Testimonials

I’d spent the better part of a year working in Afghanistan, and after taking some time off and traveling around a bit, I met a Kiwi and followed her here to New Zealand.  Training solo in a place like Afghan for a year isn’t nearly as much fun as being a part of a community.  I emailed Matt and Donna with hopes to shadow at their gym in order to get my mindset back into training others and to experience that ‘community feel’ again.  Little did I know I’d not only gain from their knowledge and experience, but became part of a family too.  With every CrossFit certification available, Matt and D$ have been invaluable in helping me work on my technique, skills, and mobility.  Coming from the military, I relate to and appreciate Matt’s professionalism and structure, and it’s quite obvious how much Donna has put her heart into the gym, and how much she cares about all the members at MaD.  They’re two coaches who’re one of a kind, and New Zealand is lucky to have them setting the standard for CrossFit here.  Everyone at MaD not only welcomed me as a coach, but made me feel at home as a friend and part of the family.  From walking into the Dyson’s kitchen and making myself Brekky,  invitations to ‘lady lunches’, invitations to the NZ S3V3NS, to drinking the tap dry of Porter at Speight’s Ale House…  I’ve managed to gain LOADS of photos and awesome memories.  Enough to make me want to come back!

The past four months of traveling, working and living in New Zealand have been some of the best of my life… wait, wait, they’ve been CHOICE!  I’ve grown and learned HEAPS from all the places I’ve been, the experiences I’ve had, and the people I’ve met.  I hadn’t planned to stay in NZ for as long as I did, and most definitely didn’t consider its potential as my home.  However, coaching at MaD, and living here with my beautiful PARTNER, Josie, who welcomed me into her family and life, calling NZ home is more than just a possibility now, it’s SWEET AS BRO!

Thanks to all of you who’ve made my stay so much fun, and No worries mate, I’ll see you sooner than later. Zac – Colorado, USA. Until he returns in August.

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My wife and I have been traveling around the world for nearly a year. Along the way we met more than an Oreo or two that we liked and we definitely started to feel out of shape. A few months back we met an owner of a Crossfit gym out in Canada and he convinced us to try a box along our journey. We really trusted him so we had high hopes for Crossfit. When we made our way to New Zealand we decided to look for the right gym for us and spend a week learning the fundamentals. We found MaD Crossfit and they opened up their doors while others in town were not interested in short term members. Donna (the owner) set us up with private instruction for 6 hour long sessions that focused on all the techniques and movements we would need to be successful at Crossfit, keeping our bodies properly aligned.

Those sessions were exactly what we were looking for but we found something we didn’t expect: a community at MaD Crossfit that came not only from the staff but from the members. We started to feel that we were working out with friends that were supporting us along the way and we didn’t want to give that up. So our 3 day pit stop in Wellington turned into 3 WEEKS just so we could keep working out at MaD Crossfit. I would highly recommend this box to anyone looking to ensure proper fundamentals and form while getting in (or staying in) good shape with a crew of supportive friends. Ken and Hillary- World Travelers.

I joined MaD in April 2011 after many months of deliberation. Now my only regret is not joining earlier.

I always thought that I was relatively fit, I was quite quickly proved otherwise. Rather than being put off, I was motivated to get fitter and take on the specialist advice provided.

Matt and Donna are experts in their field. They are always open to questions, and give advice freely. They are happy to impart their knowledge, and strive to get the best out of you.

The atmosphere at the gym is second to none. Everyone is approachable, supportive, and all egos are left at the door. All that matters is, that each and every person working out, gives 110%

My job requires a high level of fitness to be maintained. The constantly varying workouts at MaD, supplement this need perfectly.

Having spent lots of $$$ previously on ‘globo’ gyms and never really seeing the results I desired, I recommend anyone in the same boat to give MaD a go. I have also been lucky enough to visit other CrossFit gyms around the world, and can safely say, you will not find another one with the same expertise.

I for one have no regrets, and look forward to seeing what new challenges they have in store for the next year, and meeting them head on! Pete – Wellington, NZ.

Hey Donna and Matt

First of all, I noticed on facebook that you’re moving to Petone!  I trust that you found a bigger and better box and you’ve grown out of your space!  that’s great news!   I can see that class sizes are bigger from the pictures on facebook!  congrats!

So I just entered my first Crossfit competition this weekend and just barely squeaked out a win.  The competition wasn’t particularly strong, but it was still a very good experience and a nice start.  But I just wanted to say thanks to you and everyone else at MaD, I definitely wouldn’t have been able to do it without you guys.  I became a much strong crossfitter while working out at your gym and I’m very grateful for it.  And a special thank you to Matt for showing me how to lift the atlas stones!  It came up as an event last weekend and I was much less nervous because I had already done it with Matt! - Adrian, Ontario, Canada. Read about Adrian’s 2012 CrossFit games choice HERE.

It was January 2011, I was getting frustrated with the usual gym visit to Les Mills which I have been doing for the past 4 years. While it helped me to maintain a very basic level of fitness, I was not happy with my situation.

What I wanted to achieve was …

• Increase strength, especially core and upper body
• Reduce a couple of inches from the waist line
• Increase cardio fitness level

During 2009 & 2010, I worked with couple of Personal Trainers to reach the above objectives. They did their best, but I didn’t get the results I wanted.

In March 2011,  I met Donna from MadCrossFit and I thank all the Gods I know for the unusual chain of events which led to that meeting.

For me,  meeting Donna and Matt has been one of the most valuable discoveries for 2011.

What I most value about MaD CrossFit are …

• For a guy like me with average fitness level, the workouts can be scaled so I can be in the same session as an elite athlete. This is a very good source of inspiration.
• There is variety; routine is the killer of any gym routine. CrossFit is a proven methodology which has given me the results I was looking for a very long time
• The workouts are designed to make you work smarter; to use your brain not only the muscles
• Learning about proper form and technique, especially when moving to heavier lifts to build strength while minimizing injury
• Small group classes, family feeling where you can get support and encouragement from fellow members
• Practical and valuable advise on nutrition and establishing good eating habits

If you want to increase your strength and fitness level,  then try out the 6 session “On-Ramp” offering from MaDCrossFit.  It will be one of the best decisions you make for your long-term health and well being. Rumi, Wellington, NZ.

I am a mum to two active kids aged 4 and 2.  I realised one day while playing with my kids in the back yard or at the playground, that I had lost most of the fitness and strength that I’d had when I was younger. I wanted to be able to climb, jump and swing along with my kids with strength and confidence.

I started at MaD CrossFit in April 2011.  I had been looking to get fit again after 4 years of doing very little exercise, and looking for something a bit different.  I came across CrossFit by accident, did a little Internet research on it and thought yeah this could be what I’ve been looking for. During my first on-ramp session I discovered how unfit I was, struggling with squats and box-jumps and afterwards being unable to walk properly for three days. I have learned heaps from Matt and Donna, and about myself over the last few months. Each workout is a new challenge pushing past my boundaries, with Donna and Matt coaching me on form and encouraging me to work even harder.  As a result I have become stronger and leaner, feel happier, healthier and more confident.  Matt and Donna put a lot of effort into running a great and very friendly gym where everybody knows your name. They are very experienced CrossFit trainers and on top provide excellent advice on nutrition. Thank you Mad CrossFit for the education and motivation, for creating a community of camaraderie, perseverance, acceptance and support. And thanks to my fellow CrossFitters, who struggling alongside, push you forward, cheering you on to finish those last few reps, those last hundred metres. I’m never going to look back. – Jo, Wellington, NZ.

I was first introduced to MaD CrossFit in early March 2011 when I thought I was at a peak in my training as I was preparing for a selection course.  I was running 10 – 12km four times a week, going to the gym at least five times a week and would have been doing about two to three hours training a day.

I thought my fitness was at a high level and was really struggling to gain any improvements in my fitness which was becoming very tedious and repetitive.

That was until my first session at MaD CrossFit!! Well did that open my eyes up to where my level of fitness really was!

Sure I could run 10 -12km, go to the gym for an hour and do bicep curls and bench press but my first workout at MaD showed me my weaknesses, and it was less than ten minutes.

I learnt very quickly that my range of motion was very limited, I was extremely inflexible and my general strength was not where I thought it was.

Donna soon had me rolling out on this little yellow ball (which was not fun when you are that tight), and doing daily mobility.  I can not say how much just this alone helped me progress forward in my training.

I am really starting to see huge improvements and gains in all areas of my fitness but the main improvements have been in my strength and flexibility.

I have been going to MaD Crossfit for about four months now and can not say how happy I am with how Donna and Matt have helped me achieve my physical goals, so far.

I now look forward to working out and afterwards am not walking around sore for the next day or so.

I would recommend MaD CrossFit to anyone who wants to improve their fitness really fast and actually see the results, if anyone is unsure just give it a go. The welcome you will get is always friendly and positive; you will never look back (or think about going to any other gym again). -Daniel, Wellington, NZ.