Name:
Matt Nunnally
Hometown:
Atlanta, Ga
Certifications:
USA Weightlifting, CrossFit, CrossFit Olympic Lifting
What is your athletic background?
I played every sport I could get my hands and feet on as a kid: baseball, football, basketball, wrestling, lacrosse, etc. By the time I made it to the high school level, I had trimmed down and focused on baseball, football, and Olympic Weightlifiting. Sports have been my passion since before I can remember, and have remained a prominent part of my life ever since.
How did you fall in love with CrossFit?
I was recovering from knee surgery and looking for a gym to continue my rehab when I came across a CrossFit gym in Atlanta that had Olympic plates and let you drop weights from overhead! I signed up not knowing anything about CrossFit, but quickly found my home inside CrossFit facilities. I feel like I have been doing CrossFit since my first introduction to a weight room in and athletic training via my mentor CJ Stokel in 1999. CrossFit takes me back to my childhood and the mentality that it is ok to do hard work and sweat next to a teammate focused on the same kind of goals as you. My age is different, but the community inside a CrosFit box is very similar to the support and competition I feel when playing sports.
What is your favorite type of WOD?
I like the sub 8 minute WOD’s that do not even give you time to think, and all you can hear is the music and the rhythm of your heart beating louder every second in your chest. Least favorite? Long distance running: The “runner’s high” does not exist in my own head, and every step feels like a punishment. Sprints I love, but steady state running wears my mental fortitude out in the first mile.
What is your favorite movement?
Olympic Weightlifting. It is a perfect blend of strength and technical skill, and without either, the lift will be missed. Least favorite movement?
What is the one food you could not live without?
Milk: no contest.
What is your favorite kind of music to workout to?
Anything but pop music. My personal favorites include Rage Against the Machine, Pastor Troy, Linkin Park, Led Zeppelin, Tool, AC/DC, The Offspring, Atmosphere, Outkast, and etc.
What would be one word to describe you?
Loyal: weather it is in life, love, work, family, or sports, I believe in loyalty.
What is something people may be surprised to know about you?
I am a nerd, through and through, but I just so happen to be a fitness nerd. Oh, and I love Star Wars, but if you saw my t- shirt collection, that might be painfully obvious.
How would you describe your coaching style?
First and foremost, safety is first! I try to encourage the athlete according to his or her own unique needs and abilities. Some need an extra push, some need an eye to the technical aspects, some need their enthusiasm reigned in and focused, some are working on rehabilitating from injuries, some are working through mobility issues, and some need a mix of everything on a given day. My Mom was an amazing teacher, and she taught that everyone learns in different ways and at different paces. The key to being a good teacher/coach is the ability to communicate and encourage effectively to a wide range of athletes, yet get the results the athlete is looking for. I try and encourage each athlete to get better every single day, and to work hard to achieve his or her goals. The path to success is paved with hard work, and I coach each athlete to work as hard as possible within his or her own abilities and limitations.
What are your hobbies outside of CrossFit?
I love taking my giant lab Oddball to the park to play ball, I love to cook, I love to ride mountain bikes, and I love a good movie!
