✨Member Spotlight ✨ For this week in our member series, say hello to the OG of OGs — BJ! Here’s a little bit about him in his own words:
💪Describe yourself using one sentence:
A fitness-focused father and husband who channels his boundless positivity into a love for Japanese culture, comics, video games, and all things play.
💪 How long have you been a member of TPH?
I think I’ve been here the longest—the sole remaining member of a core group who helped get this amazing community off the ground. I’ve been here since the soft launch just over 10 years ago, back when we used to workout in a small space over by the Outsider’s BBQ spot on Leary. Fun fact – I first started CF while in graduate school in 2005 – at the very first CrossFit Affiliate, Level 4 CrossFit Seattle out at Magnuson Park! I was the very first 6am’er 🙂
💪If you could go back and tell your day-one TPH self one thing what would it be?
“Nope, even after 10 years of good movement and mechanics, you still won’t look forward to workouts with burpees.”
💪 What’s your favorite thing to eat in Seattle?
Having grown up in Las Vegas, I’m still blown away by the level of fresh ingredients available here. Before moving to Seattle, we lived in Japan, and my wife and I love to cook at home to keep those flavors alive. The local fish is incredible—we love getting sashimi-grade cuts to do our own take on Japanese classics. Thanks to my mother-in-law’s regular cadence of care packages (she is still in Japan), we have access to authentic ingredients that let us put a PNW flair on traditional home cooking.
💪 What cool things have you used your fitness for outside the gym?
I’m pretty active—bouldering, snowboarding, racquetball, biking, and I even picked up skateboarding again. Also, when we travel, handstand photos just hit different! Most importantly, as a father to a 6-year-old (soon to be 7!), I’m doing this so I can stay active and present in his life for the long haul.
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