Testimonials

Please read what some of our members have to say about CrossFit Leeds and the Intro to CrossFit Course.

I have worked in the health and leisure industry for a number of years as a personal trainer and have seen many training fads come and go and I can spot these from a mile off. CrossFit however is not one of them. Built upon core movements that not only achieve the best results you can in regards to fitness and performance gains, but an improvement of the bodies functionality in every day life!
Moving aside from the clearly visible results I've found regarding body fat percentage and muscle mass/strength, the community aspect of CrossFit Leeds is second to none. In no other place have I felt such a strong feeling of acceptance from day one. It is a true family and within minutes of walking through those doors you're a part of that.
I would, and do, recommend CrossFit Leeds to anybody and everybody, regardless of current condition or training goal, and those that have followed my recommendation haven't looked back! I hope to be training at CrossFit Leeds for many years to come and to carry on my current trend of setting personal bests on a regular basis, all thanks to the help and support of two fantastic coaches, Mike and Carl.

Gary Butterfield, Personal Trainer and Park Run Race Director

I stumbled across CrossFit Leeds as I was coming towards the end of a busy and demanding university degree. Initially doubtful as to whether I could manage three or so sessions a week, I signed up to the Intro to CrossFit. Over the four hours I was surprised at not only all the new skills I was learning but also how my capacity for fitness improved. Above all else I was surprised at how much fun I was having.

To me CrossFit is about two things - pushing myself physically, but also mentally. Each WOD pushes me to the edge physically, but the process of consistently facing and then overcoming such mental obstacles is a great achievement. Combining CrossFit with a busy day job is a fantastic combination - with CrossFit being a perfect stress reliever and in fact making all other tasks pale in comparison! This, combined with attentive coaching and a good social side make the CrossFit classes worth looking forward to.

Alex Carpenter

Since joining CrossFit Leeds it has been an unbelievable experience. From day one there has been fantastic support and encouragement especially as I joined with an injury so had to scale many workouts. Since recovering from my injury I have been pushed and challenged to work harder and step out of my comfort zone. Coach Mike and Dicko are inspiring and push us all to achieve great results!

The atmosphere is buzzing, with the team of members making every day of training worth every second on the timer. Training at such an intensity makes you realise you can work harder...you just have to stop thinking and lift that barbell! Blood, sweat and tears, it is all worth it when part of an amazing family! Thank you guys.

Becky Hughes

Since training at CrossFit Leeds I am in the best shape of my life, and I'm getting fitter, stronger and faster everyday. The atmoshpere of the gym is made up of such a good crowd of people. We have fun, work hard, learn something everyday and leave the gym with a massive sense of fulfilment. I one day would like to open my own CrossFit gym, and the stuff I'm learning from coaches Mike and Carl is indespensible - two great coaches.

Luke Holmes

The Introduction to Crossfit provides a comprehensive overview of the different types of exercises involved with specific emphasis on form and technique. Mike is obviously an expert in his chosen field and this comes across in his method of teaching. The environment cuts through the gloss of mainstream gyms and gets straight down to business.

There is a true community spirit at CrossFit Leeds and members make newcomers feel welcome and show a level of support that I haven’t experienced at any gym. When you’ve got someone encouraging you, you can always get that bit more out of your workout. I’m sure most women have looked over at the ‘muscle men area’ of the gym and not gone near that intimidating zone, even though they may have wanted to. At CrossFit Leeds, women are encouraged to be as strong and as fit as the men – and having watched them – many of them are!!!  I had a LOT of fun and the people I was on the course with were great. It’s not for the faint hearted, Crossfit pushes your body hard, but once you’ve got the bug, you won’t look back.

Nichola Barnett

I came across CrossFit in June 2010 and started trying the workouts at my local main stream gym. It was in the September I came across CrossFit Leeds just as the doors were about to open. I was absolutely thrilled to find that there was a CrossFit on my doorstep and I could finally get some help with the various different movements I had been trying, with limited success, to perfect. From day one I was welcomed so warmly into CrossFit Leeds and immediately felt comfortable and relaxed in the surroundings, and with like minded people who have continued to always be supportive and a joy to be around.
Mike must be the most patient man in the world if you ask me! He has spent countless hours helping me with my technique, discussing the correct weight and variations for my fitness and strength levels, planning workouts for us all as a team and all with a great big smile on his face. In return my fitness, strength, appearance and love of CrossFit has grown and grown!
The workouts are always horrendously brilliant and by that I mean they push you beyond where you thought you could go and each week I see myself progressing. I literally cannot wait to get down to the gym and train!
CrossFit Leeds has become such an important part of my life and the members of the gym have very quickly become firm and life long friends. I cannot recommend highly enough CrossFit Leeds, it's trainers and members....come and give it a try, you'll never look back and will soon understand why there is such hype! Thanks again to all the team for literally changing my life.

Rachel Brewis

I turned 44 this year and have done all kinds of training - Kick/Thai boxing, gym weights, running. I've seen the Olympic weightlifters,gymnasts and other athletes but thought this was all out of my reach and comfort zone until I joined Crossfit Leeds. With the help of coaches Mike Rawlinson and Carl Dickson and the support of fellow athletes I'm starting to grow in this sport/way of life! Goals are being achieved, personal bests beaten, fun being had and many friends made! When it comes to diverse high intensity training methods, Crossfit Leeds the way!

Mark Price

I’d been going to my local gym to lift weights and do some cardio for the past three years when a friend of mine introduced me to CrossFit Leeds. On my first visit I met coaches Mike and Carl who were very welcoming and took the time to chat to me about my current training and what it was I wanted from the gym. After meeting my new coaches, who I now regard as very good friends, I decided to take the plunge and entered into the world of CrossFit. After the first workout I realised this was the thing for me – I’d never felt anything like this from training in the gym before! I started training most nights and never enjoyed something so much. Not only is my fitness always improving but I’m continually learning new skills like overhead squats, double-unders and kipping pull ups.

Dan Carter

Starting from a level of no fitness, and having never been a member of a gym before, joining CrossFit Leeds seemed daunting. I started with the Intro to CrossFit sessions and was surprised how much I enjoyed it. I actually wanted to go back to each session and regardless of fitness or strength it was completely accessible.

It is far more social than any other gym. I know everyone at each class and the encouragement to achieve your best really pushes you. The changes I've noticed are amazing. I'm more confident and happy with myself and my body, and more willing to push myself. This year I took part in the Great North Swim, something I never would have considered doing before joining CrossFit Leeds.

Having qualified trainers at each session constantly monitoring technique means that you really are getting far more than you could anywhere else. I never thought I could not only enjoy doing exercise, but consider it to be a part of my life I wouldn't want to be without!

Charlotte McAlpine

After only a month of training three days per week at CrossFit Leeds I saw a noticeable improvement in my fitness and strength. My body fat also noticeably dropped.

Barry Nixon

Before starting the Intro to Crossfit sessions I was barely doing any exercise at all so was fairly apprehensive about what crossfit would entail and whether I could “handle it”. All those worries disappeared after the first session. It is a really great atmosphere to train in, and everyone is so friendly and encouraging.

Mike's coaching has been so informative and thorough, I’ve learnt a lot, and it’s given me the confidence to push myself and try things I assumed I’d never be able to do.

My fitness has improved so much, 5 weeks ago I could barely run 1km and last Sunday I ran 10km like it was nothing! Thanks again and looking forward to becoming a full-time member.

Kate Bristow