I don’t know Rudy Neilsen or anyone from the Outlaw Way, nor I am employed by them. I swear a lot so if that offends you stop reading and go do wall-balls or something equally fucking stupid. 

What I learned from Outlaw Training Camp:

Sometimes in life you come across people where their perceived is bigger than the person and this was case when I  met Rudy Neilsen.  This is not knock at Rudy in the least,  I built up an image of Rudy in my head and when the image does not match reality it’s bit of rude awakening. I saw Outlaw Way had a training camp in Novato, my reaction “Fuck yeah.” Finally get to pick his brain about programming and intricacies of becoming a Crossfit / Competitive exerciser. I shelled out my $300 dollars and explained to my pregnant wife I NEEDED to go this or I will fucking die. 

I first started following the Outlaw Way several months ago and I believed it was the cure-all for my athletic woes and to a  certain extent it was and still is. The Outlaw Way / Big Piece of Chicken is fucking genius who would of ( thunk) periodization for the Xfit games would work so well. If you have any doubts please look at how many athletes qualified for the games from the Outlaw Way compared to any other training plan (I will wait while you look).  

I attended the seminar in Novato and I will give you my honest opinion of the Training Camp the highs, lows and the outright fucking terrible.

 Finally the date arrived, I packed my shit and  picked up friends and drove to TJ’s Gym.  I don’t know about you guys but I fucking hate being late it drives me nuts. I got their at there at 6pm and No Rudy, No Akinwale WTF!  I paid you 300 bucks and you’re late. No Bueno! Homie, but its Rudy and Outlaw Way, I will give him 30 minutes. While waiting for Rudy I overheard several people complaining about the lack of information provided before the camp started.  Honestly the sharing of information could have been handled better, several people did not not know where the seminar would be held or the days. Okay strike one against Rudy for logistics and sharing of information. In defense of Outlaw, I knew where the seminar was being held and the days and I am not that smart. 

6:30 arrived and shit-balls it’s Rudy and my Crossfit crush Akinwale. (any of you tards say she too muscular, kill yourself.. really kill your self). Rudy stepped in and he was jizzing ego all over the gym and I fucking loved it.  my body was ready.

The first session:

It was a 1RM lifting session to gauge the standard  strength of the camp and to get some footage for the Outlaw Way .   I saw some amazing shit go down , Charlie Zamora  from Warriorz fitness snatch 270+ and save a busted lift. Madi  from CrossFit Oregon snatch 155 pounds and she’s only 17 years old  one can  only imagine what she  could do with two years of training. And finally some more amazing shit, was Elizabeth  Akinwale snatching 190# pounds in front of me. (Look out motherfuckers). With that being said, it dawn on me that this  camp was not for beginners or neophytes in the game of CrossFit.  it Is my humble opinion that  this camp was for  seasoned  CrossFit athletes for people who have a legitimate shot at at least the regionals much less the games. If you came to this camp with the goal of gaining one-on-one time with Rudy Nielsen you are sadly mistaken. This inherently is not a bad thing, one should know what you’re getting into. Looking at the Outlaw Way website it clearly shows that Rudy deals with top tier CrossFit athletes. Let’s just be honest here, not everybody is going to make it to regionals, and not everyone can make it to the games. This could’ve been relayed better by Rudy and his staff that this class was geared to the  competitive Crossfitter's. It appeared to be a money grab, but at this point in time I refuse to believe this was his intention.

I clearly recognize that I was out of my league and decided to learn as much as I can from Rudy and Elizabeth at this training camp. I read an article couple months ago about attending fitness seminars and most important point took away from that article was it’s incumbent on the attendee the gain as much information as possible. You the attendee you paid your money and it’s your goal to come away with as much information as possible. I noticed from the initial session with Rudy that this was my goal to gain as much knowledge as possible. In the one and a half days that I spent with Rudy and I gained two pages of notes and a  lifetime of knowledge.

Now for the negative, this initial lifting session was crowded and I believe at certain points unsafe. Not directly related to Rudy, and his training methods but the small space that was available to the lifters and dropping of heavy weight in  such close proximity to other people. additionally, I expected a more hands-on approach from Rudy and his staff,  But it was only Rudy and Elizabeth for approximately 60 athletes lifting simultaneously. Once again expectations and reality collided and  it turned into a shit sandwich.

Day one of the seminar was over, and I felt a bit jilted because of the lack of information and change of schedule by Rudy and his staff. Should be noted that Elizabeth was not feeling very well and she tried her hardest to be open and approachable to the participants and I got a picture with her.  PS for crossfitter she smells awesome.

Day two:

In keeping with my current theme of the learning as much as I can about the sport and what’s needed to succeed at this sport, I approached day two as a heavy note-taking session. These were my take away points from day two of training camp. Once  again this is only my opinion and other peoples opinions may vary.

• Efficiency of movement - the athletes who moves better, are faster and a more successful at the sport. For example which Rich Froning at the 2012 games performing Isabel. According to Rudy this was the efficiency of movement at it best. Every rep was perfect slow and smooth. Really demonstrating very good efficiency of movement. I Immediately went home and watched Rich performing Isabel. And no shit Rudy  as right Rich Froning was slow but smooth. And guess what he won the games. I think I have man crush Rich.

• Strength is king- according to Rudy any other coach worth his weight in bacon strength is king, all things being equal the stronger athlete will win. This is clearly demonstrated by Rich Froning throughout the entirety of the games. Newsflash this little fucker has a 300 pound snatch and has been acknowledge by Pendlay as good lifter. nuff said. 

• To develop strength one must focus on the Olympic lifts and their variants.

• Another important point taken from Rudy is primarily all the movements at  the games have a direct correlation to the other Olympic lifts. For example stupid fucking wall balls. Become better at clean and jerk and become better at stupid fucking Wall balls.

• Beware of loss of form. 

• Learn how to love handstand push-ups, because there not going away. They  will be in every games. (“EVERY GAMES!!!!). call me batman. 

• Fuck scaling, you cant scale at the games so why scale in real life. 

• One should not worry about the Open once you have a certain level of competitive exercising under your  belt. The Open should be a non factor. Are you training for the Open or the Games. I think the most athletes would say the Games.  That got some peoples panties in bunch. Most people interject themselves into statements made my others and get offended when they do. Rudy said his athletes don’t train for the Open , because those fuckers will make it to regionals and not lose sleep over. Secondly why train for the Open and blow “the plan” otherwise known as periodization out of the water.  If you wanna train for the Open do what the fuck you wanna do but don't expect to make it to the games.  

Negatives of Day.

It was a huge cluster, and disorganized. Imagine 60 athletes in room trying to find space to train and also gain the attention of the coach. This problem could have easily fixed with additional staff members and a bigger gym or better yet a smaller class size.  My gripe was if paid $300 bucks,  I wanted some attention. (Well Akinwale did sit on my back, I am never washing that shirt, NEVER!!).

Rudy is a self confessed ADD child, his lecture even though eye opening was all over the place. I would have loved some handouts, or a write up  explaining his training philosophy. 

Defense of Outlaw:

I heard grumblings about the lack of attention giving to athletes at the camp and Rudy only focused on the Top Tier athletes. I beg to differ, the Zamora and Madi’s of the world commanded his attention because they did gangster shit. Like I said before, its incumbent on you to gain as much as possible from the camp. Have a question. ask it motherfucker. you paid for his time.  I did! 

Day three :

We were told show up at 8 AM,. I showed up at 8 AM and waited, and waited and waited and waited. Finally 11 AM arrived and we were approached by TJ of TJ’s gym and he told us that really would not be appearing today. WTF ! motherfucker, what do you mean ! It was explained to us that Rudy and Elizabeth were both suffering from flulike symptoms and would not be able to attend the rest of the day. 

No information was provided to us about the possibility of a partial refund or  making up a future training camp. 

TJ tried his hardest and attempted to fill in for Rudy and Elizabeth but it was not the same. The information provided to us from TJ and Marcus Filly was invaluable. But I did not pay for TJ, I paid for Rudy.

Marcus Philly God bless his heart, tried his hardest to engage us with a lecture on programming and nutrition. But he was a fish out of water not because he didn’t know what to talk about just was not aware he was about to talk about it. He was unprepared and was given a monumental job of filling in for Rudy. It was my belief that Marcus was also there for Rudy. 

After attempting to salvaged rest of my day by listening to Marcus and TJ. I decided to leave and write a letter to the folks at Outlaw . I was told by a member of Outlaw staff that a follow-up training camp would be established for the members of the Novato training camp.  Honestly, I would not like to attend another  camp and I would like a partial refund for the day that was missed. I have not heard anything about a refund but I am holding out and believe they would do the right thing. (fingers crossed) 

We as crossfitters are a fickle crowd, we are  quick to jump on the latest training program or dorky ass shoes.  Lets face it Reeboks are fucking ugly.  But I have faith in Rudy and his program, he is consistent with his postings and the knowledge his possess is  truly invaluable.  How many of you know how long does it take to pick up a bar after you drop it? any of you ? Rudy does, six fucking seconds.Six, who does that.

He is a nerd, last time I checked nerds weren't that good at presentation or selling their product.  ( Bill Gates) The camp can be fixed with better logistical support, communications, a vastly overhauled means of presentation, limited class size ,participate prerequisites, larger support staff and lastly a backup plan for when his ticker acts the fuck up.  To all you “coaches” who started sharpening  your pitchforks and were ready to burn the Outlaw Way look at your program and look at Rudy’s. His program is geared to athletes and not general population. Make sure your product is in line with your clients expectations.

I asked myself would I attend another seminar from Outlaw as it stands currently and no  I would not. If the changes are made and exceptions are laid from the beginning Fuck Yeah!!. 

Lastly, I hope Rudy and Elizabeth are fine at the end of the day its fucking Crossfit.  If you read this Rudy get better man and you me owe some money mofo.