great time. See you all soon and mahalo nui loa.

- Carlos

My name is Melissa and I Crossfit regularly in Omaha, NE. However, when I travel I like to check out the local Crossfits. Out of all of my travels Crossfit Oahu has been my favorite so far. The coaching staff is incredibly knowledgeable, great at teaching, and super friendly. I was immediately welcomed and encouraged to participate. I even convinced the people I was staying with to come try it and they loved it as well. I was truly sad to leave Hawaii both for the wonderful weather and for Crossfit. Mahalo Crossfit Oahu!!!

Mahalo Cheryl and CrossFit Oahu for welcoming us into your cell during our holiday stay to make it extra special! We will not forget how Cheryl fought the pounding rain to instruct and lead our classes.  We had such a blast meeting your AM "Momma" Crew and hitting a few island WODs together. It was fun to discover and learn two new movements: the medicine ball sit-up and SOTTS squats.  You have a wonderful group and a fantastic space. Hopefully we'll be seeing some of you in our area at Unlimited in the future!

Happy New Year,
Jason & Christina

Over the years my travels and adventures have taken me many places, some to the highest most inhabitable places on the globe. Fortunately, luck landed me on the island of Oahu and a stone’s throw away from a little secluded dungeon of discomfort called Crossfit Oahu.

My First Impression:

Making the left turn onto Reed Lane I notice a secluded facility Crossfit Oahu banner hanging over an open bay door, a few scattered vehicles here and there, and bodies scattered like the aftermath of a war zone.  Walking up to the desk a smile greets me with a warm welcome and a sign in sheet, I will later find out her name is Cheryl M. Adkins a tall Amazonian woman with silent beauty whom so kindly introduced to Crossfit Oahu. Promptly, I meet  two other staff members Marcus Dedina, Brian Powers  both gentlemen will prove to be a compilation of knowledge obtained from hundreds of hours of dedicated Crossfit training and endless repetitions of perfected form.

Getting Started:

As I proceed over to the center stage for a mild warm up of pullups and pushups the building once empty starts to fill with CFO members one by one. As each smile is greeted with a gentle pound of the knuckles and a familiar warm welcome of hello, I start to notice the familiar scene of chiseled jaw bones, bulging biceps and popping veins “It’s good to be home”.  Mr. Dedina starts off the class by a quick demonstration of the workout a typical medley of As Many Rounds As Possible of Pullups and Pushups always the staple of great athlete. As the shouting roars from the sidelined crowd rises I can’t help but to notice the group involvement, combined focus, perfected kipping technique and the all out level of fitness of this group of athletes. No air, no more juice and completely exhausted I manage my last repetition just short of the call for “Time” I am glad to know the temporary discomfort is over for the remainder of the day. Athletes sprawled here and there, gasping for oxygen, drenched in sweat once again each raises a wobbly fist to the next and gives the universal “knuckle pound”  to the next with the standard “Good job” reply from each.. I would lift my feeble arm but my long 14 hour work shift coupled by ultra poor diet doesn’t permit me to do much but peel my carcass from the black lifting mat that covers the cold concrete beneath.

I’m hooked:

I will later, train as many times as possible over the few remaining weeks, consistently I am introduced to good training techniques, consistently high competence and knowledge resulting in several episodes of high intensity training and humbling self inflicted discomfort. If I could call anyplace home away from home, inside these walls would be just that place.

Take away:

As my Crossfit experience grows I come to realize that I know belong to a community, much to my surprise many affiliates are the same and many affiliates are very different. When evaluating where my belonging fits into the big picture, I would say few places make you feel like you are part of a family of friends. Crossfit Oahu is just that, it’s a rare group of great athletes that form a special bond of family. Although the people are of many different races, sexes and origins they are all Crossfit Athletes and they all train together at Crossfit Oahu. Thank you: I couldn't be more pleased or impressed by my visit to Crossfit Oahu and I take many smiling memories with me. For a short time, I trained hard in the company of many fine athletes with the very typical pleasant overtones of the island mentality and kindness. I greatly enjoyed my experience and eagerly look forward to training inside the walls of Crossfit Oahu. I leave behind the workout “BlackLung” and hope to for a speedy return to your facility.

Respectfully,
Clint A.K.A. “Alabama”
Crossfit Affiliate: Crossfit Huntsville