Testing ... Testing

So I officially registered for my ACE Certification exam. May 14 at noon. It will be the culmination of a long journey of education, studying, and experience, and I'm really looking forward to it. Once I finish, I look forward to getting a gig training at a gym somewhere (hopefully the Y, where I'm working now as a boot camp instructor), but if not, somewhere else that I enjoy.

Also, the LJBC (Lovejoy Boot Camp) that I host will take on a bit of a different feel after I'm certified. I hope to include even greater challenges and make it even more fun. I'll also begin charging a nominal fee, which I hope isn't something that will dissuade everyone from coming out - lord knows I'd be nowhere without your support.

Until then, wish me luck ...

Leadership

Now that I'm officially a teacher/leader in a few capacities (to ESL students, to those looking to accomplish their fitness goals, and with my Big Brother/Little Brother match, Manny), I find myself thinking more and more about what makes a good teacher/leader and trying to improve. Books have been written about the subject, it has been researched thoroughly, and one can easily take a scientific/research-based view about what makes good leadership. I'm not going to do that today.

I have read a book or two (John Wooden's "On Leadership" was fantastic), but I'm no scholar. I'm merely an amateur when it comes to the powers of leadership. My research credentials are non-existent. However, despite my lack of true cache when it comes to the subject, I do have an opinion on a few things that make a good leader ...

A leader is passionate. Passion means creativity, dedication, optimism, educated thought and unbridled motivational energy. Students of any type feed directly off of the aura that emanates from the person in front of them, which makes apathy so problematic for leaders. It is the most contagious disease known to man and one of the easiest to contract. This is why, every day, I try and make it a point to think about the people on "the other side of the desk/gym," and how they will perceive me that day. If I'm not making them excited about what I'm teaching, I'm failing as a leader. It's as simple as that.

A leader is educated. It sounds simple, but I think plenty of us know people out there who are "leading" (sales teams, marketing departments, 4th grade classrooms, etc.) that don't really know things as well as they should when it comes to helping their constituents learn how to do whatever it is that they do. The key with this is not to know everything, all the time, but to always be LEARNING as a leader. Another common disease when it comes to people in a leadership position is the contention that merely having the position of pseudo-authority makes them omnipotent and, therefore, superior. It's bullshit. If a teacher isn't constantly learning from students, peers and any other resource out there, they're not truly leading (or at least not as well as they could). Study, listen, write, communicate; do anything that keeps you in touch with educated opinions.

A leader is fair. It's nearly impossible not to play favorites, but one really has to try when in front of a group, because once the perception of bias or favoritism permeates a collection of people, you've lost them. Look everyone in the eye. Wait for the slow people and encourage the fast ones. Make everyone feel that they are on the same level. Challenge everyone, at every point, in a way that makes them feel safe and motivated. This is perhaps the hardest part of teaching - customizing the approach in a way that "teaches" each person in the way best suited to them. But it is also the most rewarding and effective. The time you spend to get to know the person behind the student, the attitude, the life experiences, the better rapport/trust you'll build.

A leader is honest. For the longest time, this was something in which I thought I excelled, but it was really a facade I had up because I was uncomfortable with who I was, my direction in life and many other things swirling around my head. I am proud to say that is no longer the case. It took a lot of introspection, a career shift, the good fortune to find someone who truly understands me, some watershed "I don't give a crap I'm going to quit ... wait, I don't want to quit because that's weak ... I'm going to work hard and push through," moments, and the realization that  honesty is not a quality or a personality trait to get me there. Honesty is a way of life. It plays into leadership in the most fundamental way - if you don't communicate desires, expectations, frustrations and obligations directly and honestly, no student/co-worker/mentee can or will ever learn from you.

Finally--although I could go on--a leader is engaged. A favorite Chinese proverb says "tell me and I'll forget, show me and I may remember, involve me and I'll understand." What many leaders fail to grasp is that this concept only works if it is engaged on both sides of the student/leader relationship. Being engaged  - empathetic, active, motivational, constructionally critical, etc. - allows for the galvanization of the student/leader bond and for that process of perpetually continuing education that I talked about earlier. I try and get in there and do the exercises with my clients, use real life experiences to illustrate grammar lessons and drive home learning moments through personal experience when I'm talking to my little brother Manny. Because if I'm a part of it, I'm learning from it, and the recipient of my "leadership" is much more likely to feel the benefit and my passion, which leads to more trust, retention and positive results (whatever they may be).

Again, I'm no expert. I don't have decades of experience leading. What I do have is a strong desire to be a positive force in peoples' lives, in whatever way possible. To do that, I will need to lead in one way or another, and to do that, I have to be sure I'm always aware of how to get better. Thank you for helping me do that by reading what I have to say.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on leadership. What makes a good leader? Who stands out in your mind as a person to whom to look up? How do you lead in your everyday life? 

Box Jumps

I'm always on the lookout for exercises that are challenging, portable and a little different. While plyometrics have certainly begun to attract more fanfare lately, I think that many people still shy away from them for one reason or another. Many do so for good reason - they are not strong enough or mobile enough to attempt them - but I also think many people are intimidated with some of the movements and perceived challenges that go along with them. Box jumps (a cornerstone of plyometric leg work) are definitely one of the exercises that fall into that category.

When I train people using these (once I know they have strong enough leg muscles to do so, great balance and a desire to push themselves - these are pre-requisites for sure), the first thing that I inevitably notice when I put a 24- or 30-inch plyo box in front of them is the "ummm, I don't think I can do this" look/shrug/sigh/fear-addled babbling. It's understandable. Many people have no concept of their vertical leap or ability to get up and down off of something quickly. However, once someone is sufficiently motivated, a demo is done and  ONE rep is completed successfully, box jumps can be super empowering and quite addictive, in the sense that a person typically wants to see how high they can go/how many they can do in a minute, etc.

I love to work them into leg (or full body workouts) because of the incredible anaerobic and speed/power benefits, and the fact that they target each major muscle group in the lower body--quads, hamstrings, glutes, calves, etc. If you want some more info on the basics and benefits of box jumps, check out this article.  

I'm also partial to them because all you need is an elevated flat surface on which to do them. Park benches, picnic table seats, tree stumps, outdoor stairs and tires are all things I've used in the past and will likely use again. Of course, you need to be sure you can do the exercise safely and in a way to achieve the desired benefit, but for a guy who does a lot of outdoor training, they're incredible.

Check out this video to see an insane example of the box jump in action - 63 inches!! That's like jumping over Muggsy Bogues for those of you who know your NBA.

Anyone out there have experience with these? I know the Crossfitters that follow this blog will have done them. Also, if you're in the boot camp, be ready  .... 

No, for Real, Beach Boot Camp is back this Weekend

We had a pump fake a few weeks ago, but it's time to get things rolling again for real. Beach Boot Camp (BBC) will return this Sunday, April 17th, at 9 a.m., South Mission Beach Jetty.

If you didn't come before and need directions, let me know. If you haven't tried BBC out yet, you should! It's fun, and a good workout in a great location.

Hope to see you all there. As always, please tell anyone you know who'd like to come. Still free! :)

-Jesse

Progress

Don't call it a comeback ...

A little over a year ago, I started my first class in the Fitness Specialist program at Mesa college and the seed was planted. It's been a long road (and the path in front of me is much longer), but I am happy to report that I can finally say that I think some progress has been achieved. I figured I could write about it here because this blog is not only about what I've learned during my education, but also what I've learned about myself in the process ... if you hate the reflective blah blah, I promise to post again soon with an ass-kicking exercise or something. Hang with me.

I finished all my classwork in the last week in March, and have achieved my certification through Mesa. It's a one-year program that has some great cache in town, so hopefully it will lead to some good opportunities in the future. I accomplished my goal in the program, which was to get a 4.0, definitely the first time I have done or will ever do that in school. I guess there's a lot to be said for studying something you really enjoy.

I've also completed the final of four internships that I tackled during my studies. This last one was at Miramar College, where I worked as a personal trainer in the fitness center. Of all the internships I did, I think this one will help me most working in a gym setting, because I trained about 10 different people, different shapes, sizes, goals, abilities, and really had to think creatively to come up with challenging, engaging and measurable programs for them. I liked it so much that I am going to continue training 2 or 3 of my favorite clients at the facility for the near future.

The best news is that I got a job teaching boot camp at the Mission Valley YMCA. I'll be teaching 3 classes a week from 5:30-6:30 am, at the level 3 (toughest) intensity. I'll also be picking up shifts working the weight room as a roving trainer, etc. The boot camp groups are usually about 15-20 people and I can't wait to use all the experience I've gathered doing LJBC (Lovejoy Boot Camp) with all my AMAZING friends and family who have helped me learn and grow. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't nervous, but hopefully after a week or two I'll find my groove.

Finally, I'll be taking my ACE Certification exam later this month (or early May), and once that is complete, I hope to land a personal training gig at the Y or another gym. So, stay tuned and if you're getting serious about your fitness goals, I'm getting damn serious about helping you reach them.

Oh, I guess I should mention the most amazing and wonderful piece of news (non fitness related) that I will ever share: I married my soul mate, Stephanie, on March 26 and we just returned from a week-long honeymoon in Jamaica. I am the happiest person on earth and I could never, ever, ever have done any of the things I mentioned above without her love and support. Thank you honey, I love you.

Thank you all for the attention, support and eyeballs on this blog. I've missed you all in the three weeks or so that I have been gone. I'll be back soon, and boot camp will be back NEXT weekend - either the 17th or 18th. I'll let you all know.

-J