Who’s Who: Brock!

26 Jul

WOD 7/27/2010

Make up the squating if you missed it.

3 Rounds, not for time:
5 Over-barrier Burpees
9 Rope Climbs
+
rest 5 min when done.
+
5 rounds for reps:
30 sec burpees
30 sec rest

Flexibility/Mobility
Instructor led:
10 floor PVC pullovers + 10 sec hold
10 PVC Active Lift + 10 sec hold
90/90 Hip stretch + pigeon position

George Corbo over at Crossfit Fort Vancouver has designed a line of shirts geared towards Crossfitters, Weightlifters and athletes in general.  His company is Manimal, and they are taking orders for their first shirt, which the Fort Vancouver Afilliate team wore at the Games.  Check out his website.

For this next Who’s Who we have Brock!

How were you introduced to Crossfit?
For a few years I looked over the main page website. I tried mixing in some of the stuff I saw there with my own workouts. I knew I could do better with some instruction, but never thought to look for a local gym. At the end of 2008 my diet and exercise went off the rails and I put on 45 pounds. A friend said “Go to Crossfit Portland, don’t ask for a tour or an explanation, just sign up for the January On Ramp.” So I did.

Favorite WOD/lift:
WOD: Randy (75 X 75# snatches), because it favors my strengths.
Lift: Overhead Squat, because it punishes my weaknesses.


I have always wanted to:
Study and master empty hand fighting techniques. My work schedule makes that difficult.

1 word people use to describe me: I’m a wicked sensitive guy.

Outside of the gym I like to:
I have rediscovered cooking. I went for years eating out of boxes, but the paleo diet has me back in the kitchen, and loving it. I also teach basic and tactical pistol shooting. Most of the time I train my fellow jailers on my own time. If one of them gets into a gunfight, I want them to be as prepared as they can be.

Something nobody knows about me or would be surprised to know about me:
As a teenager I read every book on hypnosis that I could get my hands on. I did stage hypnotism for my friends just for fun. Later I tried making a career out of a quasi scientific study into it, but lacked the training to set up good experiments, and quantify the results. I did get my name mentioned in the acknowledgments of two books. One fiction, one nonfiction.

Favorite physical activity outside of Crossfit:
Walking my dog at the off leash park. Some times at the range I like to mix in running and pushups with pistol practice to simulate the fight that precedes 50% of police shootings.

Favorite place to eat in Portland:
Ruth Chris for the steak, Harvey’s Comedy Club for the entertainment.


Song that gets me pumped up for a workout:
“Broken, beaten, scarred” by Metallica.


Proudest accomplishment:
When I was 30, it was discovered that the lower half of my heart is completely backward, and the nerves running to my heart and lungs are in complete disarray. I was told then that by the age of 45 I would need a transplant, and could not expect to live past 60. Just before my 44th birthday I asked my cardiologist to rate my heart function as if he had never seen my echocardiograph. He said that I was easily in the top 10%, possibly top 5% of my age group. He also said to keep doing what I’m doing, and I will probably live a near normal lifespan with no transplant. This change is so drastic that I still get a little choked up when I think about it.

26 Responses to “Who’s Who: Brock!”

  1. Kristi 26 July 10 at 10:48 pm #

    Great story Brock! Always great to WOD with you!!!

  2. Wendy 27 July 10 at 7:03 am #

    Wow Brock, that is amazing. Thanks for sharing :)

  3. Cory 27 July 10 at 7:51 am #

    Brock- you are easily one of the nicest guys I’ve ever met. Working out with you is always inspiring because you always push it to the max.

    As for today’s WOD, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again “Buck Furpees!”

    56 burpees in the 5 rounds

  4. Sara Mulroy 27 July 10 at 7:55 am #

    Brock, what a great who’s who. Thank you for sharing! I always enjoy WODing with you, you are always inspiring and encouraging. Thanks for all the help adjusting to this paleo lifestyle. You rock!

  5. Karen 27 July 10 at 7:59 am #

    Brock, you truly are TOTALLY AWESOME!! – Karen at CFFV

  6. Ben 27 July 10 at 8:30 am #

    Burpees: 14/13/13/13/13; 66

  7. campbell 27 July 10 at 9:32 am #

    Wow, “I’m Totally Awesome”. Rockin’ the porn stache’. Can I submit that picture to awkwardfamilyphotos.com? Brock, it’s always a pleasure working out with you, friend.

  8. Eric Winn 27 July 10 at 9:44 am #

    that pic with the t-shirt and 70′s stache is awesome

  9. Shelby 27 July 10 at 10:06 am #

    Awesome Brock! It’s always nice to have you pop into the early class :)

    Burpees: 7/7/6/6/7
    *almost had the rope climb!

  10. Mindy 27 July 10 at 10:27 am #

    The 70′s picture should be incorporated into the new affiliate shirt design.

  11. Madoc 27 July 10 at 11:31 am #

    Nice Brock. So is that how to shoot from behind a hostage stance, or how to hug a buddy an bust a cap? Looks fun either way.

    If you have them, bring long socks/ pants and tight fitting work gloves for today. Makes the rope climbs less painful.

    53 burpees.

  12. Brian 27 July 10 at 11:48 am #

    Always enjoy having you in class Brock. :-)

  13. Ami 27 July 10 at 11:54 am #

    Great story Brock! Always great to see you at the gym! How do I sign up for one of these tactical pistol shooting classes, and can I bring my Benelli semi-auto 12 gauge to it ;) ?

  14. xi xia 27 July 10 at 12:01 pm #

    Thanks Brock for being a neat-freak, for preferring everything to have a place, everything labeled, and for always wanting to do the best you possibly can, and not just in workouts. Your attitude is always inspiring!

  15. Brad 27 July 10 at 12:26 pm #

    Is there a Crossfit Magnum PI? Tom Selleck wouldn’t dare wear such a shirt. Brock, great Who’s Who, and stellar representation of the law enforcement community. Always appreciate your effort and inspiration during the WODs.

  16. Eric Winn 27 July 10 at 12:36 pm #

    need to go home and get my long socks…the first part is more or less the last WOD of the games…they had a 12 min time cap so that’s the goal…

  17. Rachel W 27 July 10 at 12:41 pm #

    Your heart is wired backwards?! And you are STILL crushing the WODs? AND you are a super cool guy? I am so so impressed. Awesome to have you at the gym.

  18. Jason 27 July 10 at 2:31 pm #

    Keep on rockin’ B-Rock!

    I’m looking forward to bucking some furpees today.

  19. Mike 27 July 10 at 2:51 pm #

    Always a good time WOD’in with you bro. You *are* totally awesome!

  20. Elisa 27 July 10 at 3:10 pm #

    This might be my favorite who’s who ever. What a great history, Brock! How could anyone NOT be inspired and encouraged by you? :) RAD.

  21. Jenn Wilson 27 July 10 at 4:10 pm #

    One of my fave people to see at the gym! You are so great Brock!

  22. George 27 July 10 at 5:11 pm #

    Brock “cmon George you can beat this old man.” You were awesome to WOD with man.

    Thanks for the support CF Portland. Manimal is working hard to give CrossFitters some more options for t’s.

  23. Brock the builder 27 July 10 at 7:57 pm #

    Thanks for all the great comments.

  24. leah 27 July 10 at 11:23 pm #

    IM TOTALLY AWESOME……………
    the best freaking crossfit t-shirt EVER!!!!!!!!!!!

  25. Jake McLain 28 July 10 at 10:28 am #

    O B Brock-a-nobi :)

  26. Steph 28 July 10 at 1:00 pm #

    So totally awesome, Brock! Loved reading your story and seeing the pics.

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