Pay less for CrossFit than anywhere else in San Antonio and get all the other great features, classes and benefits offered by STW…
I walk into the massive 28,600 sq. ft. building at the STW Krav Maga Worldwide, Blanco location, where I’m greeted by warm smiles and sweet salutations, leaving me with a feeling of warm and fuzzies after being welcomed by such a chipper group of people. I walk down the long corridor and see a peaceful, free-flowing fountain to my right trickling an umbrella shaped water spout. Sigh! I begin to feel a sense of dread at the thought that I may have thrown hard-earned money away, locking myself into another luxury gym, equipped with the same boring exercise equipment where you barely break a sweat, and you watch TV monitors overhanging over treadmills that act like they’re taking you places but are really leading you nowhere. My brows furrow. Is this the same triple threat gym that I joined two-and-a-half years ago with a full-fledged buffet of fitness, Israeli self-defense classes, and now CrossFit affiliated?
As I begin to round the corner, I’m greeted (with more warm smiles) by a large and wide-shouldered membership advisor whose physique is one closely equated to that of an Olympic athlete.
“Are you coming to my class? I’m teaching fit to fight,” he asks, and addresses me by my actual name.
Wow! He knows me by my first name, and it’s comforting to know that this is still a place that makes me feel like I’m with family. Most of all, these people actually walk the talk since some of these advisers teach and train here. Suddenly, I’m drawn to the sound of music booming out of several rooms; people are moving in sync with the trainers calling out movements. They are actually sweating—and I’m not talking lightly beaded sweat glistening on foreheads. No, these people look like they were pushed into a pool of water: soaked from head to toe with drenched t-shirts, breathing heavy, working hard. They’re digging deep to push themselves towards their fitness goals, working through push-ups, lifting the dead weight of their bodies on rings, pumping with battle ropes, swinging on kettle bells, punching on bags, kicking tombstones, wailing on shields, jumping off boxes, spinning on bikes with resistance, or dragging sixty-five pound dummies across a room.
Before
The owner, Pete Hardy, a white-bearded man who towers in height with a voice similar to that of a drill sergeant’s call, is in another room. He’s calling out self-defense drills as people are fending off multiple attackers coming at them with simulated guns, knives, or beer bottles. My eyes widen as I watch people half the size of their assailants ward off a weapon threat with such simplicity in technique. I smile as I am filled with a sense of nostalgia. This man saved my life two-and-a-half years ago. I was headed towards a downward spiral, nearing 200 lbs. with bad pain on my joints and back. I couldn’t even tie my shoes without grimacing, and I finally said enough was enough. I was tired of being tired, so I joined the first STW gym at Crossroads, and I never looked back.
“Pick up your feet!” he yells, “PICK-UP-YOUR-FEET!” I chuckle. He’s a great motivator as well as all of the other instructors who got me to where I am today. Despite his gruff manner and hard core style, he really cares about his members. Most importantly, he never lets them give up, just like he never allowed me to give up on myself.
After
Now, several pounds lighter, I’m dying with anticipation at the arrival of their new program CrossFit. The great thing about it is that with all the added features of self-defense and fitness, the fees for CrossFit here are going to be ridiculously affordable compared to some of the prices people pay around town for just CrossFit classes alone. As I work towards meeting my fitness goal of losing twenty more pounds, I know that CrossFit is going to get me there with its variety of high intensity functional movements to increase endurance, stamina, strength, flexibility, power, speed, coordination, balance, agility and accuracy.
Yes, this is the gym that has it all! STW’s philosophy of being in a constant state of change and movement to confuse different muscle groups so that you don’t plateau and you gain fast results is the gym I want to be associated with. It is a place I can truly call—home.
Thank you STW, for being part of my new family!
Krav Maga Mama
(For more info about our upcoming CrossFit program, please contact Robbie@911kravmaga.com)
