PIT
GEAR
FACILITY
TEAM
WISDOM
RENEGADES
We break the mold of traditional trainers in tight spandex with inflated egos. We don't much care about looks; we care about results.
TY PHILLIPS
Get in my belly!!!
BRYCE KUJAT
Mr. Chicken-Legs
DIANA RINI
Only Wears Her Posing Bikini.
JIM MARINO
There's food in my beard.
STAFF
ty phillips
CEO/owner gorilla pit
bryce kujat
director of strength sports
Ty Phillips is a strength athlete competing in both strongman and powerlifting . A psychology major at Cleveland State University, Ty is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) from the NSCA with well over a decade's experience in serious strength training. His raw squat and deadlift are both over 600 pounds as he pushes for a raw total of 1900. Ty enjoys eating and taking long walks on the beach with his dog, Seven.
Bryce is an international man of mystery. He has spent time learning obscure training secrets in East Africa and the Caribean, he enjoys microwaved vegetables and tuna, and he has never had a girlfriend. No one really knows why his arms are so big and his legs are so small.
jim marino
CEO CROSSFIT440
Diana RIni
GRIT Instructor and Figure Coach
Jim is a CrossFit Level 1 Certified Trainer and has been doing CrossFit since 2006. He joined a CrossFit gym in 2008 and knew that he wanted to bring CrossFit to his immediate community.
* Level 1 CrossFit Certification
* CrossFit Nutrition Certification
* USMC Program Brown Belt Instructor
* AHA CPR Certified
Diana is a multi certified trainer, figure competitor and coach as well as the hottest person in the gym. She teaches the GRIT class and women's and men's athletic conditioning.
RYAN R. SPEED
Age 37
Height 67
Weight 165 lbs
Personal Records:
Marathon 3:39:58; Akron Marathon 2006
Double Marathon 10:09:00; Run With Scissors 2008
Deadlift 340 lbs
Backsquat 245 lbs
PushPress 165 lbs
In 1992 at the age of 19 I vowed to run a marathon someday, on a whim,
because It would be cool. By late 2005 I still hadnt completed that
quest and knew I needed a goal for the upcoming year. The Akron Marathon
looked perfect, late summer race date left plenty of time to train. Late
summer/early fall meant a likelihood of nice weather. It was close, but far
enough for there to be different scenery then I would be training in. It
looked perfect for my 1st marathon. I registered and started educated
myself on how to train for the task ahead. My readings lead me to Dean
Karnazes Ultramarathon Man. Now here laid tales of men completing 100
mile foot races, in a day! I was hooked and once again made a vow to
myself. I would run a 100 mile race someday. Why? Because even though I
had never even ran a 1/2 marathon I KNEW I could completed an
ultra-marathon, I just had to prove it to myself.
My first marathon left me wrecked, unable to run for a month, but I was
hooked on the long distance races. The preparation, overcoming doubts, the
emotion attached to achieving a goal. So I became diligent in my planning
and training, I still had to run that 100 miler. Fortunately the
subsequent long-slow-distance training (LSD), lead to overuse injuries, and
long bouts of the inability to run any sort of distance. I say
fortunately because I didnt let it deter me from my goal. I KNEW I could
do this, I just had to find a way.
I began scouring the internet, reading everything, everywhere, looking for
a way. A friend of mine mentioned CrossFit, but those guys were nuts and
they werent interested in ultra distances. Another friend of mine
laughingly told me her husband had joined a cult, but a good one; it was
CrossFit CLE. Then I happened to notice that an ultra runners blog I
follow had a CrossFit link. Ive learned to pay attention to
coincidences, the universe tends to give us what we need. So I started
to check it out.
I quickly became enamored. First, I found CrossFit Endurance. Theyre
saying I dont have to run 80-100 miles a week to train for ultras? I can
cut my training time almost in half, by switching my protocol, and here it
is, laid out, for free! High Intensity can lead to endurance? I can do
high intensity I thought to myself. So I went into CrossFit CLE, and was
hooked. There I was laid out on the floor after a mere 10 minutes of Wall
Balls & Box Jumps! I had ran for 10+ hours, covering 52.4 miles, I thought
I was in shape. CrossFit quickly showed me otherwise. I grew to remember
an old USMC motto, Get Comfortable With Uncomfortable.
So I used CrossFit to train throughout 2009. I learned about Burpees and
Ring-dips. Was introduced to the Clean & Jerk and the Snatch. I learned
how lifting heavy things could make me a better runner. I ran two
marathons in 09. Everything did not go smoothly, there were some bumps in
the road, but I learned a lot about myself as a person and an athlete. And
I knew CrossFit was working, because I ran those 2 marathons within 6 weeks
of one another, and I PRd Annie two days after the first one. So I was
stronger, I just needed to get faster.
2010 shall prove to be the testing ground. I plan on running a 1/2
marathon, a 40 mile ultra, and that 100 mile goal is in sight. Ill be
sure to let you know how it goes.
SPONSORED ATHLETES
CONTACT
7274 Tyler boulevard
Mentor, Ohio 44060
440.974.3333
staff_gorilla-pit.com
COMMUNITY
We value our friends. If you would like more information about Gorilla Pit sponsorship, please contact us. We have working relationships with the following people and organizations:
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS
ROBIN DECKER FITNESS MODEL
AMERICAN POWERLIFTING COMMITEE
HOPE FOR THE WARRIOR
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7472 Tyler boulevard
440. 940. 6734
Copyright Gorilla Pit Combat Sports LLC, 2008. All rights reserved.
Site created by Benjamin Tetlow. Photography by Anna Zimmerman.
