First Stop, Freehold!
“Anyone can make you tired, but not everyone can make you better.”- Martin Rooney
My first gym stop in New Jersey was at Bulldog Bootcamp and Nutrition in Freehold. I zipped my car into a parking space and quickly rushed into the gym to see Keith finishing up with a client before the beginning of class. Keith Weiss is the owner and operator of Bulldog Bootcamp and Nutrition. Keith also introduced me to Maria Corso, who is the gym nutritionist in addition to an instructor. After being unhappy at their previous gym, Keith and Maria decided to go out on their own, take a risk and make something happen. What came out of this risk was something fantastic!
As I started to get settled into the gym I overheard Keith talking to one of his members before class. “It’s not the systems that are flawed, it’s the coaches.” I knew immediately that this was a conversation that I wanted to be a part of! I agree. There are a lot of coaches out there who only stick to one system or one style of training with the notion that their way is the best way, the right way, or the only way. In some unfortunate cases, these coaches don’t really even have a firm grasp of the one system that they are claiming to be a part of. I don’t know if I necessarily believe that there is a right way to train across the board. Every individual is different. What works for person A might not be the best for person B. Is Olympic lifting better than powerlifting? Is static or dynamic stretching better? These answers can only be based on specific individuals and their goals.
CrossFit is a controversial topic. Some people love it. Some people hate it. I fall in the latter of the two. I personally think that more often than not people end up getting injured in CrossFit; using improper form, using weights that are too heavy, and trying to move weights so quickly to break a time that they end up breaking themselves. Keith’s opinion of CrossFit differs. He thinks CrossFit is great! He was lucky enough to work with two amazing coaches and became an awesome coach himself! This is where Keith’s point comes in. It’s not the system that’s flawed, it’s the coach. CrossFit itself has merit. It’s getting people moving and it created a community that holds people accountable for their fitness. The flaws are in certain coaches that can’t see when people are being pushed over their limits or those who have no concept of form and safety. They can be found in any system. Hell, they can even be found with personal trainers at a gym if you don’t find someone who’s actually taken the time to study the body and how it works.
Keith has several certifications. He has a CrossFit Level 1, the CrossFit Football certification, the Training for Warriors Level 1 and 2 certifications, and an Underground Strength Coach certification. Keith will also be taking a Powerlifting certification with AJ Roberts. The beauty of this is that he can pull from so many techniques to give his clients the perfect program for them. He can modify and tailor programs to fit individual needs. Tailored programs lead to results! The ability to know when to increase intensity and when to give modifications to decrease intensity is incredibly important. It is that ability which keeps clients safe while still yielding results that only good coaches have, no matter what system they follow.
I think what makes Keith so successful is the fact that he has made himself versatile within his specific niche. The niche is strength and conditioning, but he is continually growing and learning as much as he can about it. That is an important life skill. Never stop learning. If there is ever a point when you think you know as much as possible about a subject, trust me, there’s still more facets that you haven’t explored yet! Keep Learning!!
“Wisdom is not a product of schooling but of the lifelong attempt to acquire it.” ― Albert Einstein
Check out Bulldog Bootcamp & Nutrition at:
2 Monmouth Ave, East Freehold, New Jersey 07728
(732) 409-2463
Love the quote from Martin Rooney in here! Great article too…couldn’t agree more
Thank you so much for the kind words!