Silent Killer is the first thing that comes to mind when this athlete is thought of. You may rarely hear him speak, but when he does he speaks his mind. you may see more of his words via Twitter and FaceBook. Regardless of how you know him, it is important you do. Johnathan Haynes AKA J-Haynes is the Athlete to Watch.

His background looks something like this: Cali kid who loved sports and was very athletic. With a history of proving others wrong, when he was told he would not make it past the Jr. College level, he made it a mission to do so. Out training the rest, and sitting others down on their ass on the field, he was recruited by the great state of Texas and made his way to Texas A&M.  As a true athlete, he could not just give up competitive sports (enter CrossFit).

J-Haynes made his big stage debute in CF this year at the 2012 Reebok CrossFit Regionals competition in San Antonio, Texas with RedBlack Gym. The person many had never heard speak, was quickly understand as the person who did not because he spoke through action. Since his debute he has only hit the workouts harder and yesterday his a 315lb power clean and push jerk (in Chucks).

So when you see J-Haynes don’t expect to hear too much, but expect lots of action once he hits the competition floor. That is why J-Hanyes it the Athlete to Watch.

RedBalck Gym Athlete Randy Green finds the only KB spot in China!  Randy is a long time member and diehard kettlebeller.  Randy takes on everything including CrossFit Endurance, indoor WODs and Kettlebell classes!  True to form, while traveling in China, Randy found the only CrossFit/Kettlebell gym in the country!  China’s Kettlebell Club is located in Shanghai and had just achieved their official affiliation in time to welcome Randy.  Nothing proves the strength of the CrossFit community more than being in China finding a welcoming gym and a great WOD.

What is the best place you have found a new CrossFit box?

Fellas! You may have missed the initial registration because it sold out quick, but here is your chance to jump in to the action that is known as Project Mayhem. Don’t be the only guy in Austin not being a man, sign up.

Project Mayhem is on its 3rd year of awesome. Last year, it was even graced with the presence of Zach Even-Esh himself! This year, the location is bigger, and the events badder (yeah, it is a word). Kick off your summer nights the right way and don’t get left out!

Only 15 spots remain for the Mayhem this year and to be included, follow the link below.

Saturday, May 19th
*limited to 50 men
6:00pm-9:00pm
Undisclosed Location, Downtown Austin
$50 includes WODs & BBQ post event
*must be a current member (CrossFit Central, RedBlack, ATX, Trigger Point) to register

Register Here

Did you ever play on a team growing up where the same kids played on that same team for years and years? Once those kids got to about 12 years old, they would usually dominate the league. The reason for their winning was not more practice than any other team, the kids were not better individual athletes than others in the league, and it wasn’t because their jerseys always seemed to be cooler than the rest. The simple reason for their dominance was their experience together as a team.

The same is true for CrossFitters especially as the team aspect of competitions continues to grow. How do you create a dynamic and powerful team? You train them together. Sometimes it will take 6 months, some teams a year and maybe more to really learn and know each other as individuals and as competitors. But given time, a team that trains perfect together, beomes victorious together.

If a team is what you are trying to build, train those people as a team. Together and daily through hard days and the off days. A team is a unit. In a team, there are no individuals, and no egos. There is no time for self pity, and no time for debate. A team must be able to rely on each other and know the person to their right, and to their left, is ready to fight until the end. Building a team is more than just, well, building a team. It is building a family.

For those of you who CrossFit competitively and who train to do so, you know by now that your training must take on a certain aspect that prepares you for what can be thrown out during a competition. Movements overall usually stay the same but CrossFit HQ and box owners around the world have been putting a little extra “spice” on just about every competition.

How do you prepare for the spice? You must train it everyday. Your coach must provide you with the tools to do something like, partner carry while holding a 100lb dumbbell, just like Coach Travis and Mike W. are doing above.

If you are a competitor, we are now past the times of following simple weightlifting movements. Whether it is a wheel barrow, a spin bike, or weighted rope climbs, if you are a competitor and not training it all, you are not training at all.

Check out the Garage Gym RX Schedule here. Feel free to drop by and check out what Coach Mike W. has his athletes doing to prepare for competition.