Matt Alford

matt@crossfitseattle.com

- CrossFit Trainer Certified: Level I
- CrossFit Kids Certification
- NSCA Strength and Conditioning Specialist
- M. ED in Physical Education University of Idaho 2002
- B.S. Kinesiology Washington State University 2000
- K-12 Health and Fitness Washington State Teaching
  Certification
- Currently K-6 PE Teacher in the Shoreline School
  District
- Background in martial arts, boxing, wrestling and
  Kickboxing

Interests: climbing, hiking, riding bikes, lifting heavy things, learning new skills (currently learning to ride a unicycle), and drinking beer


I’ve been interested in fitness my whole life. It’s what I did as a kid. It’s what I studied in college and in graduate school. The philosophy here aligns well with what I believe. We’re really not fancy here. We teach people how to use their body. We teach people how to efficiently move loads. We teach people pretty straightforward and simple nutrition. Put all that together and your overall health and fitness improve dramatically. That’s what we do here: help people figure it all out.

At a lot of other gyms, the business model is to sign up as many people as possible and hope nobody shows up. Here, we want people to come back. We’re into teaching. We have people walk in the door after years of inactivity, and we also have competitive athletes. Either way, what we’re doing works.

I always laugh when people say they spend three hours in a weight room. Here, you’re in and out in an hour, and it’s engaging. It’s something different, and it’s effective. We pay attention to our members. I know first names and last names. I know what they do for a living. There’s community in what we’re doing, and I think that’s what helps keep people coming back. In addition to our training, it’s one of the best things we have to offer. I have clients in their 40s say they’re in better shape now than they were in their 20s. It’s a privilege to work with people like that, who are really motivated to make changes in their life. And it’s a privilege to work at a place where people care a lot and it shows.