Paul McCabe - Director/Trainer 

An avid martial artist since childhood Paul has trained in Karate, Kung Fu, Kickboxing before finding his calling in Muay Thai at KO Gym in London for whom he fought professionally and coached. Paul brings both physical and mental training to the CrossFit Reading coaching team and he runs classes both in our CrossBox and CrossFit sessions. Paul holds a Level 3 Personal Training qualification and in addition to his personal clients and the sessions he runs for CrossFit Reading he freelances and runs a number of classes including studio cycling, circuits and boxercise.

After graduating Paul gained project management experience with in the sales and marketing industry. The wealth of experience gained in this field gave him the ability to move in to the industry he loved and become involved in the management of a gym and its team of fitness instructors and personal trainers.

 

 

An avid CrossFitter himself Paul has vast experience with the methods and programming we prescribe. He has great experience with Kettlebells having completed numerous practical and coaching workshops. Currently he is working hard towards his Olympic lifting qualification this being the next goal in his coaching career.

  

Paul's friendly but no nonsense style of coaching means the sessions will be fun but tough. He aims to be approachable but expects full commitment from those attending the sessions.

 

Using CrossFit methods of training and a strong emphasis on weight management Paul has built a large group of loyal clients in his current day to day situation.

  

If the truth be told Paul relies on a consistent training regime to combat the side effects of his love of cheese…..

 

 

Thong Van Cao - Director/Trainer

 

 Thong is a Level 3 qualified personal trainer, a CrossFit Level 1 certified trainer and holds a BWLA Olympic Lifting Instruction for Other Sports. Battling the iron or other people (sometimes about how to pronounce his name), his passions and energies have always focused around training and combat sports.

As well as being fully qualified Fitness Professional, Thong is a qualified instructor in Phillipino Martial Arts, having previously coached teams for national stick fighting tournaments, as well himself being a finalist at the British Stick Fighting Championships (WEKAF) in both single stick and double stick events.

Thong has also been part of the British Stick Fighting Team that competed in European Championships. Going even further back in history, his sporting experiences include county level athletics (many years ago) and qualifying for the national bodybuilding championships.

 

 His next competitive ambition is to compete in Olympic weightlifting…just in time for 2012. He is also currently putting together a master plan to help his two children become world class athletes…he's not sure what the plan is and doesn't know what discipline it will be yet…All this in between helping people achieving goals beyond their expectations.

 

 

Gareth Doody – Trainer

 

Gareth spent 22 years in the Military as a Paratrooper which taught him the value of mental and physical toughness. His sporting pedigree includes competing as a 400m sprinter, making the UK Championships and competitions abroad. Gareth also represented the Great Britain Armed Forces Rugby League Team and competed all over Europe at Bobsleigh. Gareth is keen to share his knowledge of high level sports to develop and prepare our athletes to achieve their goals.

 

 

Crossfit Level 1 coach

 Crossfit movement and mobility Cert

Level 2 Gym instructor

Level 3 Personal trainer

 SAQ (speed, agility, quickness) Movement for Sport Coach 

UK Strength & Conditioning Association Associate Member and Level 1 Cert

NLP Practitioner

 

 First Aid at work

 

Paul Savage AKA SAV – Trainer

 

Sav is currently a member of the Royal Air Force working as a Physical Training Instructor. During his time in the RAF he has developed over seven years of experience coaching and working with all abilities of athletes on a group and individual level. He has a strong sporting back ground playing county level rugby and football and upon joining the RAF, played represented rugby. Sav is dedicated and enthusiastic when it comes to coaching CrossFit and is looking forward to passing on his knowledge and skill set to you.

 

CrossFit Level one

Level Three REPS (Register of Exercise Professionals)

SAQ (speed, agility, quickness) Movement for Sport Coach

Boxercise instructor

Spinning instructor

Core Stability Instructor

NVQ level three in Instructing Physical activity and Exercise 

 

Andy Craig Founder/Director/Coach

Andy has been involved in professional sport both as a player and as a trainer for the past 10 years. Andy's is an ex semi-professional rugby league player who now enjoys playing the sport of Aussie Rules Football.

 

A Personal Trainer, Fitness Manager and Strength & Conditioning Coach Andy does a lot of work with individuals and sports teams alike and also provides similar services for children between the ages of 6-16.

 

Andy is qualified as a:

 

Level 3 personal trainer (Premier Training)

BWLA Weightlifting for Sport Instructor

Sports massage therapist (Premier Training)

Level 1 Crossfit trainer

Gym Instruction (Premier Training)

Circuit trainer SAQ fundamental movement instructor (SAQ International)

Kettlebell instructor (Crossfit London)

Boxercise instructor (Boxercise)

 

 

Crossfit Reading was founded in 2008 by Andy Craig. In the summer of 2010, CrossFit Reading moved into their facility at Hodsall Road and the running of CrossFit Reading was handed to Paul McCabe and Thong Van Cao as Andy moved to South Africa where he has since founded CrossFit DBA.