The Legacy lives on through us all...

Article from LaLanne Fitness/SanFrancisco, CA - Powered by CrossFit

A Godfather Dies... A Nation Cries... "The only way to hurt the body...don't use it". Phrases like this forty years ago were not only unheard of, but controversial. Jack brought weight training to women and athletes long before it was popular, or proven to be beneficial. Folks were, and in some cases still are, afraid weight training makes women big and athletes slow. Thankfully, due to Jack's amazing example, we have all but eradicated those theories simply because they don't hold water. Chicks don't get big unless they eat big, and athletes who train optimally usually weigh the best weight for their sport.Jack paved the way for exercise facilities, infomercials, presidential fitness test, and any other number of actives spawned from his era. Jack's unending dedication showed as one of the rare breed of folks today to actually practice what they preach. You couldn't argue shit with Jack, because he did exactly what he was asking you to. So common is the fat ass football coach, the diabetic basketball instructor, the near flat-lined phys-ed teacher that its only common kids grow up morbidly obese. Hell, most of the folks telling them to be healthy, are exactly the opposite. The picture of hypocrisy surrounds us, and Jack spent his days trying to fix it....and we thank him for it. In today's time Jacks behavior is admirable, but not particularly uncommon. In his day however he was really treading up-hill with his nutritional approach, and lifestyle of fitness, but the coolest thing is that he didn't end it there. Jack launched a T.V program in San Francisco. Eventually it spread like a virus nationwide. Then when Jack had his audience, he used his publicity vaulted by fitness to stress the importance of every other avenue of life he felt passionate about. And how fitness could help it. And how America was becoming, even in his day, a weak meager spooled nation eager to sit for nothing as opposed to standing for something. Jack saw what was coming and spent everyday of his life trying to change it. Sure he took people through workouts, but he stresses that they make a difference in others lives as well. That we teach healthy living to everyone around us. That we be the example other countries should follow and emulate, not the laughable example of deranged health we are today. Jack saw it coming, and he did everything he could to prevent it. Jack worked out hours a day, everyday. He made it damn near 100 years from start to finish, and the whole lot of it was active, enjoyable, and fancy. Not dumbstruck, diseased and finishing the last twenty in a wheelchair. Jack was said to have made everyone around him happy, and more energetic, always getting people to move their asses, not die on them. I think Jack would have been proud to see what we are doing today on his way out. I think Jack would be proud to see what CrossFit will become 10-20 years from now. CrossFit's all over the world are continuing his example. In fact Chris LaLanne, Jack's Grand-nephew carries on his work at LaLanne Fitness, also a CrossFit affiliate. Pay your respect below to the folks closest to jack, his wife, two sons, and Chris. We lost a role model in a world where there are not many. We lost the Godfather. We can make him proud by never sitting back on our heels, never giving in, and never taking the easy way out. -Josh Bunch/Practice CrossFit, Troy, OH

Stay strong!
-Johnny











Workout of the Day

20 REP SQUAT #1

-break

"Jack LaLanne"

For time:

1,000 Pull-Ups

1,000 Push-Ups

4 person teams.

(Jack did this solo in 1 hour 22 minutes)