We received communication last night from CF Legal that our affiliate license was to be terminated today. Greg Everett (Catalyst Athletics) received the same notice.
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204 Comments
That is truly horrible…..
Robb,
Thanks for all you do. You’ve brought the CrossFit community so much high-quality information and real-world experience over the years. You were also, hands down, the most accomplished trainer at my cert.
It’s absolutely dreadful the way this has gone down.
The HQ response to the Black Box Summit is really very telling. When I read Glassman’s posts on the Affiliate blog about the so called problems with your nutrition certs, I could hear the distinct crack-and-thud of falling scenery. As an ex-Avid CrossFitter and fan of Coach, it’s difficult to see this happen. But he’s clearly lost it.
Anyway. It’s clear where the quality, open-source health and fitness information resides on the web, and it’s clearly no longer at crossfit.com. I’ll keep my browser tuned to you and your colleagues. And I look forward to your future posts.
Warm Regards.
Thanks again, Robb. Your site has been and continues to be invaluable to me and countless others.
They better have given you some money back (prorated for the time you aren’t going to be an affiliate) or I’d sue their asses.
Good deal Robb. Keep up all the work you and Nikki are putting in, keep the book going and podcasts coming too please. But I couldn’t find the newest podcast on iTunes today? Is it uploaded on there? I’ve looked and looked to no avail. Thanks…Norcal Strength and Conditioning…Finally a shorter name.
well it’s never been about the Programming and always been about the coaching…I do not know how people always seem to forget that…
Needless to say yall are going to be A-okay up there….
Fuck Crossfit.
LOL….seems to me I remember several CF bigwigs saying that Robb and Greg would never be “deaffiliated”:
Tony Budding:
“The truth always comes out in the end…..For those of you feeling like the big bad powerful corporate CrossFit can and does arbitrarily destroy people’s lives, check your facts. Robb and Greg Everett and Dutch were not deaffiliated. They have not been blackballed or slandered or censored. Robb was removed from his role as the nutrition presenter. Period.”
Looks like Tony needs to “check” his own facts again. I do agree though, the truth does eventually come out.
Tony Budding went on to say:
“If it turns out that I’m naive ….and that my job as the Director of Media and Web Content is really more about spin, branding and damage control than fitness, then I’m in the wrong position.”
I don’t know if Tony ever checks this blog out, but if he is a man of his own words, then he really needs to rethink this “position”. If someone with access to the affiliate page is brave enough to repost my quotation from Tony, I would love to hear his spin, Um, I mean response.
Barry Cooper:
“First off, both Greg and Robb are going to remain CrossFit affiliates.”
Try again Mr. Cooper, your bud’s at HQ lied to you about this too.
Robb, while you may not want to share it with me, (because you know I will want to do something about it), I would LOVE to see the CF affiliate licensing agreement and the legal departments notice to you. Please…..Please….Please
Any idea how I can get my money back I donated to the RRG????
Sorry to hear this but this puts a real sour taste in my mouth about Crossfit.
WOW! Disturbing to say the least. I’m in the process of affiliating, haven’t paid my fee yet. IDK now. Kinda speechless
Sorry about what happened.
De-affiliate one of the top affiliates?! Yep, the butter done slipped off his molecular biscuit. Put this comical travesty behind you and get ready for an epic book signing tour. Take it on the road I’ll put you up here in Bozeman anytime. We love you Robb!
Holy Sheeiit was my first response.
You don’t need the CF name attached to what you do. The information you provide is incredible and thanks for all the nutrition info you make available to us all. Can’t wait for the book!
I have PCOS and your advice has changed my life for the better!
I’m sorry to see this. I also feel badly for the awesome NorCal athletes that now will no longer be able to compete in the Affiliate Cup at the Games.
Robb and Nicki, I am sorry to hear about this. This is a real shame for the CF community. I don’t get it. CF needs more affiliates like Nor Cal, you all have done much for helping the rest of us advance and I assume this is not going to stop now.
So can you go ahead and spill the beans on the whole story now? We all want to know how this really went down.
this is bull twang.
Robb,
I hope your book is not too sciency. My lack of an edumacation and I might not be able to make heads or tails of it. I think this will be better in the long run.
Visual: A ship rams the fuck into an iceburg! All the passengers realize this and can see the damn thing in addition to the ship sinking, the crew on the other hand are loyal to its captain and only see an iceburg if the Captain acknowledges it.
Ship’s Passenger: “Abandon Ship! Abandon Ship, we’ve hit an iceburg and we’re sinking!”
Captain: “Until I have the precise mass and dimensions of that so called ice burg we’ve supposedly struck, I refuse to acknowledge its existence! Yelling and shouting ‘ahoy’ and telling everyone we’ve hit an iceburg is not very scientific of you now is it? Carry on!”
I’m sure I’ll be among the next series of cuts. This comment might actually help it along.
Robb, sorry to hear HQ seems to be acting so vindictive. I hope you’re not letting this get you down! The resources you have given to this community are outstanding.
And, by the way, I am loving the podcast! Keep it up!
I think the time has come to question the true value “Crossfit” headquarters adds to it’s “co
munity”. I think there is a better model out there and truly better minds and bodies to pick up where this foundering entity has left off. “Crossfit” HQ simply cannot support/interest/occupy the time of those individuals who Re in pursuit of delivering more appropriate means of fitness development to their own community. Take a look around at a small handful of those who through the pursuit of a “better” way have been “thrown out” or at the very least branded with “anti-establishment” rhetoric – Mark Twight, Dutch, Dan John, Greg Everett, and Robb Wolf. These aren’t dumb guys (in fact they are really smart and relevant in the strength and conditioning world)…does this seem strange? Apparently not for the 6 certifications that were held this weekend and at $1K an entry who cares if the community loses it’s greatest minds (James Fitzgerald is now doing his own certifications. One can only assume that he has been shamed into it as a way to legitimize his good name and to raise the bar of a broken process). Lose 5 affiliates pick up another 20…who cN argue with that? But even if you do the math it seems incredulous there hasn’t been a mutinous riot at HQ. The coaches who staff the “certs” get roughly $500-$1000 for the weekend…hmmmm….now I am not the smartest person on earth but that is a lot of extra money going somewhere or to someone…and little value shown to a staff who generally does bust there butt coralling the enlisted. I am not even going to comment on the ridiculous nutitional doublespeak that was evident in “couches” (yes I am that immature) rebuttal/justification/whatever that was presented a couple days ago. Anyhow…I have gone off the reservation…but I do think there is an opportunity to do better. We shall see. Greg and Robb…you are now free to continue to grow and develop I credible programs inspite of the previous association. Blah…blah…blah.
Man.. you could cut the collegiality with a knife.
Couch is a hypocritical prick.
Wow…
Glassman – bloated lying sack of crap. Fools people with painful obtuse language that says nothing. Talks of data but never produces any real analysis. Pretty good businessman in terms of his own wealth (although I think part of it is a timing fluke). Cannot control his rage over the internet and participates in character assassination and then tries to hide it (or others have to cover it up – see his old CF mainsite forum posts that had to be deleted, WOD comments, Mark Twight, Dan John etc.)
Budding – I think he is just clueless, doesn’t have the same intentional malice of the others, you would think he would have learned more by now about fitness and programming.
Castro – Pompous asshole, skinny legs
HQ Programming – really stupid lately
Barry Cooper – Wannabe Glassman, pretends to be a trainer running a business, is actually a fat slob with horrible fitness, zero programming knowledge
I can’t wait to see how long Louis Simmons/WSB can work with CF, even if the money is great I don’t think he will be able to handle the bullshit. I wonder what he actually thought of Castro.
hi, sorry to hear that. very shortsighted of cfhq. crossfit has given me a lot, but you & your nutritional cert changed my life. after eating a “healthy” vegetarian diet for 19 years, i bought 1/4 of a cow from my farmer friend and i have not looked back. thank you. looking forward to your book. and when you start teaching again if you would want to visit the center of europe…
Robb, I’m so grieved about all this. I’m disappointed and disillusioned with crossfit’s leadership. Hold your head up high and keep seeking excellence, you’re guilty of nothing but disagreeing with the ‘lords of the realm’.
Sorry to hear this. Robb and Nikki will move onto bigger and better things. Crossfit doesn’t own the movements, it’s just a brand.
Can’t wait to read the book
Hmm, just noticed that Greg was no longer a member on the CF board and the thread in the PM forum.
Troubling indeed.
Ugh. It’s one thing to shoot yourself in the foot. That’s just ordinary stupid, but to go back to your truck and get a bigger gun to finish the job, that’s deep-end loony.
There are consequences to every decision. The truth is the more courageous decision. Take comfort in knowing that you value truth more than security.
“Those who would sacrifice liberty for security deserve neither.” – Benjamin Franklin
words to live by….
So much for CF and open source. I hope this will not create hardship for you and Greg. I have never taken the nutrition cert but have taken Greg’s -lifting weekend seminar and it was amazing. I think the wrong people are leaving CF and for the past year I have found the information and programming better at the PM/CA than at CF.
Maybe a bit of Sound of Music, you can send them a singing telegram.
So long farewell, auf weidersehen good-bye
I hate to go and leave this pretty sight
So long farewell, auf weidersehen adieu
Adieu, adieu, to you and you and you
Robb,
Thanks for all you do. I’ve learned so much from you and become a better athlete/coach as a result. Please don’t stop doing what you do best…helping people.
I just stumbled onto this after reading your post about loosing your affiliation. How timely. This is an interview with Charlie Rose, the author of “How the Mighty Fall”. As far as I can tell CFHQ is at “stage 3″.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubXHjs8XQ3M
never liked coach…even when I first heard of crossfit I thought he was an arrogant prick who always tried to loo for fights…robb, you and greg everett have done so much for this community that this is bullshit that their doing this to you.
I find it somewhat humorous that this “open-source” community who actively defends their position not to regulate their affiliates in any way will, at a whim, strip affiliation from someone for what are, in truth, minor disagreements.
I can’t wait to hear how much of a “traitor” you are in a few months. That’s the day I’ll know that CFHQ has no shame.
Robb,
I look forward to continue following your resourceful nutritional and training knowledge. Thank you for sticking to your gut on what you believe is right (not talking about grains).
Robb, if all along the nutritional info I’ve received from you is wrong. Then I don’t want to be right
You’ve already created a community here. We’ll continue coming back. Thanks.
Not surprising. NOW, what may really get interesting is if HQ attempt to use legal means against the other scores of credible and excellent trainers and gyms out there who have used “mixed-mode” training for years. Reasonable and intelligent people see through all of this, its about the money. The only aspect of this I believe CrossFit has revolutionized is the internet marketing and widespread certification of the :mixed-mode” training. Whether you’ve seen it or not, this type of training has existed for decades before CrossFit, but my guess is they will try to “go after” some of the folks that they’ve alienated, to no avail in my opinion. (if they could they would have already gone after Mark Twight).
I say keep the great and ever evolving information coming, ignore the idiots who want to make this only about the cash.
Robb – I’ve been lurking your site for several months (thanks to Melissa Urban’s blog) and have gotten so much great, beneficial information.
I just wanna chime in that what HQ is doing to you and Greg is atrocious. Please keep doin’ your thing. I can’t wait to buy your book!
I have been watching all of this over the last couple of weeks. After all Ive seen and experienced first hand from crossfits so called Director Im no longer honouring my own CF certs and sending myself back to school and re-uping my prior trainer certs and abandoning CF all together. Their lack of openmindness has driven me away. Which is funny because thats what drew me to them. Though I will not abandon their methods and ideas I believe now that there is something better out there for all of us. Robb how do we get a cert in ME Blackbox, and would it be possible to get it here in St. Louis Missouri. One more thing Crossfit should go back and check their early nutrition videos lol. Even Glassman recommends paleo. Maybe he should fire himself!!!!!!!
Sorry to hear that, Rob.
Irrational people do irrational things.
Please know that you have touched and saved so many lives. Thank you for introducing my husband and I to paleo at the nutrition cert we attended back in the summer in Edmonton. It has completely changed our lives, and has made me a better person. This is a way of life that will help me live better now in my 40’s (and beyond) than I ever did at 20 or 30.
And whenever you have more nutrition seminars set up in the future, we’ll be there!
Hi Rob,
I am certainly no lawyer, but I would make the SOB spend time and money to “de-affiliate” me. If you paid your fee and do not owe money, whats that about? Couch doesn’t want to be a franchise for legal and tax reasons, yet he wants to control you guys like a franchise? Affiliates are free to do there own thing unless he doesn’t like you? Make him open up that can’o worms by forcing him to fight for it. Dave would certainly know the legalities of all this, but if he were to win, wouldn’t that prove crossfit a franchise? Hello Taxes, couch! I believe like many your better off without hq, but there actions piss me off a enough that I would want them to pay a bit. Anyway, best of luck with whatever you decide to do.
Richard
Robb,
You and Nicki have been good to us, and we appreciate that. We have and will continue to be vocal supporters of your training methods, professional conduct, and (science-based!) nutritional practices. You’d be proud – I ate ~4000 calories of good, clean, Paleo food between 7PM and bedtime last night. Greg’s programming is making me HUNGRY
Big Shocker considering the post on the affiliate message board! Looking forward the book Robb!
Robb – You are the truth. Get that book out so I can buy it!
Orie Shafer – How is Ann Arbor? Cold enough? I’ll be around with the wife Dec. 27-30…we’ll give you a call.
I’m sorry to hear about this, and how you’ve been treated. Your blog and The Performance Menu have some of the best fitness information available. This entire mess has made me think long and hard about the important distinction between Crossfit, Inc. and Crossfit, the fitness philosophy. I adhere to the Crossfit fitness philosophy (“World class fitness in 100 words,” “What is fitness” etc), but my respect for HQ itself has declined immensely. CFHQ seems to have abandoned the “black box,” “do whatever works” attitude in favor of a rigidity straight out of “1984″. What they don’t realize though is that Crossfit isn’t just a business anymore, it’s a collection of people and ideas. CFHQ owns the name, but not the community or the ideas. I’m starting to dread that the recent splintering could only be the beginning – Rippetoe, Everett, Wolf, who’s next? You, “NorCal Strength and Conditioning,” the Performance Menu and Greg Everett are still huge parts of the community, if not the CF Affiliate page.
So much for “avoiding micro fights” and focusing on “the real battle,” huh? Anyways, keep up the good work.
robb, this if fucking bullshit. all differences between you and crossfit HQ aside, you’ve done too much for this community for that to be the end result.
Dallas!
How the hell did you do that!? Give us a break down on the damage.
thanks for the support WTW.
Thomas-
I’m sure Rutman would liek to do a seminar at your place (easy trip) I could certainly do a nutrition gig on the 2nd day. Shoot either me an email or contact Greg & Aimee at Catalyst and we can see what works. I will not be back out doing stuff till the book is finished however.
Thansk for the support…check out the OPT Coaching Certification. THAT looks good.
I am sorry about this whole mess. It has gotta be tough to be the brunt of all this crap. Well, I gotta tell you. I am following your reccomendations and I am turning beastly. Not just nutrition, you are the one who turned me on to MEBB. Last week I Zercher squatted 275 and that truly was all I could do:not just because of the arm pain. This week I repped out 315 no prob. I am losing weight and getting stronger. Unfortunately, I don’t have any measures on my Metcons right now, but my stamina feels great.
I appreciate your contributions and will keep following. I just have one request and/or suggestion. Please, PLEASE, PLEASE get your people, get Greg’s people to the GAMES!!!!! You have to show everybody your methods work, again. CF says the games are the testing ground for training methods. You rocked the affiliate contest. Go win it, and get some people in the games.
Dave-
Yep, this will range from me not having an education to doing all this as a calculated means of self promotion.
HC-
Def 3, one would make the arguement for 4 given the new rotation of SME’s and generally replacing people.
Sorry to hear this Robb. Let me know if I can help with anything.
Brad
Robb,
I’m not sorry that you got deaffiliated, along with catalyst and Dutch as well as it appears (I may be wrong on that)? But really when it breaks down to it all, this whole Crossfit movement started in the dirt, lived in the dirt, and started to grow out of the dirt and change. Back from the days of the origination of what is now Crossfit Seattle (level 4), it was always a keep it in the dark means of getting fit as fuck. And now that it’s seeing light, it’s starting to transform. Crossfit’s are popping up inside globo-gyms, the very people that most Crossfitter’s talk down on. Crossfit used to be a very open community, where gyms from one town would promote the rep of other Crossfit gym, and it got a good name out there for it. Now it’s getting to be a part where so many affilates are popping up and most new owners are so worried about there pockets that they’ll demean and slander other Crossfit’s just to pick up more clients, rather then just providing outstanding service and getting outstanding results.
Now Crossfit is getting less standardized. Raise the affiliation rate why? No reason other then more money? RRG? More money in. Benefits such as wounded warriors I totally agree with, as long as all of the money raise has been going to those foundations without CF taking a cut out of it, even for promotional costs or whatnot.
When it boils down, and all the heavy shit settles on the bottom, and all the fat shit rises to the top, you’re left in the middle with the best shit. Wether or not NorCal hosts a CF title doesn’t matter. CF is a mindset, not a name. It’s pushing your limits physically, mentally and emotionally. Just cause a affiliate does a KB swing doesn’t make it CF. And just cause it says CF on the building or lease agreement doesn’t make it work. What you and Nikki and your extensive team of trainers have been able to build not only at NorCal, but also nationally, and I’m sure internationally as well, far surpasses what CF is now bringing to the table. In the survival of the fittest, NorCal has come out on top over CF on this one. No need to feel sorry that affiliations have been pulled. The following has already been built.
Count your chickens before they hatch, just make sure they’re all from free range eggs.
Side note: I know what the end of the world in 2012 is going to be. E-Coli is going to get into the corn crops from all the grain and corn fed cows waste, since they are going to soon be “developing” a acid and anti-biotic resistant strain of E-Coli. These corn crops then are going to be processed and manufactured into all of the common folk foods, which is going to then lead to the massive spread of the E-Coli, as well as the meat sources spreading worldwide as well. All the fatties out there are going to eat this stuff, their immune systems so weak already that they can’t fight the strain at all and large numbers of them will sadly die off. This will be seen as a global epidemic and some will call it the end of the world. The only survivors will be the Gluten Free Paleos on grass fed beef and free range birds as well as wild game. Not even the Zoners. Watch and see.
Too bad for CF. They will soon fall by the wayside, and be forgotten. They have let money become the driving force of their existence, not the true pursuit of making lives better for people. Robb,Nicki, Greg, Dutch, Welbourne,Starett,Cj and those that are honestly trying to make the industry better will thrive and continue to be a source of inspiration and an example of how to do it right. Thank you guys. Remember. things happen for a reason! —–Rocky Mountain Strength and Conditioning, Bozeman MT *Formerly Crossfit4800 We deaffiliated ourselves!! The hell with HQ!
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